CGM files - interested in knowing if this is an obsolete format

[claireandmabel]

I have been seeing a lot of CGM files being created for drawing/drafting files in the last few days.

Wondering if and where CGMs are being used today. Any thoughts please?

(I prefer generating PDFs).

Lynn

 

[JohnRBaker]

I suspect that the only significant use of CGM files might be when dealing with government agencies or companies who do most of their business with the federal government. When the CGM data format was first introduced, much of the motivation came from the need for government contractors to have a way of providing 'digital' images in addition to traditional hard-copies as part of their deliverables. This was prior to the introduction of PDF's, but by then, a 'standard' had been established and 'blessed' so it continued to be on issue for many years and could still be part of active projects and legacy contracts.

Also note that the CGM format is used as an intermediate, or exchange format, for such things a plotting and printing, since there is no need to capture anything more than the digital image.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[NutAce]

We are using the cgm file to create the PDF's in batch.
It is much faster as the Siemens Dispatcher doesn't need to open the NX drawing to create the pdf.

Ronald van den Broek
Senior Application Engineer
Winterthur Gas & Diesel Ltd
NX9 / TC10.1.2

Building new PLM environment from Scratch using NX11 / TC11

 

[JohnRBaker]

That's probably because the CGM files are being created automatically when your NX Drawing files are saved, an option that some people use so as to avoid having to open the Drawing file whenever a visual of the Drawing is needed.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[cowski]

Native NX also uses CGM data for the "track drawing changes" functionality. However, this CGM data is essentially managed by NX behind the scenes, you don't need to explicitly export/manage CGM files for this.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[claireandmabel]

Thanks all!

I would like to see my customers use PDFs, so just making sure there wasn't an ironclad reason to still be using them.

PS - i have seen the CGMs get imported into formatted/templated type drawing files so that the drawing can be "edited" manually instead of using a programmatic tool.

 

[Xwheelguy]

I wouldn't call .cgm files obsolete, but most people would prefer to "deal" with PDFs or other file formats if given a choice. The do have their place, but it's probably falling down the user preference list with newer file formats and technologies.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Enterprise x64 SP1
Intel Core i7 2.5GHz 16GB RAM
4GB NVIDIA Quadro K3100M

 

[NutAce]

I also noticed, when exporting with Autocad DXF/DWG, when you select in the menu to export as CGM with output to dxf/dwg the result is of better quality then directly exporting to dxf/dwg.

Specially hidden geometry (when shown) is better processed.

Ronald van den Broek
Senior Application Engineer
Winterthur Gas & Diesel Ltd
NX9 / TC10.1.2

Building new PLM environment from Scratch using NX11 / TC11