SMG Export Options

You can specify the export options when you export SOLIDWORKS assemblies as SMG files.

To specify the SMG export options:

  1. With an assembly open, click File > Save As.
  2. Select SOLIDWORKS Composer (.smg) for Save as type, then click Options.
  3. Select the options described below, then click OK.
  4. Click Save to export the document.

    If the model has configurations, a dialog box prompts you to save the current configuration or a selected configuration.

  5. Click OK.

SOLIDWORKS

Export SOLIDWORKS BOM Exports a SOLIDWORKS BOM table from parts and assemblies. If multiple BOMs exist, the software exports only the first BOM. You can also specify this option as follows:

  • In Composer, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable IOSSWImportBOM.
Export SOLIDWORKS assembly envelope Exports all the SOLIDWORKS assembly envelopes. You can also specify this option as follows:
  • In Composer, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable IOSSWImportEnvelope.
  • In Composer Sync, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable Batch.IOSSWImportEnvelope to enable batch import of envelope geometry.

Export

Export Profile Specifies export options as recommended for the selected format.
  • Selecting a profile makes all export options read-only. To override profile options, select Custom.

    Custom

    Enables all options, which you can modify.

    SOLIDWORKS (default)

    Enables all options except Import instance names, Overload assembly tree names, and Import free faces.

    SOLIDWORKS with Surface

    Enables Merge file into one actor per part, Import meta-properties, and Import free faces.
  • When you revisit the Import page, the profile reverts to Custom but the export option settings are retained.
  • You cannot redefine or create new export profiles.
  • Export profiles are not available for Sync. Specify export options manually.
Merge file into one actor per part Exports parts, including multibody parts, as single actors. To load multibody parts as individual actors, clear this option.
Select this option to facilitate updates when CAD geometry changes. The identifiers are based on the part name and not the body names. Body names can change when features change.
This option merges all part geometry and creates single nodes in the Composer assembly tree that are both part and geometry nodes. For other CAD formats, this option merges part geometry but creates part nodes with geometry nodes.
Export instance names Adds the instance names after the part name: #PN# (#IN#). #PN# and #IN# are also added as meta-properties so you can add annotations linked to these meta-properties.
You can export 3DXML files that contain 3D shapes that are aggregated directly under the root node of the product reference. In this case, you must select this option to export the names of both the 3D shape reference and instance.
Export meta-properties Exports attributes such as part number (P/N), designation, and revision number. Meta-properties appear as user properties in the Properties pane.
Overload assembly tree names Uses the text value associated to a given meta-property (instead of the default Actor.Name property) to display actor names in the assembly tree.

In the text box, the V_Name value is entered by default. This displays the value associated to the Meta.V_Name meta-property. Enter the name of another meta-property if the default one does not suit your needs.

This option is available only if you select Export meta-properties.
Export as bodies Exports parts as solid bodies. To export parts as individual faces, clear this option and clear Merge file into one actor per part. If you select Merge file into one actor per part, it does not matter what you select for Export as bodies; multibody parts import as single bodies.
Export free faces

Exports surface bodies (construction faces).
Export hidden components (no show) Exports and displays hidden parts in assemblies and bodies in multibody parts. The hidden components are stored in a selection set.
The software never exports suppressed components.

Refinement

Refinement settings determine how Composer tessellates (meshes) the model, which affects model accuracy.

Set these options to achieve the best compromise between accuracy and file size.

Relative Specifies the triangulation method.
 

Chordal error

All geometry has the same chordal error. Chordal error is the distance between the triangles that define the geometry in Composer and the edges of the original geometry. When you move the slider to high quality, you decrease the chordal error and increase the quality of the assembly.

In this image, the black circle is the original geometry. The blue triangles define the geometry in Composer. The chordal error is the distance represented by the red arrows.
 

Normal deviation All geometry has the same normal deviation. Normal deviation is the angle between the normals of the edges that define the triangular geometry of Composer. When you move the slider to high quality, you decrease the normal deviation and increase the quality of the assembly.

In the image, the black circle is the original geometry. The blue triangles define the geometry in Composer. The normal deviation is the angle between the red arrows.

The difference between these two triangulation methods is visible for scenes containing geometry of various sizes. Consider an assembly of one very large cylinder and one very small cylinder.

With Chordal error, because the chordal error is constant, the polygon inscribing the large cylinder has many more sides. This results in the geometry of the large cylinder looking better than the small cylinder.

With Normal deviation, because the normal deviation is constant, the polygons inscribing both cylinders have the same number of sides. This results in the geometry of the small cylinder looking better than the large cylinder.

You can optimize the geometry degradation by moving the slider between high quality (for optimum triangulation quality), medium, and low quality.
Absolute (Advanced users only, use carefully) Defines the triangulation approximations
This option is recommended for expert users only. Configuring absolute refinement is time consuming and should be used only when relative refinement produces unacceptable results.
You can set these three parameters independently. When you set more than one, their effects are combined.
  • Chordal error -

    Variation in millimeters between native geometry CAD and the tessellated model.

  • Normal deviation - Angle formed between the normals of the triangle faces.
  • Edge length - Length of the triangle edges in millimeters.
    Not considered for SOLIDWORKS files.

For each parameter, specify values that define the maximum limits.
Enable healing (auto repair is time intensive)

Checks for missing triangles, incorrect holes in the mesh, extra faces, and other discontinuity issues, and attempts to repair problems by adding triangles. This option degrades import speed, so use only when tessellation is poor. To import files without checking for incorrect geometry, clear this option.