DDES3 Files
DDES3 (ANSI IT8.6, the Diemakers' Data Exchange Standard) describes a die in more detail than CF2: rule tables, corners, counters, strippers and blankers, dimensions. Import it with File › Import › Import…, and save one with File › Export › Export…, choosing DDES3 Die Files. Files ending .dd3 or .ddes are read.
Line types
DDES3 numbers its line types by what they belong to: 0-99 annotation, 101-149 rules, 150-199 machined lines, 200-299 counters, 300-399 strippers, 400-499 blankers, 500-599 rubber. They come in onto these layers:
| DDES3 type | What it is | Layer |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Annotation | Dimension |
| 101 | Cut | Cut |
| 102 | Crease | Crease |
| 103 | Perforation | Perforation |
| 104 | Cutscore | Partial Cut |
| 105 | Cut-crease | Cut Crease |
| any other | Counter channels, zippers, punches, stripping knives … | a layer of its own |
A layer of its own is named DDES3, the type and what the standard calls it (for example DDES3 201 Counter crease channel 1), and coloured by its group: oranges for rules, purples for counters, browns for strippers and so on. It keeps the line type, so it is written back unchanged, and it still behaves as what it is: a zipper perforates, a punch or stripping knife cuts.
When you export, the layers are written the other way round. Reverse creases are written as creases (102) and V-cuts as machined lines (900), as DDES3 has no type for either; lines on the Tape layer are left out. Lines on CF2 layers are written as the nearest DDES3 type (a zipper as 109, a punch as 111 and so on).
What else comes across
- Pointage (the rule thickness, in points or as a length) becomes each line's line width, and is written back from it; lines without one are written with the Rule thickness in the export options (2 pt).
- Rule details are kept on each line and written back: the layer ID the file gives it, its rule table reference and qualifier, the rule segments it belongs to (RULE START / END), corners, and bridges placed at set positions (BRIDGE). Bridges spread evenly along a rule are kept too.
- The rule table (the TABLE section) is shown in the messages after the import, kept with the drawing, and written back when you export.
- Text comes in as text on the Dimension layer. On export, text on the Dimension layer is written as TEXT (or, with Text as outlines, as the outlines of its letters); text on a rule layer is always written as the outlines of its letters, since a DDES3 TEXT has no line type.
- Dimensions (DIMH, DIMP, DIMA, DIMR, DIMD) come in as ParametrIQ CAD dimensions on their points, so they follow the drawing when you change it, and are written back as DDES3 dimensions. Arrows (ARROW, ARROWT) come in as lines and text.
- Subroutines (DESIGN and BLOCK sections, and the INCLUDE statements that place them) come in as parts: each INCLUDE that doesn't mirror its subroutine is a part at the INCLUDE's position, turned by its rotation, and a subroutine that includes others has them as parts within it. A mirroring INCLUDE is drawn in place instead (with Subroutines as parts off in the import options, every INCLUDE is). When you export, each part's drawing is written once as a DESIGN (a BLOCK, for a part within a part), with this drawing's values for the variables it shares, and each part as an INCLUDE placing it; the main section is then a LAYOUT. Switch off Parts as subroutines to write everything in the main section.
- Arcs and circles come across exactly. Other curves are written as lines and arcs.
- Units: the file's millimetres (M) or inches (I) are converted to your drawing's. Exports are written in your drawing's units, unless you choose the other in the export options.
- The design: the export options also set the design name (up to 8 letters, digits and underscores), which side of the board it is seen from, which way up the die is and the flute direction (each not given unless you choose), the line endings and the decimal places.