KISS-Interface

The KISS interface (Keep It Simple Steel) provides for the exchange of parts list data between programs, which are able to interpret this format. Therefore, only export is possible here.

File Format: ASCII text file with the extension *.kss

Accessed from:

Backstage: File > Import > ProStructures File Types > Export > Interface: KISS

Data Export

ProStructures is able to export the parts list data of single parts such as shapes and plates. Since the KISS format only indirectly supports the group structure, you can determine the belonging to a certain group by means of dispatch number, but this is lost in case of similar parts in different groups because each part is only exported once with its total amount.

Settings tab

Setting	Description
File type	The US-mark-number of the corresponding group the part is assigned to is exported as shipping number. Otherwise, the position number of the group the part is belonging to will be exported. When the component part doesn’t belong to a group, no shipping number will be exported. When it belongs to different groups, the selected number of the group which was found first will be exported.
Notes	Sets which part data have to be exported as note into the file. None – A note is not exported. From Note 1 – The content of the note field 1 of the parts properties is exported. From Note 2 – The content of the note field 2 of the parts properties is exported
Finish	Sets part data have to be exported as surface into the file. None – A surface is not exported. From Note 1 – The content of the note field 1 of the parts properties is exported. From Note 2 – The content of the note field 2 of the parts properties is exported
Use Standard material description	When checked, uses the standard description for the material of objects being exported.
Export bolt details	When checked, the bolt details too are exported.
Use Ship No. as Park mark..	When checked, the shipping number is selected instead of the position number of the part and entered into the position number.
Use Ship No. as ABM code..	When checked, the shipping number is selected instead of the original position number of the part and entered into the ABM code.

Part Name tab

Setting	Description
Format Default	Here you specify the output format of the part designation depending on the indicated part type as a combination of format variable and constant terms. The output can be set separately for flat steel, plates and standard shapes.
(Checkmark)	If the switch is checked, the program uses the format default specified by you. Otherwise, the standard export designation of ProStructures is used instead.
[X]	When set, the format default is reset to a given standard value.
Input field 1	Sets the format description for the name of the part, e.g. `($Tif3)x($Wif3)`.
Input field 2	Sets the format description for the length of the part, e.g. `($Lmd1)`.

Description of Format Variables

All format variables are in round brackets and inside of these brackets, they start with a $-sign which identifies them as variable. Then the format specifications for the desired dimension, unit system, display and accuracy follow in exactly this order.

Dimension	L	length of the part
	W	width of the part
	T	height or thickness of the part
Units	c	output according to the unit system of the drawing
	i	output always in inches
	m	output always in millimetres
Display	d	floating point number
Display	f	fraction (only with inches)
Accuracy	0..8	number of digits after the decimal point or parts of fraction (1/2n)

Thus, the format variable ($Lif3) means that the length of the part is exported in inches with fraction display and an accuracy of 1/8 inch, e.g. 10-3/8.

If you require e.g. the specification of a plate with the thickness in inches as fraction (with an exact accuracy of 1/16 inch) as well as with metric dimensions for width and length having each one digit after the decimal point in the form PL3/4x200.0 or for the length 300.0, you have to set the default PL($Tif4)x($Wmd1) in the first input field and the default ($Lmd1) in the second input field.

PROSTRUCTURE EXPORT KISS