How to Export a Supravision File

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STEPS for EXPORTING a SUPRAVISION FILE

STEP 1 - Import a Solid Model or Manually Enter Part Data in VTube

You can enter centerline coordinates, bender data, or import data using one of the import formats - like import a STEP model of a tube. Some imports require further processing before you output to Supravision. For example, you need to use the collect process on STEP and IGES models - which is like measuring the tube with a mouse. Then you can calculate the centerline coordinates. Before you can export Supravison data, you must have data in the Tube Data menu describing the tube shape.

STEP 2 - Enter the Import/Export Menu button in the Navigation Pane

Click on the Import/Export button in the Navigation Pane. Now click on the EXPORT Supravision button in the EXPORT section of the menu.

STEP 3 - Click on SAVE in the Supravision Export Window

The Supravision export window lets you setup and save the Supravision file to any place on the disk or network.

STEP 4 - Choose An Output Path in the Path Manager

The Path Manager lets you choose a path from a list of saved paths that you use often. Double click on the output path.

STEP 5 - Save the New File

In the Save dialog, edit name, then press save. The name it will suggest will always the Part Number value in Part Setup by default. If you enter a filename with no filename extension, then VTube will automatically append .$$$ to the end of the name. (We don't recommend other extensions since they are non-standard.)

Additional Tips About Exporting Supravision Files

Tip 1: Move the Supravision Export button to the top of the list if you use it often

To make it easier to get to, you might want to move the Supravision export button to the top of the EXPORT list. You can do this by clicking on the arrange button (with the check mark image) next to the EXPORT button in the expandable menu.

Tip 2: Supravision data is human-readable text

You can load any Supravision file into any text editor to view the data. This is why we include a checkbox option for "Display File in Editor After Export". Just click on this option, and VTube will load Notepad++ (installed with VTube) and then load the Supravision data.

Tip 3: The internal Supravision linear data aligns with the unit setting in VTube

The linear data inside Supravision files can be either INCHES or MILLIMETERS. The current unit is always controlled by the current display units in VTube-STEP. The reason we mention this is because the linear unit in the file will sometimes change the setup of the default linear unit in bender controls too. Some controls might want the units to be set the same, or the linear data will be wrong by a factor of 25.4. So this something worth being aware of.

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