ISO 10303-34:2001

Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and exchange — Part 34: Conformance testing methodology and framework: Abstract test methods for application protocol implementations

This part of ISO 10303 specifies the abstract test methods for conformance testing of an implementation of an ISO 10303 Application Protocol (AP). The scope is limited to the following implementation methods: — preprocessors that claim to generate 10303 schema instances represented as exchange structures as defined by ISO 10303-21; — postprocessors that claim to accept and process 10303 schema instances represented as exchange structures as defined by ISO 10303-21; — preprocessors that claim to generate 10303 schema instances and use the SDAI interface as defined in ISO 10303-22 to populate an SDAI implementation with these schema instances; — postprocessors that claim to accept 10303 schema instances and use the SDAI interface as defined in ISO 10303-22 to extract schema instances from an SDAI implementation. The following are within the scope of this part of ISO 10303: — the conformance assessment process undertaken to evaluate the conformity of an implementation of an ISO 10303 application protocol. The abstract test methods are independently applicable to implementation methods based on ISO 10303-21 and ISO 10303-22; — the methods to be followed by the testing laboratory using executable test cases (ETC). The methods presented are abstract, that is, they are independent of the implementation under test (IUT). The method descriptions cover the different steps from abstract test case (ATC) selection to test case report production. The following is outside the scope of this part of ISO 10303: — the generation of executable test cases from abstract test cases. This part of ISO 10303 does not include abstract test methods for conformance testing of application protocol independent implementations of the Standard Data Access Interface (SDAI) -- ISO 10303-22.

Systèmes d'automatisation industrielle et intégration — Représentation et échange de données de produits — Partie 34: Méthodologie et cadre général pour l'évaluation de la conformité: Méthodes d'évaluation abstraites pour les mises en application du protocole d'application

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Feb-2001
• ICS: 25.040.40 - Industrial process measurement and control
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 184/SC 4 - Industrial data
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 184/SC 4/WG 11 - Implementation methods and conformance methods
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 28-Jun-2024
• Completion Date: 14-Feb-2026

Overview

ISO 10303-34:2001 is an international standard published by ISO for industrial automation systems and integration, focusing on product data representation and exchange. Specifically, Part 34 provides a conformance testing methodology and framework, defining abstract test methods for application protocol (AP) implementations within the broader ISO 10303 (commonly known as STEP) family of standards. This part is intended to ensure that implementations claiming conformance to a particular Application Protocol (AP) reliably exchange product data according to standardized processes, irrespective of the specific systems or software involved.

The standard targets two main implementation methods:

• Preprocessors generating ISO 10303 schema instances as exchange structures (per ISO 10303-21) or populating SDAI implementations (per ISO 10303-22).
• Postprocessors accepting and processing schema instances from exchange structures or via SDAI interface.

By establishing abstract test methods, ISO 10303-34:2001 supports independent and consistent conformance assessment for software solutions managing product data through STEP APs-crucial for interoperability in manufacturing, CAD, and industrial automation domains.

Key Topics

• Abstract Test Methods
  The standard outlines generic, implementation-independent test procedures, covering everything from selection and parameterization of test cases to the reporting of results for both preprocessors and postprocessors.

• Conformance Assessment Process
  ISO 10303-34 specifies how to evaluate whether an implementation conforms to a given STEP AP, including:

  • Test lab preparation (identifying test parameters)
  • Use of Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS) and PIXIT documents
  • Execution and monitoring of test campaigns using executable test cases (ETCs)
  • Analysis of input/output consistency, structure, syntax, and semantics

• Testing Roles and Components

  • Implementation Under Test (IUT): The system or software being evaluated.
  • Test Engine: Controls test execution and interfaces with the IUT.
  • SUT Operator: Facilitates communication between the test engine and IUT.

• Analysis and Verdicts
  The results of conformance tests are based on:

  • Syntax analysis (encoding correctness)
  • Structure analysis (compliance with schema and protocol constraints)
  • Semantic analysis (maintenance of information accuracy and intent) Test verdicts may be pass, fail, or inconclusive, based on defined criteria.

Applications

ISO 10303-34:2001 is fundamental for industries and organizations that rely on the consistent exchange, interpretation, and use of product data, such as:

• Manufacturing and Industrial Automation: Validates compliance of CAD, CAM, and PLM system implementations with relevant STEP APs, facilitating interoperability between diverse systems.
• Software Development and Integration: Guides developers and testing bodies in verifying their modules (preprocessors and postprocessors) for product data exchange solutions.
• Testing Laboratories: Provides a standardized approach for conformance testing, helping clients prove compatibility and data integrity across supply chains.
• Quality Assurance and Procurement: Enables systematic evaluation of software products claiming STEP AP compatibility, supporting procurement decisions and quality assurance processes in digital manufacturing.

Related Standards

ISO 10303-34:2001 is part of a comprehensive suite of STEP standards. Key related standards include:

• ISO 10303-1: Overview and fundamental principles of STEP.
• ISO 10303-11: EXPRESS language reference manual, defining the schema specification language.
• ISO 10303-21: Implementation methods for clear text encoding of the exchange structure.
• ISO 10303-22: Standard Data Access Interface (SDAI) for exchanging schema instances programmatically.
• ISO 10303-31: General concepts for conformance testing methodology and framework.
• ISO 10303-32: Requirements on testing laboratories and clients.

These standards collectively ensure a consistent, overarching methodology for product data representation and exchange in industrial automation.

Keywords: ISO 10303-34, STEP conformance testing, industrial automation systems, product data exchange, application protocol, preprocessors, postprocessors, SDAI, manufacturing interoperability, product data testing, CAD compliance, industrial data standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 10303-34
First edition
2001-02-01
Industrial automation systems and
integration — Product data representation
and exchange —
Part 34:
Conformance testing methodology and
framework: Abstract test methods for
application protocol implementations
Systèmes d'automatisation industrielle et intégration — Représentation et
échange de données de produits —
Partie 34: Méthodologie et cadre général pour l'évaluation de la conformité:
Méthodes d'évaluation abstraites pour les mises en application du
protocole d'application
Reference number
©
ISO 2001
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ii  © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references. 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations. 2
3.1 Terms defined in ISO 10303-1 . 2
3.2 Terms defined in ISO 10303-11 . 2
3.3 Terms defined in ISO 10303-22 . 3
3.4 Terms defined in ISO 10303-31 . 3
3.5 Other terms and definitions . 4
3.6 Abbreviations. 5
4 Overview and assumptions . 5
4.1 Components of exchange structure test methods. 5
4.2 Processes of exchange structure test methods . 6
4.2.1 Preparation for testing. 6
4.2.2 Test campaign. 7
4.2.3 Analysis of results. 7
4.2.4 Report production . 7
5 Exchange structure test method - preprocessor . 7
5.1 Model creation. 8
5.2 Exchange structure generation. 8
5.3 Analysis. 9
5.3.1 Syntax analysis . 9
5.3.2 Structure analysis. 9
5.3.3 Semantic analysis. 10
5.4 Verdict assignment. 10
5.5 Test case results reporting . 11
6 Exchange structure test method - postprocessor. 11
6.1 Exchange structure interpretation . 12
6.2 Analysis. 12
6.2.1 Input handling analysis. 13
6.2.2 Semantic analysis. 13
6.3 Verdict assignment. 13
6.4 Test case results reporting . 13
Annex A (normative) Information object registration . 14
Index . 15
Figures
Figure 1 – Preprocessor testing components. 8
Figure 2 – Postprocessor testing components . 12
iv
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO
collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for
voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this part of ISO 10303 may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 10303-34 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 184, Industrial
automation systems and integration, Subcommittee SC 4, Industrial data.
This International Standard is organized as a series of parts, each published separately. The parts of
ISO 10303 fall into one of the following series: description methods, integrated resources, application
interpreted constructs, application protocols, abstract test suites, implementation methods, and
conformance testing. The series are described in ISO 10303-1.
A complete list of parts of ISO 10303 is available from the Internet:

Annex A forms a normative part of this part of ISO 10303.
Introduction
ISO 10303 is an International Standard for the computer-interpretable representation and exchange of
product data. The objective is to provide a neutral mechanism capable of describing product data
throughout the life cycle of a product, independent from any particular system. The nature of this
description makes it suitable not only for neutral file exchange, but also as a basis for implementing and
sharing product databases and archiving.
This part of ISO 10303 is a member of the conformance testing series.
This part of ISO 10303 specifies the test methods used in the conformance testing of implementations
which read and write 10303 exchange structures or share information with SDAI implementations based
on a given ISO 10303 application protocol.
vi
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD                        ISO 10303-34:2001(E)
Industrial automation systems and integration –
Product data representation and exchange –
Part 34:
Conformance testing methodology and framework: Abstract
test methods for application protocol implementations
1 Scope
This part of ISO 10303 specifies the abstract test methods for conformance testing of an implementation
of an ISO 10303 Application Protocol (AP). The scope is limited to the following implementation
methods:
— preprocessors that claim to generate 10303 schema instances represented as exchange structures as
defined by ISO 10303-21;
— postprocessors that claim to accept and process 10303 schema instances represented as exchange
structures as defined by ISO 10303-21;
— preprocessors that claim to generate 10303 schema instances and use the SDAI interface as
defined in ISO 10303-22 to populate an SDAI implementation with these schema instances;
— postprocessors that claim to accept 10303 schema instances and use the SDAI interface as defined
in ISO 10303-22 to extract schema instances from an SDAI implementation.
The following are within the scope of this part of ISO 10303:
— the conformance assessment process undertaken to evaluate the conformity of an implementation
of an ISO 10303 application protocol. The abstract test methods are independently applicable to
implementation methods based on ISO 10303-21 and ISO 10303-22;
— the methods to be followed by the testing laboratory using executable test cases (ETC). The
methods presented are abstract, that is, they are independent of the implementation under test (IUT).
The method descriptions cover the different steps from abstract test case (ATC) selection to test case
report production.
The following is outside the scope of this part of ISO 10303:
— the generation of executable test cases from abstract test cases. This part of ISO 10303 does not
include abstract test methods for conformance testing of application protocol independent
implementations of the Standard Data Access Interface (SDAI) -- ISO 10303-22.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of this part of ISO 10303. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revision of, any
of these publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 10303 are
encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents
indicated below. For undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies.
Members of ISO and IEC maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 10303-1:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and
exchange - Part 1: Overview and fundamental principles.
ISO 10303-11:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and
exchange - Part 11: The EXPRESS language reference manual.
ISO 10303-21:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and
exchange - Part 21: Implementation methods: Clear text encoding of the exchange structure.
ISO 10303-22:1998, Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and
exchange - Part 22: Implementation methods: Standard data access interface.
ISO 10303-31:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and
exchange - Part 31: Conformance testing methodology and framework: General concepts.
ISO 10303-32:1998, Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and
exchange - Part 32: Conformance testing methodology and framework: Requirements on testing
laboratories and clients.
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Terms defined in ISO 10303-1
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10303, the following terms defined in ISO 10303-1 apply.
—    abstract test suite (ATS);
—    application interpreted model;
—    application protocol (AP);
—    application reference model;
—    conformance class;
—    exchange structure;
—    implementation method;
—    Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS);
—    PICS proforma.
3.2 Terms defined in ISO 10303-11
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10303, the following terms defined in ISO 10303-11 apply.
—   entity;
—   entity instance.
3.3 Terms defined in ISO 10303-22
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10303, the following terms defined in ISO 10303-22 apply.
—   schema instance;
—   SDAI model.
3.4 Terms defined in ISO 10303-31
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10303, the following terms defined in ISO 10303-31 apply.
—    abstract test case (ATC);
—    abstract test method;
—    conformance;
—    conformance log;
—    conformance test report;
—    conformance testing;
—    executable test case;
—    fail (verdict);
—    implementation under test (IUT);
—    inconclusive (verdict);
—    pass (verdict);
—    PIXIT (Protocol Implementation eXtra Information for Testing);
—    PIXIT proforma;
—    preprocessor;
—    postprocessor;
—    system under test (SUT);
—    test campaign;
—    test case error;
—    testing laboratory;
—    test report;
—    test verdict;
—    verdict criteria.
3.5 Other terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10303, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.5.1
application element
an application object, attribute, or assertion defining the information requirements in clause 4 of an
application protocol.
3.5.2
semantic analysis
the evaluation as to whether or not the information content of a schema instance was maintained during
either preprocessing or postprocessing.
3.5.3
structure analysis
the evaluation as to whether or not an IUT schema instance conforms to the AIM and conformance
requirements of the ISO 10303 application protocol of interest.
3.5.4
SUT operator
a human or an automated component of the system under test that enables communication of instructions
and query data between the test engine and the implementation under test.
3.5.5
syntax analysis
the evaluation as to whether or not an IUT schema instance is properly encoded in an exchange
representation conforming to an implementation method of ISO 10303.
3.5.6
test case report
a report covering the identifiers, data, results, and verdicts associated with the execution of a test case.
3.5.7
test case verdict
a summarized verdict assigned to a test case derived from the individual verdicts assigned to the verdict
criteria of a test case.
3.5.8
test engine
the component of a test system that, by observing test case instructions, prepares, controls, observes, and
analyses an IUT.
3.5.9
test system
the hardware, software, and data used by a testing laboratory to execute a test method.
3.6 Abbreviations
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10303, the following abbreviations apply.
AE  Application Element
AP  Application Protocol
ATC Abstract Test Case
ATS Abstract Test Suite
ETC Executable Test Case
IUT Implementation Under Test
PICS Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement
PIXIT Protocol Implementation eXtra Information for Testing
SDAI Standard Data Acess Interface
SUT System Under Test
4 Overview and assumptions
Two abstract test methods are defined in this part of ISO 10303. The first provides for testing of
implementations that generate exchange structures, i.e., preprocessors. The second provides for testing of
implementations that interpret exchange structures, i.e., postprocessors. These methods are defined in
clauses 5 and 6 respectively. Both abstract test methods apply also to applications that interface with
SDAI implementations in a data sharing environment.
General principles and an overall framework for conformance testing are provided in ISO 10303-31.
Requirements on test laboratories are defined in ISO 10303-32. The methods for preparing, controlling,
observing, and analyzing implementations during testing are defined in this part of ISO 10303. Specific
abstract test cases associated with ISO 10303 application protocols are defined in corresponding ISO
10303 abstract test suite standards. A description of abstract test suites concepts and the requirements on
their use are defined in each 10303 abstract test suite.
4.1 Components of exchange structure test methods
Exchange structure test methods are based on three principal components: the implementation to be
tested, a test system, and a human or automated component between them. These are the Implementation
Under Test (IUT), the Test Engine, and the System Under Test Operator (SUT Operator), respectively.
— The Test Engine represents the control and communication functions of a test system,
directing the execution and analysis of tests. The Test Engine communicates directly with
the IUT using a standard means (ISO 10303-21 or ISO 10303-22) and indirectly with the IUT via the
SUT Operator.
— The SUT Operator represents a communication interface between the Test Engine and the IUT. It
transmits commands and requests from the Test Engine to the IUT. It also transmits the IUT's
responses back to the Test Engine. The SUT Operator communicates directly with the IUT using
IUT-defined means.
Test laboratories specify the Test Engine to SUT Operator interface and the expected operations of the
SUT Operator, but the SUT Operator implementation and SUT Operator-to-IUT interface is left to IUT
suppliers. The SUT Operator may be a human being who follows instructions and performs translations.
An IUT is tested either as a preprocessor or postprocessor. To output its schema instance, the IUT may
use the exchange structu
...