Save and load files > Working with other CAD systems > Working with other CAD systems
  
Working with other CAD systems
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling makes it easy to work with data from other CAD systems. You can save and load external data just like Creo Elements/Direct Modeling files. See Load or import files and Save or export files.
However, you must activate a module for most formats; some modules require a purchased license. See File types overview for a list of file types and requirements.
To activate a data import/export module,
1. Click File > Modules. The Modules dialog box opens.
2. Click the Data Interfaces pane.
3. Select and activate the module(s) that you want to work on.
* 
If you want to activate the modules that you want to work with for every Creo Elements/Direct session, click Startup to select the modules.
4. Click Close.
File formats and extensions
The following CAD systems do not require a third party license.
CAD system
Export
Import
ACIS SAT (V1.7-V8.0, 11-23)
ACIS SAT files (*.sat)
ACIS (SAT) (*.sat;*.SAT)
IGES V5.2, V5.3
IGES (*.igs)
IGES (*.iges;*.igs;*.IGS)
Granite (V7 — V11). See the next table for compatible Granite, Creo Parametric, and Creo Elements/Direct versions.
Granite (*.g), Granite zip (*.g.zip), Creo Parametric/Direct Neutral (*.neu)
Creo Parametric/Direct (*.prt*;*.asm*;*.g*;*.g.zip;*.xpr)
STEP AP214, AP203
STEP (*.step;*.stp;*.STP;*.STEP)
STEP (*.step;*.stp;*.STP;*.STEP)
Inventor R11, V2008 to V2018
Inventor (*.ipt;*.iam;*.IPT;*.IAM)
UGS SolidEdge V18.0 to UGS SolidEdge ST9
SolidEdge (*.par*; *.asm*; *.PAR*; *.ASM*)
SolidWorks 2001Plus to 2018
SolidWorks (*.sldprt*;*.sldasm*;*.SLDPRT*;*.SLDASM*)
UG V13.0 to UGS NX 11
NX (*.prt*;*.PRT*)
Compatible versions for data exchange
Granite Version
Creo Parametric Version
Creo Elements/Direct Version
7
Creo 1.0
18.0
8
Creo 2.0
18.1
9
Creo 3.0
19.0
10
Creo 4.0
20.0
11
Creo 5.0
20.1
The following CAD systems require a third party license.
* 
In the following table, importing and exporting files in ANF format requires Elysium adapter.
CAD system
Export
Import
Creo Elements Pro 5.0; Creo Parametric 2.0, Creo 3.0, Creo 4.0
Creo Parametric expert mode (*.anf-proe)
Creo Parametric expert mode (*.anf)
CATIA V4.2.x
CATIA (*.model)
CATIA (*.model)
CATDATA files (no specific extension)
CATEXPORT files (*.exp) (name dlv3 often used)
NX I-DEAS 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6
IDEAS expert mode (*.anf-ideas)
IDEAS expert mode (*.anf)
SolidWorks (Parasolid V7.0-V30.0)
SolidWorks Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b) (ASCII) V7.0
SolidWorks Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b)(binary)
SolidEdge (Parasolid V7.0-V30.0)
SolidEdge Parasolid (*.x_t)(ASCII) V7.0
SolidEdge Parasolid (*.x_t)
Unigraphics (Parasolid V7.0-V30.0)
Unigraphics Parasolid (*.xmt_txt;*.x_t)
Unigraphics Parasolid (*. xmt_txt;*.x_t)
UGS NX 9, 10, 11, 12
* 
UGS NX 9, 10, 11, 12 are not supported on 32 bit versions of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1.
Unigraphics expert mode (*.anf-ug)
Unigraphics expert mode (*.anf)
64 bit Windows 10 Platform Support
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.0 F000 and later versions are supported on 64 bit Windows 10 and all interfaces are supported.
* 
Installing the following plug-in adapters for ANF format on Windows 10 is not supported because the respective CAD application does not support 64 bit Windows 10.
Creo Elements/Direct Interface for IDEAS 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5
Creo Elements/Direct Interface for UGS NX 9, 12.
* 
NX10 (NX 10.0.3 and later) and NX11 are supported on Windows 10.
Creo Elements/Direct Interface for Creo Parametric 1.0 and earlier versions.
* 
Creo Parametric 2.0 (M190 and later), Creo Parametric 3.0 (M060 and later), and Creo Parametric 4.0 are supported on Windows 10.