Setting STEP Export Options

Set the export options when you export SOLIDWORKS part or assembly documents as STEP files.

1. Select from the following Output as options:

   Option	Description
   Solid/Surface geometry	Exports the geometry as solids and surface bodies.
   Wireframe	Exports the solid and surface bodies as wireframe entities. All 3D curves (composite curves, 3D wires, imported curves, and so on) are also saved. Export sketch entities Exports all 2D and 3D sketches in the document.

2. Optional: Specify the following options:

   Option	Description
   Set STEP configuration data	(Available only when exporting to STEP AP203 (*.step) file types). Displays the STEP Configuration Data for Export dialog box. If you select Set STEP configuration data, the STEP Configuration Data for Export dialog box appears. Because you cannot group the sketch elements together in a STEP file, when you open the exported STEP file in SOLIDWORKS: All lines and splines are imported into a single 3D sketch. Circles, ellipses, and parabolas are imported into individual 2D sketches.
   Export face/edge properties	Exports face and edge properties. Clear this option to improve export performance.
   Split periodic faces	Splits periodic faces, such as cylindrical faces, into two. Splitting a periodic face can improve the quality of the export but can affect performance.
   Export 3D Curve features	Exports the solid and surface bodies as wireframe entities. All 3D curves (composite curves, 3D wires, imported curves, and so on) are also saved.

3. Click OK.
   When you create a task, you click Options in the task properties dialog box to change the options for that task only. To change the default option values, click View > Options > STEP.