Talking Technical Illustration is a new bi-weekly webinar event, your host, David Manock, over 30 years industry experience. We will encourage interaction, Polls, Q & A, comments, share your views with the community. A great opportunity to communicate using the chat function, and we will open the participant microphone on request. Topic: S1000D Illustrations, we will discuss illustration guidelines, hotspots, file formats. etc. We hope you can join the event and make a contribution.
1. Talking Technical Illustration
Episode 2 – S1000D Illustrations
October 22nd 2020
11am Eastern Time, USA
Presenter:
David Manock, VP Sales & Marketing
Panelist:
Don Larson, CEO
Welcome to the Webinar
We will begin shortly
www.cgmlarson.com www.svglarson.com
www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
2. Webinar: Housekeeping
• If you’re experienced problems when joining the webinar, please use
the questions function to communicate
• We will unmute a delegate when you click the hand button
• Computer Audio is the recommended option
• Associated materials are available in the Handouts section, drag and
drop to download to your computer, at anytime
• Post your questions or comments during the webinar
using the panel
• We encourage you to post questions and comments
• Post event we will judge the best question or comment and offer you
with a free ticket to TDW-Live 2020 Virtual event
• Result tomorrow, watch your email
• https://tdw-live.com/index.php/ebooking/
www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
3. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Larson Software Technology
• Based in Houston, Texas, USA – New Location
• Founded in 1984, graphic technology experts for 30 years
• We develop powerful, innovative graphics software and toolkits,
based on open standards
• Promoted CGM usage, by providing a free CGM & TIFF viewer,
replaced by a subscription version available online
• The Larson online store is now open, the address:
• www.cgmlarson.com/store
• Developer of the first HTML5 CGM viewer, no plug in!
• Member of the CGM Open Foundation
• Larson technology simplifies the graphics workflow for Technical
Publications Professionals, Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists
• www.cgmlarson.com www.svglarson.com
4. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Agenda
• Introduction to the event
• Topics:
• S1000D Illustration Guidelines
• Comprehensive advice from the specification
• File formats
• 2D CGM and SVG
• S1000D and 3D data
• Specification guidelines
• File format?
• Summary
• Next webinar announcement
5. Introduction S1000D Specification
www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
• The S1000D Specification was
introduced in the 1980’s
• The main concept was to hold
information in a modular form,
Data Modules
• The objective, a more flexible method of
managing and publishing technical documentation
• Today, S1000D is widely adopted and accepted globally as a standard
method of producing technical documentation
• Graphics and multimedia are critical S1000D components, they have
their own unique requirements
• POLL
6. Introduction – S1000D Illustrations
www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
• Based on Issue 5 of the S1000D specification
• We have split the webinar into 3 main sections
• Guidelines
• Illustration Rules
• 2D File Formats
• CGM and SVG
• 3D Data
• Interactive graphic guidelines
• 3D file formats?
9. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Primary Rules of Illustration
• Illustrations must communicate in a simple, clear and economical
way
• Visually enhance the technical information required by the user to
perform the intended task
• Prepared in accordance with the written text and other information
in data modules
• The end user receives the maximum amount of information
10. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
• The recommended presentation format for print is
portrait orientation
• Foldouts and landscape orientations are allowed as
exceptions, but require defining in the project business rules
• The presentation of illustrations in an IETP/M
(Interactive Electronic Technical Publication/Manual) is
not governed by the same rules
• However consideration must be given if the IETP has print
capability
Authoring – Mode of Presentation
11. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Illustration Rules Objectives
• Consistent illustration appearance
• Perspective – Isometric Projection
• Illustration/Page Size
• Line weights
• Line styles
• Annotations
• Symbols
• Clear and concise information
• Extraneous data removed
• Usually Monochrome
• Use color when clarity is required
• BRDP-S1-00029
Use of color in the final deliverable?
14. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Text Style (1)
• Advice on text style
Business Rule Decision Point BRDP-S1-00554
Illustration annotations written in upper or sentence case:
17. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Use of Color (1)
• The Specification defines the use of color
• Specific color palette
• Provides very good examples of using color
in illustrations and photographs
• The use of color on the example
illustration denotes a hierarchical structure
• Yellow - attached to main assembly
• Light Blue – parts on the illustration
• Grey – Parts shown on subsequent illustrations,
see the detail arrows for navigation
22. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2018
CGM – Introduction
• CGM is still the only 2D graphics format documented in the
S1000D specification
• There are 4 versions of CGM but only version 4.0 can contain
hotspot information
• CGM can be edited, published and also viewed by the end user
• Dependency on the software supporting CGM Version 4
• The CGM profile provides interoperability and validation
opportunities
23. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2018
CGM – Version 4
• CGM Version 4 contains Application Structuring (APS)
• Provides the ability to add metadata and facilitate intelligent graphics
(Hotspots)
• The metadata can be contained inside the CGM or in an XML
companion file, as previously discussed
• The S1000D specification provides guidance on what metadata
can be included in the CGM graphic
24. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2018
CGM – WebCGM profile
• The S1000D WebCGM profile is described as cascading
• WebCGM 2.1 is the full profile
• The S1000D profile is a subset of the WebCGM 2.1
25. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
SVG Background
• Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG)
• XML encoded format
• W3C Standard
• http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/
• Managed by SVG Working Group
• http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/WG/wiki/Main_Page
• Native support in all popular web browsers
• No plug-in technology required (HTML5 Native)
26. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
SVG the Specification
• XML based
• SVG 1.1 – Full
• SVG 1.2 – Tiny
• A subset of the Full specification
• Designed for phones, tablets etc.
• Technical illustrations only require a small percentage of attributes
available in the SVG Specification
• Version 2.0 of SVG released
• There is no impact on our current support of SVG
27. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
SVG is XML encoded
• Benefits:
• Based on the international open standard
• Structured information based on a schema
• In theory could be validated against a tailored
industry schema
• Caveats:
• Not designed for data exchange, result could
be interoperability issues
• The off-the-shelf schema covers the whole
specification
• A new profile schema would be required to
validate against specific attributes/elements
28. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
TECH SVG Profile
• Exporting the CGM file, we only use a
relatively small portion of the SVG
specification
• However, there is an intersection with Full and
Tiny profiles
• We are currently optimizing the export based
on real life customer files
• Conversion Challenges
• File Size
• Embedded Raster Images
• Hotspots
• Line styles
• Fonts
• See handouts to download
SVG - Full
SVG - Tiny
30. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Interactivity – Hotspots - Introduction
• Hotspot information can be included in potentially 4 different files
• Only 2 required for linking to work between text and graphics
Data Module
.xml
Illustration
.cgm
XML Companion
File
.xcf
Essential Optional
IMF ICN
Metadata file
.xml
31. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Interactivity – Hotspots – The file formats
• The Data Module is an XML file compliant with the S1000D
Specification
• Usually Issue 4.0 and above for recent projects
• The CGM file is inserted into the applicable Data Module, it can
contain hotspot information
• The .XCF is an XML Companion file, it can contain metadata
associated with CGM graphic – the use is optional
• The CGM viewer will need to support the companion file
• The IMF file is also XML encoded, new in Issue 4.2, it contains
substantially more metadata options
• Provides the opportunity to manage the ICN similar to a DM
• Dependency on the support of the 3rd party software, CSDB, Viewers, etc.
Data Module
.xml
Illustration
.cgm
XML
Companio
n File
.xcf
IMF ICN
Metadata
file
.xml
34. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Interactivity – XCF Structure
• Documented in the S1000D Specification – Chap 7.3.2
• Consists of 5 main structures
• 1 – The WebCGM 2.1 structure - <webcgm>
• Only a subset of APS attributes are allowed in S1000D
• 2 – The grobject structure - <hotspot>
• Attributes, name, region and viewcontext are allowed in the
CGM itself
• Additional attributes e.g. screentip should be in the XCF file
• Mapping to the S1000D element <hotspot>
• 3 – The linkuri structure - <linkuri>
• Mapping to S1000D elements <dmRef> <internalRef> <catalogSeqNumber>
• 4 – The bindById structure - <bindById>
• 5 – The bindByName structure - <bindByName>
• There is also a <layer> element not mentioned in the S1000D specification
36. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Interactivity – IMF Structure
• Also documented in the S1000D Specification 5 – Chap 3.9.2.7
• Refer to Part 1 of the webinar for more detailed information
• Can be used to manage any ICN multimedia object
• Not specifically for CGM files
• A potential replacement for the XCF companion file
• Also contains hotpot information
• Contains the ability to include additional metadata
• Enables the management of the ICN in a CSDB
• The CSDB has to support the IMF format
• Supports the standard S1000D linking mechanism <internalRef>, <dmRef>,
<catalogSeqNumberRef>
• Where best to create the IMF file?
• CGM Editor or XML Editor, or a combination of both
Click Link
to Blog
39. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Use of Color in 3D Content
• POLL
• General Guidance:
• The color of the 3D objects should adhere to the S1000D color palette
• Projects should define a color scheme for the whole program
• Projects should also define Devices, Viewers etc. capable of displaying data
• Also, consider the capabilities of the technology
• Use color consistently
• The color Red should only be used for a Warning
• Critical alerts
• The color Amber should only be used for a Caution
• The color rules do not apply to realistically rendered surfaces
• The specification encourages the use of a gradient color for the background
• Critical information situations can be supported with symbols, markings, wording etc.
40. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Interactive 3D Content
• The Chapter provides basic guidelines for the use of 3D interactive
graphics
• The production of 3D content must be produced from verified and
authoritative engineering information
• 3D information usage is recommended where procedure is
complex, and users will benefit from the visualization
• The 3D graphics must contain appropriate warning's and cautions
when parts are removed
• The technical solution should be described in the project business
rules
41. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Authoring – Technical Solution
• S1000D does not recommend a 3D format or solution
• The specification states the selected solution should be defined in
the project business rules
• Provides the opening to use proprietary file formats and viewing solutions
• The policy seems to be in opposition to the objective of the
specification
• The danger, use of a multitude of authoring and viewing solutions
• The specification advice is you document the solution and make
sure long term it is sustainable
• Larson’s advice, select open formats for data exchange and display
• Strategy will ultimately benefit the customer
42. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
3D Open - Publishing Formats
• There are many 3D formats, however the proprietary ones
should be excluded when publishing information
• What formats are available:
• X3D
• X3D is a royalty-free ISO/IEC standard for declaratively representing
3D computer graphics using XML
• PRC
• PRC is a 3D file format that can be used to embed 3D data in a PDF
file. This highly compressed format facilitates the storage of
different representations of a 3D model.
• U3D
• Universal 3D is a compressed file format standard for 3D computer
graphics data.
• POLL
43. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2019
Why X3D?
• An open format based on XML
• The ability to create a specific profile for the format
• Same idea as the TECH SVG profile
• An X3D schema will provide the ability validate files
• No plugin required to view in a web browser
• https://examples.x3dom.org/cadViewer/sceneGraphEngine/index.html
• https://examples.x3dom.org/CAD_Explosion/index.html
• http://www.cgmlarson.com/wankel-engine-assembly1.html
• Caveat:
• How do you author the X3D files?
• Add the interactivity, hotspots
• Connection to parts lists
• Animations, procedural, assembly, disassembly
• Do we use existing software and export to X3D?
• Work will be required to develop a 3D standards compliant solution
44. www.cgmlarson.com
Copyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2020
Summary
• S1000D is a primary focus for our software solutions
• We attend all associated S1000D events in North America
• We will be participating in TDW-Live in November 17 – 19th
• This is a virtual event
• The event has been endorsed by ASD
• https://tdw-live.com/index.php/ebooking/
• The free ticket winner will be informed on Friday 23rd
• We will have one more Talking Technical Illustration Episode this year
on November 12th
• Episode 3 - Official announcement on October 26th
• We will also have another TDW-Live ticket giveaway at this event