Bank Conversion Tool

The version 3 release of the PPDS Suite saw a new format for the main component databanks with additional parameter data for both pure property constants and temperature dependent parameters being stored.

At this point DOW Chemicals contacted us about developing a tool that would allow them to more easily migrate their proprietary databanks into the new v3 PPDS format.

As a company that has performed a lot of research into properties, Dow Chemicals has always maintained their own propriety databanks. In order to facilitate their users, they traditionally merged their data with the standard PPDS databanks to product their custom DowPPDS databank which they would install as the main system databank. This bypassed the need to install user banks and simplified the use of the PPDS suite.

Specifically, they wanted to migrate their existing databanks, populated with their own data, into the new PPDS format. They then wanted to incorporate their own data for the new parameters if they had such data, otherwise they wanted to use the PPDS values. Additionally, they also had additional data that they wanted to selectively implement.

Migrating an existing databank to the new format is easily accomplished using the bank utility tool, Pinst, which was designed for functions such as this. The process of selectively incorporating user supplied data required a simple tool to be developed.

After consultation, it was decided to develop a tool that would read a combination of v3 ASCII format banks and merge them according to Dow specification. Additional data would be provided in an agreed format and merged with the main operation. Once the final databanks was generated it would need to be converted into v3 binary format for use with the PPDS Suite. As the Pinst tool was available to convert v2 banks to v3 format and from binary to ASCII and back these manipulations were left out of the tool.

Spashscreen from the Dow Bank Convertor

As this tool was designed for a “once off” type of use, a basic interface was chosen – the only user input would be the source and destination databank files. Similarly, as the only users would be the Dow team responsible for the bank maintenance, only basic error checking of user input was implemented.

The process for performing the merge was the most complex aspect of the development. Data from 3 variants of the pure component databank had to be imported and stored dynamically. The components within these banks then had to be cross linked according to their unique Chemical Abstract Registry Number (CARN or CAS). Once the three sources were linked the new master databank had to be built according to the supplied order of precedence. Once this was built the new databank then had to have the new propriety data imported into the correct positions. Log files of the entire process had to be maintained to allow Dow’s team to analyse the results and confirm operation.

Screenshot from the Dow Bank Convertor showing all the files specified and ready to procede

With sample databanks provided by the customer the utility application was quickly developed. Initial in-house testing indicated that due to the complex operations that were being carried out during processing some progress indicator would be required. The user interface was modified to include a progress bar.

Once further in-house testing confirmed operation the tool was delivered to the customer for their evaluation and use.