External formats / CI BOX

DesignScope® victor can read the main design file formats of other CAD/CAM systems - on or offline. However, the selected files are not imported, converted and saved via separate software, then imported into the design system, as in many other CAD/CAM solutions. DesignScope® victor integrates all these steps in one single process. External files are selected and will then automatically be converted and loaded into the clipboard of the DesignScope® victor software. The user does not even have to know the format of the file to be imported. Standard formats are handled the same way.

Background information: When Sophis Systems experienced their economic breakdown in the middle of 2003, a new situation on the CAD/CAM market was created. Sophis customers were facing uncertainty in regard to their archived files. Thousands of designs, weaves, parameter files etc. were organized in a totally interlinked digital archive that could only be opened with Sophis software. In many cases, these file interlinkings were not even documented or available in hardcopy. This situation spurred EAT's Think-Tank and led to the development of the CI Box module. The CI Box was created based on DesignScope® victor's modular structure. From concept to introduction, EAT only needed four months. Even the critical parts of typical Sophis terminology were incorporated for additional ease of use. The name CI BOX was derived from the Sophis term Card Image file (CI). An important factor is the so-called ?cilib? files (Card Image Files). These files are divided into system independent ?mk? files (make files or job files) and ?back? files (Sophis Archive Packages Files): The often-used mk files are linked online with the CI Box by simple drag & drop. Then, DesignScope® victor runs everything automatically. The quality determinations are analyzed and the links to the single libraries (weavelib, designlib, loomlib etc.) are established and calculated on the fly using the real data, similar to EAT?s Running Chain. This process will only take seconds. In addition to the calculated ?ci? data, the CI Box displays all particular files from the different libraries as well as the quality specifications contained in them. The same process is applied to the ?back? files. Thanks to this method, it is also possible to copy all Sophis archives onto a WINDOWS PC and permanently save them. A transfer of single files from the weavelib, designlib, and loomlib directories also remains possible.