Overview

The CIMSteel Integration Standards (CIS/2) is the product model and electronic data exchange format (file format) for structural steel project information. CIS/2 is intended to create a seamless and integrated flow of information among all parties of the steel supply chain involved in the construction of steel framed structures.

From this web page, a CIS/2 file can be translated into a 3D interactive model in the form of a VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) file that can be viewed in a web browser with a VRML plugin. Use the VRML plugin detector to check if your web browser is properly configured to be able to view VRML files.

1. To translate a CIS/2 file to a VRML model, use the Browse... button to find a CIS/2 file on your local computer. The CIS/2 file must be an ASCII text file with an extension of ".stp". Other types of BIM, CAD, or STEP files that are not based on the CIS/2 schema will NOT be translated.
2. By default, the CIS/2 file is initially translated to a VRML text file. This way the the translation process can be verified that it was successful. Error and warning messages about the CIS/2 translation process are at the end of the VRML file. The error and warning messages are useful in determining if the CIS/2 file was correctly translated to a VRML file.
3. The resulting VRML can be saved in a file by copying and pasting the VRML text into a text editor such as Notepad or WordPad. Edit the file to remove any HTML tags at the top and bottom of the file. The first line of the .wrl file must be #VRML V2.0 utf8   The file must be saved with an extension of .wrl In the extension .wrl, the last letter is an 'L' not the number '1'. The saved VRML file can be displayed later.
4. The CIS/2 file can also be translated directly to a "3D interactive VRML model" and will be displayed in the VRML plugin that is installed in the web browser. If this does not work, then generate the VRML as text as in the previous step.
5. If the VRML model cannot be displayed, try turning off some of the Display Features above such as Bolts, Holes, and Welds for Detailed models, the Wireframe and Nodes for Analysis models, and all of the Text Popup Reports. This will reduce the size and complexity of the VRML model.

Although SteelVis checks for many syntax errors and should create a VRML model that looks correct, it does not imply that the CIS/2 file conforms to the CIS/2 schema. Conformance to the schema can be checked with other tools such as Express Engine, Express Data Manager, and STEP Tools. A VRML model that looks correct also does not imply that the CIS/2 file follows recommended practices, software implementers agreements, or that it can be imported into another CIS/2 application.

In addition to errors in the CIS/2 file, VRML models that look wrong might be caused by SteelVis having to lookup, parse, or approximate cross section dimensions that are not explicity specified in the CIS/2 file. A VRML model that looks wrong might also be caused by some VRML plugins and viewers not correctly supporting some of the features used in the VRML files generated by SteelVis.