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Import and Export of Metadata

Metadata can be imported or exported along with the main data of a geometric model or a finite element mesh. Most cases, the main data form a file in the SAT format or the original generated mesh properties file (Genesis). Metadata represents are additional information objects. Details of their export and imports are given below:

Import metadata

Part and assembly metadata (including DART metadata) can be imported along with the geometry when using the XML option in the command:

import {STEP|ACIS} "<filename>". . . [XML "<XML_filename>"]

The metadata is contained in the file <XML_filename> and are currently only supported for mainstream formats. STEP and ACIS data.

To successfully assign metadata to an imported object, the structure The XML file must conform to the DART Metadata 3.0 XML schema, and the geometry must contain additional DART data. Suitable STEP file and metadata can be exported, for example, from Pro/Engineer using the eMatrix application (development tool as part of the DART project).

Export metadata

The export command must include the XML option. This option means that in addition to the normal data file, you need to write metadata file that conforms to the DART rules (this ensures interoperability with other DART compatible applications). Currently, the XML option is only implemented when exporting basic data in ACIS format:

export ACIS “<ACIS_filename>” [XML “<XML_filename>”]

When exporting a data file in the ACIS format, the attached XML-file with metadata contains information about the assembly as it is generated in the program. Metadata can be written to a file also when exporting the generated grids. The only command that supports the XML option mesh export is as follows:

export {Genesis|Mesh} “<mesh_filename>” [XML '<XML_filename>']

The XML file generated when the mesh was exported contains the same information as as when exporting a geometric model, but with additional data about the grid.

Import and export of artifacts DART

Within the DART project, data files are created in a certain way, along with metadata files. Properly Packed Data File Set together with the metadata file is called an artifact. Metadata file artifact is always located in the same folder as the main data, and is called artifact.dta.

Relationships between artifacts can be refined using the task relationships in metadata files. Fidesys supports automatic tracking such relationships. Relevant information in the input metadata file is automatically reflected in the output metadata file generated by the program.

If the input file is in the form of an artifact, Fidesys can read the response him a metadata file. To do this, when importing a file on the corresponding dialog panel should select the option “import as artifact”.

Fidesys can also save the results of data processing as an artifact. To do this, select the option “export as artifact”.

When running the import or export of artifacts from the command line to the command enable XML option and select XML-file named artifact.dta in the same folder as the main data.

Sometimes it is necessary to import the artifact metadata file separately from other data. For example, you might want to import an artifact, containing a data file in IGES format. Import command in the format IGES does not support the XML option, so the metadata file must be imported separately. To do this, you can use the command:

import XML “<XML_filename>”

In order to correctly process artifacts, the name of the XML file should always be be artifact.dta.