Configuring the Creo View Adapter for STL > Introduction to the Creo View Adapter for STL > Introduction to stl2pv
  
Introduction to stl2pv
The Creo View Adapter for STL is used to convert Stereolithography (STL) files to the format used by the Creo View client. The conversion process is generally referred to as publishing. The Creo View Adapter for STL must first be configured using the stl2pv_config tool.
Publishing is accomplished in one of three ways:
Files are converted to the Creo View format using a method called interactive publishing. This type of publishing is not available for the Creo View Adapter for STL.
Files can also be converted in a command shell using a method called command line publishing. This method is described in Command Line Publishing.
The Creo View Adapter for STL can also be run in the background to convert files as needed, without direct user intervention. This is called server controlled publishing. This method is described in Server Controlled Publishing for STL.
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Once a conversion is completed, the Creo View Adapter creates the files into a directory you specify, from which they can be accessed and viewed using the Creo View client.
In publishing, recipe configuration provides the administrator with complete control of the conversion process. See Introduction to Recipe Editing for Converting CAD Data for an overview of the recipe concept.