DataSmith Overview

DataSmith is a powerful tool for populating the CM4D database with both nominal and measurement results data. It is a universal translator that interprets data in its native format into one that can be read and understood by CM4D. A translator (DataSmith document) is not part-specific, or feature-specific. Any two parts whose data files share the same format can be processed by the same translator. Any new features added to a measurement routine will be processed by the translator as long as the feature data is formatted appropriately.

Typically, the nominal data is taken from CAD, and the measurement results data is an output of your data collection device. With DataSmith, you can extract your process data from virtually any ASCII (or plain text), rich text, or Excel format and put it into a CM4D database. DataSmith is a feature based translator which uses defined features and characteristics to scan a file for the data you need. Features and characteristics are defined by writing instructions with DataSmith's instruction bar.

§ A Feature is an identified unit of data that is similar to a file record. Features can overlap, and a feature may span an entire file or a large portion of it. A feature contains characteristics which represent fields or individual data items of a feature.

§ A Characteristic represents a measurable dimension or parameter of a feature such as a nominal X value, or an actual Y value. A characteristic might be associated to many features. Having created feature and characteristic definitions, many different feature types can be defined to identify and extract data from a wide variety of file formats.

§ Instructions are written with DataSmith's Instruction Bar. Writing instructions is accomplished by selecting words and phrases from the Instruction Bar's menus. Writing instructions is similar to writing a sentence.