I have used the Bumblebee parser to create a simple to use function library to read complex ASE files. In doing this work I have seen that the ASE format is very complex, and so I can make no guarantees as to the ability of this code to handle all ASE files. Also, those of you with more professional experience with yacc/lec may wish to change my approach to error handling with the parser.

The parser and the accompanying code forms a small library within my hobby engine. It is open sourced code, and can be found in its entirety on Sourceforge at http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/ssengine/ge_engine/include/ase/

The entry point to the code is contained in GE_ASE_Extract

The lex file

The yacc file

The C++ object that represents an ASE file's contents

Even if you do not wish to use this code I think you might find the contents of these files a very useful source of information when exploring the ASE file's layout and permutations.