The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has built numerous software toolkits and applications for manipulating STEP and EXPRESS data. The NIST EXPRESS Server is a computational facility at NIST, which provides the ability to run toolkit-based applications remotely without installing them locally. EXPRESS Schemas and other data files are e-mailed to the server. The server runs the requested applications on the files and returns any diagnostics or output, also by e-mail. Applications requiring interaction can either be returned via e-mail so that they can be run locally, or run remotely by telnet or rlogin across the Internet. Access to the EXPRESS Server is available at zero cost to anyone who can send e-mail. No initial registration is required. Use is anonymous by default, however it is possible to use the server as a collaborative testbed in which case results can be immediately shared with other server users. The server is capable of restricting file access to one ...

The NIST EXPRESS toolkit is a software library for building EXPRESS-related tools. The EXPRESS Toolkit is based on Draft International Standard (DIS) 10303-11 (N151). The NIST Part 21 Exchange File Toolkit is a software library for building Part 21-related tools. The Part 21 Toolkit is based on DIS 10303-21. This paper describes how to obtain the toolkits and install them. No knowledge of EXPRESS or the EXPRESS Toolkit is presumed other than a familiarity with file transfer and similar installation procedures. A rudimentary grasp of the theory of typical computer language implementations is useful but not necessary. Keywords: compiler, EXPRESS; implementation; National PDES Testbed; PDES; STEP Context The PDES (Product Data Exchange using STEP) activity is the United States' effort in support of the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP), an emerging international standard for the interchange of product data between various vendors' CAD/CAM systems and other manufact...

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has built numerous software toolkits and applications for manipulating STEP and EXPRESS data. These toolkits are traditionally used as compiled libraries which are linked to other compiled modules. This paper describes a binding allowing the toolkit interfaces to be called from interpreted scripts. This significantly reduces the time required to construct and compile new applications. An X11 extension allows the construction of graphic elements, providing easy creation and integration of existing applications into X graphic user interfaces. We describe how the combination of bindings has been used to construct a STEP Application Protocol Development Environment. Keywords: Tcl; Tk; EXPRESS; Object Oriented; National PDES Testbed; PDES; STEP; APDE; Development Environment Reprinted from Proceedings of the EXPRESS User Group Workshop (EUG `95), Grenoble, France, October 21-22, 1995. An Object-Oriented Tcl/Tk Binding for Interpr...

The NIST EXPRESS toolkit is a software library for building EXPRESS-related tools. The EXPRESS Toolkit is based on Draft International Standard (DIS) 10303-11 (N151). The NIST Part 21 Exchange File Toolkit is a software library for building Part 21-related tools. The Part 21 Toolkit is based on DIS 10303-21. This paper describes how to obtain the toolkits and install them. No knowledge of EXPRESS or the EXPRESS Toolkit is presumed other than a familiarity with file transfer and similar installation procedures. A rudimentary grasp of the theory of typical computer language implementations is useful but not necessary. Keywords: compiler, EXPRESS; implementation; National PDES Testbed; PDES; STEP Context The PDES (Product Data Exchange using STEP) activity is the United States' effort in support of the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP), an emerging international standard for the interchange of product data between various vendors' CAD/CAM systems and other manufact...

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has built numerous software toolkits and applications for manipulating STEP and EXPRESS data. The NIST EXPRESS Server is a computational facility at NIST, which provides the ability to run toolkit-based applications remotely without installing them locally. EXPRESS Schemas and other data files are e-mailed to the server. The server runs the requested applications on the files and returns any diagnostics or output, also by e-mail. Applications requiring interaction can either be returned via e-mail so that they can be run locally, or run remotely by telnet or rlogin across the Internet. Access to the EXPRESS Server is available at zero cost to anyone who can send e-mail. No initial registration is required. Use is anonymous by default, however it is possible to use the server as a collaborative testbed in which case results can be immediately shared with other server users. The server is capable of restricting file access to one user or a subset of users. It is also possible to make files publicly available. The server maintains many STEP-related standards and draft standards for public access. Machine-processable standards such as STEP schemas can be incorporated automatically when processing user files. The server dramatically lowers the traditional start-up cost and manpower required to obtain and install STEP and EXPRESS tools as well as the continuing support costs to upgrade and maintain the software, by leveraging NIST research, software support and installation, and computing facilities. The server enables people to experiment or demonstrate STEP without a significant investment of time and money, allowing them to build experience and make informed decisions about their future needs for STEP.