CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
16 July 2008
Product News
CONTACT Software Integrates Adobe Standards into CIM DATABASE
CONTACT Software GmbH chooses Adobe's industrial standard PDF as its key element in its strategic effort to support the development process via open access viewing formats. The company plans to utilize the achieved benefit via integration within CIM DATABASE as the central data-hub for the product lifecycle for all workstations. Decisive is the server-based, validated, process-driven generation of 2D and 3D PDF formats to visualize a virtual product. In conjunction with the procedural safety of a PDM/PLM system, the universal format grants direct access to all current product data. By such means, both in-house collaboration and customer and partner productivity may be vastly enhanced – especially when dealing with complex, distributed projects within the automotive, fabrication & assemby and electronics & high-tech industries.
“We appreciate CONTACTs initiative in providing manufacturing industries the unimpeded utilisation of the PDF format within the product development process”, says Ulrich Isermeyer, Senior Business Development Manager Acrobat with Adobe Deutschland. "The advantages e.g. of PDF/A for long-term archiving of drawings and 3D PDF for the user experience of the virtual product model perfectly supplement a PLM platform that provides such documents in a validated environment."
CONTACT's commitment to companies with Multi-CAD environments and others that rely on open, widely-used standards supports the latest version Acrobat 9 in a novel way. With the optional function of the so called BRep presentation, 3D data may be embedded with perfect geometric parameters within a PDF and can then be exported to a CAD system for later modifications. Further elements of CONTACT's PDF strategy comprise integrated Markup & Redlining as well as Content Mapping, which designates the reciprocal enrichment of the PLM product structure and the 3D PDF model structure.
Integrated Markup & Redlining offers applicants the option to selectively insert commentaries within their usual working environment. But CIM DATABASE can also separate commentaries from original documents, allowing annotations on validated and therefore otherwise unalterable documents. Furthermore, CONTACT's Content Mapping technology provides a real-time mashup of PLM system data and the content of the 3D PDF model. By doing this, users may discern within a 3D model in Acrobat Reader, which product components have already been validated. CIM DATABASE synchronizes its product data model with the viewed 3D model.
Regarding the significance of PDF, Frank Patz, head of development with CONTACT Software, summarizes: “PDF as a public document technology will play an ever increasing role with both our customers and the PLM environment in general.”
Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.
Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.
CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.