Import

Imports the geometry from external files into the current drawing.

Accessing the Command

command bar: import

menu bar: File | Import

: import

Displays a dialog box:

Choose a file, and then click Open.

Command Options

Option	Description
File name	Specifies the name of the file.
Files of type	Specifies the file type. All levels: DWG - drawing files. DXF - drawing interchange files. DWT - template files. DAE - collada files BIM only: IFC - The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model describes building and construction industry data. Following options are available in the Settings dialog: Import spaces: When checked, spaces are imported as 3D Solids. Import Bim Data: When checked, imported objects are classified as Building Elements, Walls, Slabs, Beams, Columns, Windows or Doors according to their IFC class. SKP - Sketchup model files Depending on the value of the SkpStitch user preference: With stitching, faces are combined to form 3d solids, when the face edges are coincident. Without stitching, all faces are imported as REGION entities, which have layer and color properties of the corresponding Sketchup faces.
Open	Inserts the geometry in the current drawing.

The following 3D formats are available through a separate module, BricsCAD Communicator.

The ImportProductStructure user preference controls whether the structure is imported as regular blocks or as local mechanical components (Platinum license required).

The ImportRepair, ImportStitch and ImportSimplify user preferences control if imported geometry should be automatically repaired, stitched and simplified.

Download the Communicator installer from the Bricsys website.

Format	Extension	Description
Standard for Exchange of Product data	STE, STP, STEP	STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) is an ISO standard exchange format used for representing three-dimensional data in a format that can be recognized by multiple programs.
Initial Graphics Exchange Specification	IGS, IGES	A file format which defines a vendor neutral data format that allows the digital exchange of information among Computer-aided design (CAD) systems. The ImportIgesStitch and ImportIgesSimplify user preferences control if geometry imported from IGES/IGS files should be automatically stitched and simplified.
Inventor	IAM, IPT	Autodesk Inventor, developed by U.S.-based software company Autodesk, is 3D mechanical CAD design software for creating 3D digital prototypes used in the design, visualization and simulation of products. Inventor uses specific file formats for parts (IPT) and assemblies (IAM).
JT	JT	JT is a 3D data format developed by Siemens PLM Software (formerly UGS Corp.) and is used for product visualization, collaboration, and CAD data exchange. It can contain any combination of approximate (faceted) data, boundary representation surfaces (NURBS), Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI), and Metadata (textual attributes) either exported from the native CAD system or inserted by a product data management (PDM) system.
CATIA V4	model	CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) is a multi-platform CAD/CAM/CAE commercial software suite developed by the French company Dassault Systèmes.
CATIA V5	CATPart, CATProduct
PARASOLID	XMT_TXT, XMT_BIN X_T, X_B	Parasolid is a geometric modeling kernel originally developed by ShapeData, now owned by Siemens PLM Software (formerly UGS Corp.), that can be licensed by other companies for use in their 3D computer graphics software products.
Solid Edge	PAR, PSM	Solid Edge is a 3D CAD parametric feature solid modeling software. which provides solid modeling, assembly modelling and drafting functionality.
NX	PRT	PRT is a part or model file format used by PTC Pro/Engineer, which is a CAD program that creates design parts and assembly processes.
Creo Elements Pro Engineer	ASM, PRT	Parametric, integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE solution created by Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC).
Solidworks	SLDASM, SLDPRT	SolidWorks is a 3D mechanical CAD program that runs on Microsoft Windows and is being developed by Dassault Systèmes. SLDPRT: part file, SLDASM: assembly file The ImportSwRotateYZ user preference controls if geometry imported from SolidWorks files should be automatically rotated to map Y axis to Z axis.
VDA-FS	VDA	VDA-FS is a CAD data exchange format for the transfer of surface models from one CAD system to another. Its name is an abbreviation of "Verband der Automobilindustrie - Flächenschnittstelle", which translates to the "automotive industry association - surface data interface". Standard was specified by the German organization VDA.

Physical materials

If the imported assembly has physical materials assigned to its parts, the materials can be imported together with the assembly structure. For each material in the imported file, a corresponding material will be created in the target document material library, and its name, density, specific heat and thermal conductivity will be copied from the source material. If the imported file contains several materials with the same name, the first one will be used. If the document already has a material with the same name in its material library, this material will be used instead.

Materials copied to the document material library will not be erased in Undo operations.

Related Commands

CommunicatorInfo - checks whether the Communicator product is correctly installed and prints a diagnostic report in the Prompt History window.

dmSimplify - simplifies the geometry and topology of 3d solid entities.

dmStitch - converts a set of region and surface entities that bound a watertight area to a 3d solid.

dmAudit - fixes inconsistencies in 3d geometry supported by ACIS kernel (3D solids, surfaces).

Export - exports the current drawing in a variety of raster and vector formats.

Insert - inserts DWG, DXF, and DWT files.

InsertObj - inserts objects from other applications.

Load - loads SHX shape files.

VSlide - displays SLD, WMF, and EMF files.