DIVISION^TM packages and the Windchill« Collaboration Factor! access product information within PDM and enterprise information systems via the PTC Graphics Server utilizing a three-tiered architecture. The Web-centric design provides a common interface to a wide variety of data sources, and handles many different data formats. PTC Graphics Servers provide controlled access to computer-aided design (CAD), workgroup data management, and file system information, and can be easily extended to support new or proprietary CAD, database, or data management systems. As part of the Windchill Collaboration Factor!, the PTC Graphics Server works in conjunction with the Windchill Foundation to provide access to graphical representation of any engineering design tool information.

The graphics server generates accurate neutral boundary representations by accessing the CAD system through open application programming interfaces (APIs). The resulting 3D geometry representation is highly compact, and easy to distribute across the network. No precision is lost, as the geometry is represented by the same topological entities as the native source CAD data.

• Ability to search the PDM based on name, type, and properties. This search has a full set of search capabilities comparable to the PDM search window
• Creates viewable formats, in batch or on-the-fly, and caches them for subsequent usage
• Automatic synchronization of data between the Graphics Server cache and the PDM system

PTC Graphics Server Packages

• Pro/ENGINEER® Graphics Server, providing Pro/ENGINEER, Pro/INTRALINK®, and Pro/PDMÖ adapters
• CADDS® Graphics Server, providing a CADDS 5 CAD, CADDS 5 file system adapter and an Optegra® adapter
• CATIA® Graphics Server, providing CATIA CAD and CATIA file system adapters
• UnigraphicsÖ Graphics Server, providing Unigraphics and iMAN adapters
• I-DEASÖ Graphics Server, providing an I-DEAS adapter
• SolidWorksÖ Graphics Server, providing a SolidWorks adapter
• SHERPA Graphics Server, providing a SHERPA adapter