Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1417991
26 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2021 Viewer and the ODB++ Inside is free, handled by my team of TME's that I mentioned. ere's nothing about the ODB++ format that costs anybody any money. Feinberg: at's an important point, Pat, because that isn't necessarily the understand- ing throughout the industry. McGoff: Yes. You know how misunderstandings go. Anybody who has a question about it, I'm always free to discuss it directly. I can't stop people from having misunderstandings, but I can make sure that when we have the chance to communicate, that they know things clearly. Clark: Yes. Even the use of the document is dras- tically different than in some other cases where developers are able to share the document inter- nally and even copy and paste directly out of the ODB++ format specification. at's not the same in all cases, so we're very developer friendly as well when it comes to supporting ODB++. McGoff: Furthermore, we try to be as open as we can for ideas. Max is brilliant and he knows a lot about where the industry needs to go and almost all the requests come from our custom- ers, but these soware partners, all 80 of them, by registering as partners, have a special portal that allows them to submit ideas for enhanc- ing the format. ey might have a test soware application, and they might even be a direct competitor to Siemens, but they can submit a request for enhancement of format that might benefit their application and their customers by doing so. We take that into consideration. Customers can submit enhancement requests as well. We get them regularly. Shaughnessy: You're serving two different mas- ters here, because your tools have to work with any format. McGoff: Yes, that's correct. We're a tools vendor that happen to be stewards of a format. Shaughnessy: I bet it must get interesting some- times. McGoff: Everyone has opinions and thoughts and we're not going to stop them, but all busi- nesses are driving to be efficient. eir ecosys- tem extends well beyond their own four walls. ey look at it and say, "In this globalized, outsourced economy, with all the dynamics that have been in play, especially in the past 18 months, how do we assure that we have the most efficient processes in place and our sup- ply chain is streamlined?" For that, we want to say, "Great. My common denominator is the most widely used and the most comprehen- sive data exchange format, and it has the least issues within my supply chain." Shaughnessy: Why should somebody consider switching to ODB++? What are the biggest advantages? McGoff: Here's a story that will help explain why. Before joining Valor, I spent 10 years at Gerber Scientific and worked indirectly for Mr. Gerber. I have strong familiarity with the Ger- ber format, its origins, and when 274X came about. A little quick side trivia for you: Do you know who invented 274X? Shaughnessy: I have no idea. McGoff: Two individuals. Ed O'Reilly was the I can't stop people from having misunderstandings, but I can make sure that when we have the chance to communicate, that they know things clearly.