New CALS Phase 1.1 Standards Due for Publication in January
New and revised CALS Phase I standards are expected to be published
in
January, 1989. The CALS standards and specifications are being developed
incrementally. The initial increment, called the Phase 1.0 Core Requirements
package, was developed and coordinated during 1987. The 1988 increment,
called
the Phase 1.1 Core Requirements Package, has been released for formal
DoD and
Industry coordination and is now being printed. Development of
the Phase 1.2
standards and specifications is underway for coordination during 1989.
-----
CALS ISG DIETG Standards Subcommittee Announces Plans for 1989
The CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG) Digital Information Exchange
Task
Group (DIETG) Standards Subcommittee has announced it plans for 1989.
The
subcommittee regularly publishes its objectives and calendar to inform
the
members of the working group of events and activities related to the
group.
------
NIST Awards LSAR Modeling Task to Battelle and DACOM
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded the
first
task of their CALS master contract to the team of Battelle and D. Appleton
Company. The task is a CALS/LSA data modeling assignment. Battelle
and DACOM
have a long history of data modeling in design and logistics applications.
The
task will:
1. Facilitate the preparation of an IGEF1x data model.
2. Support preparation by DOD of MIL-STD-1388-2B.
3. Develop an SQL Data Definition Language expression of the prototype
data
model.
The Battelle/DACOM team will work with the US Army Material Readiness
Support
Activity (MRSA) at Lexington, KY.
------
ASNE Conference Outlines Navy CALS Commercial Impact
The Navy plans to implement CALS through normal acquisition "opportunities"
but is concerned that small business will be overwhelmed by CALS complexity
and capital requirements. Navy plans for CALS were discussed at the
recent
conference "CALS: Value Added to Government and Industry?". The conference
was sponsored by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ANSE) and
The US
Merchant Marine Academy Maritime Resource Center at King's Point, NY,
in
cooperation with Naval Sea Systems Command. The program was chaired
by
Stanley D. Meyers of Grumman Data Systems.
------
Acquistion Working Group to Define Data Verification and Acceptance
A Data Verification and Acceptance (DVA) Working Group has been created
under the Acquisition Task Group to define procedures for electronic
data
delivery. The problem is considered by many in the CALS community to
be
vital, because most contract data deliverables are currently checked
and
approved in their hardcopy presentations. CALS data deliverables will
digital a format easily changed and not human-readable. Steve Andersen
of
Honeywell and Roger J. Lagermann of McDonnell Douglas Co-Chair the
DVA
Working Group.
----
Contract Expert Cautious on Data Delivery to DoD
Jack Janetatos, Attorney and Member of the Board of Directors of the
Marine
Machinery Association, Washington, DC, advises contractors to use caution
in
delivering data to DoD. Janetatos has spent many hours in court defending
manufacturer's data rights and has lobbied for years for more protection.
He
also serves as principal outside council for the Computer Society of
the IEEE.
------
EDI, Automatic Identification Link Developing
A new trend is emerging in industry to link Automation Identification
(AI)
data entry with Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) output. AI uses barcode,
magnetic stripe, Radio Frequency Identification (RF/ID), vision, and
other
technology. This rapidly growing trend could increase site data collection
from the field for use in concurrent engineering and other CALS-related
tasks. One example is the Panasonic Data Partner, a hand-held data
collection
computer. EDI has been announced as the external (and where possible,
internal) transaction format for DLA's Modernization of Defense Logistics
Systems (MODELS) and DoD has formalized its commitment to EDI ANSI
X12 (see
CALS Report, July, 1988). The growing availability of commercial products
which support EDI in field data collection will enhance this trend.
----
Control Data Corporation Commercializes Pioneering IISS Technology
Control Data Corporation (CDC) introduced two new products to the commercial
market that were originally developed under U.S. Air Force Integrated
Information Support Systems (IISS), one of the Manufacturing Technology
(MANTECH) Programs. The new products introduced by Control Data are
Common
Data Model* plus (CDM*plus) and Cost Benefit Analysis Model (CBAM).
CDM*plus is a set of integration software and consulting services that
allows manufacturing operations to achieve functional integration of
business information. CBAM, a microcomputer software program, provides
a
systematic approach to cost justification while saving time and limiting
calculation errors. CDC introduced the new products at the Department
of
Defense-sponsored MTAG/IMIP* Conference in Atlanta. Because both tools
are
based on information models which could be supplied or proscribed by
DoD,
they could play a significant role in CALS contracting.
--------
Systems Exchange Offers Two Concurrent Engineering Tools
Systems Exchange of Los Angeles, CA, now offers two concurrent engineering
tools, the Top Down System Design Utility (SDU) and Equipment Designer's
Cost-Analysis System (EDCAS). SDU provides a method of building a design
hierarchy, allocating design data to components and subassemblies,
and
summing for the total system. EDCAS is a Level Of Repair (LOR) cost
model
which provides data for MANPRINT or other required system studies.
The two
products are aimed at the growing market for integrated systems front-end
design tools capable of considering physical and logistic performance
at the
same time.
----
CALS Calendar
================================================================================
CALS Report
Vol. 2 No. 2, February 1989
CALS Benefits WG developing Assessment Guidelines and Criteria
The CALS Benefits Working Group has developed a draft "CALS Benefits
Assessment Guidelines and Criteria". The assessment guidelines and
criteria
can be used to evaluate the cost/benefits of applying CALS technology
to the
various areas of weapon system contracting. The draft was compiled
from
working group comments by Eric Ross of BDM Corporation, Dick Powell
of CACI,
Ed Edge of Hazeltine, and Phil Livinstone of Battelle. The guidelines
and
criteria can be used to document CALS benefits and report them to the
task
group. They also are expected to impact both the task group's final
recommendations to DoD and the CALS handbook (MIL-HDBK-54).
----
CALS ISG Data Protection & Integrity TG Reviews New Policy, Reorganizes
The CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG) Data Protection and Integrity
(DP&I)
Task Group has reviewed a draft DoD CALS security directive and as
a result,
reorganized. The directive, "Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistic
Support
Data Protection and Security Policy Directive," was drafted by Dr.
Ruth Davis,
President of Pymatuning Group Inc., advisors to the DoD CALS Policy
Office.
Three new subgroups have been established:
1. Data Classification Management, will evaluate methods of identifying
data
for secure protection.
2. System Security Engineering, will apply system security engineering
methodology to CALS requirements, standards and architectures to identify
threats and vulnerabilities.
3. Electronic Information Security, will evaluate operational, legislative
and
other issues and develop audit procedures and security safeguards for
data.
A fourth subgroup is planned for Operations Security and Configuration
Integrity Management is planned. A special position report on Rights
in
Technical Data and Computer Software has been prepared. The DP&I
Task Group
has added a third chairperson, Ralph D. Clark of TRW. Clark joins William
Jascomb and Howard E. Chambers of Rockwell.
-----
NASA Integrating Space Station Databases using Standards and Data Dictionaries
The Nasa Database Integration Working Group (DIWG) is adopting a mixture
of
national, de facto and CALS standards to integrate databases for the
space
station project, now called Freedom. The databases represent data,
information
and knowledge bases used for the design and operation of the space
station
during its life cycle. The DIWG is chaired by James L. Duda, Chief
of the Data
Systems Assurance Branch, Space Station Information Systems Development
Division.
------
EIA Launches CALS Initiative for VHDL
The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) has launched a "competitive
initiative" to develop VLSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) behavioral
models of electronic components. The initiative is driven by the new
DoD
requirement that defense electronics contractors develop their Very
Large
Scale Integrated Circuit (VLSIC) designs in VHDL and deliver them to
the
government. DoD is driving the VHDL modeling effort through MIL-STD-454
which
applies to all electronic equipment (see CALS Report, October, 1988).
MIL-STD-
454 is asking for documentation of all electronic equipment in VHDL.
However,
the government was concerned that they would get a hodgepodge of VHDL
models
which would not be interoperable.
-----
First Public US ODA Demonstration a Success
The first public demonstration of Office Document Architecture (ODA)
in the US
was successful, according to Bob Morris of Interleaf. ODA is expected
by many
to join the CALS suite of standards as an architecture for composite
documents. Composite documents are those which combine source text,
graphics,
photographs. The many standards tailored to each type of source data
require
an architecture to manage their presentation to the author and user.
ODA is
competing with extensions to SGML to become the preferred architecture
for
CALS technical publications. The demonstration was part of the recent
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) conference on document processing
systems in Sante Fe, NM.
-----
IGES Meeting Briefs
The IGES implementors committee voted unanimously to support IGES versions
beyond the forthcoming version 5.0. The resolution to continue support
came
from the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Committee.
"Version 5.0 is on track with publication expected in Summer '90," says
Dennette A. Harrod, Jr. of Computervision, Project manager of IGES.
Version 5
includes B-rep solids and a number of changes to other entities which
appeared
in version 4.0.
ANSI's ballot on Version 4.0 is expected sometime this Spring. One delay
is
whether some of the "grey page" items (entities which have not been
implemented by at least three vendors) can be incorporated into the
ANSI
documents.
Jill Ferrill of the CALS Test Network said that IGES testing will begin
soon.
The testing committee is doing a survey on what direction the testing
should
take.
The IGES project itself will no longer accept other than digital ASCII
or
equivalent for their Request For Changes (RFC's). Illustrations are
expected
in IGES format, preferably compliant with MIL-D-28000 subset 1 (technical
illustrations).
The Naval publications center will distribute Amendment 1 with the prior
release of MIL-D-28000. IGES application subsets work Amendment 1 (NC
manufacturing , geometry and tolerancing) was published in December
1988.
NIST has published a set of guidelines for specifying and validating
IGES
Application protocols. Application protocols are specifications and
procedures
for using a particular data format for transferring application data
from one
data base to another.
A contractor to the US Army CALS office at Ft. Monmouth, NJ is currently
doing
a survey of Army CAD sites to determine the true extent of IGES use.
The
results will be used to formulate policy on Army CALS development.
-----
PDES Meeting Briefs
ISO Standards Committee (SC) 4 meeting in Tokyo has approved the registration
of STEP as an ISO Draft proposal in accordance with ISO directives
Section
6.4.1.1. The DP comprises the following WG1 documents.:
N279 Physical File N280 Mapping N283 Intro,
Scope N285 Test Methods
N287 Express
N284 IPIM
SC4 directed its secretariat to circulate the DP for letter ballot according
to ISO directives Section 6.6.1.3. and 6.6.1.4.
A prototype universal information model may be demonstrated as early
as April,
according to John Zimmerman of Allied Signal. The model is a central
objective
of the PDES Dictionary Committee (See CALS Report, December, 1988).
"The NIDDESC structural model is one of the most integrated of the discipline
PDES information models," said John Zimmerman of Allied Signal and
a member of
the PDES Data Dictionary project. NIDDESC (Navy/Industry Digital Data
Exchange
Standards Committee) is a cooperative, cost-sharing effort of the Naval
Sea
Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the Marine industry through the national
Shipbuilding Research program.
The Navy Rapid Acquisition of Manufactured Parts (RAMP) is using a subset
of
the PDES standard to drive the RAMP facility. They will implement the
geometry
of the Layered Electrical Product in an INGRESS database.
------
LUDDITE IGES Predictor Software Placed in Public Domain
Luddite is the Leeds University Database for Determining IGES Transfer
Effectiveness. Database files have been created using dBaseIII+,
and software
has been written in the dBaseIII+ programming language to compare the
capabilities of the IGES processors of CAE systems; the software has
been
compiled using Clipper into a stand-alone executable routine.
-----
ITI FxIGEStm Flavors IGES Data to meet MIL-D-28000 Class One Subset
International Technegroup, Inc. (ITI) has announced FxIGESTM software
to
customize and enhance IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification)
data
translation and exchange. FxIGES enables two incompatible applications
to be
linked by "flavoring" IGES data and producing a new IGES file tailored
to the
capabilities of a target CAD/CAM system. FxIGES provides many
of the
customization benefits of direct translation programs, while enabling
the use
of the industry standard IGES format. CALS-compliant and other government
work
specifies conformance to IGES and/or specific subsets of its entities
for
delivery of electronic technical data. FxIGES provides contractors
and other
manufacturing companies with a key capability. It also "flattens" files
to
conform to MIL-D-28000 Class One Subsets by projecting all entities
onto
permitted entities and their forms (Some entities have several forms
covering
specific uses).
-----
SCAE Conference to Review CALS Concurrent Engineering Requirements
The Society for Computer-Aided Engineering (SCAE) is sponsoring a conference
entitled "Concurrent Engineering: CALS Phase II and Beyond." Concurrent
engineering refers to consideration physical and logistic performance
of a
product at design time, concurrently, if possible. The conference is
chaired
by CALS Report Editor William G. Beazley, and CALS Report subscribers
will
receive a discount on registration. The conference will be held March
15-16,
1989 in Costa Mesa, CA.
-----
Analysis: Industrial Cooperatives is a Growing Trend to Meet CALS Requirements
The increasing demand by the government for delivery of highly integrated
product data is encouraging formation of industrial cooperatives to
create the
basic information resources needed to comply. These include:
1. PDES, Inc., formed to create and validate information models and
their
encoding in PDES.
2. NIDDESC (Navy/Industry Digital Data Exchange Standards Committee),
formed
to study data exchange in shipbuilding.
3. EIA VHDL Initiative, formed to develop VHDL component models.
4. Air Force/Industry Coalition, formed to demonstrate integration and
interoperability technology at public forums.
5. Apollo CALS Solution Group, formed to market a family of software
products
to CALS system integrators.
6. CALS Industry Steering Group, formed to provide industry feedback on CALS.
The reasons for these business combinations are simple:
o Contractors can share the large development cost of libraries of component
models or low level data.
o Vendors and system integrators can combine sales and demonstration
efforts
to address the CALS market.
o The public format of coalitions avoids anti-trust issues which have
retarded
other types of relationships.
Professional societies, DoD, NIST, and many other organizations can
rationally
initiate these coalitions to promote data development.
----
CALS Calendar
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 2 No. 3, March 1989
First MIL-D-28000 Class II Test Successful
The CALS Test Network (CTN) has performed the first complete test of
MIL-D-
28000 Class II (Engineering Drawings) entities at Douglas Aircraft
in Long
Beach, CA. Two reference drawings were used by the CALS Test Network
(CTN)
during structured end-to-end transfer testing of IGES data. IGES is
the
Initial Graphics Exchange Specification used for interchanging computer
aided
design (CAD) data between dissimilar CAD systems. End-to-end transfer
testing
considers both input and output processing of IGES data. This
test used only
the McAuto Unigraphics II CAD system. Initial results from the detailed
CTN
test procedure indicate a very successful outcome.
----
TAFT Approves DoD Directive on Manpower, Personnel, Training and Safety (MPTS)
The Honorable William H. Taft, IV, Deputy Secretary of Defense has recently
approved a DoD Directive on Manpower, Personnel, Training and Safety
(MPTS) in
the Defense System Acquisition Process. The action (DoD Directive 5000.53)
culminates more than one year of collective efforts by defense services
and
agencies to improve the current process of designing, procuring, and
fielding
DoD weapons systems. The directive provides policy guidance on "improving
the
integration of MPTS in all stages of the acquisition process, to increase
the
rigor of the department's manpower planning process, and to ultimately
field
more capable defense weapon systems." Because of the overlap between
Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) and MPTS issues, the move will strengthen
the need for CALS integration and efficiencies.
----
ISG International Working Group Forms Four Subgroups
The Industry Steering Group (ISG) International Working Group (IWG)
has
formed four subgroups to encourage international standards similar
to CALS.
The IWG is charged with seeking out international cooperation and reaction
to
concepts developed by CALS, but remains open to international alternatives
and
suggestions. The group is chaired by Jonathan R. Tilton of GE Aircraft
Engines and Joe Arcieri serves as OSD advisor. The four subgroups are:
1. Networking (personal contacts).
2. Communications.
3. Standards.
4. International Issues.
The working group will address such issues as data protection for classified
and proprietary data.
----
POSIX FIPS to be Changed to Align with IEEE Version
The Portable Operating Systems Interface for UNIX (POSIX) requirement
for
government users, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 151
may be
changed to align it more with IEEE POSIX requirements. The current
FIPS 151 is
based on draft 12 of IEEE 1003.1. FIPS 151 has been called out by a
number of
federal acquistions, but is not manditory. The goal of POSIX is to
promote
portablility of applications. POSIX is a major interoperability requirement
planned for DoD systems.
-----
DOE Ties Ten NWC Sites Using IGES DOEDEF Subset
The Department of Energy (DOE) has used an IGES subset to successfully
exchange CAD/CAM data between ten Nuclear Weapons Center (NWC) sites.
The DOE
subset predated the CALS MIL-STD-28000 subsets and remains a case history
of
using application subsets of IGES to facilitate production-quality
data
exchange.
-----
PDES, Inc. Off to a Strong Start
PDES, Inc., the cooperative of defense contractors and automation vendors,
is
off to a strong start with an expanded membership, detailed management
structure and initial results. PDES, Inc., based at the prime
contractor's
(SCRA) home office in N. Charleston, SC, plans to accelerate development
of
the Product Data Exchange Specification (PDES). PDES will play a significant
role in CALS Phase 2.
------
Datalogics Announces CALS Laboratory Subscription Service
Datalogics has announced a new service, designed to help users develop
a CALS
strategy by placing a CALS publishing testbed in the user's facility.
The
service combines production facilities, training and consulting services
in a
single package price. The service is promised to be so complete as
to "...
equip you to participate as a node in the DoD-sponsored CALS Test Network."
-----
A Survey of Air Force Analytical Tools
(Compiled by Cpt. David Freeman, Air Force Aeronautical Systems Division)
This is a survey of Air Force analytical tools for Manpower, Personnel,
Training, and Safety (MPTS). The Air Force has a new program called
IMPACTS
(Integrated Manpower, Personnel and Comprehensive Training and Safety)
for
ensuring the integration of the interrelated "people" issues of manpower,
personnel, training, safety and human engineering into weapon systems
design
and acquisition. As part of IMPACTS implementation efforts, the
Air Force is
attempting to employ and integrate both existing and emerging MPTS
analytical
tools. Some of the tools currently being considered, as well
as the programs
sponsoring their development, are described.
----
U.S. Exporters Urged to Follow European Standards Developments
The Commission of the European Communities (EC) is acting swiftly to
turn the
12 member European countries into a single integrated market of 320
million
people by the end of 1992. EC legislation dealing with standardization
is
likely to have a profound effect on U.S. exports, predicts a report
released
by the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST).
----
The ABC'S of U.S. Certification Programs Published
Certification programs, considered a vital link between product standards
and actual products, have significant impact on the marketplace. The
ABC's of Certification Activities in the United States (NBSIR 88-3821),
describes the different types of programs or schemes used to produce
written assurance that a product or service conforms to a standard
or
specification. A sequel to The ABC's of Standards-Related Activities
in
the United States (1987), the new report provides a further introduction
to certification for those not familiar with this important standards-
related activity.
-----
Interchanging ODA Documents in a CALS Environment
by Joan M. Smith, President
SGML User's Group
(Edited by William G. Beazley)
Setting the Scene
CALS currently calls for documents to be structured in accordance with
SGML as
defined in MIL-M-28001, with graphical data in accordance with IGES
as defined
in MIL-D-28000. Currently, SGML documents may contain any data
type, where
this includes graphical data. SGML encoding does this in-line or by
referring
to an external file separate from the text. So an SGML document may
contain
text (which would be parsed), and graphics coded using IGES, CGM, CCITT
Group
4, or TRIF, or any other data format file.
For purposes of interchange, especially in an open systems environment
(using
the OSI standards), SGML documents would be transferred by means of
SDIF, the
newly published ISO standard ISO 9096 SGML Document Interchange Format.
This
implies that all textual and graphical data may use SDIF for interchange.
Let
us suppose, however, for the sake of argument, that ODA documents are
to be
included. What now has to be decided is the interchange format
that should be
used. IT IS A MYTH THAT ODIF IS THE ONLY INTERCHANGE METHOD SPECIFIED
IN
ISO/DIS 8613 ODA. The standard clearly allows for two document
representations in part 5 that deals with interchange formats:
o ODIF (see 4.1 of 8613-5);
o ODL and SDIF (see 4.2 of 8613-5).
ODIF is the Office Document Interchange Format for ODA documents that
do NOT
have to interwork with SGML.
ODL is the Office Document Language, an SGML representation of documents
structured in accordance with ODA (an application of ISO 8879 SGML).
SDIF is
our old friend the SGML Document Interchange Format, ISO 9069. Annex
E
(normative) of ISO/DIS 8613-5 is devoted to a description of ODL and
includes
rules for using SDIF.
A document structured in accordance with ODA (8613-2) that was to be
included
in a CALS environment would be represented in ODL and interchanged
using SDIF
(8613-5). If ODA is to be added to CALS, the representation of the
document
must be in accordance with ODL for interchange by SDIF, in accordance
with the
ODA standard.
--------
ANALYSIS: MIL-M-28001 Appendix B Contract Use Unclear
MIL-M-28001 Appendix B, "Output Specifcation", is close to release for
comment, according to Bob Barlow of Vitro Corporation, one of the principal
authors of the detailed spec. The output specification (OS) is required
to
define the appearance or layout of SGML-tagged text. MIL-M-28001 is
a CALS
"profile" of SGML for DoD technical publications. The fact that the
specification has not been implemented by any vendor nor validated
by other
than verbal walk-throughs by its authors may complicate its use on
defense
contracts.
----
CALS Calendar
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 2 No. 4, April 1989
CTN Completes MIL-M-28001 Publishing Systems Structured Test
The CALS Test Network (CTN) has completed a major test of the CALS MIL-M-28001
(SGML) standard for publishing systems. The test, called the Publishing
System Test (PSST), successfully evaluated the need for formatting
information to transfer documents. The CTN is testing the effectiveness
of
the CALS data interchange standards and presented their findings from
the PSST
at TECHDOC Winter in New Orleans. Test results were generally viewed
as
successful and will guide development and use of CALS standards by
DoD.
-----
New Chairman Chosen for CALS Industry Steering Group
R. Noel Longuemare, Vice President and General Manager, Systems Development
and
Technology Division, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, is the new
chairman of
the CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG). Longuemare is a well respected
professional widely known in the defense electronics industry. The
chair position had been vacant since the ISG was reorganized in October,
1988.
------
OOPS! MIL-HDBK-54 Now MIL-HDBK-59
After countless references in reports, articles and speeches to MIL-HDBK-54
as
the CALS Handbook for implementing and using CALS standards, DoD found
it was
assigned an existing number. The current MIL-HDBK-54 is an obsolete
standard
on an unrelated topic (welding, I understand). The new number is MIL-HDBK-59.
This is another victory for document management specialists at the
Pentagon.
-------
Navy, Air Force Agree to Coordinate Pageless Tech Manual Standards
The Navy and Air Force have agreed to coordinate two on-going standardization
efforts for pageless technical manuals. Pageless technical manual would
retrieve information from electronic technical manuals according to
its
content, as opposed to format (i.e., referring to a page number). Pageless
tech
manuals are seen as the delivery vehicle of the future and are often
cited as
the motivation for using SGML tagging of structure and content by CALS
MIL-M-
28001. In order to accommodate Navy/Air Force requirements, however,
MIL-M-
28001 will have to change, perhaps fundamentally.
----
NCGA's Integrate '89 to Demonstrate CALS Standards
More than 30 companies will show their systems integration capabilities
at
National Computer Graphics Association's (NCGA's) Integrate '89, April
17-20
in Philadelphia. Integrate '89 will examine how standards are used
in two
important contexts: the Manufacturing Automation Protocol/Technical
and Office
Protocol (MAP/TOP) and CALS. MAP/TOP is an industry program supported
by
General Motors, Boeing and other major companies to address multivendor
integration. CALS is aimed at integrating and improving design, manufacturing
and logistic functions within the military and its contractors. Scenarios
at
Integrate '89 will reflect situations typically found in companies
and
organizations that are working to comply with MAP/TOP and CALS.
----
GCA to Support SGML Conformance Testing and Develop SGML DTD Reference Guide
The Graphic Communications Association (GCA) GENCode Committee has launched
an
SGML Conformance Testing Initiative (CTI). SGML (Standard Generalized
Markup
Language) is used to tag text for structure and content in accordance
with
MIL-M-28001. The CTI will test whether a product that reads a conforming
SGML
document correctly interprets it. The initial CTI project will be to
develop a
Conforming Test Suite (CTS) which covers the core of the standard.
The CTS will
consist of a set of documents that report whether or not the correct
binary
has been created. Subsequent CTI projects can address the optional
features of
the standard.
-----
AGFA Compugraphic Announces SGML-Based CAPSTM and Authoring/Editing Software
AGFA Compugraphic, a division of Agfa Corporation, announced that in
June of
this year it will deliver the first phase of new software that produces
CALS-
compliant documents on the Compugraphic Automated Publishing System
(CAPSTM). Phase One software will provide CAPS users with the ability
to
accept SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language). The CAPS software
is
unique in being based, by design, on SGML concepts.
----
Intergraph Announces SGML-Based Technical Publishing Product
Intergraph Corporation has announced an SGML-based technical publishing
software product which stores the document in SGML-native file format.
The
composition/pagination product is part of Intergraph's Distributed
Publishing
System and is said by Intergraph to emphasize their commitment to CALS
standards. The product was announced at TechDoc Winter '89, by Lani
Hajagos,
Product Planning Manager for Electronic Publishing Systems at Intergraph.
Ms.
Hajagos noted that the actual product architecture of Intergraph's
composition/pagination product is built with SGML as a basis. The announcement
is significant, coming from the second largest CAD/CAM vendor in the
world.
----
Interleaf Announces CALS Product
Interleaf, Inc. has announced a package of software, training and support
designed to help government contractors meet CALS requirements. The
CALS DoD
program is setting standards for electronic interchange of information,
including published documents. Interleaf's CALS Preparedness Package
is
intended to provide users the tools they need to begin creating CALS-complaint
documents and gaining hands-on experience with the CALS standards.
Interleaf
is a widely respected provider of electronic publishing systems and
support to
the defense and private industry. Interleaf began shipping electronic
publishing software in 1984 and now has more than 25,000 licensed users.
----
Henderson Says CGM Use Accelerating, Could Become Standard Plotter Driver Language
Lofton Henderson, in an exclusive interview with the CALS Report, reported
a
growing use of computer Graphic Metafile (CGM) and predicted its use
as a
postscript-like, ROM-resident plotter driver language. Henderson is
a widely
respected expert on CGM and other graphics standards and his firm markets
CGM
software and tools. CALS requires use of either CGM or a special subset
of
IGES in transferring technical illustrations.
-----
US OPM Announces Computer Security Courses
The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced a series of
half-day
courses designed to help agencies implement the Computer Security Act
of 1987
(P.L. 100-235). The courses, entitled "Computer Security Awareness
Training",
will fulfill the requirements of the Computer Security Act and will
meet the
basic needs of most government agencies. Courses are available to Federal
and
State, and Local government employees.
----
CADKEY, Inc. Announces Upgrade Price Discount for Government Users
A price discount of more than 90% on CADKEY upgrades is now available
to
Government users on a one-time basis. The new discount program is designed
to
upgrade CADKEY's military users from CADKEY 2.06M to CADKEY 3. CADKEY
is a
widely used Computer-Aided Design software package which has sold well
within
DoD.
----
CALS Calendar
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 2 No. 5, May 1989
DARPA Discloses First Details of Their Concurrent Engineering Initiative
Dr. Ralph T. Wood of General Electric Corporation Research & Development
disclosed details of DARPA's Initiative in Concurrent Engineering (DICE).
Concurrent Engineering (CE) refers to consideration of physical and
logistic
performance of a product early and concurrently in the procurement
cycle. The
DICE program is a high risk, high payoff effort to develop information
technology to support highly integrated design, production and support
of
weapon systems. Dr. Wood made his comments at the Society for Computer-Aided
Engineering (SCAE) Concurrent Engineering Conference. The DICE program
is
combining DoD, university, and industry research on Artificial Intelligence,
Information Science, Man-Machine Interfaces, and Design Behavior.
----
IDA Releases Concurrent Engineering Study for CALS
The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) has released the final report
of
their Department of Defense (DoD) funded study on Concurrent Engineering
(CE).
DoD had tasked IDA to assess the claims of improved product quality
at lower
cost and shortened product development time through the use of concurrent
engineering. Their final report, IDA Report R-338, "The Role of Concurrent
Engineering in Weapons System Acquisition", presents qualitative "case
studies" of various CE applications with the costs and benefits resulting.
The
report gives many recommendations on how DoD can encourage CE development
and
implementation.
---
Air Force Consolidates CALS Projects, forms Concurrent Engineering Office
Four separate Manufacturing Technology (MT) CALS research efforts at
Wright
Research and Development Center (WRDC), Wright Patterson AFB, OH have
been
consolidated into a single group and a new Concurrent Engineering Office
formed. MT's Integration Technology Division (MTI) consolidates EIS,
IDS,
IISS, PDES and other programs dealing with software, formats and architectures
for CALS shared information. The Concurrent Engineering Office incorporates
related RAMCAD research and other programs focused on information technology
needed by software analyzing physical and logistic performance from
design
data. The moves will permit merging and streamlining of several successful
programs under MTI, while broadening the application of RAMCAD technology
to
all life cycle performance predictions.
---
Dupont to Supply Piping Model for Validation of 28000 Extension
DuPont will provide an IGES piping model for validation testing of the
Piping
Application Protocol. The Piping Application Protocol is a formal procedure
for using IGES in transferring 3D piping data. It is expected to be
the first
application protocol included in MIL-D-28000. DuPont will create the
model on
PDMS, a well respected plant modeling software package marketed by
CADCentre.
DuPont's participation marks the first private commercial support of
the
protocol, which originated in the Navy Seawolf project.
----
PDES AEC Committee Invites Broad Industry to Review GARM Model
The Product Data Exchange Specification (PDES) Architecture, Engineering
and
Construction (AEC) committee is inviting a broad review of their new
General
AEC Reference Model (GARM). The GARM is an information model describing
data
elements and relationships used in AEC disciplines. The GARM will form
the
basis of information exchange using the emerging PDES standard. The
review
began at the PDES meeting in San Antonio in April.
---
ANSI Data Representation Ideas Influencing Army Data Dictionary
The work of American National Standards Institute Committee X3L8, "Data
Representation" is influencing the syntax and overall approach to the
Army
Data Dictionary (ADD). The purpose of this committee is to standardize
data
element names and meaning to facilitate international data exchange.
The army
has applied some of the preliminary ideas from this work in their AR
25-9 Army
Data Management and Standards program. The army is hoping to standardize
data
elements for improved maintenance and exchange between Army applications,
contractors, and international Allies. The ANSI committee is chaired
by
William H. Kenworthey Jr., OASD (Management Systems).
----
Digital Media Not Acceptable for Permanent Records Under Current Regulations
According to the General Services Administration, National Archives
and
Records Administration (NARA), Bulletin 88-8, Optical Media is still
too
untested to be used for permanent records. The bulletin contains the
GSA's
position on scanned images, and the standards which should be used.
The only
two media fully acceptable are paper and microfilm. GSA's bulletin
was
discussed by Joseph Hardy of the US Army, during a workshop on optical
storage
at FOSE '89 in Washington, DC. The position will impact CALS, which
expects to
save money by digital delivery of contract documents.
----
Participants Wanted for OSI, ISDN Security Program
Outside participants are invited by NIST to join in a cooperative research
program relating to security and management of computer networks that
use
the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) architecture or Integrated Services
Digital Network (ISDN) communications services. NIST is looking
for
participants to provide funding, equipment, and/or staff. A major
goal of
the program is to expedite the development and commercial availability
of
OSI and ISDN security products. As part of the program, NIST
will provide
a facility to define, develop, and test systems for a range of
telecommunications, network management, and security services in a
distributed information processing environment. The Government OSI
Profile
(GOSIP) was issued as FIPS 146 in August, 1988, and becomes mandatory
for use
in Federal procurements after August 15, 1990.
-----
FOSE '89 Show Features Image Management and Optical Storage
Image Management and Optical Storage of Forms, Documents, and Drawings
was a
central theme of the recent FOSE '89 show in Washington, DC. 56,644
Federal
employees, contractors, vendors and consultants braved ice and snow
to view
over 480 exhibits and attend 90 technical sessions. Rated the fifth
largest
computer show in the country, FOSE serves as a barometer of buying
trends in
Federal, state and local governments for office-oriented Automatic
Data
Processing (ADP) hardware and software.
----
Optigraphics Product Line Based on CCITT Group 4 Compression
Optigraphics Corporation uses CCITT Group 4 throughout their whole product
line and foresees an easy transition to support of CALS raster standards.
The
raster editing product line is used for precision editing of engineering
drawing images and implements many of the raster manipulation routines
in
firmware.
---
Publishing Solutions Announces SGML Markup Utility
Publishing Solutions has announced an extension to their database tagging
utility, dataTAG for Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). DataTAG
was originally targeted at the Desktop Publishing market almost two
years ago,
but, since has been adapted to Typsetting, Interleaf, Datalogics, and
most
recently, SGML Requirements. It may offer a quick way to incorporate
data in
ASCII files into a CALS-compliant SGML tagged file.
----
IGES Shareware Program Available
IGESPEEK, a shareware utility for examining IGES files, has been released
by
Dennette A. Harrod, Jr (d.b.a. WIZ WORX). IGESPEEK will not let you
modify
the files, nor will it identify semantic errors in the file.
It just lets you
look at the Directory Entry and Parameter Data fields of an entity
in an easy
to read "translated" format. For example, IGESPEEK will tell you the
color is
RED and the line-style is DOTTED, if that is what the data value means
and
will identify PD fields so that you don't have to count them. IGESPEEK
is
intended to be used as an adjunct to the various commercially available
translators and analyzers for IGES files. It saves you the trouble
of
thumbing through the IGES document to decipher the fields in an entity.
----
CALS Calendar
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 2 No. 6, June 1989
McGrath: Commercial Markets Greatest Payoff for CALS Products
Dr. Michael McGrath, Director DOD CALS Policy Office, OASD, cautioned
vendors
preparing CALS compliant products that the commercial automation markets
held
the biggest payoff for their products. Although DoD plans to purchase
systems
to upgrade its infrastructure, the defense contractor market is much
bigger
than DoD's, and the commercial market is bigger still. Some vendors
have
grumbled that neither DoD or defense contractors have spent much on
CALS
products and that DoD needs to encourage product development by some
short
term spending.
---
RAdm. Curtis: Navy System Spec to Form Core of Many CAD/CAM/CAE Acquisitions
RAdm. Guy H. Curtis III, USN, Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
(Logistics) and the Navy's CALS Advocate announced that the Navy has
written a
core CAD/CAM acquisition specification which will be used by all Navy
commands
and perhaps other services. Curtis made his remarks at a CALS Meeting
sponsored by the San Diego Section of the American Society of Naval
Engineers (ASNE). The specification was developed and reviewed by the
Navy's
Information Resources Management Group and reviewed by the Navy's CALS
Steering Committee. The core spec was rewritten to incorporate CALS
and other
standards.
Five Navy commands will participate in the CAD II acquisition:
1. NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Command), responsible for the
design
construction and support of facilities such as buildings, docks. and
roads.
2. NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command), responsible for the design construction
and support of ships and shipboard weapons.
3. NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command), resonsible for the design, construction
and support of avaition weapon systems
4. NAVSUP (Naval Supply Systems Command), Responsible for the production
and
publication of technical drawings, manuals, designs and blueprints.
5. SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command), responsible for
the
design, construction and support of electronic systems and subsystems.
The total amount of the Navy acquisition has been estimated to be $500 Million.
----
Navy Trend Regards On-Board Logistic Data as Critical Resource
The US Navy is showing a trend to regard the on-board logistic data
and the
computers which access them as a critical system, perhaps as important
as
propulsion or steering. The trend results from the increasing reliance
of
naval ships on computers for all functions, including logistic support.
Even
in battle, assessment of damage, damage control, and repair are using
computer-based technical manuals, ship models, and other technology
to
function efficiently. For this reason, even logistic computers and
data bases
might warrant the same protection afforded other critical computer
components.
The issue of survivability of CALS computer-based data was raised in
the
discussion at the recent Society of Naval Engineers CALS Meeting in
San
Diego, CA.
---
CALS Phase 1.2 Meetings Shows Sharpened Service Focus on Specific Problems
The CALS Phase 1.2 meetings showed that the DoD service have sharpened
their
focus on specific CALS problem areas. In prior presentations, the services
described programs that attacked all CALS issues simultaneously. It
seems now
that each service has developed a strategy based on their own perceived
needs
and assigned responsibilities within DoD. The CALS Test Network has
now
assigned discipline concentrations to services along these lines.
-----
Logistics 2010 Guide Sets Goals for Contracting/Cultural Change
A new guide, Logistics 2010: Edition 1988, outlines changes needed within
the
defense community to better support DoD armed services. The report
was issued
by the Logistics 2010 Project, chartered by the Assistant Secretary
of Defense
(Production and Logistics) in August, 1987. The project was established
to
develop long-term logistics strategic planning guidance and to institute
a
process to adjust the guidance as the logistics environment changes.
The guide
states and refines four long-term goals affecting contracting practices,
planning, priorities, and cultural attitudes toward logistic issues.
The four goals are:
I. Ensure Operational Logistics Support to meet readiness and sustainability
requirements. This goal emphasizes direct support of the operational
mission
and the needs of users and providers of operational logistics support.
II. Ensure Weapon System Availability. This addresses changes needed
in weapon
system acquisition and follow-on support.
III. Improve the Quality of Logistics Management and Operations. This
addresses the core logistics operations and systems at all echelons.
IV. Improve the Industrial Base Responsiveness to DoD Needs. This includes
both DoD organic and commercial industrial bases (see CALS Report,
October,
1988).
The four goals are refined into two or three objectives each, which
are
future supported by a number of specific DoD strategies.
---
RAMCAD Industry Panel to Liaison with CALS Concurrent Engineering Task Group
Delegates to the 5th JLC/JPCG RAMCAD meeting voted to establish a liaison
with
the CALS Concurrent Engineering Task Group with the goal of developing
a
unified approach to R&M integration with Design. The RAMCAD (Reliability,
Availability, Maintainability in Computer Aided Design) program seeks
to
further R&M concepts in CAD by developing software, lessons learned
archives,
and curriculum. Many of the integration issues have been assigned to
the new
MTI Concurrent Engineering office (See CALS Report, May, 1989). The
RAMCAD
committee will work with the CALS initiative to develop standards for
R&M
databases and software interfaces.
---
GIDEP Compiling R&M Statistics
The Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) is compiling reliability
and maintainability statistics on components used in DoD systems, but
the data
must be used with caution. GIDEP is a cooperative activity between
government
and industry to catalog and exchange life cycle data on systems and
equipment.
GIDEP summarizes the statistics or resource in one of several databases,
and
provides microfiche copies of the supporting report.
---
IGES/PDES News
The IGES/PDES meeting in San Antonio concentrated its activities on
answering
ISO's responses to the STEP draft proposal. STEP (Standard for The
Exchange of
Product Model Data) is the ISO (International Standards Organization)
name for
the US PDES (Product Data Exchange Standard) standard activity. The
draft STEP
proposal is now out for ballot by individual countries. Brad Smith,
PDES
Project Chairman said that the primary purpose of the week's activities
were
to have a mid-point correction in the ballot process. Each country
has been
making progress toward their response to the ballot.
----
Contractors Planning for Permanent CALS Facility at Dallas INFOMART
A group of Defense contractors are planning to set up a permanent CALS
education and demonstration facility at the INFOMART in Dallas, Texas.
The
facility, called the CALS connectivity center, would be the first permanent
resource devoted to CALS technologies and methods. The contractors,
members of
the CALS Connectivity Industry Advisory Group have held discussions
with DoD
and other CALS initiatives to determine the role and business structure
of a
permanent facility. Some seed money has been provided by the TEXAS
research
and technology foundation of San Antonio, which is also providing staff
to run
the center.
------
Georgia Tech Establishes CALS Research Center
Georgia Tech University has established a CALS Research Center to pursue
research and educational projects on CALS technologies. The Center
is
headed by Robert Fulton, widely know for his CIM database research
and
professional activities. The center was established in February, 1989
and held
a NSF workshop to define CALS research issues. Advancing CALS technologies
through University level research and pedagogy has been a high priority
with
DoD.
----
Auto-Trol Technology to release two MIL-STD-28000 Software Switches
Auto-Trol has developed two software switches integrated with their
CAD/CAM
products capable of outputing MIL-D-28000 Class I (Technical Illustrations)
and Class II (Engineering Drawings) subsets. The software switches
would limit
the input and output of CAD systems to specific protocols (allowed
IGES
entities and mapping to them). MIL-D-28000 specifies four subsets of
IGES
entities and is preparing to include a more complete protocol for a
fifth. The
Auto-Trol CALS utilities mark the first time a major CAD/CAM vendor
has
offered compliant tools as part of a regular software release.
--
Interleaf Heads Up Cals Demo At NCGA
Interleaf's electronic publishing system formed the target destination
for
multi-vendor CALS data transferred at the 1989 National Computer Graphics
Association (NCGA) conference in Philadelphia, PA. NCGA is the first
major
computer industry trade show to highlight CALS-compliant solutions.
The CALS
event was part of the Integrate'89 program (see CALS Report, April,
1989). The
demonstration featured a production zone where SGML text, IGES and
CGM
graphics and CCITT images created on a variety of computers converged
at a
central Interleaf publishing system. From there the files are
edited, merged
into compound CALS documents, and produced on paper and as MIL-STD-1840A
CALS
magnetic tapes. Interleaf is a widely respected vendor of electronic
publishing systems, often used by defense contractors for technical
manuals.
----
GTX Announces CALS Conformance Products
GTX Corporation, manufacturer of drawing conversion and management systems,
announces the availability of three products designed to produce CALS
compatible data files. The products are:
1. CALS*SCAN, a system which provides conversion of paper and CAD files
to
CALS compatible databases.
2. CALS*EDIT, a series of CALS compatible editors which run on standard
PC and
PS/2 platforms.
3. CALS*VIEW, a product for viewing CALS compatible files on standard
PC and
PS/2 or compatible 286/386 workstations.
GTX is a privately held corporation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
The
unqualified claim to CALS compatibility is interesting, considering
that other
vendors view compatibility with the rapidly changing standards as a
commitment, rather than a claim. GTX demonstrated all of the products
at the
April NCGA in Philadelphia, PA.
---
GE Information Services/International TechneGroup to Support EDI and CAD
GE Information Services Co (GEISCO), a leading provider of third party
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) services, has announced an alliance
with
International TechneGroup Inc. (ITI) to provide GE Information Services,'
customers with a broad range of CAD/CAM, Data Translation and Implementation
Services. GEISCO recently announced the addition of the DESIGN*EXPRESS
[TM]
System to its family of EDI products (See CALS Report, May, 1988).
The
DESIGN*EXPRESS System provides the capability to exchange Computer-Aided
Design
(CAD) data between companies. ITI, a Cincinnati-based company, will
provide
the CAD translation software and consulting services to users of GE
IS'
DESIGN*EXPRESS System service.
---
TechView IGES Viewer Outputs Drawing Markups as MIL-D-28000 Class I Data
TechView, A CAD viewing and redlining system, outputs drawing markups
as MIL-
D-28000 Class I data. TechView allows the end user to annotate the
IGES
drawings being viewed and then allows you to save the annotations in
an IGES
overlay format. This protects the original CAD database while
allowing
feedback and comments from selected reviewers. Markups are output
in
compliance with the MIL-D-28000 specification for the Class I IGES
Technical
Pubs subset. TechView was designed and developed by Microsystems Engineering
Corporation, (MEC), a software company.
----
ICAD System to Create Process Plans From RAMP PDES Data
The ICAD (Cambridge MA) systems has been chosen to create process plans
from
RAMP PDES Data. To streamline the manufacture of replacement parts,
the US
Navy is developing the Rapid Acquisition of Manufactured Parts (RAMP)
CIM
facility to produce "parts-on-demand". A key step in this type of production
is creating process plans from design features encoded in PDES (Product
Data
Exchange Standard). Process plans identify the equipment and routing
required
for manufacturing replacement parts. The RAMP facility is expected
to reduce
part procurement cycles to a month or less. Currently, that cycle can
take
more than a year. The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) and
a
consortium of firms, including Arthur D. Little, The Battelle Memorial
Institute, Grumman Data Systems, and Ingersoll Engineers Inc., are
under
contract to the Navy to develop the RAMP Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
(CIM) facility in Charleston, SC.
----
CALS Calendar
================================================================================
CALS Report, Vol 2, No 7, July, 1989
DoD CALS Office Finalizes 1989 CALS Agenda
The DoD CALS Office has announced a final 1989 agenda which includes
a
comprehensive master plan, a clearer focus on contractor responibilities,
increased testing and infrastructure development, and extensive revisions
to
existing standards. The agenda was discussed by Dr. Michael F. McGrath,
Director of the DoD CALS Policy Office, in a meeting of the newly reorganized
CALS Information Management (formerly the Digital Information Interchange
Task
Group, as will be discussed in more detail next month) in Gaithersburg,
MD.
The agenda justifies the broadened scope of CALS development activities
in
terms of the final target capabilities envisioned.
----
CALS SIG Forming in Europe
A CALS Special Interest Group (SIG) is forming hosted by the British
Standards
Institution (BSI). The first meeting, "CALS IN EUROPE: An Action Meeting,"
is
scheduled for July 14, 1989, will review CALS and its potential impact
on the
European and NATO defense industry. The participation of defense firms
throughout Europe is solicited. The SIG will be under the auspices
of the SGML
Users' Group, but will cover all aspects of CALS as developed by the
US DoD,
not just SGML. It will concentrate exclusively in the first instance
on
equipping the European defense industry to respond to the US DoD requirements.
For more information on the CALS SIG, contact: Ms. Joan M. Smith,
17 Tanza Rd., Hampstead, London, NW3 3UA, UK, +44-1-435-9300.
----
NIST CBT Workshop on Process Plant 3-D Piping Application Protocols Successful
A NIST Center for Building Technology (CBT) Workshop on the 3-D Piping
Information Needs in the Process Plant Industry was convened to discuss
the
effect of the proposed Application Protocol on their industry. Chaired
by Mark
Palmer of NIST's Computer Integrated Construction Group, the workshop
successfully exchanged ideas from the process plant, shipbuilding,
construction, and CAD industries. The workshop is an effort to coordinate
the
CALS 3-D Piping Application Protocol (AP) with an affected non-defense
industry.
--
Analysis: New MIL-STD-1388 2B Enhances Data Integration but More is Needed
The new Logistic Support Analysis Record (LSAR) standard MIL-STD-1388
2B is
certain to alter past approaches to logistic data transfer. The new
LSAR data
record will be defined as a relational data base model (see CALS Report,
August, 1988), stated in a processable SQL format. SQL (Structured
Query
Language) will allow software to create the LSAR data base on any compliant
Relational Data Base Management System (RDBMS) and later access (query)
that
data. Data access by users and their applications will become so simple,
that
it will intensify the debate over the need for and structure of an
IGES-like
exchange format or indexing schemes for LSAR data. Because of the broader
scope and utility of indexing schemes, it serves a larger role than
1388 LSAR
data and fills a CALS need for context-independent data queries. The
controversy will be the subject of a special panel at the SCAE conference
on
CALS/Concurrent Engineering, 19-21 September, 1989, at Crystal City,
VA.
----
POSIX forms Security Task Group to Add Security Interface Standards to APP
POSIX has formed a security task group (IEEE P1003.6) to add Security
Interface Standards to Applications Portability Profile (APP). The
task group
will develop specifications for standard interfaces to security services
and
mechanisms for portable applications, to include system call interfaces
and
commands. The security standard is one of the 9-part POSIX family of
interface
standards for assuring application portability (see CALS Report, March,
1989).
POSIX standards are for software portability, GOSIP standards are for
interoperability. The current Federal Information Processing Standard
(FIPS)
151 is based on draft 12 of IEEE 1003.1 and is being revised (151-1).
----
GE Establishes CALS Steering Committee
GE has established a corporate CALS steering committee to lend corporate
support to its divisions and individual departments regarding CALS.
The
steering committee will address how best to use CALS tools, techniques,
and
associated standards internally among numerous GE components, between
components and their subcontractors, and between components and their
Govenment customers. The GE steering committee has established
and manned
working groups that somewhat parallel the working group structure of
the CALS
Industry Steering Group. To date, working groups have been formed
for
Technical Manuals/Publications, Technical Drawings and CAD/CAM, Logistic
Support Analysis, Reliability and Maintainability Integration, and
Contracts.
----
The CALS Report Welcomes the CALS Review
by William G. Beazley, Editor, CALS Report
As some of our readers have noticed, there is a new CALS publication
on the
scene, The CALS Review. We are pleased that this new quarterly has
arrived to
serve as a "refereed journal" on CALS topics. Auerbach, the publisher
of this
scholarly piece is known internationally for high quality, detailed
books and
references for CAD, CIM and other areas.
--
Frame Technology Developing New Publishing Product for CALS Market
Frame Technology Corporation has announced it has license Software Exoterica
Corp.'s XGML Engine, a Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)
parser and
software package. Frame, a San Jose, CA is a leading supplier of computer
publishing software. Software Exoterica Corp., a Canadian developer
and user
of SGML technology since 1986, provides products and services to the
SGML
community. Exoterica's XGML Engine parsing technology for SGML is used
by an
increasing number of software developers, system integrators, and end
users.
Frame will use the XGML Engine to develop new CALS-compliant computer
publishing software, based on its advanced FrameMaker technology.
---
Ford Aerospace Installs CALS-Compliant Datalogics Technical Publishing Systems
San Jose, CA -- Ford Aerospace, Western Development Laboratories (WDL)
Division, has installed three CALS-Compliant technical publishing systems
from
Datalogics, Inc. Ford Aerospace, which designs and manufactures
command,
control, communication, and intelligence (C3I) systems for the United
States
government and other customers, produces and updates a large volume
of highly-
illustrated technical documentation to support its work. This
documentation
must be produced with a system that fully complies with current and
projected
Department of Defense CALS standards. Datalogics is a leading supplier
of
publishing systems worldwide for government, aerospace, automotive,
financial
and legal applications.
----
GSC Associates Announces CALS-Compliant GraphPorter CGM-Based Product
GSC Associates has announced the availability of its GraphPorter product.
GraphPorter is a printer driver that works with most applications on
the Apple
Macintosh family of computers. Instead of immediately printing
the document,
a description of it is saved to disk in Computer Graphics Metafile
(CGM)
exchange format. This provides a quick and reliable way to send
graphics
generated on the Apple Macintosh to other computers (including the
IBM PC).
A profile of CGM has been adopted as a CALS exchange standard and is
one of
four profiles generated by the product.
----
Sherpa Configuration Management Software Features Application-Independence
The Sherpa Design Management System (DMS) is a comprehensive software
system
available for Engineering data management (EDM). EDM is also referred
to as
Configuration Management (CM) and is an increasing concern to the CALS
community, which must provide for Government access to data while maintaining
a secure system and protecting proprietary data. EDM systems control
all of
the files created by each of an organization's disparate computer-aided
design
and engineering (CAD/CAE) tools, manage the relationship among the
design
files that these electronic tools generate, and control access to the
design
files throughout the product life-cycle. Sherpa claims their
software is
different from that offered by software application vendors, who offer
more
limited capabilities which are usually incompatible with other application
files.
-----
Matra Datavision and Digital Collaborate to Manage Design Data
Matra Datavision has announced the successful integration of its well-known
EUCLID-IS CAE/CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing)
system with Digital's new EDSC-II software. Using Matra's EDMF (EUCLID-IS
Data
Management Facilities) module, engineers can prepare designs for validation
and place EUCLID-IS models under EDSC II control to be shared with
other
departments. EDSC II automatically notifies reviewers that designs
are ready
for scrutiny, handles ECO's (engineering change orders) by passing
EUCLID-IS
models and instructions back to the design environment, and accommodates
company-specific design approval and engineering release processes.
Matra
Datavision is a leader in CAE/CAD/CAM solutions based in solid modeling.
=======
CALS Report, Vol 2, No 8, August, 1989
Prime Computer Decides not to Implement Output of MIL-D-28000 Subsets
In a surprise move, Prime Computer has announced that they do not intend
to
implement a user option in their IGES pre-processor to generate MIL-D-28000
subset files. IGES pre-processors encode a vendor's proprietary data
entities
into IGES entities: CALS standard MIL-D-28000 narrows this further
to certain
subsets of IGES entities for specific applications. Prime suggests
that their
customers use "any of the IGES-to-IGES filter utilities which are available
to
create MIL-D-28000 conformant files." The decision does not affect
Prime's
intention to enable their CAD systems to read "all MIL-D-28000 subsets
that
they can represent." In addition, Prime asks the IGES user community
not to
request MIL-D-28000 subset output of any other CAD vendor's IGES pre-
processor.
----
Don Hall Says Four Electronic Standards to Emerge in CALS
Don Hall announced that four ANSI electronic standards will be adopted
by CALS
for use in exchanging electronic product data. The four standards:
EDIF - Electronic Design Interchange Format ANSI/EIA 548-1988
IPC - Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic
Circuits,
IPC-D-350, 351, 352,
354
IGES - Interim Graphics Exchange Specification ANSI Y14.26
VHDL - VHSLIC hardware Description Language ANSI/IEEE 1076
have gained wide industry acceptance within specific application domains.
The
four product data standards for electronics will be targeted toward
specific
applications. The action follows the recommendations of an Electronic
Industries Association (EIA) study and Hall made his announcement at
a meeting
of the VHDL Users' Group. The change will be implemented through changes
to
MIL-STD-1840A, MIL-HDBK-59 (CALS), and other guidance.
-----
DoD Says VHDL Model Delivery Vital to Offsetting Diminished Manufacturing Sources
DoD has said that delivery of VHDL model is vital to offsetting Diminished
Manufacturing Sources (DMS). According to Dr. Susan Turnbach, OSD(A)/DTAO,
VHDL can help Dimishing Manufacturing Sources by:
o Serving as standard, unambiguous, simulatable descriptions of all
parts of electronic designs, at all levels of abstraction through gate.
o Providing a technology independent way to use functional descriptions
and automatically synthesize new devices with equivalent performance.
o Allowing verification through simulation, before costly hardware
is built.
Dr. Turnbach made her comments at the recent VHDL Users Group meeting
in
Washington, DC.
----
CALS ISG Reorganizes to Embrace CALS & Concurrent Engineering Missions
The CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG) has reorganized to reflect its
combined
interest in CALS and Concurrent Engineering, and improve the management
of
task group activities. While CALS is concerned with a broad family
of enabling
technologies, most industry participants are committed to the long
term
objective of advancing Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) techniques.
These
advanced techniques are now falling under the general concept of concurrent
engineering.
-----
ODA & CALS
by N. S. Srikanta, Member, NIST ODA Implementation Group, and
Fred H. Held, Member ISO/IEC JTC1/SC18/WG5 and ANSI X3
Tech Comm X3V1
There have been several articles written lately that relate to CALS
MIL-STD-
1840A documents. One identifies a problem with using Standard
Generalized
Markup Language (SGML - ISO 8879) for document interchange - Karen
D. Schwartz
had an article in Government Computer News (reference 1) that identified
a
formatting problem when a MIL-STD-1840A document is interchanged.
Another is
a misunderstanding of using Office Document Architecture and Interchange
Format (ODA - ISO 8613) in the CALS environment - Joan M. Smith wrote
an
article in this newsletter (reference 2) that was a misunderstanding
of ODA's
use of SGML for CALS documents. ... This article tries to clarify some
issues
related to ODA and SGML, and why ODA is a better choice for document
interchange in the CALS environment.
----
SGML and ODA Revisited
by Joan M. Smith, President, SGML Users Group
A comparison of SGML and ODA for use in CALS is something that I have
carefully avoided until now, preferring instead to concentrate on the
inclusion of documents structured in accordance with ODA in an SGML
environment. However, the article by N. S. Srikanta and F. H.
Held on 'ODA
and CALS' in this number of the CALS Report raises interesting issues
to which
I should like to respond. I do so not only because of the work
I have done
with SGML but also as the former editor of Part 1, Introduction and
General
Principles, and Part 4, Document Profile, of ISO 8613 ODA.
SGML and ODA should not be compared as they fulfill two different needs:
one
for the re-use of information in an information base that may include
any
content type, and the other for the interchange of office documents.
Since
ODA documents may be included in an information base governed by SGML,
there
is no problem if it is decided that CALS should adopt both ISO standards.
Certainly ODA cannot do everything that is possible with SGML. This
not a
criticism of ODA, for it was never a design criterion that it should.
We laid
the foundations for what most people wanted who worked in offices,
to have a
document created on one word processor able to be imaged by the one
in the
next office, or elsewhere in their company. It evolved over the
years, and
now many facilities offered by desktop publishing systems are taken
into
account. But that is not what Phase II of CALS is about.
----
CALCE Center at the University of Maryland Helps Electronic Design Industries
To meet the needs of the electronic design industry, the University
of
Maryland has established the Computer Aided Life Cycle Engineering
(CALCE)
Industry/University Cooperative Research Center under the sponsorship
of the
National Science Foundation. The CALCE center is an Industry/University
Cooperative Research Center studying problems related to the efficient
design
of reliable electronics. In recent years, electronic design industries
have
spent a considerable amount of effort in the development of sophisticated
tools for schematic capture, electrical simulation and routing.
However,
there are additional electrical, mechanical, reliability, maintainability,
and logistical engineering concerns which must be integrated into the
design
process. Such system level design tools will increase the productivity
and
efficiency of engineers, and facilitate teamwork, and are considered
essential to CALS Phase II.
----
Glasnost Comes to the CALS Report: A Special Offer to Subscribers
Many subscriber firms are forming Corporate CALS Committees. The CALS
Report
maintains a list of about 7,000 active professionals in CALS-related
areas.
Although many firms have close to a hundred people listed in my data
base, I
have consistently refused to disclose co-workers, despite the many
requests.
However, there has been such a rapid increase in this activity, that
I find
myself in a unique position to contribute to their development. I have
decided
to reverse the non-disclosure policy, subject to certain conditions,
in order
to facilitate formation of CALS committees and to update and expand
my mailing
list. This will also enable some group subscribers to expand their
subscriptions and share the savings.
-----
CALS Report Thanks Xerox Corporation
The CALS Report wishes to thank Xerox Corporation for their purchase
of a
license for an electronic version of the CALS Report. The license will
enable
Xerox to make the newsletter available on an unlimited basis throughout
the
Xerox corporate electronic mail network. Although the price is proprietary,
the initial survey returns indicated that the electronic version will
save
about $8,000 over single issue subscription cost and a considerable
amount over
a group rate. The CALS Report welcomes these kinds of innovative ideas
for
distributing the newsletter for mutual savings. We complement Xerox
for their
vision.
=======
CALS Report, Vol 2, No 9, September, 1989
MIL-M-28001 A SGML Draft Released for Coordination
The long-awaited Draft of the revision to the CALS Standard for SGML
markup of
technical publications, MIL-M-28001-A, has been released for coordination.
Formal Coordination of Revision A to MIL-M-28001,"Markup Requirements
and
Generic Style Specification for Electronic Printed Output and Exchange
of
Text," is a major step in its adoption as a Military Specification.
It
involves reconcilliation by DoD of the needs of the military services,
while
considering the comments of industry reviewers. The new revision formally
introduces the new Output Specification (OS) and Formatting Output
Specification Instances (FOSI's) needed to describe the format of the
document. Publication of MIL-M-28001A is scheduled for December, 1989.
-----
MIL-STD-1388-2B Now Available for Beta Testing Through MRSA
US Army AMC/MRSA has released a coordination Draft of "DoD Requirements
for a
Logistic Support Analysis Record." MRSA (Materiel Readiness Support
Activity)
is responsible for MIL-STD-1388-2B, which will become the new standard
for
LSAR as relations in an RDBMS. The new standard will include a Government
developed Joint Service LSAR Relational ADP System. The JSLSAR ADP
System is
being readied for beta testing that will create LSAR relations in a
user-
supplied RDBMS. The JSLSAR system will include C Language code with
embedded
Structured Query Language (SQL) calls that will set up the LSAR data
base.
This LSAR revision will greatly facilitate its integration with CAD/CAM,
Tech
Pubs, and other defense applications (see CALS Report, July, 1989).
The new
standard was reviewed at a meeting at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD, attended
by
about 600 contractor professionals. The standard and JSLSAR system
is
scheduled for release in early 1990.
----
SAE Initiates IGES Translator Verification Program
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the National Institute
of
Standards and Technology (NIST, formerly the National Bureau of Standards)
have announced the initiation of the IGES Translator Verification Program.
The SAE program will concentrate on verifying a vendor's claim to pre-process
(output) or post-process (input) individual IGES entities in their
various
allowed forms. The SAE test report may play a role in DoD qualification
of
defense contractors to process CALS IGES entity subsets. They are notifying
vendors of IGES products about the existence of the program and are
seeking
volunteers for the beta test of program test suites and procedures.
SAE is
under contract to NIST to do the Beta Testing, while production testing
is
expected to be funded from test fees. The actual testing will be done
at
university-based test laboratories.
-----
Controversy Continues over Prime's Stance on IGES Subsets
Discussion continues over the controversial position taken by Prime
at the
last IGES/PDES meeting in Buffalo, NY (see CALS Report, August, 1989).
The
position stated that Prime will concentrate on full expression of their
databases in un-restricted IGES, while users are advised to seek third
party
software to meet CALS MIL-D-28000 subset requirements. These subsets
restrict
the IGES entities that can be used, according to the application creating
the
data. The CALS report has learned that CAD vendors approaches to CALS
compliance are quite varied. Most vendors, however, are comfortable
with the
reflavoring approach to subset output and some may announce IGES-to-IGES
flavoring products, rather than direct output of CALS subsets. This
may even
include Prime itself.
----
CALS Requirements
by Joan M. Smith, President, SGML User Group
It is not generally appreciated that the DoD CALS requirements as specified
in
the MIL 28000 series of standards apply only at the interchange interface.
In
particular, they do not state how a contractor shall create the work
being
exchanged. This implies that a contractor could well continue to use
its own
system - at least during Phase I - adding the necessary CALS information
prior
to delivery on magnetic tape. For the smaller companies, this
stage could
even be taken over by a bureau. Another implication is that neither
contractors nor the DoD is precluded from working in a far richer environment.
-----
NAVSEA Considering CTN Test Protocol for Contractor Qualification
The US Navy is currently evaluating the recently released CALS Test
Network
(CTN) IGES Class II test protocol (see CALS Report, March, 1989) for
use in
qualifying contractor CAD systems. The evaluation is being conducted
by David
Sadler and Glen Wright of the Naval Sea Systems Combat Systems Engineering
Station at Norfolk, VA. Jill Farrell of CTN, and author of the test
protocol,
is analyzing the test results. The work should lead to an unbiased
method of
qualifying contractor CAD data transfer capabilities needed to delivery
contract data to the Navy. After the method is perfected at NAVSEA,
it will be
offered for use by other commands.
----
DoD Interim Program Acquisition Guidance Links Concurrent Engineering to TQM Goal
A memorandum issued by Robert B. Costello, Under Secretary of Defense
for
Acquisition, before leaving DoD, links concurrent engineering to DoD's
Total
Quality Management (TQM) goal, and adopts as interim program acquisition
guidance, the recommendations of the DoD/Industry CE/TQM task force
established by DDR&E and ASD(P&L). Costello had asked the task
force to
evaluate the potential of Concurrent Engineering (CE) to contribute
to DoD's
TQM objectives of reduced cost, reduced time, and improved quality.
The task
force concluded that the Concurrent Engineering process can in fact
be a major
factor in achieving the desired results, while noting that many current
DoD
acquisition practices act as inhibitors to rapid CE implementation.
Some of
these are long-standing problems already being addressed while others
are
specific to Concurrent Engineering. The Concurrent Engineering guidance
is
consistent with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition [USD(A)]
memorandum, "Implementation of Total Quality Management in DoD Acquisition"
of
August 19, 1988.
----
Corporation for Open Systems Announces Interoperability Lab
Corporation for Open Systems (COS) has announced their COS Interoperability
Lab. The Lab has been formed as a development and test facility for
COS-
developed OSI network standards. COS test suites are expected to facilitate
compliance with GOSIP (Government OSI Profile) because of their many
similarities.
The COS I-Lab was initiated to accomplish the following objectives:
o To provide a laboratory environment to research and test multivendor
OSI
interoperability;
o To facilitate real world interoperability problem resolution among
different
brands of computers;
o To provide feedback for further development of COS conformance test
products
and services, and;
o To provide feedback to standards, national and international
implementor's agreements, and OSINET interoperability testing.
-----
Bechtel Announces WALKTHRU Animation Software Available for AutoCAD Models
Bechtel Software, Inc.has announced that WALKTHRU, its animation and
visualization software package, is now available for use with models
designed
with AutoCAD Version 10.0. The AutoCAD port to WALKTHRU was completed
through
an IGES interface, and runs on the Silicon Graphics workstations. Bechtel
Software, Inc. sells, markets, distributes and supports internally-developed
and acquired project management, CAD/E, and expert system software.
Bechtel
Software has used IGES to exchange solid models created on a number
of CAD
systems.
---
FORMTEK Receives Software License Agreement from Pratt & Whitney
FORMTEK has received a Software License Agreement for FORM:SKETCH+ from
United
Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Group. FORMTEK
is a leading
developer and supplier of software products for the electronic capture,
storage, revision and distribution of engineering drawings and related
documents. United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Group
is a leading
manufacturer of jet engines for both commercial and military markets
and a
major developer of rocket engines for use by NASA and the military.
FORMTEK's
plans for CALS compliance met one of the manditory requirements set
by Pratt &
Whitney.
----
Blum Forms New Firm to Commercialize CALS Phase II Products
Ivan J. Blum, a leading expert on CALS impact on commercial enterprises,
has
formed a firm to develop products supporting CALS Phase II requirements.
The
firm, Industrial Data Networks (IDNtm) is a California corporation.
Blum is the
author of the first draft of the CALS core requirement; the first draft
of the
CALS MIL-HDBK-59, the CALS Handbook; and the CALS benefits white paper,
"Overcoming Structural Impediments to Achievement of CALS Benefits."
Blum
has written numerous articles on CALS and has held many public and
private
seminars on CALS impact on corporate strategic planning.
=======
CALS Report, Vol 2, No 10, October, 1989
TECHDOC 1840A Tech Pubs Demonstration Successful Despite Glitches
In a historic CALS milestone, the CALS Test Network (CTN) held a public
demonstration of CALS Compliant data exchange between nine electronic
publishing system vendors. The demonstration of CALS standards was
judged a
success, despite several glitches which arose in interpreting raster
files.
The demonstration included the transfer of a technical publication
by an MIL-
STD-1840A tape, of text tagged In Accordance With (IAW) MIL-M-28001
and raster
illustrations compressed and formatted IAW MIL-R-28002. Nine vendors,
using a
variety of hardware, read, modified and outputted the 1840A-compliant
tape.
The TECHDOC conference and show has become a major forum for CALS technical
publication standards issues. The success of the test is expected to
lead to a
more comprehensive demonstration at CALS EXPO '89 in December, 1989.
----
Army CALS Study Awarded to Four Firms
The long-awaited Army CALS (ACALS) Phase I contracts have been awarded
to four
teams of contractors. The Phase I contracts are for system architectural
designs and other technology to integrate Army technical data. The
four teams
were led by Computer Sciences Corp., Xerox, BDM, and TRW. Up to four
Phase I
(Concept) contracts were possible and the full award could be interpreted
as a
show of commitment by the Army to CALS technology. Up to two teams
could be
selected for Phase II demonstration) contracts. A single team will
be
selected for Phase III (development), and Phase IV (deployment). The
target
weapon system of ACALS is the new LXH helicopter.
-----
MIDS Demonstrated for Joint Tactical Fusion Project
The Army Material Command's (AMC) Multi-purpose Integrating Information
Data
Service (MIDS) has been adapted to the Joint Tactical Fusion (JTF)
Program.
MIDS is an Army developed capability that emphasizes database gateway/
linking
technology. MIDS was developed by the Materiel and Parts Availability
Control
(MPAC) at AMC. It has also been known as the MPAC Information Data
Service and
Material Information Data Service. The Joint Tactical Fusion program
is
concerned with fusing different types of intelligence information for
tactical
purposes. The MIDS technology provided decision-making capabilities
to help
manage the program. The on-line MIDS for the JTF Program can also be
easily
adapted to other programs/projects. The JTF Program-MIDS has been demonstrated
and recently installed. MIDS installation at other sites is being considered.
----
Pageless Tech Manual Spec and Content Data Model Drafts Completed
The Pageless Tech Manual (PTM) subcommittee has completed the draft
Pageless
Tech Manual Specification and forwarded it and the Air Force-developed
draft
Content Data Model (CTM) to the CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG).
The PTM
spec, "MIL-M-28001 Suppliment: Markup Requirements and Generic Style
specifications for Data Base Interchange (DBI) for Electronic Output
of
Technical Data," dated 7 July 1989, details the conceptual basis for
PTM. It
also references two information models, the CDM and a NIAM (see CALS
Report,
July, 1988) information model not yet completed.
---
CALS Small Business Task Group Sets Charter, Working Groups
The CALS Small Business Task Group has set its charter and formed three
task
groups under the newly reorganized CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG).
The
Small Business Task Group was established on January 30, 1989.
The group was
formed to assist the Department of Defense and the CALS Industry Steering
Group in their efforts to ensure that the special needs of small business
are
addressed. The group initially adopted the definition of small
business as
contained in FAR Subpart 19.1: less than 1,000 employees and
less than $10
million net profit per year; however, it was agreed that the charter
was meant
to be inclusive for companies who share the same basic problems as
small
businesses. The Task Group presently consists of approximately
30 members
from industry and a representative from the Department of Commerce,
one from
the Department of Defense, one from the Defense Logistics Agency, and
one from
the Office of the Secretary of Defense Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization Office.
----
Terrell of DoE Says Federal Agencies Must Tailor & Enhance CALS to Their Needs
Robert L. Terrell, Division Director, Technology & Telecommunications,
US
Department of Energy (DoE), Office of Scientific and Technical Information,
said that federal agencies must tailor and enhance CALS to meet their
individual needs. CALS is currently oriented to technical weapons systems
support documentation. Federal agencies, however, have broad needs
for
Scientific and Technical Information (STI). STI is used for a variety
of
support, administrative, scientific and other purposes and providing
information of different types. Terrell says that CALS' profiles of
standards
provide a good start on specifying STI delivery in forms suitable for
these
uses.
---
Auto-Trol Announces CALS Graphic Interface Package
Auto-trol Technology Corporation has announced a new CALS Graphic Interface
Package for the bidirectional exchange of graphics data. The
interfaces
include Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGES), Computer Graphics
Metafile
(CGM) and CCITT Group IV formats.
--
Yard Announces New SGML Authoring Tool, Parser Enhancements
Yard Software Systems, a British subsidiary of the $400 million systems
house,
SEMA Group, has announced a Structured Document Editor to complement
their
existing SGML tools. The Structured Editor operates in a similar way
to a word
processor, but uses the Document Type Definition (DTD) to control structure
and content. YARD also announced that MARK-IT version 2.1 is
currently being
beta-tested on customer sites for its developers, SEMA Group, Belgium.
MARK-
IT, launched in September 1987 as the first SGML parser, enables the
transfer
of text information between any computer or word processor. Information
is
then stored so that it can be accessed efficiently or upgraded without
loss if
either the requirements or the hardware changes.
----
Xyvision Introduces Advanced CALS Compliance Package
Xyvision, Inc. has announced its Advanced Cals Compliance Package, a
complete
technical publishing solution for aerospace and defense contractors.
The
package allows contractors to create, edit and deliver digitized technical
documentation to the Department of Defense (DoD). The package is based,
in
part, on the results of Xyvision's recently completed CALS compliance
tests
with McDonnell Douglas and the CALS test Network (CTN). The Xyvision
package,
comprising software tools, training and consultative support, is intended
for
contractors that must comply with the requirements of DoD's CALS MIL-STD-1840
standard. Xyvision, Inc. designs and manufactures professional publishing
systems for commercial and corporate applications.
---
Xerox Kurzweil Announces New Scanning System for CALS Format Conversions
Xerox Imaging Systems announced and demonstrated its Kurzweil CALS (Computer-
Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support) system at the TechDoc `89
Conference
San Jose, CA. The Kurzweil CALS system, which combines a high-volume
Kurzweil
5100 scanner with artificial intelligence-based ICR (Intelligent Character
Recognition) software, is used to produce proprietary text files that
comply
with Department of Defense (DoD) CALS Phase 1 text interchange standards
(MIL-
M-28001). The text of this announcement was scanned directly from a
printed
news release for input and editing for the CALS Report. Text Files
produced by
the Kurzweil CALS system are compliant with the CALS SGML requirement.
----
EDIA Establishes International EDI Congress
The Board of Directors of TDCC: The Electronic Data Interchange Association
(EDIA) formally agreed Tuesday to move forward with the organization
and
establishment of the International Congress of EDI Users as an ongoing
body.
The Transportation Data Coordinating Committee (TDCC) was one of the
early
contributors to the EDI standard. The internationalization of EDIA
highlights
the increasing competition between EDI (X.12), a primarily North-American
Standard, and the United Nations-backed EDIFACT (EDI For Administration,
Commerce and Transportion), an emerging European standard. DLA has
already
stated their intention to use EDI as a standard for future commercial
transactions (see CALS Report, June, 1988).
=======
CALS Report, Vol 2, No 11, November, 1989
Lockheed Delivers 18 CALS Compliant Technical Publications to Air Force
In the first production delivery of CALS compliant data, Lockheed Aeronautical
Systems Company has completed delivery of 18 technical publications
to the
Air Force. The publications were prepared in support of modifications
to the
C-130 airplane documentation, directed by Warner-Robbins Air Force
Base. The
documents were delivered on 20 tapes, representing over 4,500 pages,
expressed
as SGML-tagged text, MIL-R-28002 raster images, and MIL-D-28000 Class
I
illustrations. The tapes will be evaluated by Warner-Robbins, with
support
from Georgia Institute of Technology, and reported through the CALS
Test
Network (CTN).
----
IGES Implementors Debate MIL-D-28000 Focus, Details
Reacting to growing user demand for support of CALS IGES subsets, major
IGES
implementors and users have begun debate on the focus and details of
MIL-D-
28000. Major users have complained that vendors have been too slow
to embrace
the CALS IGES subsets, while vendors complain that the CALS specification
MIL-
D-28000 is ill-conceived, incomplete, or incorrect. The market forces
are
clearly in place to force compliance and, as a result, vendors and
users are
plodding through the details in ernest. The issues were raised at a
workshop
sponsored by the National Computer Graphics Association in Tysons Corner,
VA
and reviewed in detail at the IGES/PDEs meeting in Albuquerque, NM.
----
CALS ISG Concurrent Engineering Task Group Forms Working Committees
The new CALS Concurrent Engineering Task Group of the Industry Steering
Group
has formed several working committees to address Tasks assigned. Contact
individual chairmen concerning the objective of each committee, the
desired
products, its chairman, and important milestones.
If you would like to participate on one or more of these committees,
please
contact:
Frameworks
Mike Watts (213) 332-7981
Electronic Systems
Larry Linton (301) 454-9232
Mechanical Systems
Ed Haug (319) 335-5726
R&M
Don Meena (818) 847-8321
Tech Data (Acting)
Joe Meredith (703) 418-4470
Tech/Admin Interface Carol
Tierney (313) 362-8010
-----
The United Kingdom Wakes up to CALS
by Norman Harris, CALS Report European Editor
Over 200 people attended the launch of the Special Interest Group (SIG)
in
CALS held on 14 June 1989 at the British Standards Institution in London,
England. In correction to our previous report (see CALS Report, July
1989),
the CALS SIG is completely independent of the British Standards Institution
(BSI) which hosted its first meeting. This meeting disclosed a number
of UK
moves to coordinate with and in reaction to CALS.
---
British SBAC Forms CALS Liaison Group
The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) has formed a "CALS
Liaison Group". This Group, it is anticipated, will shortly become
the focus
for other CALS-interested UK defense manufacturers. SBAC took the step
to
create a body which will both represent the UK defense manufacturers
and be
the contact point for the Department of Defense and the CALS Industry
Steering
Group. SBAC represents over 300 aerospace manufacturers who, collectively,
are probably the Department of Defense's biggest national group of
European
suppliers. These manufacturers, through SBAC, have recognized the importance
of the CALS initiative and have expressed a wish to become involved
in its
development.
-----
ANALYSIS: PDES Serves as a Prototype for CALS Phase 2 Standards
CALS Phase 2 interest in access and delivery of source product data
means that
users will create and maintain data models of the design, rather than
drawings
and other documents which display it. They must develop procedures
which
maintain and check the product data so it uses only entities required
by the
standards. They must develop software methods to output the proprietary
data
in authoring software into the formats required. The experience with
the CAD
standards, IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) and PDES
(Product
Data Exchange Specification), and subsequent work on other standards,
seems to
indicate that PDES will be the prototype for future CALS standards.
----
Brad Smith to Focus on ISO/STEP Responsibilities In NIST Reorganization
Brad Smith has resigned IGES/PDES chairman to devote his full attention
to
heading the ISO TC184/SC4 (External Representation of Product Definition
Data; STEP). This move is part of a larger NIST thrust to provide additional
resources for product data standards, such as PDES and STEP development.
Smith
has served as IGES/PDES chairman since 1980 and is widely viewed as
instrumental in its development. He has served as STEP chairman since
1984.
------
NCGA Named IGES/PDES Organization Administrator
The IGES/PDES steering group has named the National Computer Graphics
Association (NCGA) as the IGES/PDES Organization Administrator. As
part of
their responsibilities, NCGA will plan and conduct the quarterly meetings
of
the IGES/PDES Organization and direct efforts to publicize IGES and
PDES
development and applications. NCGA is a non-profit association concerned
with advancing the Computer-Graphics and CAD/CAM industry. The IGES/PDES
Organization has been seeking improved ways to educate the public about
the
standards as well as integrate them more effectively into the development
process.
-----
European IMPPACT Project to Rival PDES, Inc.
The European ESPRIT II project, IMPPACT (Integrated Modeling of Products
and
Processes using Advanced Computer Technology) will rival PDES, Inc.,
in its
use of information modeling to integrate design with manufacturing.
Both
IMPPACT and PDES, Inc. are cooperative ventures of firms to further
development of PDES models as enhancements to design/manufacturing
integration. ESPRIT (European Strategic Program of Research in Information
Technology) is funding selected initiatives to improve the competitiveness
of
European industry in world markets. IMPPACT differs from PDES, Inc.,
by its
increased attention to feedback of downstream results.
----
PDES, INC. Completes First Year of Operation
During the first year, PDES, Inc. has made solid progress in its effort
to accelerate the development, validation, and implementation of PDES.
Bob
Kiggans, PDES, INC. General Manager reports that since program start-up
in
August of 1988, membership in PDES, Inc. has almost tripled -- eleven
Class I
members, seven Class II members and one Class III member. Class
I membership
requires $100,000 and two staff-years of technical effort each year.
Class II
members pay $50,000 and provide one staff-year of technical effort
each year
and Class III requires $25,000 in dues each year.
-----
CAD/LIB European Project to Standardize CAD Part Libraries May Help STEP
A European project to standardize CAD libraries may be dovetailed into
the ISO
STEP initiative. The integration of libraries of standard parts is
often
considered to be one of the key factors for increasing productivity
of
Computer Aided Design. The chief factor in library integration
is their
portability from one CAD system to another, In 1987, after several
national
efforts, the European Committee on Standardization (CEN/CENELEC) launched
the CAD/LIB project to elaborate a set of European standards which
would
allow one library to be used over the different CAD systems. The concept
has
been discussed during the last ISO-meeting of the STEP working Group
(ISO TC
184/SC4/WG1) in Frankfurt and a CAD-Library sub group has been formed
to
coordinate these efforts.
-----
IGES Data Analysis PARSER/VERIFIER Adds CALS Conformance Option
The PARSER/VERIFIER, developed by IGES Data Analysis, Inc. for IGES
file
analysis has announced a CALS Conformance Option for their software.
Parser/Verifier software allows users to detect errors and conformance
deficiencies in an IGES file. The new option will permit users to verify
CALS
conformance before delivery or upon receipt of IGES data files.
-----
Intergraph Awarded Space Station TMIS Computer-Integrated Engineering Contract
Intergraph Corporation has announced that it had been selected to negotiate
with Boeing Computer Services for the Computer-Integrated Engineering
(CIE)
system for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA)
Space
Station Freedom program. Intergraph will supply the CIE component of
the
program's Technical and Management Information System (TIMS).
The indefinite
quantity contract has an estimated base value of $84 million. Although
TMIS
itself is not yet fully CALS compliant, it uses certain CALS standards
as
interface formats (see CALS Report, February, 1989).
=======
CALS Report, Vol 2, No 12, December, 1989
CALS EXPO '89 Features IGES Class IV (N/C) to PDES Conversion, Tech Pubs Demos
This year's CALS EXPO '89 program and exhibition will feature demonstrations
of converting a MIL-D-28000 IGES Class IV, Numerical Control (N/C)
to a PDES
file, along with technical publishing demonstration. The conference
theme is
"CALS Impact: A Changing Culture" and will focus upon CALS implementation.
The IGES Class IV to PDES conversion is particularly interesting, since
the
long term CALS focus is on PDES and short term IGES capabilities might
be
orphaned by accelerating PDES development. The tech pubs demos will
be
extensions of the capabilities shown at TECHDOC (See CALS Report, October,
1989). John A. Betti, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, will
deliver
the Keynote Address.
----
CALS Connectivity Center Formally Announced
The new CALS Connectivity Center (C3) has been formally established,
indicating that the required number of founding members have committed
to the
project. The center is located in the INFOMART in Dallas, Texas and
will deal
with industry and government implementation of the DoD CALS program.
The
center is being supported by the Texas Research and Technology Foundation
(TRTF), a non-profit high-technology organization in San Antonio, Texas,
and
Informart. C3 is an industry initiative which started last January
to
facilitate the move to CALS by the DoD mandated date of 1990. The center
will
begin operations next month (January, 1990).
----
Group to Form Foundation for Electronic Publishing
by Jon Cunnyngham, Director of Research, AITRC, Columbus, Ohio
A Foundation for Electronic Publishing is being organized to promote
the
testing and implementation of standards for electronic publishing of
technical
and scientific information. An initial organizational meeting
will be held at
CALS EXPO '89 in Orlando FL, December, 1989. The foundation will be
located in
Columbus, OH.
----
SCRA Establishes PDES Development Laboratory
South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) has established a Product Data
Exchange Specification (PDES) development lab at their Trident Research
Center
in Charleston, SC. The primary objective of the lab is to facilitate
the
development of PDES software tools, demonstrate proof of concepts,
and
accelerate vendor prototyping of future PDES based software applications.
SCRA
is the host contractor for PDES, Inc. which has an objective to accelerate
the
development, implementation, and acceptance of the Product Data Exchange
Specification (PDES) as an industry standard. PDES, Inc. currently
consists
of twenty major technology companies.
-----
Expanding MIDS Prototypes Many CALS Integration Issues
The MIDS program (See CALS Report October, 1989) continues to expand
in
scope, integrating many of the systems targeted by the Army CALS Architecture.
MIDS is no longer part of the Materials and Parts Availability Control
(MPAC)
Program. As of April 89, the MIDS Project has physically moved from
the U.S.
Army Laboratory Command (LABCOM) to HQ AMC. It presently resides under
the DCS
For Production, Production Assessment Division (AMCPD-SA). MIDS is
integrating
decision support access of design, logistics, and support databases.
Army CALS
is an architecture intended to an architecture spanning similar data,
for
broadly defined purposes.
-----
Teleprint Corporation to Show New Technologies at CALS Expo '89
Teleprint, a leader in CALS standards research, will be demonstrating
two new
CALS-related technologies, a CALS-compliant Paperless Tech Manual and
a
Hypermedia Logistics Tool, at CALS Expo '89. These will be shown in
addition
to the broadest range of CALS Technical Services and CALS Productivity
Tools
available in the industry.
-----
Twelve Questions to ask Your CALS Compliant Tech Pubs System Vendor
Teleprint has produced a list of twelve questions to ask a CALS Tech
Pubs
System vendors, to see if their product or service is up to snuff.
---
Software Optimizes Manufacturing Processes by Finding Best Parameter Settings
A new software product aides managers of manufacturing and chemical
process
industries in optimizing ongoing processes. The many variables which
affect
any process made finding the right matrix of inputs and results. In
the past,
managers would build a process model by changing one variable while
holding
all the others constant (if you could). Optimization through
this method
often tool a very long time, especially if there were a good number
of
variables. In most cases where you changed one variable, one or several
of
the others also changed, because of the interrelationships between
all of the
variables. The new software program, Ultramax, charts these interrelationships
and achieves a high level of process optimization without requiring
a computer
model. It has been successfully used in a wide variety of manufacturing
and
chemical process applications to increase operational reliability and
productivity, while reducing costs. Ultramax was developed by the Ultrmax
Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio.
----
Datalogics Exhibits New CALS Technologies at CALS EXPO '89
Datalogics will demonstrate existing and developmental products that
support
CALS publishing standards at CALS EXPO '89. Datalogics will show
results of certain research projects into future CALS directions, "Using
the
Standards as Your Base," the theme of their booth. Datalogics is a
leading
world-wide supplier of publishing solutions for the government, aerospace,
automotive, financial and legal communities.
-----
Letter Received
(Editor's note. - I asked Bob Fisher, President of Computervision, to
settle
the issue of Prime's CALS intentions once and for all, in writing.
For
background, see CALS Reports August and September, 1989. We received
the
following in reply.)
October 16, 1989
To the Department of Defense Community:
We wish to take this opportunity to alleviate concern in the defense
community
with regard to Prime's position on the support of MIL-D-28000 subsets.
Prime/Computervision has and always will offer a turnkey solution to
its
defense customers. Prime fully intends to support and comply
with MIL-D-
28000 specifications.
Any customer requiring CALS-compliant output, including MIL-D-28000
subsets,
can be confident that we will support them through our current and
planned
products. Prime is committed to CALS compliance, as evidenced
by our support
of USAF GMAP, NIST AMRF, SCRA RAMP, SCRA PDES, Inc., and other CALS-related
initiatives.
Massood Zarrabian,
Vice President
PRIME/Computervision