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 > . 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.
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4. Click Close.
File formats and extensions
The following CAD systems do not require a third party license.
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CAD system
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Export
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Import
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ACIS SAT (V1.7-V8.0, 11-23), 2024.1.0 (R34sp0)
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ACIS SAT files (*.sat)
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ACIS (SAT) (*.sat;*.SAT)
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IGES V5.2, V5.3
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IGES (*.igs)
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IGES (*.iges;*.igs;*.IGS)
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Granite (V15 — V18). See the next table for compatible Granite, Creo Parametric, and Creo Elements/Direct versions.
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Granite (*.g), Granite zip (*.g.zip), Creo Parametric/Direct Neutral (*.neu)
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Creo Parametric/Direct (*.prt*;*.asm*;*.g*;*.g.zip;*.xpr)
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STEP AP214, AP203
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STEP (*.step;*.stp;*.STP;*.STEP)
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STEP (*.step;*.stp;*.STP;*.STEP)
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Inventor R11, V2008 to V2025
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Inventor (*.ipt;*.iam;*.IPT;*.IAM)
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SolidEdge V18.0 to V20.0, ST to ST10, and 2019 to 2025
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SolidEdge (*.par*; *.asm*; *.PAR*; *.ASM*)
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SolidWorks 2001Plus to 2025
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SolidWorks (*.sldprt*;*.sldasm*;*.SLDPRT*;*.SLDASM*)
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NX V13.0 to NX V18.0, NX V1.0 to NX V12.0, and NX 1847 to NX 2406
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NX (*.prt*;*.PRT*)
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Granite Version
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Creo Parametric Version
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Creo Elements/Direct Version
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|---|---|---|
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15
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Creo 9.0
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20.5
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16
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Creo 10.0
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20.6
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17
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Creo 11.0
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20.7
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18
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Creo 12.0
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20.8
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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\
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CAD system
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Export
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Import
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|---|---|---|
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Creo 9.0, Creo 10.0, Creo 11.0
PTC suggests the following combinations:
• Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.8.1.0 + Creo 9.0 + 2019_64 plugin
• Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.8.1.0 + Creo 10.0 + 2020_64 plugin
• Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.8.1.0 + Creo 11.0 + 2021_64 plugin
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Creo Parametric expert mode (*.anf-proe)
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Creo Parametric expert mode (*.anf)
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CATIA V4.2.x
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CATIA (*.model)
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CATIA (*.model)
CATDATA files (no specific extension)
CATEXPORT files (*.exp) (name dlv3 often used)
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NX I-DEAS 6.7 (MS21), 6.8 (MS22), 6.9
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IDEAS expert mode (*.anf-ideas)
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IDEAS expert mode (*.anf)
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SolidWorks (Parasolid V7.0-V36.1)
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SolidWorks Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b) (ASCII) V7.0
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SolidWorks Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b)(binary)
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SolidEdge (Parasolid V7.0-V36.1)
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SolidEdge Parasolid (*.x_t)(ASCII) V7.0
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SolidEdge Parasolid (*.x_t)
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NX (Parasolid V7.0-V36.1)
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NX Parasolid (*.xmt_txt;*.x_t)
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NX Parasolid (*. xmt_txt;*.x_t)
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NX 2306 Series, 2312 Series, and 2406 Series
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NX expert mode (*.anf-ug)
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NX expert mode (*.anf)
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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 NX 9, 12.
• Creo Elements/Direct Interface for Creo Parametric 1.0 and earlier versions.
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