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.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :hidden:

   self
   tasverter
   tasvertergui
   tasverter_usage
   tmmverter
   steptas_part21
   current_formats
   legacy_formats
   cad_formats
   faq
   release_notes


The STEP-TAS / TASverter ecosystem
##################################

This document provides access to more detailed help information about
TASverter and the TASverterGUI, as well as a high level overview of the
protocol, tools, and the most common conversion workflows.


What is STEP-TAS?
=================

STEP-TAS is a data exchange protocol
 
* It uses the building blocks provided by the ISO-10303 standards, i.e. "STEP"
* It was designed specifically for Thermal Applications for Space, i.e. "TAS"
* It is completely different to those protocols used for CAD model exchange.

The STEP-TAS protocol consists of four modules of functionality:

* STEP-NRF: network model and results format for flight, test and simulation data
* STEP-MGM: meshed geometric model using simple thin-shell primitives
* STEP-SKM: space kinematic model for articulated joints (currently unused)
* STEP-SMA: space mission aspects for orbits and pointing (currently unused)

The STEP-TAS protocol is an ECSS standard available for free download at:

* https://ecss.nl/standard/ecss-e-st-31-04c-exchange-of-thermal-analysis-data-1-February-2018


What is TASverter?
==================

TASverter is an in-house tool written by ESA as a STEP-TAS test bench and validator.

Strengths:

* It provides strict STEP-TAS file validation and a STEP-TAS geometry viewer
* It now provides a TMMverter module for converting some thermal network model formats
* A graphical user interface is available to help the user set conversion options
  
Weaknesses:

* It is old and only handles "legacy" versions of some formats because the tools have evolved
* You should use the tools' own up-to-date STEP-TAS interfaces if possible
  as shown below
* See also the :ref:`format_summary` table.  
  
  
Which tools currently work with STEP-TAS?
=========================================

The diagram below shows the possible workflows for common model conversions:

* the black lines show the currently recommended paths for geometry conversion
* the grey lines show older-but-still-usable-with-extra-work paths for older geometry formats
* the blue lines show the thermal network model conversion paths

Note that there is no direct conversion path from a geometry to a thermal network model.

.. figure: _workflow

.. image:: ../source/images/workflow.jpg
   :scale: 60 %
   :alt: Model conversion workflows

|

Note that conversions of
:ref:`ESATAN-TMS erg<esatan_tms_geometry>`,
:ref:`THERMICA-4 sysmsh<thermica4_geometry>` and
:ref:`Thermal Desktop dwg<thermal_desktop>` files
are not handled by TASverter, but by external tools (see links).

TASverter is still useful for STEP-TAS file validation,
the STEP-TAS geometry file viewer, and its *TMMverter* 
module for converting ESATAN and SINDA/Fluint TMM files.
Note that TASverter handles geometry to geometry,
or network model to network model conversion,
but not both.