Supported File Formats

SOLIDWORKS File Formats

The software recognizes assembly and part information in imported SOLIDWORKS .SLDPRT and .SLDASM files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups.

The following list provides details when importing specific features:
  • When importing assembly files (.SLDASM), the tree component hierarchy is recognized when “Retain Structure" selected. All components are displayed and rendered in SOLIDWORKS Visualize, even if the individual SLDPRT files are missing.
  • Appearance hierarchy of Face, Feature, Body, Part, Component, and Assembly are supported.
    SOLIDWORKS installation is required for standard appearances to be displayed.

    Illuminations are converted to SOLIDWORKS Visualize appearances, and mimic SOLIDWORKS illuminations. All illumination modes and parameters of textures, mapping, surface finish, and PhotoView surface finish are supported.

  • Scenes are supported with the following caveats:
    SOLIDWORKS installation is required for standard background images to be displayed.
    • The default scene is imported as "3 Point Faded"
    • All scene environments and file types, including HDR image-based lighting are supported
    • All background scenes are imported except "Stretch background image to fit SOLIDWORKS window"
    • The PhotoView360 Lighting Rendering Brightness only influences the overall brightness in SOLIDWORKS Visualize
  • Decals are supported with the following caveats:
    • Image Color Masks are currently not supported
    • All decal types from SOLIDWORKS are imported (Projection, Label, Spherical, Cylindrical) and appear on the model in the Viewport and also in the Decals section of the Appearances tab .
  • SOLIDWORKS Lights, Cameras, and Animations are supported.
    • SOLIDWORKS Animations.
      • Rigid body animations and motion studies
      • Appearance animations
      • Camera animations
      • Gravity motion studies

Other File Formats

ACIS The software recognizes assembly information in imported .ACIS files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Adobe® 3D PDF The software recognizes 3D information in imported Adobe .PDF files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Autodesk® 3ds Max® The software recognizes geometry information in imported Autodesk 3ds Max (.3DS) files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Autodesk® Alias® The software can import WIRE files automatically if you have an Autodesk Alias product installed from 2008-2016.
Autodesk® FBX® The software recognizes model information in imported Autodesk .FBX files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.

The .FBX importer supports geometry animation that you can import, play back, and output.

If you import an .FBX file that contains an animation, the animation appears in the timeline, where you can play it and render it using the animated cameras imported from the source .FBX file.
Autodesk® Inventor® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Autodesk Inventor .IPT and .IAM files from 2016 and earlier. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.

Tessellation control of the import is available.
Autodesk® Maya® The software can import Autodesk Maya (.MA, .MB) files automatically if you have an Autodesk Maya product installed and licensed from 2008-2016.
Collada® (DAE) The software recognizes assembly information in imported Collada (.DAE) files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Dassault Systèmes 3DXML The software recognizes assembly information in imported Dassault Systèmes .3DXML files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Dassault Systèmes CATIA® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Dassault Systèmes CATIA (V6 via .CATPart, .CATProduct, .CGR or V4 via .model, .session, .exp) files.

All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Dassault Systèmes ICEM® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Dassault Systèmes ICEM (.ICEM) files.

All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
PTC® Pro/ENGINEER®, Pro/E, and Creo The software supports a PTC Pro/ENGINEER add-in for you to import models directly from Pro/ENGINEER.

The software also supports Creo 3.0 files.

DXF/DWG The software recognizes 3D information in imported .DXF and .DWG files. All parts in the drawing result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
IGES When importing IGES files, the software recognizes all layer information. These layers result from layer information in the original CAD file or the assembly structure. Each layer is imported as an individual appearance group. Original appearances are not recognized.
OBJ Before exporting .OBJ files, you need to set the tessellation and appearances in the 3D modeling software.

Tessellation

When exporting .OBJ files from the source software, choose a tessellation that meets your needs. Close-ups in SOLIDWORKS Visualize look best at higher tessellation (more triangles for smoother surfaces) than more distant views. You must determine tessellation in the 3D modeling software you use to create the model. You cannot change the model tessellation after importing it into SOLIDWORKS Visualize.

Fine tessellation increases the size of .OBJ files. Make sure your computer has enough RAM and other resources to handle the preferred tessellation.

Appearances and textures

The .OBJ file format does not support a full scene graph, but it does maintain all appearance assignments, including textures. When importing an .OBJ file and its appearance files, ensure all associated files stay together in the same folder. Upon import of the .OBJ file, the software copies the model's textures into the Textures library.

All appearances in the .OBJ file are converted to appearance groupings in the software. All parts in the model that share the same appearance become a single appearance group in the software. You cannot alter imported appearance groups from within the software. You must assign appearances in the 3D modeling software before exporting to .OBJ.

The software interprets imported appearance files – as well as texture maps, bump maps, or decals used in the model. After importing the model, you can edit the resulting appearance parameters.
Parasolid® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Parasolid (.x_t, .x_b) files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Rhino Before importing Rhino files (.3DM format, version 5 or earlier), ensure that your individual parts and appearance groups are on individual layers in Rhino. The software converts individual layers to different appearance groups. You also need to assign an appearance to all objects by layer.
Siemens PLM The software supports Siemens PLM .JT files.
Siemens NX® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Siemens NX (.PRT) files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
SketchUp When importing SketchUp files (.SKP format, SketchUp 2015 or earlier), the software takes the geometry, color information, and textures. All textures are kept in a separate folder with the original SketchUp file in the original location.
Solid Edge® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Solid Edge .PAR and .ASM files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
STEP The software recognizes assembly information inside imported .STEP files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
STL The software recognizes geometry information in imported STL (.STL) files. All individual colors or objects in the geometry result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
Unigraphics® The software recognizes assembly information in imported Unigraphics .U3D files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.
VDA The software recognizes assembly information in imported VDA-FS (.VDA) files. All parts in the assembly result in individual appearance groups. Original appearances are not recognized.