STEP Tools, Inc. Teams with Applied Research Associates, Inc. To Build STEP Translator For NASA’s NextGRADE Graphical User Interface

Troy, New York - August 3, 2000 STEP Tools, Inc., the forerunner in developing STEP-integration software toolsets for the global marketplace, announced today it will subcontract software development services for Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) in Albuquerque, NM. STEP Tools will work in co-operation with ARA to develop STEP data translators for NASA’s NextGRADE Prototype Graphical User Interface (GUI). The NextGRADE GUI, developed by ARA for NASA, is a Windows™-based environment for rapid modeling, assembly and analysis of intelligent component models for system simulation. The work is in support of NASA’s Intelligent Synthesis Environment (ISE) Initiative (www.ise.nasa.gov)

With over one million end-users of STEP translators and the STEP file format, this data standard describes and reliably transports 3D model content worldwide. With its in-depth knowledge of product data structures for manufacturing, STEP Tools takes a leadership role in providing state-of-the art programming services and software tools for writing STEP (Standard for Product Data Exchange) applications, translators and databases.

STEP Tools Inc. will implement an AP 209 data translator for this high level project. In addition to 3D model data, the translator must also be able to import analysis results data from the STEP file. STEP Tools will first develop a specification for the mappings between the NextGRADE data structures and the STEP AP 209 entity types. STEP Tools will execute the mapping process and deliver source code for a bi-directional STEP AP 209-to-NextGRADE translator. Using sample files from the customer, STEP Tools will work with ARA to test the bi-directional data translator in all scenarios.