I vaguely remember some discussion about this topic before, but couldn't find it in the archives.

What are the pros and cons of the CCE and TM translators with respect to CATIA files?

Thanks

Steve

Steve,

Can't comment on the VX translators but I have been involved with beta testing Adobe Acrobat 3D v8 these last few months and that app will open virtually any format available (including Catia v4 and v5) and let you save it using the original data (eg NURBS surfaces as opposed to facet format) and save it out to Parasolid, STEP or IGES. Also a lot of software out there now based on ACIS will open and save the CATIA v4 format. Examples are Ashlar-Vellum Argon/Xenon/Cobalt, IronCad, Concepts Unlimited to name a few. I think IronCAD also has a Spatial CATIA v5 read/write as an extra cost option (and being Spatial it is the "proper" one).

Kevin,

Thanks for the info. I downloaded a demo of Acrobat 3D last year. It looks like it has come a long way since then - probably worth the price just for the translators.

Steve

Hello Steve

VX Corp is no longer working with the CCE product as an integrated translator. The Transmagic product has improved in leaps and bounds. TM v7 has just been released and will be working with a near-future VX release, well worth a look. The best approach really is to conduct your own tests to see how the various products work with your data.

v8 has just been released so you can get a 30 day evaluation and see how that works for you.

For those that are curious, TransMagic can be tested as a stand-alone:

TransMagic Free Tryout