Tools for generating EHANDBOOK Containers

There are several tools available for generating EHANDBOOK Containers.

EHANDBOOK Container-Build Tool-Chain
EHANDBOOK Container-Build Toolboxes and Add-Ons
A2L files

Overview on EHANDBOOK Container-Build tools

EHANDBOOK Container-Build Tool-Chain

The EHANDBOOK Container-Build tool-chain is a tool-chain available for different platforms (e.g., Microsoft Windows, Linux) to generate EHANDBOOK Containers from different sources (e.g., ASCET 6/7 models, Simulink models, C-Code). Through its command-line interface (CLI), the tool-chain can be used to automate builds in different environments.

There are two approaches for how to provide input data for EHANDBOOK Container-Build:

ASAM-based input data: In this approach, the input data is provided as XML files in formats which have been standardized by the Association for Standardization of Automation and Measuring Systems (ASAM). The standards relevant for ETAS EHANDBOOK are Container Catalog format specification (CC), the function specification exchange format specification (FSX) and the meta-data exchange format specification (MDX).
Directory-based input data: In this approach, the input data is provided as files which are organized in a directory structure according to conventions specified by EHANDBOOK.

If you are not using ASAM-based exchange formats yet, we recommend to get started with the Directory-based EHANDBOOK Container-Build approach first.

EHANDBOOK Container-Build Toolboxes and Add-Ons

Besides the general tool-chain, there are add-ons / toolboxes for ASCET 6, ASCET-DEVELOPER as well as a MATLAB/Simulink that directly integrate into these tools. Through the direct tool integration, EHANDBOOK Containers can be generated from an opened model via the user interface of the host tool.

The EHANDBOOK Container-Build Toolbox for Simulink can convert a single Simulink model (which represens an individual ECU function or software component) to an EHANDBOOK Container.
The EHANDBOOK Container-Build Add-On for ASCET 6 can generate an EHANDBOOK Container for an ASCET project.

Unified Graphics Generator (UGG)

The Unified Graphics Generator (UGG) is a high-performance tool designed to pre-generate interactive models, SVG images, and map files from Simulink, ASCET, or C-Code models.

By decoupling the model conversion from the final container assembly, the UGG enables an Incremental Build workflow:

Pre-generated Artifacts: Instead of converting models during every container build, the UGG creates a library of pre-generated artifacts.
Incremental Updates: In a Continuous Integration (CI) environment, the UGG only re-processes models that have been modified.
Performance: The EHB-CB tool-chain then "fetches" these existing artifacts to assemble the final container, which dramatically speeds up the build process for large ECU software projects.

The UGG is the ideal solution for automated build infrastructures where fast container generation times are required to support frequent software releases.