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.
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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), 2019.0.1 (R30sp1)
ACIS SAT files (*.sat)
ACIS (SAT) (*.sat;*.SAT)
IGES V5.2, V5.3
IGES (*.igs)
IGES (*.iges;*.igs;*.IGS)
Granite (V7 — V14). 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 V2021
Inventor (*.ipt;*.iam;*.IPT;*.IAM)
UGS SolidEdge V18.0 to V20.0, ST to ST10, and 2019 to 2021
SolidEdge (*.par*; *.asm*; *.PAR*; *.ASM*)
SolidWorks 2001Plus to 2021
SolidWorks (*.sldprt*;*.sldasm*;*.SLDPRT*;*.SLDASM*)
UG V13.0 to UG V18.0, UGS NX 1.0 to 12.0, and 1847 to 1926
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
12
Creo 6.0
20.2
13
Creo 7.0
20.3
14
Creo 8.0
20.4
In the following table, importing and exporting files requires an add-on Creo Elements/Direct CAD Interfaces license.
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You can find installation information about the CAD Interfaces in the Installation and Configuration guide, and detailed information in the following default path:
<Your personal installation directory>\Direct CAD Interfaces <release>\<interface name>\documentation\
CAD system
Export
Import
Creo Elements Pro 5.0; Creo Parametric 2.0, Creo 3.0, Creo 4.0, Creo 5.0, Creo 6.0, Creo 7.0
PTC suggests the following combinations:
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.4.4.0 + Creo 5.0 + 2015_64 plugin
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.4.4.0 + Creo 6.0 + 2016_64 plugin
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.4.4.0 + Creo 7.0 + 2017_64 plugin
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, 6.7
IDEAS expert mode (*.anf-ideas)
IDEAS expert mode (*.anf)
SolidWorks (Parasolid V7.0-V33.0)
SolidWorks Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b) (ASCII) V7.0
SolidWorks Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b)(binary)
SolidEdge (Parasolid V7.0-V33.0)
SolidEdge Parasolid (*.x_t)(ASCII) V7.0
SolidEdge Parasolid (*.x_t)
Unigraphics (Parasolid V7.0-V33.0)
Unigraphics Parasolid (*.xmt_txt;*.x_t)
Unigraphics Parasolid (*. xmt_txt;*.x_t)
UGS NX 9, 10, 11, 12, 1847 Series, 1872 Series, 1899 Series, and 1926 Series
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UGS NX 9, 10, 11, 12, 1847 Series, and 1872 Series 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.
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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.
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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.
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Creo Parametric 2.0 (M190 and later), Creo Parametric 3.0 (M060 and later), and Creo Parametric 4.0 are supported on Windows 10.