SteelVis (CIS/2 to VRML and IFC Translator)

Users Guide

A Users Guide is now available SteelVis-User-Guide.pdf

Four programs

1. CIS2_VRML.exe - SteelVis graphical-user-interface (GUI) version

a. Click on the icon to start or drag and drop a CIS/2 file on the icon

2. ctv.exe - SteelVis command-line version, no GUI

a. From a Command Prompt, change to the directory where ctv.exe is located and enter:
ctv C:/pathname/mycis2file.stp

b. For command line options, enter: ctv -help

c. This version can be 'called' by or embedded in other programs

3. ctv-64.exe - Version of ctv.exe that only runs on 64-bit computers

a. This version can translate much larger CIS/2 files than ctv.exe or CIS2_VRML.exe

4. CIS2-File-Analyzer.exe CIS/2 File Analyzer generates an Excel spreadsheet from a CIS/2 file

a. This is useful for inspecting and debugging CIS/2 files

Running SteelVis

SteelVis will prompt you if you want to add shortcuts on the Desktop and in the Start Menu.

SteelVis will also ask which web browser you would like to be your default if multiple web
browsers are installed. This selection can be changed in the Browsers menu.

The first time SteelVis is run, the VRML Plugin Detector will run to see if a VRML plugin installed
in the web browser. A VRML plugin is needed to display the VRML files (3D models) that
SteelVis will generate from CIS/2 files. Follow the instructions in the VRML Plugin Detector to
download and install a VRML plugin. The VRML Plugin Detector can be rerun from the Help
menu in SteelVis.

Use F5 and F6 to adjust the Status tab text font size, F7 to change the font type
Generating IFC Files

Options for generating IFC files are found in the IFC and More IFC tabs.

IFC files can be viewed with many different viewers and applications. See Websites > IFC
Viewers and Applications

Sample CIS/2 files

Six sample CIS/2 files are included with SteelVis and are found in the '...\CTV\sample' directory.
For an explanation of the files, see Help > CIS/2 Test Files

Other sample CIS/2 files are available in SteelVis under File > Download Sample CIS/2 Files

To view your own CIS/2 files, export a CIS/2 file from a software package that supports CIS/2.
http://cic.nist.gov/vrml/cis2.html

Problems with non-English characters in a directory pathname

There might be problems running SteelVis from a directory with non-English characters in the
pathname. If so, run the software from a directory with only English characters in the pathname.

Disclaimers

This software was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology by employees of the
Federal Government in the course of their official duties. Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United
States Code this software is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. This
software is an experimental system. NIST assumes no responsibility whatsoever for its use by other
parties, and makes no guarantees, expressed or implied, about its quality, reliability, or any other
characteristic.

Vendors of various software applications with CIS/2 export capabilities have supplied the sample CIS/2
files. The sample CIS/2 files do not necessarily reflect the current CIS/2 export capabilities of the
software packages represented nor are all software packages that have implemented CIS/2 represented.
NIST assumes no responsibility whatsoever for their use by other parties, and makes no guarantees,
expressed or implied, about their quality, reliability, or any other characteristic.

Any mention of commercial products or references to web pages in this software is for information
purposes only; it does not imply recommendation or endorsement by NIST. For any of the web links in
this software, NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed, or concur with the facts
presented on those web sites.

Although SteelVis checks for many syntax errors and should create a VRML model that looks correct, it
does not imply that the CIS/2 file conforms to the CIS/2 schema. Conformance to the schema can be
checked with other tools. A VRML model that looks correct also does not imply that the CIS/2 file
follows recommended practices, software implementers agreements, or that it can be imported into
another CIS/2 application.

In addition to errors in a CIS/2 file, VRML models that look wrong might be caused by SteelVis having to
lookup, parse, or approximate cross section dimensions that are not explicitly specified in the CIS/2 file.
A VRML model that looks wrong might also be caused by some VRML plugins and viewers not correctly
supporting some of the features used in the VRML files generated by SteelVis. Many of these problems
are reported in the Status tab.

The success in importing an IFC file generated by SteelVis into an IFC application depends on the IFC
options selected, how well the application imports the IFC file, and how that information is converted to
the application's internal representation. When generating an IFC file potential issues with the IFC file
are reported in the Status tab.

Why are the directories and command-line executables named CTV?

CIS/2 To VRML

For more information, contact: Robert Lipman, robert.lipman@nist.gov