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Open Files

The Open Files dialog box lets you load models as separate documents or merge models with the active document.

Composer can import data directly from CAD systems (such as SOLIDWORKSand Pro/ENGINEER) and supports many CAD-neutral formats (such as IGES and STEP). For details, see Supported Import Formats.

To display this dialog box, click File > Open .

Note: Composer files are always forward compatible: you can open files created by older versions of Composer in a newer version. Composer files are not always backward compatible: opening files created by a newer version in an older version might not work, depending on the changes between the versions, and is not supported.

Command Name Description
Open Opens the selected files as separate documents.
Tip: You can also open a file by dragging it from Windows Explorer to the document tabs area above the viewport.
Merge into the active document Opens the selected files and places all objects in the active document.
Tip: You can also merge a file by dragging it from Windows Explorer into the viewport containing an open document.
Note: When you merge documents together, it is recommended that they have the same paper space defined.
Merge into a new document Opens the selected files and places all objects in a new document.
Preview Displays a thumbnail image of the model, which are available for all .smg files and files previously opened in Composer.
SOLIDWORKS (Available when a SOLIDWORKS file is selected.)

If a SOLIDWORKS part or assembly file has multiple configurations, when you save the file as a Composer file, you can choose which configurations to save with the Composer file.

Specifies which configuration to convert. If the Import meta-properties import option is selected, the name of the selected configuration is added as a meta-property.
Notes:
  • SpeedPak configurations are supported. The SpeedPak components are switched to their parent configurations and are translated to SOLIDWORKS Composer.
  • SOLIDWORKS is intended for a single interactive user only. Running SOLIDWORKS without an active Windows session is outside the scope of the End User License Agreement (EULA).
Tip: You can export to Composer (.smg) directly from SOLIDWORKS using the SOLIDWORKS plug-in. Download the free plug-in from the Composer resource center at http://3ds.com. Once installed, the Composer menu appears on the SOLIDWORKS menu, and the SOLIDWORKS Save As dialog box includes the Composer (*.smg) file type. Exporting from SOLIDWORKS uses the Composer default document properties.
Important: SOLIDWORKS stops support of Windows XP from 2013 onwards. Therefore, if you are running Composer with Windows XP, you may encounter compatibility issues importing data from SOLIDWORKS 2013.
Import Lets you configure native CAD import. For details, see Input.
Refinement Determines faceting precision, so parametrizes the density of polygons to tessellate the CAD model. For details, see Input.
Project (Available when a Composer project (.smgProj) file is selected.) Lets you configure how geometry is loaded. For details, see Project.
PDF (Available when a PDF file is selected.) Lets you select which 3D scenes in the PDF file to open.
Tip: Very large models might be divided into several sub-models. You can reassemble the sub-models into the complete model or merge models from different CAD solutions. To assemble models:
  1. Open the sub-models in the same document window using drag-and-drop or File > Open .
  2. Move these parts (using selection and navigation tools) until the complete model is reconstituted.


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