Data files created by CAD applications and saved to Windchill using a workgroup manager or Creo Elements/Pro 5.0 are managed in Windchill as CAD documents.

CAD documents are associated with a subtype of the wt.epm.EPMDocument modeled object type and can be used to manage many different types of CAD files including parts, assemblies, drawings, layouts, and manufacturing files. In addition, a CAD document can have secondary content. The secondary content is typically used for additional supporting information or derived files such as STEP, IGES, JPEG, and others.

The CAD Document subtype defined as <prefix>.DefaultEPMDocument is established during the installation process, where <prefix> is generated by reversing the internet domain specified as part of the organization properties during the installation. For example, if the internet domain specified is acme.com, then the <prefix> used in the soft type name is com.acme.

Administrators can create and update CAD document templates. These templates can be used to create CAD documents.