VIEW xmcd files

[ptc-4413714]

Need just simple way to view xmcd files, I do not need to edit or nothin else just view, is there any way to do this, IE, Excel etc...

[mzeftel · Accepted solution]

Angel,

The easiest is to save to HTML or PDF.

Mona

[Fred_Kohlhepp]

I think the question was really, "On a computer without Mathcad, how do I view xmcd files?"

The unfortunate aswer is, "You need to ask someone with Mathcad 14 or 15 to save to HTML or PDF."

The idea of a viewer (similar to Adobe Reader) would help disseminate Mathcad!

[MikeArmstrong]

Well, if this is the case, this has been a request which has been made many times before.

Mike

[VladimirN]

And in Mathcad Prime (1.0 and 2.0 (coming)) has the ability to save the worksheet in "XPS" format, which can be viewed by using Internet Explorer.

[MikeArmstrong]

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way. What are you actually looking for?

Mike

[PhilipOakley]

Iff the user has saved their worksheets with the XML option for saving all regions as images then you can reconstruct the worksheet directly with a 'bit' [aka a lot] of XML coding.

Each region has its image in one of the data sections which are IIRC uuencoded versions of the png of the region image. The region location is in the main XML struct.

There was a bit of code on the old collab (or perhaps the Adept list) that simply extracted all the images from the xmcd file.

It was called xmcdGetPicture.exe

http://lists.adeptscience.co.uk/mathcad/mathcad_Dec_2008/msg_4849.html

[VladimirN]

Philip Oakley wrote:

...It was called xmcdGetPicture.exe...

Can you upload/attach this program?

[PhilipOakley]

Found it. see attached

with look the attached zip will contain the original Adept email stuff, a ReadMe, and a .exe.file (see the readme)

Philip

[VladimirN]

Thank you!

[MikeArmstrong]

Vladimir have you managed to get this to work?

Mike

[VladimirN]

Not yet. It is not clear described section "To use".

[VladimirN]

Mike,

Here's how this program works (I did these steps in Windows Vista Business 32-bit):

1. Put into the same folder the program "xmcdGetPicture.exe" along with a Mathcad worksheet.

2. Drag and drop Mathcad worksheet into "xmcdGetPicture.exe", then there will be create "PNG" images in the same folder (if images not appear, then double-click on "xmcdGetPicture.exe").

[MikeArmstrong]

Cheers Vladimir, but I'm getting the following error message. I had to capture this screenshot because the dos window closes to quick.

Mike

[VladimirN]

Did you downoaded my archive "Example.rar" which I have attached above? What Windows OS are you running?

[MikeArmstrong]

Oops, I must have missed that. However I have just tried the file you posted and I now receive no error message, but nothing seems to be happening.

I'm on XP 32bit.

Mike

[VladimirN]

Mike,

I have the same error as you ("...line16") on WinXP SP3 32-bit . Maybe Philip have any comments?

[MikeArmstrong]

I have the same error as you ("...line16") on WinXP SP3 32-bit . Maybe Philip have any comments?

Let's hope so. I tried the program on my home machine because I thought it might have been an issue with privileges on my work machine, but got the same result.

Mike

[VladimirN]

Do you use Win XP on both machine (home/work)? Any chance to test it on different Windows OS?

[MikeArmstrong]

I do use the same OS at home. I'll have a look if any of our 64bit machines has Mathcad on.

Mike

[VladimirN]

Ok.

[PhilipOakley]

I tried some stuff on Wiundows XP 32 bit (my little netbook - I'm away on equipment trials..).

The error message about line 16 occurs is no parameter is passed (or possibly is unrecognised?)

If you drag and drop a file onto the exe in explorer the results go into your documents and setting folder - i.e. it's above the My Documents you normally see.

I've run it in a dos window and then the results are in the same folder as the dos prompt (which also was where the exe was..)

Make sure you actually have images set ON in the File>>Properties.. || XML Options tab otherwise it will report no images.

It worked for me with V15 files (see attached).

To inspect the xmcd file contents change theire extensions to .xml and then open them in regular MS Internet Explorer which will show you the heirarchy and allow opening and closing of the 'folds' of each data group.

If you have a file difference programme (e.g. Beyond Compare - very good) then it should also help (e.g. change extensions to .txt and use your regular editor to do a comparison - e.g. MS Word document compare 😉

You will see two extra items at the end of my examples - note the common starting characters

<item item-id="1">iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAARCAYAAACmYE5yAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAAARnQU1B ......

I'm sure you can google what they mean.

http://stackoverflow.com/a/2341029/717355 explains its base-64 encoded data.

See attached examples

Philip

added google result

[VladimirN]

Philip Oakley wrote:

...If you drag and drop a file onto the exe in explorer the results go into your documents and setting folder - i.e. it's above the My Documents you normally see...

Thanks. This tip works. "PNG" files are written in a following path (in WinXP): "C:\Documents and Settings\User\"

[MikeArmstrong]

Superb Philip, thanks for the explanation.

Mike

[LucMeekes]

Check out this: https://community.ptc.com/t5/PTC-Mathcad/Can-t-see-your-sheet-but/m-p/636482

And notice that Prime 8 will allow to save any (real) Mathcad sheet to html file.

Success!

Luc