19952016DassaultSystmes.Allrightsreserved.

FileTypes
CONTENTS
3DXMLFiles
ACISFiles(*.sat)
TheACIStranslatorsupportsimportandexportofbodyandfacecolors,curves,andwireframegeometry.
AdobeIllustratorFiles(*.ai)
YoucanimportAdobe Illustrator filesintoSolidWorksandSolidWorksmodelsanddrawingstoAdobeIllustratorfiles.
AdobePhotoshop(*.psd)Files
YoucanimportAdobe Photoshop (.psd)filesandsaveSolidWorksdata(sketches,parts,assemblies,anddrawings)asAdobePhotoshopfiles.SolidWorksdatasaved
asAdobePortableDocumentFormat(.pdf)filesarealsoacceptedinPhotoshop.
AutodeskInventorFiles
TheInventorParttranslatorimportsAutodeskInventor partandassemblyfilesasSolidWorkspartdocuments.Theimportedpartfilescancontainfeaturesor
geometryonly.
CADKEYFiles
TheCADKEY translatorimportsCADKEYpartandassemblyfilesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.CADKEYfileshavea.prtor.ckdfileextension.
CATIAGraphicsFiles
TheCATIA Graphics(CGR)translatorimportsCGRfilesasSolidWorkspartdocumentsorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasCATIAgraphicsfilesthat
userscanviewinCATIA,CATweb,andDMUNavigator.CGRfilescontainonlygraphicalinformationandareforviewingonly
CATIAPartandProductFileImport
YoucanimportCATIA V5CATPart andCATProduct files.
DXF3DFiles
TheDXF3DtranslatorextractsACISinformationfromaDXFfile,ifthatinformationexistsinthefile,andimportsitintoaSolidWorkspartdocument.IfaDXFfile
containsmultiplebodiesoranassembly,SolidWorkscreatesanassemblydocument.
DXF/DWGFiles(*.dxf,*.dwgFiles)

YoucanimportandexportDXF/DWGfiles.
SolidWorkseDrawings
InSolidWorks eDrawings youcanviewandanimatemodelsanddrawingsandcreatedocumentsconvenientforsendingtoothers.
HighlyCompressedGraphicsFiles
TheHighlyCompressedGraphics(HCG)translatorexportsSolidWorksdocumentsasHighlyCompressedGraphicsfiles.
HOOPSFiles
TheHOOPStranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasHOOPS(.hsf)files.
IDFFiles
UsingCircuitWorksLite,youcanimportIntermediateDataFormat(IDF)circuitboardfiles(.emn,.brd,.bdf,.idb)andcreatesolidmodelsofthecircuitboardsandtheir
components.Themodelisasinglepartwiththeboardandeachcomponentasextrudedfeatures.
.IFCFiles
YoucanexportSolidWorksfilesasIndustryFoundationClasses.ifc filesforuseinsoftwareapplicationscommonlyusedinthebuildingsupplychain.Youcanimport
.ifc filesintotheSolidWorkssoftwaretoincludeinformationfrommodelsoriginallycreatedwithstructuralsoftwareapplications.
IGESFiles(*.igs,*.iges)
TheIGEStranslatorcanimportandexportIGESsurfacesandBREPsolids.
JPEGFiles
TheJPEGtranslatortakesasnapshotofanythingdisplayedinthegraphicswindowofaSolidWorkspart,assembly,ordrawingdocument,andexportsitasa.jpgfile.
MechanicalDesktopFiles
TheMDTtranslatorimportspartandassemblyinformationfromMechanicalDesktop (MDT)filesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.
ParasolidFiles(*.x_t,*.x_b)
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasParasolidfiles.
AdobePortableDocumentFormat(*.pdf)Files
YoucanexportSolidWorkspart,assembly,anddrawingdocumentsasAdobe PortableDocumentFormat(PDF)filesandpartandassemblydocumentsas3DPDFor
U3Dfiles.
Pro/ENGINEERFiles
ThePro/ENGINEERtranslatorimportsandexportsPro/ENGINEER files.
RhinoFiles

Rhino files(*.3dm)provideNURBSandanalyticsurfacesforfreeformshapes.
SolidEdgeFiles
TheSolidEdgetranslatorimportstheParasolidinformationofSolidEdge parts(includingsheetmetalparts)orassembliesintoSolidWorkspartorassembly
documents.OnlytheParasolidinformationisextracted,nottheproprietaryfeatureinformation.
StepFiles(*.step)
TheSTEPtranslatorsupportsimportandexportofbody,faceandcurvecolorsofSTEPAP214files.TheSTEPAP203standarddoesnothaveanycolorimplementation.
STLFiles(*.stl)
Stereolithographyisathreedimensionalprintingprocessthatmakesasolidobjectfromacomputerimage.Theprocess,alsocalledrapidprototyping,createsparts
usingafacetedmeshrepresentationinSTLfiles.
TIFFFiles(*.tif)
TIFF,Photoshop,andJPEGExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorksdocumentsasTIFF,Adobe Photoshop ,orJPEGfiles.
UnigraphicsFiles
TheUnigraphicstranslatorimportstheParasolidinformationofaUnigraphics partorassemblyintoaSolidWorkspartorassemblydocument.OnlytheParasolid
informationisextracted,nottheproprietaryfeatureinformationofaUnigraphicspart.
VDAFSFiles(*.vda)
VDAFSisaneutralfileformatfortheexchangeofsurfacegeometry.
ViewpointFiles
ThisaddinmoduleexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentstoViewpoint(.mts)files.
VRMLFiles(*.wrl)
VRMLfilescandisplay3DgraphicsovertheInternet.
XPS(XMLPaperSpecification)Files
YoucancreateXPS(XMLPaperSpecification)filesinSolidWorksandopenthefilesintheSolidWorkseDrawingsViewerorXPSViewer.
ImportandExportFileVersionInformation
Thefollowingversionsaresupportedforthesefiletypes.Allversionsaresupportedforfiletypesnotlisted.

3DXMLFiles

YoucanexportSolidWorksmodelsin3DXMLformat,auniversallightweightformatfor3D.

Toexportdocumentsin3DXML:
1.ClickFile>SaveAs.
2.Select3DXML(*.3dxml)inSaveastype.
3.ClickSave.

ACISFiles(*.sat)
TheACIStranslatorsupportsimportandexportofbodyandfacecolors,curves,andwireframegeometry.
YoucanexporttheentityattributeinformationoffacesandedgestoACISfiles,andthisinformationisretainedintheACISfile.IfyouimportthatsameACISfilebackinto
SolidWorks,forentityattributeinformationoffaces,youcanselectanyimportoptionsandthefacesretaintheentityattributeinformation.However,ifyouimportedges,
youmustselecttheBRepmappingcheckboxintheImportOptionsdialogboxtoretaintheentityattributeinformationfortheedges.

Import
TheACIStranslatorimportsACISpartorassemblyfilesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.IftheunitsoflengtharenotexplicitlyspecifiedintheACISfile,adialog
boxgivesyoutheopportunitytospecifytheunits.FilescreatedwithearlyversionsoftheACISmodelerdonotcontaininformationabouttheunitsoflength.Thedefault
importmodeisknitting.
SolidWorkssupportsimportofgenericnamedattributes(integer,position,real,string,andvector)associatedwithbodiesandfacesfromACIS(.sat )files.Theseattributes
aredisplayedasfeaturesintheFeatureManagerdesigntree.TheirvaluesareaccessibleonlythroughtheSolidWorksApplicationProgrammingInterface(API).

Export
TheACIStranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasACISfiles.Whenyouexportparts,youcanexportfacesorbodiesasseparateACISfiles.Youcan
selecttoexportindividualpartsorsubassembliesfromanassemblytree,limitingexporttoonlythosepartsorsubassemblies.Ifyouselectasubassembly,allofits
componentsareautomaticallyselected.TheACIStranslatordoesnotsupportassemblyhierarchy.
TheACIStranslatorsupportsallSATversionstoR19.

ACISExportOptions
SetoptionswhenexportingpartorassemblydocumentsasACISfiles.

ToexportmodelstoACISformat:
1.Inamodeldocument,clickFile>SaveAs.
2.Inthedialogbox,setSaveastypetoACIS(*.sat),thenclickOptions.
3.IntheExportOptionsdialogbox,selectfromthefollowingoptions:
Option

Description

Solid/Surface
geometry

3Dcurves

Exportsthesolidandsurfacebodiesaswireframeentities.All3Dcurves(compositecurves,3Dwires,importedcurves,andsoon)arealso
saved.

Exportsketch
entities

Exportall2Dand3Dsketchesas3Dcurves.

Version

Selecttheversionsupportedbythetargetsystem.

Units

Selectthedefaultunitsoflength.Meters(usedinternallybySolidWorks)isrecommendedbecausethereceivingsystemmightconvertsmall
surfacestoevensmallersurfacesandlosesignificantdigitsinmeasurements.

Output
coordinate
system

Selectacoordinatesystemforexportordefaultfornotransformationmatrix.

4.ClickOK,thenclickSavetoexportthedocument.

AdobeIllustratorFiles(*.ai)
YoucanimportAdobe Illustrator filesintoSolidWorksandSolidWorksmodelsanddrawingstoAdobeIllustratorfiles.
Graphicobjectsareimportedasoutlineshapes,andtextobjectsareimportedasSolidWorkstextobjects.Partandassemblymodelsareexportedasbitmapimages.
ToimportanAdobeIllustratorfileintoSolidWorks,VersionCS3orlatermustbeinstalledonyoursystem.
YoucancopySolidWorksparts,assemblies,sketches,anddrawingviewstoAdobeIllustratorbymeansoftheclipboard.
Functionality
WhenyouimportanAdobeIllustratorobject,itappearsontheFrontplane.Youcancopytheobjectontootherplanes.
YoucanimportAdobeIllustratorobjectsintoSolidWorkspartdocuments,butnotintoassemblysketches.
TypicalUses
Productconceptsketchesmappedtoplanesandtracedtomodelstylingcharacteristicsoftheproduct.
Decalsplacedonfacesofaproductforphotorealisticrendering.
LogosusedinSolidWorksmodelingcommandstoplacetheproductlogointhepartgeometry.
Productlabels(suchaselectricalcharacteristicsorinstructionsforuse)extrudedintothepartgeometry.

1.ToimportAdobeIllustratorfiles,clickOpen

(Standardtoolbar)orFile>OpenandselectAdobeIllustrator(*.ai)forFilesoftype.

2.ToexportAdobeIllustratorfiles,clickFile>SaveAsandselectAdobeIllustrator(*.ai)forFilesoftype.
3.TocopySolidWorksdatatotheclipboardforpastingintoAdobeIllustrator,clickEdit>CopytoAdobeIllustrator.
YoucancopythefollowingtotheclipboardforpastingintoAdobeIllustrator:
Oneormoreselecteddrawingviews
Oneormoreselectedfacesorcomponentsinpartsorassemblies
ShadingdoesnotappearwhenyoupastetheclipboarddataintoAdobeIllustrator.ToexportshadedmodelstoAdobeIllustrator,followtheprocedureinStep
2.

AdobePhotoshop(*.psd)Files
YoucanimportAdobe Photoshop (.psd)filesandsaveSolidWorksdata(sketches,parts,assemblies,anddrawings)asAdobePhotoshopfiles.SolidWorksdatasavedas
AdobePortableDocumentFormat(.pdf)filesarealsoacceptedinPhotoshop.
1.ToimportPhotoshopfiles,clickOpen

(Standardtoolbar)orFile>OpenandselectAdobePhotoshopFiles(*.psd)forFilesoftype.

2.TosaveSolidWorksdataasPhotoshopfiles:
a.ClickFile>SaveAsandselectAdobePhotoshopFiles(*.psd)forFilesoftype.
b.ClickOptions.SeeTIFF,Photoshop,andJPEGExportOptions.
SinglelayerandmultilayerPhotoshopimagesareimportedasSolidWorksSketchPictures.FormultilayerPhotoshopfiles,youselectwhichlayerstoimportandthe
layersaremergedintoasingleimage.

PhotoshopfilescanbeusedasimagebackgroundsinSolidWorks.PhotoshopfiletypesareavailableintheDecalsmenuforimagesandmasksandintheMaterials
menu.

AutodeskInventorFiles
TheInventorParttranslatorimportsAutodeskInventor partandassemblyfilesasSolidWorkspartdocuments.Theimportedpartfilescancontainfeaturesorgeometry
only.
Youcanchoosetoimportindividualfeaturesofobjectsorimportobjectsassinglesolidbodies.
SolidWorksrecognizeschamfer,draft,extrude,cutextrude,extrude/revolvewithcontourselection,fillet,holes,linearandcircularpatterns,mirror,referencegeometry,
revolve,cutrevolve,shell,sketch,sketchdimensions,sweep,cutsweep,threads.
Featurehistoryisimported,allowingyoutorollbackchangesmadetotheoriginalInventorfile.
SolidWorksimportsunrecognizedfeaturesassolidbodies.

ToopenanAutodeskInventorpartorassembly:
1.ClickOpen

(Standardtoolbar)orFile>Open.

2.Inthedialogbox,setFilesoftypetoInventorPart(*.ipt)orInventorAssembly(*.iam)andclickOptions.
3.IntheImportOptionsdialogbox,settheoptionsontheGeneraltab,thenclickOK.
4.IntheOpendialogbox,browsetoafile,thenclickOpen.
5.Attheprompt,selectFeaturesorBody.
Youcanoptionallycomparethemasspropertiesintheimportedfiletothoseintheoriginalfiletodeterminewhetherchangestothegeometryoccurred
duringimport.
YoucanuseInventorViewtoimportfileswithouthavingInventorinstalled.

CADKEYFiles
TheCADKEY translatorimportsCADKEYpartandassemblyfilesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.CADKEYfileshavea.prtor.ckdfileextension.

ToopenaCADKEYfile:
1.ClickFile>Open.
2.SetFilesoftypetoCADKEY(*.prt,*.ckd).
3.Browsetoafile,andclickOpen.

CATIAGraphicsFiles
TheCATIA Graphics(CGR)translatorimportsCGRfilesasSolidWorkspartdocumentsorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasCATIAgraphicsfilesthat
userscanviewinCATIA,CATweb,andDMUNavigator.CGRfilescontainonlygraphicalinformationandareforviewingonly
1.ToopenaCGRfileinSolidWorks:
a.CllickOpen

(Standardtoolbar)orFile>Open.

b.Inthedialogbox,setFilesoftypetoCatiaGraphics(*.cgr).
c.BrowsetoafileandclickOpen.
2.ToexportaSolidWorksdocumentasaCGRfile:
a.WithaSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentopen,clickFile>SaveAs.
b.Inthedialogbox,setSaveastypetoCatiaGraphics(*.cgr).
c.TypethefilenameintheFilenamebox,andclickSave.

CATIAPartandProductFileImport
YoucanimportCATIA V5CATPart andCATProduct files.
TheCATIAV5Translatorisaseparateproduct.

ToimportCATIAV5files:
1.ClickFile>Open.
2.NavigatetothefoldercontainingCATIApartorproductfilestoopen.
3.ForFilesoftype,selectCATIA.
4.SelecttheCATPart orCATProduct fileandclickOpen.
SolidWorksimportstheCATIAV5file.
YoucansaveanimportedCATPart fileasaSolidWorkspartfile,andanimportedCATProduct fileasaSolidWorksassembly.

DXF3DFiles
TheDXF3DtranslatorextractsACISinformationfromaDXFfile,ifthatinformationexistsinthefile,andimportsitintoaSolidWorkspartdocument.IfaDXFfilecontains
multiplebodiesoranassembly,SolidWorkscreatesanassemblydocument.

Notethefollowingtranslatorlimitations:
Itisnota2Dto3Dconverter.
ItdoesnotimportwireframedatafromDXFfiles.

ToopenaDXF3Dpart:
1.ClickFile>Open.
2.SetFilesoftypetoDXF(*.dxf).
3.Browsetoafile,thenclickOpen.
ThemodelisconvertedimmediatelyintoaSolidWorkspart,ortheDXF/DWGImportWizardappears.
4.IntheDXF/DWGImportWizard,selectImporttoanewpart,thenclickNext.
5.OntheDrawingLayerMappingtab,clickNext.
6.OntheDocumentSettingstab,selectImportthissheetandas3Dcurves/model,thenclickFinish.

DXF/DWGFiles(*.dxf,*.dwgFiles)
YoucanimportandexportDXF/DWGfiles.
TheDXF/DWGImportWizardappearsduringmostimportoperations.YoucanalsoinsertDXF/DWGfilesintopartdocuments.
YoucancopyandpasteentitiesfromanAutoCAD DXForDWGfileintoSolidWorkspart,assembly,anddrawingdocuments.
BitmapsstoredinDXF/DWGfilesinAutoCAD'snativebitmapformatarenotsupported.
TheDXF/DWGtranslatorsupportstheimportandexportofholetables.

Import
TheDXF/DWGtranslatorimportsDXForDWGfiles,includingMechanicalDesktopfiles,asSolidWorkspartordrawingdocuments,accordingtotheoptionsettingsinthe
DXF/DWGImportWizard.ThistranslatoralsoimportsDXF3Dfileswithoutthewizard.Inadrawingdocument,youcanimportthegeometrytothedrawingsheetorthe
drawingsheetformat.Entitiesineitherpaperspaceormodelspaceareimported.
ImportedentitiescanbecomeSolidWorksblocks.
Whenyouimportdrawings,themostpopularAutoCADSHXorTrueTypefontsaresupported,eventhoughyoumaynothavethefontsinstalled.
IfyouimportaDXForDWGfilethatcontainsalargenumberofblocks(morethan200),youarepromptedtoenabletheExplodeBlocksoption.Explodetheblocksto
improveimportperformance.
TheDXF/DWGtranslatorimports:
AutoCADMechanicalannotations,knownasproxyentities,(suchassurfacefinishsymbolsorGTOLframes)andautomaticallydrawnobjects(suchascamsandsprings)
whenyouimportDXForDWGfilesasSolidWorksdrawingdocuments.ThetranslatorconvertstheseimporteditemstoequivalentSolidWorksobjects,orcreatesthem
asblocksofprimitivegeometry,asappropriate.
Associativeandnonassociativecrosshatchesasareahatches.

XREFsinAutoCADDWGfiles.
DWGfileswithmultiplesheets.
Afiletoanewpartasa2Dsketchorascurvesin3D.
3Dsolids.
WhenyouimportDWGfiles,youcanseeathumbnailimageofthefileinthePreviewpaneloftheOpendialogbox.PreviewsappearforDWGfilescreatedbyboth
SolidWorksandAutoCAD.InAutoCAD,thebitmappreviewoptionmustbeenabledwhenthefileislastsaved.TheOpendialogboxremembersthePreviewcheckbox
statefromthelasttimeyouopenedaDWGfile.
Datathatdoesnotbelongtoaviewportisimportedtothedrawingsheet.Drawingsheetdataisselectableifyouactivatethedrawingsheet.IfDynamicdrawingview
activationisenabled,youmustlocksheetfocustoselectdrawingsheetdata.
TheDXF/DWGtranslatoralertsyoutoproblemsencounteredwhenimportingaDXForDWGfile.
YoucanimportentireDWGfilesheetsinnativeformatinSolidWorksdrawingsheets,whichallowsthedirectdisplayoftheoriginalDWGfileentitiesinsideSolidWorks
drawingdocuments.Youcanview,pan,zoom,andprintthesesheets.SelectEmbedasasheetinnativeDXF/DWGformatintheDXF/DWGImportWizard.
YoucanimportDXFandDWGfilesfromAutoCAD2004andlaterthatarepasswordprotected.TheSolidWorkstranslatordetectstheencryptedpasswordandpromptsyou
forthepassword.IfyouexportthefilebacktoDXF/DWGformat,itissavedwithoutencryption.

Export
TheDXF/DWGtranslatorexportsonlydrawingdocumentsas.dxf or.dwg files.Whenyouexportadrawingasa.dxf or.dwg file,thedrawing'ssheetscaleisusedfor
thenewfile.Allentities(suchasedges,annotations,andassemblycomponents)onlayersareexportedtotheassignedlayer.
SolidWorkscrosshatchpatternsaretranslatedintoAutoCADhatchpatternswhenyouexportSolidWorksdocumentsasDXForDWGfiles.TheSolidWorkssoftware
translatestheSolidWorkscrosshatchpatternsasnonassociativehatchdefinitions,andpreservesthelayerandcoloroftheoriginalcrosshatch.TheSolidWorksapplication
alsosupportscrosshatchexportwhenyoumaplayerswithamappingfile.
YouhavetheoptiontomaponlythoseitemswhoselayersarenototherwisedefinedwhenyouexportSolidWorksdrawingdocumentsasDXForDWGfiles.Allentitytypes
thatyoucanassigntoAutoCADlayersthroughthemappingfilesupportlayeringintheSolidWorksdrawingformat.
TheDXF/DWGtranslatorsupportslinethickness,hiddensketches,andautocenterlines.Youcanexportcustomlinestyles.However,onimport,customlinestylesin
AutoCADfilesarenotrecognized.
YoucanexportcolorstoDXF/DWGfilesbylayerandbyblock.ColorsaremappedwithTrueColorsforbothimportandexport.
Sheetmetalflatpatterns.Youcancreate.dxf filesofsheetmetalflatpatternsdirectlyfromsheetmetalpartdocumentswithoutflatteningthemodel.Thewords
Flatpattern areprependedtothefilename.
ClickFile>SaveAsandselectDXF(*.dxf)forFileoftype.
RightclickFlatPatternintheFeatureManagerdesigntreeandselectExportFlatPatterntoDXF/DWG.
Youcanalsoexportsheetmetalentities.

CONTENTS
DXF/DWGFileExportOptions
YoucansetoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorksdrawingdocumentsas.dxf or.dwg files.
DXF/DWGOutputPropertyManager

UsetheDXF/DWGOutputPropertyManagertoexportanyplanarfaceornamedviewfromapartfiletooneormoreDXForDWGfiles.Apreviewletsyouremove
entities.Anexpandedsetofgeometricalentitiesisavailablewhenyouexportasheetmetalflatpattern.
ExportingDrawingsasDXForDWG
YoucanexportdrawingsasDXForDWGfiles.Youcansettheoptions.
PreservingSolidWorksDrawingLayersonDXF/DWGExport
YoucanpreserveSolidWorkslayerswhenexportingdrawingstoDXForDWGfiles.
CopyingandPastingfromAutoCADtoSolidWorks
YoucancopyandpasteentitiesfromanAutoCADDXForDWGfileintoSolidWorkspart,assembly,anddrawingdocuments.
DXF/DWGFileMapping
DXF/DWGPropertyManager
ImportedDXF/DWGFileEntities
InsertingDXF/DWGFiles

SolidWorkseDrawings
InSolidWorks eDrawings youcanviewandanimatemodelsanddrawingsandcreatedocumentsconvenientforsendingtoothers.
SolidWorkseDrawingsisinstalledautomaticallywithSolidWorksProfessionalandSolidWorksPremium.YoucanviewanySolidWorksdocumentfromSolidWorks97Plusand
later.
Asabestpractice,distributedrawingsandassembliesfilesineDrawingsformat,whichalwaysrequiresupdateswhenreferencedpartsaremodified.Ifthisisnot
possible,redistributetheupdatedSolidWorksparentdrawingsandassemblieseachtimeyoumodifythereferencedparts.
IfLargeAssemblyModeisselected,highqualityHLR/HLVviewsinassemblydrawingsdonotcontainshadeddatainthepublishedeDrawings(.edrw )file.Ifall
viewsinthedrawingarehighquality,noshadeddataisincludedintheeDrawingsfileandyoucannotanimatethedrawingineDrawings.

SolidWorkseDrawingsProfessional
WitheDrawingsProfessionaltools,youcan:
Markupfiles
Viewcrosssections
Measuredimensions
Moveassemblycomponents
Viewexplodedviews
Displaymassproperties

Addpasswordprotectionwhenpublishing
Formoreinformation,clickHelp>SolidWorkseDrawingsHelpTopicsintheeDrawingsViewer,orvisittheWebsiteatwww.solidworks.com/edrawings.

CONTENTS
OpeningSolidWorksDocumentsineDrawings
SavingSolidWorksDocumentstoeDrawings
SavingConfigurationsinSolidWorkseDrawingsFiles
SavingDrawingSheetsinSolidWorkseDrawingsFiles
SolidWorkseDrawingsExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorksdocumentsasSolidWorkseDrawingsfiles.
SolidWorkseDrawingsPassword
AddpasswordprotectiontoSolidWorkseDrawingsProfessionalfilesduringexport.

HighlyCompressedGraphicsFiles
TheHighlyCompressedGraphics(HCG)translatorexportsSolidWorksdocumentsasHighlyCompressedGraphicsfiles.
HCGfiles,usedbyCATIA inCATweb,areoptimizedfortransmissionovertheWeb.YoucanexportonlypartsandassemblieswiththeHCGtranslator.
Theexportedfilescontaingraphicalinformationonlyyoucannoteditthesefiles.

ToexportaSolidWorksdocumentasanHCGfile:
1.WithaSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentopen,clickFile>SaveAs.
2.Inthedialogbox,setSaveastypetoHCG(*.hcg).
3.TypethefilenameintheFilenamebox,andclickSave.

HOOPSFiles
TheHOOPStranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasHOOPS(.hsf)files.
HOOPSfilesarestreaminggraphicsfilesthatdownloaddetailspiecebypiecetoawebpage,whichishelpfulwhenyoudisplaylargefiles.YoucanviewHOOPSfilesoverthe
InternetusingtheHOOPSviewer.Seewww.hoops3d.com.
Theexportedfilescontaingraphicalinformationonlyyoucannoteditthesefiles.

ToexportaSolidWorksdocumentasaHOOPSfile:

1.ClickFile>SaveAs.
2.SelectHOOPSHSF(*.hsf)forSaveastype.
3.Enterafilename,thenclickSave.

IDFFiles
UsingCircuitWorksLite,youcanimportIntermediateDataFormat(IDF)circuitboardfiles(.emn,.brd,.bdf,.idb)andcreatesolidmodelsofthecircuitboardsandtheir
components.Themodelisasinglepartwiththeboardandeachcomponentasextrudedfeatures.
IfyouhaveSolidWorksPremium,usethefullversionofCircuitWorkstoimportIDFfiles.SeeCircuitWorksHelpfordetails.
EachIDFfilehastwoparts:theboardfileandthelibraryfileforexample,.emn and.emp .Otherpossiblecombinationsinclude.brd /.lib ,.brd /.pro ,.bdf /.ldf ,
and.idb /.idl .Thesoftwarelooksforalibraryfilewiththesamenameandextensioncorrespondingtotheboardfile.Ifitdoesnotfindthelibraryfile,itpromptsyou
tobrowseforthefile.

ThenameintheFeatureManagerdesigntreeofeachextrudedfeatureisbasedonthecomponentname.
Componentsofthesametypeappearinthesamecolor.
IftheboardthicknessisnotdefinedintheIDFfile,youarepromptedtospecifyavalueandunits.

ToimportIDFfiles:
1.ClickOpen

orFile>Open.

2.Inthedialogbox,setFilesoftypetoIDF(*.emn,*.brd,*.bdf,*.idb).
3.Toselectoptions,clickOptions,selectfromtheoptions,thenclickOK.
4.Selectthefiletoopen,thenclickOpentoimportthefileasaSolidWorksdocument.
Astatusbardisplaystheprogressandthenumberofcomponents.

IDFImportOptions
YoucansetimportoptionswhenyouimportIntermediateDataFormat(IDF)circuitboardfileswithCircuitWorksLite.

TosetIDFimportoptions:
1.ClickOpen

orFile>Open.

2.Inthedialogbox,setFilesoftypetoIDF(*.emn,*.brd,*.bdf,*.idb),thenclickOptions.
TheImportOptionsdialogboxappearswithIDFselectedontheFileFormattab.
3.Selectfromthefollowingoptions:
Option

Description

Addboarddrilledholes Ifholeshavebeendrilledinthecircuitboard,theholesappearintheSolidWorkspart.
Reverseunderside
components

Incaseswhereimportdatacausesthecomponentstoberotatedincorrectly,selectingthisoptioncompensatesforthemisplacementand
allowsproperlocationofthecomponentfeatures.

4.ClickOKtoreturntotheOpendialogbox.
5.Selectthefiletoopen,thenclickOpentoimportthefileasaSolidWorksdocument.

.IFCFiles
YoucanexportSolidWorksfilesasIndustryFoundationClasses.ifc filesforuseinsoftwareapplicationscommonlyusedinthebuildingsupplychain.Youcanimport
.ifc filesintotheSolidWorkssoftwaretoincludeinformationfrommodelsoriginallycreatedwithstructuralsoftwareapplications.

Exporting.IFCfiles
YoucanexportSolidWorkstoplevelassembliesorcomponentsas.ifc files.
YoucanapplytheDefeaturetooltoamodelbeforeexportingtothe.ifc format,therebyremovingdesigndetailsandreducingthemodelsize.
1.ClickFile>SaveAs.
2.FromtheSaveAsdialogbox,forFilesoftype,select.IFC2x3.
3.ClickOptions,selecttheOmniClassandunits,andclickOK.
BeforeyouselecttheOmniClass,itisimportantthatyouunderstandtheOmniClasseslistedinthedialogbox.Seehttp://www.omniclass.org.

4.Selectthefilenameandlocation,enteranoptionaldescription,andclickOK.

.IFCExportOptions
YoucanexportSolidWorkstoplevelassembliesorcomponentsasIndustryFoundationClasses.ifc files.YoucanassignthemodelOmniClassandunitswhenexporting.
Toopenthe.ifc ExportOptionsdialogbox,withamodelopen,clickFile>SaveAs,selectIFC2x3,andclickOptions.

Outputas
OmniClass SpecifiestheOmniClassConstructionClassificationSystemclass.Thisclassificationorganizescomponentsforthebuildingsupplychainorconstruction
industry.
Units

Specifiestheunitsfortheexportedmodel.

Importing.IFCFiles
Youcanimport.ifc filesintotheSolidWorkssoftwaretoincludeinformationfrommodelsoriginallycreatedwithstructuralsoftwareapplications.
Whenyouimport.ifc filesintoSolidWorks,thefilegeometryisimportedbuttheresultingSolidWorksmodelhasessentiallynofeatures.

1.ClickFile>Open.

2.ForFilesofType,selectIFC2x3.
3.Tosetgeneraloptions,clickOptions,settheoptions,andclickOK.
4.SelectthefileandclickOpen.

IGESFiles(*.igs,*.iges)
TheIGEStranslatorcanimportandexportIGESsurfacesandBREPsolids.
TheseIGESentitytypesaresupportedforimportandexport,exceptwherenoted.
IGESEntityType

EntityName

514

ShellEntity

510

FaceEntity

508

LoopEntity

504

EdgeEntity

502

VertexEntity

416

Externalreferenceentity

408

Singularsubfigureinstanceentity

406Form12

Externalreferencefile

402Form7

Groupentity

314

Groupentity

308

Subfiguredefinitionentity

198

ToroidalSurface

196

SphericalSurface

194

RightCircularConicalSurface

192

RightCircularCylindricalSurface

190

RightCircularCylindricalSurface

186

ManifoldSolidBRepObjectEntity

144

Trimmed(parametric)surface

143Importonly

BoundedSurface

142

Curveonaparametricsurface

140Importonly

Offsetsurface

128

RationalBsplinesurface

126

RationalBsplinecurve

IGESEntityType

EntityName

124

Transformationmatrixentity

123

Directionentity

122

Tabulatedcylinder

120

Surfaceofrevolution

118Importonly

Ruledsurface

116

Point

114Importonly

Parametricsplinesurface

112

Parametricsplinecurve

110

Line

108

Plane

106form12Importonly CopiousData3DPiecewiselinearcurve
106form11Importonly CopiousData2DPiecewiselinearcurve
104Importonly

Conicarc

102

Compositecurve

100

Circulararc

Import
Ifthereiswireframegeometryinanimportedfile,thesoftwarereadstheIGESdataandformscurvesfortheIGESwireframeentities.The2Dgeometryisimportedintoa
sketchratherthanimportedasreferencecurves.
IfyouwantthesoftwaretotrytoformasolidfromimportedIGESdata,exportthesolidorsurfacesfromthesourcesystemastrimmedsurfaces(Entitytype144)oras
untrimmedsurfaces(Entitytypes128,122,120,118,114).Also,setthenumberofsignificantdigits(precision)ashighaspossibletoensureaccuratetranslation.
Youcanimport3DcurvesinanIGESfileas3Dsketchentities.IntheImportOptionsdialogbox,selecttheFreepoint/curveentitiescheckboxandclickImportas
sketch(es).
TheIGEStranslatorsupportscolorswhenyouimportcurves.
YoucanselectthelevelstoimportforIGESfilesthatcontainmultiplelevels.SelecttheShowIGESlevelsoptionintheImportOptionsdialogboxtodisplaytheIGESIn
Surfaces,Curves,andLevelsdialogbox.
Whenimportedsurfacedataisnotsmooth,SolidWorkstriestorepairthesurfaces.

Export
TheIGEStranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartandassemblydocumentsasIGESfiles.PartsandsurfacesexportedtoIGESformatretaintheirpartorsurfacecolor,andare
displayedincolorwheninShadedmode.
YoucanexportbothsurfacesandsolidsinthesameIGESfile.
IfyouexportaSolidWorksassemblydocumentthathashiddenorsuppressedcomponentstoIGESformat,adialogboxappearsaskingifyouwanttoresolvethese
components.

ClickYes,andallthecomponents,includingthehiddenorsuppressedones,areexported.
ClickNo,andthehiddenorsuppressedcomponentsarenotexported.
TheIGEStranslatorsupportslayerswhenyouexportanassemblydocumentasanIGESfile.IntheExportOptionsdialogbox,youmustsettheSurface
representation/SystempreferencetoMASTERCAM.TheassemblycomponentsintheIGESfileappearonlayersthatyoucanturnonandoffinMastercam,orin
otherapplications.

CONTENTS
IGESExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasIGESfiles.
IGESLevels
IftherearecurvesintheIGESfileoriftherearedifferentlevels(orlayers)intheIGESfile,theIGESInSurfaces,Curves,andLevelsdialogboxappears.Levelsare
sometimesusedbyothersystemstoseparateassemblycomponentsortoseparateIGESentitytypes.
IGES3DCurves

JPEGFiles
TheJPEGtranslatortakesasnapshotofanythingdisplayedinthegraphicswindowofaSolidWorkspart,assembly,ordrawingdocument,andexportsitasa.jpgfile.
A.jpg fileisanimagefilethatyoucanopeninmostimageviewers.The.jpg filedisplaysonlytheinformationfromthegraphicswindowtoolbarsandotherareasofthe
SolidWorkswindowdonotappear.
TheJPEGtranslatorisintegratedintotheSolidWorkssoftwareandisalwaysavailableunderSaveastypeintheSaveAsdialogbox.

ToexportaSolidWorksdocumentasaJPEGfile:
1.WithaSolidWorksdocumentopen,clickFile>SaveAs.
TheSaveAsdialogboxappears.
2.SetSaveastypetoJPEG(*.jpg).
3.ClickOptions.SeeTIFF,Photoshop,andJPEGExportOptions.
4.TypethefilenameintheFilenamebox,andclickSave.

MechanicalDesktopFiles
TheMDTtranslatorimportspartandassemblyinformationfromMechanicalDesktop (MDT)filesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.

YoumusthaveMDTinstalledonyourdesktop,butitdoesnothavetoberunning,tousetheMDTtranslator.TheMDTtranslatorisintegratedintotheDXF/DWGImport
Wizard.
IfyouimportlargeassembliesfromMDT,SolidWorksrecommendsyoudothefollowing:
StartMechanicalDesktopandopentheMDTfileinsidetheMDTapplicationbeforeyouimportthefileintotheSolidWorksapplication.
SettheMDTtemporaryfilespathtoadrivewhereyouhavesufficientspace(1GBminimum).
Increasethepagingfilesizetoappropriatelimits.Thisisrelevantmainlyforlowconfigurationsystems.
MDTfilescancontainacombinationofpart,assembly,anddrawingfiles.TheMDTtranslatorprovidesdifferentconversionoptions,dependinguponthecontentsoftheMDT
file.TheMDTtranslatorsupportsimportofMDTassemblyrelations.
TheMDTtranslatorsupportsthefollowingitemsduringimport:
LargeMDTassemblyfiles,inexcessof130MBinsize,dependingonthecomplexityofthedata.
Alltypesofmates,includingpointtopointandlinetolinemates.
MDTcombinedfeatures,whicharesometimesreferredtoastoolbodies.
MDTtappedholefeatures(cosmeticthreadannotation).
MDTdesigntables(DesignVariableTablesGlobalVariableSheets).
MDTWorkFeatures(WorkPlanes,WorkAxes,andWorkPoints).
MDTpatternfeatures,whichcreatesmultipledisjointbodies.
IfyouhavebeenusingAutoCADonyourcomputer,openMechanicalDesktopbeforeopeninganMDTfileinSolidWorkssoSolidWorksrecognizesthefileasanMDT
fileandnotanAutoCADfile.

Importing.mdtFiles
ToopenanMDTfile:
1.ClickOpen

(Standardtoolbar)orFile>Open.

2.Inthedialogbox,setFilesoftypetoDXF(*.dxf)orDWG(*.dwg)files,browsetoafile,thenclickOpen.
3.IntheDXF/DWGImportWizard,selectImportMDTdatafromfile(importsasparts,assembliesand/ordrawings),thenclickNext.
IfyoudonothaveMechanicalDesktopinstalled,theoptiontoimportMDTdataisnotavailable.
4.OntheDocumentSettingsscreen,selectoptionsfortheModelandlayouttabs,thenclickFinish.

ParasolidFiles(*.x_t,*.x_b)
DataexportedtoorimportedfromParasolidformatretainsitscolorwhendisplayedinShadedmode.
Componentnamesinassembliesareretainedforbothimportandexport.

TheParasolidtranslatordoesnotsupporttheimportorexportofpointdata.
TheParasolidtranslatorsupportsimportandexportofcurvesandwireframes.

Import
TheParasolidtranslatorimportsParasolidtextfilesorbinaryfilesasSolidWorksdocuments.
TheParasolidtranslatorimportsfileswiththeextension.x_t ,.x_b ,.xmt_txt ,or.xmt_bin .

Export
TheParasolidtranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasParasolidtextfilesorbinaryfiles.Binaryfilesaresmallerthantextfiles,butbinaryfilesarenot
supportedinsometargetapplications.
IfyouexportaSolidWorksassemblydocumentthathashiddenorsuppressedcomponentstoaParasolidtextorbinaryfile,adialogboxappearsaskingifyouwantto
resolvethesecomponents.
TheParasolidtranslatorincludesexportoptions.

ParasolidExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasParasolidfiles.

TosettheParasolidexportoptions:
1.OpentheSolidWorksdocumentthatyouwanttoexportasaParasolidfile.
2.ClickFile>SaveAs.
TheSaveAsdialogboxappears.
3.SetSaveastypetoParasolid(*.x_t)orParasolidBinary(*.x_b),thenclickOptions.
TheExportOptionsdialogboxappearswithParasolidselectedontheFileFormattab.
4.Selectfromthefollowingoptions:
Option

Description

Version

Selectthetypesupportedbythetargetsystem.

Flattenassemblyhierarchy
(assembliesonly)

Flattenstheassemblytoonelevelofonlypartbodies.Aflattenedfilecontainsatoplevelassemblyandaseriesofparts
thatcontainimportedfeatures.

Outputcoordinatesystem

Selectacoordinatesystemtoapplyforexport.Ifyouselectdefault,notransformationmatrixisapplied.

5.ClickOK,thenclickSavetoexportthedocument.

AdobePortableDocumentFormat(*.pdf)Files
YoucanexportSolidWorkspart,assembly,anddrawingdocumentsasAdobe PortableDocumentFormat(PDF)filesandpartandassemblydocumentsas3DPDForU3D
files.
Forthebestresults,usethelatestversionofAdobeAcrobatReaderwhenopening.pdf files.YoucandownloadanupdatedcopyoftheAdobeReaderfrom
http://www.adobe.com.
TosaveadocumentthatincludesnonEnglishcharactersasaPDFdocument,theArialUnicodeMSfontmustbeinstalledonyoursystem.
Youcan:
Opena3DPDFfileinAdobeAcrobatReaderandmanipulatethemodelimage.
Opena3DPDFfileinAdobeAcrobatProfessional.
OpenadocumentinAdobeAcrobatProfessionalandimportaU3Dfile.ClickTools>AdvancedEditing>3DTool.Dragarectangle,thenspecifyafileintheAdd3D
Contentdialogbox.
OpenaU3DdocumentinAdobeAcrobat3D.

CONTENTS
ExportingPDFFiles
Exporting3DPDFFiles
ExportingU3DFiles
PDFExportOptions

Pro/ENGINEERFiles
ThePro/ENGINEERtranslatorimportsandexportsPro/ENGINEER files.
Pro/ENGINEERacceptsonlyASCIIcharactersinitsfilenames.WhenyousaveaSolidWorksdocumentasaPro/ENGINEERfile,anynonASCIIcharactersare
replacedbyanunderscore(_).

ImportingPro/ENGINEERFilesintoSolidWorks
ThePro/ENGINEERtranslatorimportsPro/ENGINEERpartorassemblyfilesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.Theattributes,features,sketches,anddimensions
ofthePro/ENGINEERpartareimported.Ifallofthefeaturesinthefilearenotsupported,youcanchoosetoimportthefileaseitherasolidbodyorasurfacemodel.The
Pro/ENGINEERtranslatorsupportsimportoffreecurves,wireframes,andsurfacedata.
Whenimportinganassembly,youcancontrolhowtoimportindividualcomponents.Subassembliesaresupportedaswell.
Toimportassemblyconstraints,selectImportcomponentconstraintsinthetranslatoroptionsdialogbox.Pro/ENGINEERconstraintsaretranslatedintoSolidWorks
assemblymates.Allthebasicmatetypes,plusPro/ENGINEERPointonSurface,PointonEdge,andEdgeonSurfaceconstraintsaresupported.Pro/ENGINEERhighlevel

motionconstraintssuchasGearmatesandnondefaultrefplanes,refpoints,andrefaxesarenotsupported.
IfamodelusesPro/ENGINEERfamilytableinstances,theXPRandXASacceleratorinstancefilesmustbeincludedforcorrectresults.
YoucanimportPro/ENGINEERsurfacetrimandsurfaceextendfeaturesintoSolidWorks.ThesefeaturesarereadinfromthePro/ENGINEERfileandmappedto
SolidWorks.

ExportingSolidWorksDocumentsasPro/ENGINEERFiles
ThePro/ENGINEERtranslatorexportspartorassemblydocumentsasPro/ENGINEERpartorassemblyfiles.SolidWorksexportssolidsandsurfacesonly,notfeaturedata.

CONTENTS
ImportingCreoElements/Pro(Pro/Engineer)Files
YoucanimportPro/ENGINEERfilesuptoversionCreoElements/Pro5.0(formerlyPro/ENGINEERWildfire5).
ImportingPro/ENGINEERPartFiles
ImportingPro/EngineerAssemblyFiles
ExportingDocumentsasPro/ENGINEERFiles

RhinoFiles
Rhino files(*.3dm)provideNURBSandanalyticsurfacesforfreeformshapes.
YoucanopenRhinofilesthatcontainmultiplebodies.RhinomultibodyfilesresultinoneSolidWorkspartfile.RhinoisintegratedintoSolidWorksmenusforactionssuchas
EditFeatureandInsert>Features>Imported.
Curvesarenotsupported.

Youcan:
OpenRhinofiles,whichisthesameasimportingtoanewpartdocument.
ImportRhinofilestoaneworexistingSolidWorkspartdocument.
EditRhinofilesincontextandreplacethemwithotherRhinosurfaces.
EditRhinofilesintheRhinoapplication.YoumusthavetheRhinoapplicationinstalled.

OpeningRhinoFiles
ToopenRhinofiles:
1.ClickOpen

orFile>Open.

2.SelectRhinoFiles(*.3dm)forFilesoftype,andbrowsetoafile.
3.ClickOptionstospecifywhethersurfacesandsolidsonhiddenRhinolayersareimportedasfeaturesorsuppressedfeaturesorignored.
4.ClickOpen.
ThesurfaceappearsinthegraphicsareaandasaSurfaceImportedfeatureintheFeatureManagerdesigntree.

ImportingRhinoFiles
ToimportRhinofiles:
1.Inaneworexistingpartdocument,clickInsert>Features>RhinoImported.
2.Inthedialogbox,browsetoaRhinofileandclickOpen.
ThesurfaceappearsinthegraphicsareaandasaSurfaceImportedfeatureintheFeatureManagerdesigntree.

EditingRhinoFiles
ToeditRhinofilesandreplacethemwithotherRhinofiles:
1.IntheFeatureManagerdesigntree,rightclicktheSurfaceImportedfeatureandselectEditSource.
2.Inthedialogbox,browsetoaRhinofileandclickOpen.

EditingRhinoFilesinRhino
ToeditRhinofilesinRhino:
1.IntheFeatureManagerdesigntree,rightclicktheSurfaceImportedfeatureandselectEditInRhino.
TheRhinoapplicationopensandSolidWorksisdisabled.
EditinRhinoisavailableiftheRhinofilecontainedonlyonebodywhenyoufirstimporteditintoSolidWorks.

2.Editthefile,saveit,andexittheRhinoapplication.
ThegeometryintheimportedRhinofileupdatesinSolidWorks.

SolidEdgeFiles
TheSolidEdgetranslatorimportstheParasolidinformationofSolidEdge parts(includingsheetmetalparts)orassembliesintoSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.
OnlytheParasolidinformationisextracted,nottheproprietaryfeatureinformation.

ToopenaSolidEdgepartorassembly:
1.ClickFile>Open.
2.SetFilesoftypetooneofthefollowing:
SolidEdgePart(*.par,*.psm)
SolidEdgeAssembly(*.asm)
3.Browsetoafile,andclickOpen.

StepFiles(*.step)
TheSTEPtranslatorsupportsimportandexportofbody,faceandcurvecolorsofSTEPAP214files.TheSTEPAP203standarddoesnothaveanycolorimplementation.

Import
TheSTEPtranslatorimports:
STEPfilesasSolidWorkspartorassemblydocuments.
Bodygeometry,body,face,andcurvecolors,andtopologyinformationfromanAP214STEPfile.
WireframegeometryfromSTEPAP203andAP214files.
STEPconfigurationdata.YouhavetheoptiontoimportthisdatabyselectingtheMapconfigurationdatacheckboxunderSTEPintheImportOptionsdialogbox

Export
TheSTEPtranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentstoSTEPfiles.
Youcanselecttoexportindividualpartsorsubassembliesfromanassemblytree,limitingexporttoonlythosepartsorsubassemblies.Ifyouselectasubassembly,allof
itscomponentsareautomaticallyselected.Ifyouselectacomponent,itsascendantsarepartiallyselected,preservingtheassemblystructure.
SolidWorkssupportsexportingtheunitoflengthofapartorassemblydocumenttoaSTEPAP203orAP214file.
YoucansetexportoptionsintheSTEPExportOptionsdialogbox.

CONTENTS
STEPExportOptions

YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasSTEPfiles.
STEPConfigurationData

STLFiles(*.stl)
Stereolithographyisathreedimensionalprintingprocessthatmakesasolidobjectfromacomputerimage.Theprocess,alsocalledrapidprototyping,createspartsusinga
facetedmeshrepresentationinSTLfiles.
Youcanassignaunitofmeasuretoamodelforbothimportandexport.

Import
TheSTLtranslatorimportsSTLfilesasSolidWorkspartdocuments.YouhavetheoptiontoimportSTLfilesasgraphicaldata,solids,orsurfaces.WhenyouimportSTLfiles
asgraphicaldata,youcanselecttheImporttextureinformationcheckboxtoimporttextureinformationifthisdataexists.
SolidWorksassemblyfilesthatyouexportasSTLfilesareimportedintoSolidWorksaspartdocuments.

Export
TheSTLtranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartandassemblydocumentsasSTLfiles.Click:
File>SaveAstoaccessSTLexportoptionsandsavethedatain.stl format.
Print3D

(Standardtoolbar)toprintaprototype.

3DScan

ontheTaskPaneSolidWorksResourcestabtoaccesstheSolidWorksScanTo3Dwebsite.

CONTENTS
STLandVRMLImportOptions
YoucansettheimportoptionswhenyouimportSTLorVRMLfilesasSolidWorksdocuments.TheVRMLtranslatorsupportsexplicitnormals,creaseanglesmooth
shading,andcolorpervertex,whichresultsinsmoothblendingofcolors.
STLExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasSTLfiles.

TIFFFiles(*.tif)
Import

YoucaninsertaTIFFimageasabackgroundintopartorassemblydocumentswhenyouchangethescene.
TheSolidWorksapplicationdoesnotsupportLZWformatcompressionforTIFFfiles.

Export
TheTIFFtranslatorexportsanySolidWorksdocumentasaTIFFimage.

TIFF,Photoshop,andJPEGExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorksdocumentsasTIFF,Adobe Photoshop ,orJPEGfiles.

Tosettheexportoptions:
1.ClickFile>SaveAs.
2.SelectTif(*.tif),AdobePhotoshopFiles(*.psd),orJPEG(*.jpg)forSaveastype,thenclickOptions.
3.Selectfromtheoptionsdescribedbelow,thenclickOK.
Option

Description

Imagetype

Select:
Black&
white
(bilevel)

Notusefulforshadedimagesorwithbackgroundcolor.Fordrawingswithblacklinesandwhitebackground,thisoption
producestheminimumsizedfile.

RGBfull
color
Grayscale
TiffCompression
scheme

Selectthetypesupportedbythetargetsystem:
Uncompressed
Packbits

Resultsinthesmallestcolorimage.

Group4Fax

Resultsinthesmallestfilesizeofthethreeformats,butcanonlybeusedforablackandwhiteimage.

Removebackground

TIFFexportsofpartsorassemblies.Makesthebackgroundtransparent,effectivelyremovingitbeforeexport.Afterexport,useanimage
editortoinsertacustombackground.

JpegCompression

JPEGexportsonly.Adjusttheslidertosetthecompressionlevel.Alowercompressionsettingresultsinhigherquality.

Option

Description

Capturetype

Drawingoptions.
Drawingsonly.

Screen
capture

Capturestheimageattheresolutionofthescreendisplay.

Printcapture

EnablesthePrintcaptureoptions.

Allsheets
(multipage)

Enabledwhendrawingcontainsmorethanonesheet.Exportsallsheets.

Currentsheet

Exportscurrentdrawingsheetonly.

Usesheet
size(s)

EnabledwhenPrintcaptureisselected.Exportsaccordingtodrawingsheetdimensions.

Useprintsize

EnabledwhenPrintcaptureisselected.EnablesPrintcaptureoptions.

Printcaptureoptions. CapturetheimageatauserdefinedDPI(dotsperinch)andPapersize.ThedrawingWidthandHeightinformationupdates
automatically.Fordrawings,selectScaletofitorsetthescaleinScale.
SetPapersizetoUserdefinedtospecifyacustomWidthandHeight.
Whenyousaveapartorassembly,SolidWorksdisplaysablueandmagentarectanglerepresentingtheborderoftheimagetoexport.
Largeimagescantakealongtimetoexport.
4.ClickSavetoexportthedocument.

UnigraphicsFiles
TheUnigraphicstranslatorimportstheParasolidinformationofaUnigraphics partorassemblyintoaSolidWorkspartorassemblydocument.OnlytheParasolid
informationisextracted,nottheproprietaryfeatureinformationofaUnigraphicspart.
YoucanimportUnigraphicscompressedpartfiles.

ToopenaUnigraphicspartorassembly:
1.ClickOpen

(Standardtoolbar)orFile>Open.

2.Inthedialogbox,setFilesoftypetoUnigraphics(*.prt),thenclickOptions.
3.IntheImportOptionsdialogbox,underGeneral,selectorclear:
Importmultiplebodiesasparts.Importsamultibodypartasseparatepartdocumentsinanassemblydocument.
UnderUG,Importtoolbodies.Toolbodiesareusedtoconstructthefinalbodies.
4.ClickOK.

5.Browsetoafile,andclickOpen.

ImportingUnigraphicsFiles
YoucanimportUnigraphicsfilesuptoversion7.5.
1.ClickFile>Open.
2.ForFilesofType,selectUnigraphics.
3.Tosetgeneraloptionsortoimporttoolbodieswiththefile,clickOptions,settheoptions,andclickOK.
4.SelectthefileandclickOpen.

VDAFSFiles(*.vda)
VDAFSisaneutralfileformatfortheexchangeofsurfacegeometry.

ImportOptions
TheVDAtranslatorimportsVDAFSpartfilesasSolidWorkspartdocuments.

ExportOptions
TheVDAtranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartdocumentsasVDAFSfiles.Youcansetthefollowingoption:
Outputcoordinatesystem Selectacoordinatesystemtoapplyforexport.Ifyouselectdefault,notransformationmatrixisapplied.

ViewpointFiles
ThisaddinmoduleexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentstoViewpoint(.mts)files.
YoucanviewViewpointfilesovertheInternetusingtheViewpointviewer.TheViewpointfilescontainthecompressedgeometryofthemodel.
TheViewpoint(MTS)translatoralsocreatesan.mtx file,whichisinXML.Thisistheanimationandattributefileofthemodel.
Theexportedfilescontaingraphicalinformationonlyyoucannoteditthesefiles.

DeactivatingorReactivatingtheViewpointTranslator
TodeactivateorreactivatetheViewpointtranslator:

1.ClickTools>AddIns.
2.SelectorcleartheSolidWorksMTScheckboxfromthelistofinstalledcompatiblesoftwareproducts.

ExportingaSolidWorksDocumentasaViewpointFile
ToexportaSolidWorksdocumentasaViewpointfile:
1.WithaSolidWorksdocumentopen,clickFile>SaveAs.
TheSaveAsdialogboxappears.
2.SetSaveastypetoViewpointMTX/MTS(*.mts).
3.TypethefilenameintheFilenamebox,andclickSave.

VRMLFiles(*.wrl)
VRMLfilescandisplay3DgraphicsovertheInternet.

Import
TheVRMLtranslatorimportsallVRMLfilesasSolidWorkspartdocuments.SolidWorksassemblyfilesthatyouexportasVRMLfilesimportintoSolidWorksaspart
documents.TheVRMLtranslatorattemptstoknittheVRMLpolygonsintoasolid.Therearenocontouredsurfacesintheimportedfileallsurfacesareplanar.Thisimport
optionisintendedasalastresortforimportingdataintoSolidWorks.Inmanycases(especiallycomplexmodels)thedatadoesnotknitintoausablesolid,andisusefulfor
viewingpurposesonly.
YouhavetheoptiontoimportVRMLfilesasgraphicaldata,solids,orsurfaces.WhenyouimportVRMLfilesasgraphicaldata,youcanselecttheImporttexture
informationcheckboxtoimporttextureinformationifthisdataexists.

Export
TheVRMLtranslatorexportsSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasVRMLfiles.WhenyouexportasaVRMLfile,theSolidWorkssoftwaretakestheView>Display>
SectionViewoptionintoaccount.IfSectionViewison,onlythevisiblegeometryisexportedtotheVRMLfile.Thisisdifferentfromthewaythesoftwarebehaveswhen
yousavedocumentsasIGES,STEP,Parasolid,orACISfiles.WhenyouexportSolidWorksdocumentsasVRMLfiles,youcanchoosetheversiontoexport,VRML1.0or
VRML2.0(VRML97).

CONTENTS
VRMLExportOptions
YoucansettheexportoptionswhenyouexportSolidWorkspartorassemblydocumentsasVRMLfiles.
STLandVRMLImportOptions

YoucansettheimportoptionswhenyouimportSTLorVRMLfilesasSolidWorksdocuments.TheVRMLtranslatorsupportsexplicitnormals,creaseanglesmooth
shading,andcolorpervertex,whichresultsinsmoothblendingofcolors.

XPS(XMLPaperSpecification)Files
YoucancreateXPS(XMLPaperSpecification)filesinSolidWorksandopenthefilesintheSolidWorkseDrawingsViewerorXPSViewer.
TheXPStranslatorisanAddIntoSolidWorks.IntheAddIndialogbox,selectSolidWorksXPSDrivertomaketheXPSformatavailableintheSaveAsdialogbox.

TosavefilesinXPSformat:
1.ClickFile>SaveAs.
2.ForSaveastype,select:
MicrosoftXMLPaperSpecification(*.eprtx).Partdocuments.
MicrosoftXMLPaperSpecification(*.easmx).Assemblydocuments.
MicrosoftXMLPaperSpecification(*.edrwx).Drawingdocuments.
3.EnterafilenameandclickSave.
TheXPSViewerisavailableautomaticallywiththeMicrosoftVistaoperatingsystem.ItisdistributedwithMicrosoft.NETFramework3.0,whichisinstalledwithSolidWorks
onMicrosoftXPandServer2003operatingsystems.

ImportandExportFileVersionInformation
Thefollowingversionsaresupportedforthesefiletypes.Allversionsaresupportedforfiletypesnotlisted.
FileType

SupportedVersions

ACIS(.sat )

YoucanimportorexportACIS.sat partsorassemblyfilesuptoandincludingversionR22.

AutodeskInventor

YoucanimportallAutodeskInventorpartsorassemblyfilesfromversion11andabove.

CADKEY

TheCADKEYtranslatorsupportsimportofsurfaceorsolidentitiesfromCADKEYversion19partorassemblyfiles(* .prt )andversion21

multibodypartfiles(* .ckd) ,includingalllaterversions.

CATIAGraphics(.cgr )

YoucanimportorexportCATIAGraphics.cgr filesuptoV5R20.

CATIAV5

YoucanimportCATIAV5partsandassembliesuptoV5R20.
TheCATIAV5Translatorisaseparateproduct.

DXF3D(.dxf )

YoucanimportfromDXF3DfilesAutoCADversionR14andabove.

DXForDWG

Youcanimportfromorexportto.dxf or.dwg filesofversionAutoCAD2010.

HighlyCompressed
Graphics(.hcg )

YoucanexportSolidWorksdocumentsasCATIAversion5,release9.hcg files.

FileType

SupportedVersions

HOOPS(.hsf )

YoucanexportSolidWorksdocumentsasHOOPSversion18.16files.

IFC

YoucanimportfromorexporttoIFC2x3.ifc partsorassembliesfiles.

IGES

YoucanimportfromorexporttoIGESpartsorassemblies.igs filesofversion5.3.

MechanicalDesktop
(.mdt )

YoucanimportMDTtranslatorpartsorassembliesofversion4.0orhigher.

Parasolid(.x_t ,.x_b )

YoucanimportfromorexporttoParasolidpartsorassembliesfilesuptothelatestParasolidversion.

Pro/Engineer

YoucanexporttoPro/ENGINEERpartsorassembliesfilesuptoVersion20.YoucanimportfromPro/ENGINEER(Creo)partsorassembliesfiles
uptoCreo1.0.

Rhino

Youcanimportversion4ofRhino.3dm files.

SolidEdge

YoucanimportParasolidfromSolidEdgepartsorassembliesuptoandincludingthemostcurrentversionofSolidEdge.

STEP

YoucanimportfromorexporttoSTEPApplicationProtocolAP203/214partsorassemblyfiles.
Forimport,ConformanceClasses1,2(surfacedataonly),4,5,and6ofAP203aresupported.Forexport,ConformanceClasses1,4,
and6ofAP203aresupported.

STL

Youcanimportfromorexporttoversion1STLpartsandassemblies.stl files.

Unigraphics

YoucanimportpartsandassembliesfromUnigraphicsversion10andhigher,includingimportofUnigraphicsNX7.5files.

VDAFS

Youcanimportfromorexporttoversion2ofVDAFS.vda partfiles.

Viewpoint

YoucanexportSolidWorksdocumentstoViewpointversion3.0.11files.

VRML(.wrl )

YoucanimportfromorexporttoallversionsofVRMLpartorassemblyfilesuptoandincludingVRMLversion2(VRML97).

CONTENTS
ExportingMultibodyDocuments
Whenyouexportamultibodypartdocumentasanotherfiletype,youhavetheoptiontoexportselectedsolidbodiesorallsolidbodies.
OpenMatchFacesandEdgesofImportedFeatures
TheMatchfacesandedgescheckboxappearsintheOpendialogboxwhenyoueditthedefinitionofanimportedfeature.