Importing and Exporting Files

TracePro uses the ACIS database file format for storing solid modeling data, along with data specific to TracePro.

To “import” an ACIS file, open it in TracePro. To export an ACIS file, select File|Save As. The file extension for ACIS files is SAT.

In addition to being able to share data with other ACIS-based applications, TracePro can import and export files via the IGES and STEP interchange standards, and import files from popular lens design applications.

Exchanging Files with Other ACIS-based Software

Exchanging files using SAT files gives you the best fidelity for sharing data with other applications. As a general rule, use SAT files whenever you are sharing data with another ACIS-based application.

A list of companies developing ACIS applications can be found on the Spatial Web site, http://www.spatial.com.

By sharing ACIS data with other applications, specialized data that each application adds to the file is preserved. For example, you can create a solid model using AutoCAD, open it using TracePro and add optical properties to the solids and surfaces. After doing some analysis, you can open the file again using an ACIS-based CAD program, and edit objects. If you reopen the file with TracePro, the optical properties you added will still be there.

Some, but not all, of the data that is specific to TracePro is contained in the SAT file.

TracePro-specific data that is preserved when exporting to another ACIS-based application:

•Material Properties

•Surface Properties

•Importance sampling targets

•Prescription data

•Object and surface names

•Exit surface for simulation mode

TracePro-specific data that is not preserved when exporting to another ACISbased application:

•Surface Source parameters

•Data specified in the Analysis|Grid Raytrace dialog box

•Data specified in the Analysis|Raytrace Options dialog box

•Data specified in the Analysis|Irradiance Options dialog box

•Data specified in the Analysis|Candela Options dialog box

•Data specified in the Analysis|Polarization Options dialog box

Spatial, the maker of ACIS, periodically updates the ACIS kernel. This results in changes to the SAT file format as new features are added. The particular version of another ACIS-based application you use may not be based on the same version of the kernel as TracePro uses. The SAT format is maintained by Spatial with backward compatibility. This means, for example, that an application based on ACIS 4.0 cannot read an ACIS 5.0 file, but an application based on ACIS 5.0

TracePro 5.0 User’s Manual

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