Importing Data from STEP

You can import data from a disk-based STEP file.

  1. Select the required STEP Exchange options.

    For more information about their behavior, read the STEP Concepts.

  2. Import the STEP file as explained in Import.

    Extension can be *.stp, *.step, *.stpZ, *.stpx, *.stpxZ.

  3. Optional: In the Import dialog box, click 3D Viewer.
    The Import dialog box closes. The content of the selected file is visualized in a new tab.
    Notes:
    • This tab is in read-only mode, with a limited number of commands.
    • 3D annotations are not displayed.
  4. Click Cancel Preview to cancel the import, or Validate Import to confirm it.
    In both cases, the preview tab closes. You revert to the initial tab.
    • If you have cancelled the import, select another file in the Import dialog box, and cancel the import altogether.
    • If you have validated the import, the actual import is launched.

  • A progress bar is displayed while the content is converted and saved. If the save operation fails, a failure message is displayed and the import is aborted.
  • Click Cancel to interrupt the transfer at any time. The conversion is then interrupted (after the processing of the current independent entity) and the partial conversion already performed is displayed in the session.
  • See About Reports for more information about result checks.
  • A product structure with 3D shape representations containing the data imported is created as explained in About the Structures.
  • The prefix given in Creation preferences is not taken into account but a suffix, based on the date and time, is automatically added in order to avoid conflicts at Save.
  • The quality of imported data is checked, and enhanced according to the corresponding customizing option, as explained in About Geometry Quality Enhancement.
  • The geometrical elements of the faces, which could not be transferred, are created in the NoShow space. In the NoShow space, you can visualize the surface supports and the 3D curves.
  • The reference planes are hidden.
  • A geometrical set is always created to collect imported valid surfaces, if any. It is empty if there are no valid surfaces in the STEP file, e.g. when the imported element is a solid.
  • Invalid surfaces, if any, are collected in a specific Geometrical Set (FaceKO#xxx).