Learning Forum

[wess.gates]

Hello, 

For reasons I do not understand TE Connectivity provides CAD models of their files embedded in MS Word docx OLE (objects). I have ANSYS Discovery Live subscription/perpetual license instillation but when I try to open the CAD models from the OLE links within the MS Word Document I get a license error.  I did not think I use a sever license setup so I am unclear why the license error is popping up. I have all my CAD files i.e. stp, step, igs etc... all associated with ANSYS Discovery Live/SpaceClaim. I do not see an obvious way to save the CAD files from the word document to a folder to just directly open it with SpaceClaim "after download" from the OLE. 

I have asked TE for the CAD files directly but it is taking some time and it would be nice for me not to have to do that every time I need to access their files. 

Any help would be appreciated. 

[Naresh Patre]

Hello Wess Gates

OLE is not a supported file format, so unfortunately I don't think I will be able to provide much help with this file format. I would suggest searching on google to see if there are any free convertors which can convert these formats in CAD neutral file formats.

[wess.gates]

Hi Naresh Patre ,

 

I am unsure that OLE is a file format? OLE = Object Linking and Embedded which I thought basically means the "object", in this case the STEP files and/or IGES files, are embedded in the MS Word Document. ANSYS/SpaceClaim recognizes the files as STEP or IGES but appears to be trying to validate my license via the license sever manager (screen shot from first post) before opening the file. I dont think this is correct because I am not running a license server. I run in standalone/subscription mode. 

[Naresh Patre]

Hello Matt Madore

Do you have any suggestions here to import the embedded stp files in SpaceClaim?

[ANSYS_MMadore]

I have not encountered this situation before, have never worked with importing embedded files. Could the files be shared for testing internally?

[wess.gates]

There is a hyperlink to the files in my first post via the TE website. If you navigate to the "Related Materials" tab and then download the zip file. Once extracted the zip file will yield the MS Word Document with the OLE files/links. 

[Ethan Rabinowitz]

Hi Wess Gates , If i set SpaceClaim as the default app for .step in windows/default app/by file type....then double clicking the step file from the word doc opens the model in SC:

 

[wess.gates]

Hi Ethan Rabinowitz 

 

I mentioned that I had already set SpaceClaim as the default app in my earlier post. You can see that my icon is showing the ANSYS/SpaceClaim icon indicating that it was/is selected as the default app.

Maybe you are running the FlexLM license server which means you "bypassed" the license check?

Thanks for the help everyone, 

Wess 

[Ethan Rabinowitz]

Hi Wess Gates 

I had to change a *.STP file i had to actually be .step and when double clicked it it asked what program and i navigated prgroam filesansysv201scdm and picked the same exe i load SC with.

If you load the same Spaceclaim.exe do get the server error?

What if you doubleclick an scdoc?

Do you have multiple SpaceClaims installed?

[wess.gates]

Hi Ethan Rabinowitz 

 

The default installation/shortcut has the link ""F:Program FilesANSYS Incv201SCDMSpaceClaim.exe" /UseLicenseMode=true" in the shortcut properties. This is the one that I use and this is the one that I linked to the default stp/step files. It works fine on normal shortcut execution  but returns the license error when I try to open the OLE object. 

 

Thanks, 

Wess

[wess.gates]

Hi Ethan Rabinowitz

 

My default files are set correctly. 
I do not get the server error when opening up SpaceClaim/Discovery Live. I have been running it great without problems. I only have one installation instance on my laptop. 

[Ethan Rabinowitz]

Wess Gates 

Matt Madore figured out if you right click on the step in the word doc, -> Package Shell Object Object -> Properties. It will create a temporary copy in %TEMP%. You can then copy and save someplace else and have a regular STEP file.

Also, the flag "/UseLicenseMode=true" is what is in my shortcut, but my license is floating (not on a server but a local floating license that uses the license manager).  If you have a subscription license, i wonder if removing this flag would resolve it.

But it seems like extracting the files once with the properties method, copying out of TEMP and importing to SC as needed seems to be the best workflow.

[wess.gates]

Hi Ethan Rabinowitz 

 

Nice find on TEMP that works for me for now. I tried the "vanilla" SpaceClaim.exe in my original effort and that originated the same behavior. 

I have a "perpetual license" i.e. not a lease and my support is current. Is it possible to run my license via FlexLM with my local machine as the server to see if this changes the behavior? Otherwise, I think it would be fair to label this as a bug at this/that point that is worthy of "fixing" ... no? 

 

Thanks, 

Wess 

[Ethan Rabinowitz]

Hi @Wess Gates,

Glad that worked and thanks for the feedback.

This is the first request I've seen for opening from a word OLE like this.

You mentioned if you double-click an scdoc, SC loads fine.  What if you double-click a step file from windows? 

Thanks

Ethan

[wess.gates]

Hey Ethan Rabinowitz

 

You are on a roll with good ideas. I do get the license error when double clicking on a step file directly. Maybe it is worth mentioning I did have SpaceClaim 2009 albeit I do not remember if I ever installed it on this particular computer. It is not currently installed.  I recently upgraded the 2009 license to my current Discovery Live/SpaceClaim 2019/2020 license i.e. technically 2009 is no longer valid/current license.  

Cheers, 

Wess 

[Ethan Rabinowitz]

Hi Wess Gates ,

That's really good news, because that means the issue is not specific to word OLE files and is a broader issue with double-clicking files, which we have fixes for. 

Please take a look at this article.  There is a registry setting that needs editing or adding and that should resolve the issue:

/forum/forums/topic/step-file-double-click

Thank you

Ethan