Target Information

Click Target Information to display the Export Target Information window which contains information about the 3D steel detailing package to which the SDNF file is being transferred.

The interface requires at least two external mapping tables for each Target Package in order to check that the Target Package can accept the data. It also may use the Profile Orientation and/or the Unicode mapping tables if necessary. The mapping tables are for the Profiles, Materials and for mapping the Profile Orientations between the application and the neutral file. The Unicode mapping table is to translate the applications Unicode strings into ASCII strings. The file arrangement on the system and required format is explained. Refer to Customise SDNF for further information. The interface also needs to know where the external mapping files are located on the computer network. For this, internal mapping tables are required. The configuration and location of files is explained. Refer to Internal Mapping Files for further information.

For example you may have a generic set of mapping tables to map between the application and SDNF for a particular steel fabricator, or you may have a similar set for each 3D steel detailing package.

The current file settings are indicated on the Export Target Information window. Changing the Target Package by using the Target Package drop-down list on the right-hand side of the window may cause the text to change giving the full path names of the respective files. Do not be concerned that the path name may be truncated by the insertion of the ellipsis (…): it is modified only for display purposes on the window.

The system also checks that these files are compatible with the Target Package by checking only the identification line at the top of each mapping table. The format of the mapping files is detailed. Refer to External Mapping Files for further information.

The two main options are, Auto and Manual which are activated by selecting the appropriate option button.

Auto causes the interface to select automatically the mapping tables for the Target Package indicated by the Target Package drop-down list on the right hand side of the window, according to the system configuration files. The files selected are dependent upon how you have configured the internal mapping files.

Manual activates other option buttons, which are greyed out for the Auto option. Selecting this option changes the display of the window. For example:

You can select the file type using the Profiles, Materials, Orient'n or Unicode radio buttons and input the full path name of the file in the data entry area. You can also include system environment variables in the path name as long as they are in the proper format, for example, %ENVVAR% being the representation of the ENVVAR environment variable.

Press Enter, the interface checks for the existence of the file and compatibility with the Target Package indicated by the Package drop-down list.

Note:
The check is only that the file applies to the Target Package and not that it is a correct file type or format.

You can choose by hand which mapping file to use either by inputting its name in the text data entry field, or by using the Browse option to display a File Browser. You can use this browser to search for the relevant mapping file.

Once you have input all the correct data on the Export Target Information window, click OK and the interface variables are updated. Click Cancel to close the window, leaving the original interface variables unchanged.

Error and Log File Messages