117 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
117 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
# XML File Generator
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This directory contains an embryonic Python program with associated json data files that will generate the XML
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files for OpenRocket component databases from a much more compact set of inputs.
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## Motivation
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The .orc XML files read by OpenRocket to define the "preset" parts have an enormous amount of duplicated data
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that makes some kinds of systematic edits very difficult. For example, if it's discovered that the specified
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inside diameter of a body tube series is slightly different than what is already in the XML files, every single
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body tube, tube coupler, nose cone, bulkhead, and centering ring for that tube size has to be changed.
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Likewise, if you wish to systematically set the offset between the outside diameters of centering rings and the
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inside diameters of the mating body tubes, each and every centering ring entry must be edited.
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Another major benefit is to provide error checking and consistency guarantees that should greatly increase the
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accuracy of the XML parts files. In particiular, the following kinds of errors can be completely eliminated:
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* Incorrect ID/OD becomes impossible for nearly all parts. Everything will match the tube system.
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* Can automatically add all the referenced materials to the .orc files and flag those that don't exist
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in the master materials list. Eliminates zero-mass parts that occur when the specified material isn't at the
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top of the .orc file.
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* Inconsistent organization of the description field in the XML will be eliminated, and can be easily changed.
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Yet another benefit is to provide a place to capture research notes about various components and tube families.
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Finally there is a desire to be able to automatically export large groups of parts into other formats such as
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3D CAD and printing files.
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## General Design
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There will be a set of JSON files that define various systematic parameters, and the parts generated from them.
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The JSON will be in at least first normal form so that fundamental data is not repeated.
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The most important of these is the JSON file that defines the body tube size systems, since nearly everything
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else is affected by tube diameters.
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The description and part number fields in the XML file will be built from fields in the JSON.
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Here is an example file defining the tube series dimensions:
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```json
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{
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"BT-20":
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{
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"name": "BT-20",
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"id" : "0.710 in",
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"od" : "0.736 in",
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"rmk": "standard 18mm motor tube"
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},
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"BT-50":
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{
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"name": "BT-50",
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"id" : "0.950 in",
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"od" : "0.976 in",
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"rmk": "standard 24mm motor tube"
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}
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}
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```
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Here is a file for one manufacturer's implementation of a tube series. This factoring is necessary because
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multiple manufacturers implement identical dimension tubes but in various materials, colors, lengths, and PNs.
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```json
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{
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"Estes BT-20 Classic":
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{
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"mfr_series_name" : "Estes BT-20 Classic",
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"tube_series_name" : "BT-20",
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"mfr_name" : "Estes",
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"material" : "paper, kraft/glassine, Estes",
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"description": "Body tube",
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"color_default" : "kraft",
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"data_sources" : ["Estes 1975 catalog"],
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"products" :
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{
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"BT-20":
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{
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"len" : "18.0 in",
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"pns" : [ "BT-20", "30316" ]
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},
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"BT-20P":
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{
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"len" : "13.75 in",
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"pns" : [ "BT-20P", "30333"]
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}
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}
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},
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"Estes BT-50 Classic" :
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{
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"mfr_series_name": "Estes BT-50 Classic",
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"tube_series_name" : "BT-50",
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"mfr_name" : "Estes",
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"material" : "paper, kraft/glassine, Estes",
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"description": "Body tube",
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"color_default" : "kraft",
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"data_sources" : ["Estes 1975 catalog"],
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"products" : [
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{ "len" : "18.0 in",
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"pns" : [ "BT-50", "30352" ]
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},
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{ "len" : "18.0 in",
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"pns" : [ "BT-50", "30355"],
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"color" : "yellow", # color override
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"rmk" : "punched 1/4 inch hole at one end", # optional remark
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"data_sources" : [ "Estes 1985 catalog", "http://foo.bar.baz" ] # specific sources for this item
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}
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}
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}
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```
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Here is a file for a nose cone series:
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```
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{ mfr_nose_cone_series: [
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{ "mfr_series_name" : "Estes BNC-20",
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"tube_series_name" : "BT-20",
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]}
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```
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