Release Notes: PTC University Expert Model Analysis 2.1 (XMA)

[DarcyParker]

PTC University Expert Model Analysis 2.1 was released on January 5, 2015.

This release includes many improvements related to scanning and the report's exported Excel spreadsheet.

What’s new in XMA 2.1:

1. Scanning Improvements
   • Eliminate special cases of skipped models
     • Previously there was a workaround of adding configuration options “multiple_skeletons_allowed yes” and “display_ie8_warning_dialog no” to the “<Creo Load Point>\Common Files\<datecode>\text\config.sup” file in order to avoid some models from being skipped.
     • This workaround of adding options to the config.sup is no longer required.
   • Additional capturing and saving of various log files to aide in debugging scans
   • Additional feedback is given when scanning complex models

     • The additional feedback in XMA 2.1 is more frequent so you have confidence the scan is progressing as it should

   • Export the MD5 sum of each file scanned
     • The MD5 sum provides an alternative identifier for a model’s file.  Previously the file’s full path was used to identify it.  To avoid confusion about potentially different files with the same file name, we can use the MD5 sum.
2. Excel Spreadsheet Improvements
   • During the export of a report’s data to a spreadsheet, you will see a progress dialog.
   • In the spreadsheet, many messages have been split into separate columns
     • This is useful for users who want to do additional analysis in the spreadsheet.
   • New Summary Worksheet
     • The summary tab is the first worksheet in the workbook
     • It aides with user navigation
     • It will also help users who write their own Excel macros to do additional analysis of the data.  A hidden column contains a non-localized ‘key’ that can be used to look up specific worksheets (in any language/locale).  As well, it helps macro writers iterate over the worksheets.
   • Preference to export all sub-reports to the spreadsheet even if there is no data to export
     • This was requested by some users who are writing Excel macros.  By exporting all sub-reports even if there is no data to export, it simplifies the macro because no error checking is required to see if the sub-report’s worksheet exists before attempting to access cells in it.

If you have any questions or feedback about this release, please don’t hesitate to comment below or email PTC University Support.

[DarcyParker]

This is an important milestone towards our goals of enabling automated report comparisons, grade profiling, report filtering and Windchill Integration.  If you are interested in XMA and will be at the January 2015 PTC User Technical Committee meeting in Needham, there will be a session where we will share XMA’s roadmap and provide an opportunity for you to give feedback and influence its direction.

Session: XMA (Expert Model Analysis) Future Roadmap

Track: “Pro/ENGINEER / Creo”

Time: Tuesday January 20th, 2015, 3:45 - 5:00pm EST

Location: PTC HQ (Needham) "Room 8" (Conference Visit Center Room E)

Session Type: Topic Session

Short Details: An update and discussion about new features planned for PTC University's Expert Model Analysis (XMA) product.