About Interface Capabilities
The Interface for Creo includes the capabilities of the following data exchange formats.
3D Manufacturing Format (3MF)
The 3D Manufacturing Format is the standard XML-based format that represents 3D models and their representation in a markup format. The 3MF file format is a complete collection of interdependent parts and relationships, 3D object definitions, the supporting files, and the full set of parts required for processing the 3D model part. The 3MF files include data that constitute the complete model information to fully described 3D models that is used in 3D printing. They contain data related to 3D manufacturing that can be fabricated on 3D printers.
You can:
• Import 3MF files containing part and assembly models to Creo.
• Export Creo part and assembly models to the 3MF format.
ACIS
You can:
• Import ACIS part and assembly model files with the .sat or the binary .sab file extension.
• Export Creo parts and assemblies with user-defined parameters and their units, datum features, cross-sections, and sketches to the ACIS .sat file format. Cross-sections and sketches are exported as planar curves.
• Open the exported parts and assemblies in Creo Simulate.
Adobe Illustrator Curves
You can:
• Import Adobe Illustrator curves as parts, assemblies, or sketches.
• Modify curves that you import as features to create other geometry.
Autodesk Inventor
You can import Autodesk Inventor part (*.ipt) and assembly (*.iam) files or open Autodesk Inventor part and assembly models in Creo. Autodesk Inventor assemblies import as assemblies and parts convert to parts or assemblies. You need the Creo Collaboration Extension for Inventor license to open Autodesk Inventor parts and assemblies as non-Creo models in Creo.
You can import the brep geometry of Autodesk Inventor models, product structures, datum features, exact surfaces, edges, wire-body datum curves, colors, parameters, and model units.
Autodesk Inventor is an ATB-enabled application. To know more about the Associative Topology Bus (ATB) capabilities, see the Help on Associative Topology Bus.
CADDS 5
With the Creo Interface for CADDS 5, you can:
• Import CADDS 5 parts and assemblies.
• Export Creo parts and assemblies to the native CADDS 5 format.
For ATB-enabled CADDS 5, see the Help on Associative Topology Bus.
CATIA
Creo supports CATIA versions 4 and 5. The data exchange between Creo and CATIA version 5 includes the import and export of part and assembly models. You need the Creo CATIA V5 Collaboration license to export parts and assemblies to CATIA version 5. You can also open CATIA V4 and V5 part and assembly models in Creo and include them in assemblies to create multi-CAD assemblies in Creo.
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You can only import CATIA V4 parts and assemblies toCreo. You cannot export part and assembly models to CATIA V4.
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You can import the following file types of CATIA version 4 toCreo:
• CATIA V4 .model
• CATIA V4 Model export (*.exp)
• CATIA V4 Session (assembly) *.session
The following file types of CATIA V5 support import and export:
• CATIA V5 CATPart (part)
• CATIA V5 CATProduct (assembly)
• CATIA V5 CGR
Creo supports CATIA V4 versions 4.1.6 to 4.2.5 for import, CATIA V5 revisions 10 to 27 for import, and CATIA V5 revisions 25 to 30 for export with Revision 25 as the default. CATIA V5 R27 is also known as CATIA V5–6R2017.
CATIA V4 and V5 are ATB-enabled file formats. To know more about ATB capabilities, see the Help on Associative Topology Bus.
CDRS
You can exchange data between CDRS and Creo applications. Industrial design surfaces are created in CDRS and imported for downstream and structural design and the creation of engineering deliverables. For information on ATB-enabled CDRS, see the Help on Associative Topology Bus.
Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM)
CGM provides a vector-based 2D image file format for the storage and retrieval of graphics information.
You can:
• Export graphical information to the CGM format in Part, Assembly, and Drawing modes.
• Import a CGM file into a drawing, format, notebook, or diagram.
Creo Distributed Batch
You can enter Batch mode to create multiple plot, IGES, DXF ,VDA, STEP, STL, or VRML files.
Creo Elements/Direct
You can import native Creo Elements/Direct drawing and model files and open Creo Elements/Direct *.sdac and *.sdpc part and assembly content files in Creo. Creo Granite capabilities enable you to import Creo Elements/Direct parts and assemblies.
Creo Elements/Direct file types that you can import are as follows:
• 3D Model data (*.pkg, *.sda, *.sdac, *.sdp, and *.sdpc ) files
• 2D Drawing *.mi and *.bi files
• 2D and 3D Bundle *.bdl files
The imported drawings consist of construction geometry, dimensions, hatches, and attributes such as colors, layers, line types, and fonts. When *.mi, *.bi, and *.bdl drawing files contain the associative details of the related 3D models, you can import the Creo Elements/Direct drawing files as associative drawings. You can then open the imported drawings and the associated 3D models in Creo.
The 3D data of part and assembly models imported from Creo Elements/Direct consists of assembly structures, model geometry, model parameters, attributes of color and density, clipping features, feature points, coordinate systems, annotations, and the part and assembly level Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) of the annotations. Creo Elements/Direct supports ATB.
Creo View
You can:
• Export a part, assembly, or drawing to the Creo View format.
• Import Creo View facet parts and assembly structures.
Creo supports Creo View versions up to 13.0.
Data Exchange Format (DXF) and DWG
You can import a DXF file and modify the imported drawing or create design models and construct features. A DXF file can contain 2D or 3D geometry. You can:
• Import and export 2D DWG files.
• Use the DXF files containing 3D geometry to import parts, assemblies, components, and features. Tessellated data and embedded exact ACIS data contained in the DXF files are also imported.
Electrical Computer-Aided Design (ECAD)
You can use the ECAD option to exchange information between Creo and ECAD systems.
ICEM
You can create Creo models by importing ICEM Surf models. ICEM surfaces, when imported or appended to existing models, create import IN features.
Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES)
You can:
• Export drawings, drawing formats, notebooks, parts, and assembly data to the IGES format.
• Export part data using B-Spline representation for all surfaces and automatically initiate the post-processing of the IGES file using a program that you provide.
• Import IGES files containing drawing data into drawings, formats, and layouts and modify the resulting data.
• Group model edges in a drawing for export through the IGES format to allow other systems that support IGES groups to see the model edges as a collection of entities.
• Import IGES files containing drawing, sketch, and part data into Creo modes.
Image Files
You can:
• Print shaded images to a PostScript printer.
• Export TIFF, JPEG, and EPS files.
• Import and export CGM picture files.
• Import TIFF images into Drawing mode.
JT Visualization Format
You can use the Creo Interface for JT to import JT parts and assemblies and export Creo models to the JT format. You require a license to export to the JT format.
You can import and export JT files as facet representations. You can export parts and assemblies to the various product structures of JT. You can import and export geometric data such as datum curves and points, facets, quilts, and surfaces and non-geometric data such as annotations and engineering meta data or model parameters.
MEDUSA
You can:
• Export Detail drawings to MEDUSA as MEDUSA sheets.
• Import MEDUSA sheets.
• Export solid model information about parts and assemblies to MEDUSA as tessellated data. MEDUSA exports to an ASCII-based *.asc file.
• Import tessellated MEDUSA *.asc files.
Neutral Files
You can import Neutral *.neu parts and assemblies and export Creo models to the Neutral *.neu format. You can exchange geometric and non-geometric data between the Creo applications and the *.neu format. The geometric information includes facets, datum curves, datum points, shells, solids, and cross-sections.
You can use:
• The Neutral option to create or import a formatted text file (NEUTRAL file) containing information such as topology, relations, and attributes about parts and assemblies created with Creo applications.
• The NEUTRAL file to create interfaces with other programs.
• The Neutral file format to collaboratively share data created in Creo Parametric with the earlier versions of Pro/ENGINEER.
The Neutral file format is ATB-enabled. For information, see the Help on Associative Topology Bus.
NX
You can exchange data between NX and Creo through the file import, export, insert, and assemble operations. The data can consist of solid geometry, surfaces, layers, colors, assembly structures, and units. You can also open NX part and assembly models in Creo and include them in assemblies to create multi-CAD assemblies in Creo.
The Creo UG/NX Collaboration is a purchasable license. NX is an ATB-enabled file format.
Parasolid
You can export parts and assemblies to Parasolid and import 3D geometry from a Parasolid-based CAD system in the Parasolid format.
PATRAN
You can export a file from part data that can be read by PATRAN software systems. This file is formatted according to the specifications of a PATRAN database file. A PATRAN file contains mathematical definitions of items such as surface data that binds a solid. The Creo application does not accept files from PATRAN systems.
Portable Document Format (PDF)
You can export Creo drawings to the standard PDF or the PDF/A-1 format with advanced export capabilities. You can export drawings, including vector drawings to Adobe PDF, with searchable meta data, hyperlinks, and bookmarks. The PDF/A-1 format is compliant with the PDF/A-1b:2005 (sRGB) standard.
In addition to drawings, you can export Creo models as graphics embedded in the PDF files. You can export the models as a U3D graphic or a 2D raster image.
You can set security parameters and document properties for the PDF output and enhance the output with intelligent content that facilitates search, navigation, and tracking.
Interface for Rhino
You can use the Creo Interface for Rhino to import *.3dm part files from Rhinoceros. This interface is a plug-in data exchange processor based on Creo Granite.
Geometric data such as datum curves, surfaces, and quilts are included in each part as import features. You can use Import DataDoctor to edit the import features. Besides geometric data, you can also import colors and layers.
Scan Data
You can digitize from a tablet to create point, line, and arc data from existing drawings and layouts for import to the Creo applications.
Shrinkwrap
You can give each Shrinkwrap model a name and store it as a separate Creo part.
Solid Edge
You can directly import Solid Edge parts and assemblies, insert Solid Edge parts in Creo parts, or assemble Solid Edge part and assembly components in Creo assemblies.
The brep geometry, product structures, datum features, and attributes of the Solid Edge parts and assemblies are imported to Creo.
SolidWorks
Creo supports the import of SolidWorks parts and assemblies and the export of Creo parts and assemblies to SolidWorks. You can also open SolidWorks part and assembly models in Creo and include them in assemblies to create multi-CAD assemblies in Creo. You require the Creo Solidworks Collaboration license to export Creo models to SolidWorks.
You can exchange product structures, b-rep geometry, and non-geometric data between SolidWorks and Creo. The geometric data includes curves, solids, and quilts. The non-geometric data includes the visibility states, attribute-value pairs, and the colors of components, datum features, and quilts. SolidWorks supports ATB.
STEP
You can:
• Exchange complete product definition between heterogeneous computer-aided design, engineering, and manufacturing systems through the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) format.
• Import and export STEP Associative Drafting Data (AP214).
STHENO/PRO
STHENO/PRO provides early 2D concept sketching and extensive capabilities for production detailing of drawings created in Creo.
You can exchange data between Creo and STHENO/PRO in the .tsh file format through the export, import, and append operations.
Supertab
You can export an I-DEAS Supertab file from part data that can be read by Supertab software systems. This file is formatted according to the specifications of a Supertab universal file. The Supertab file contains mathematical definitions of items such as surface data that bound a solid. The Creo application does not accept universal files from Supertab systems.
Tessellated Data
You can create tessellated files by exporting to STL, Render, OptegraVis, Xpatch, MEDUSA, Wavefront, and Inventor. The dialog box that opens before you export your files allows you to specify tessellation parameters. You can:
• Import and export STL files that enable Creo part and assembly geometry to be read by stereo lithography or rendering programs. STL files represent the surfaces of a solid model as a group of small planar polygons.
• Export part and assembly information that can be read by IRIS Inventor, a 3D graphics toolkit by Silicon Graphics.
• Export the geometry of part and assembly models as Wavefront.obj files.
• Export a tessellated file to use in OptegraVisualizer software.
• Import and export tessellated MEDUSA .asc files.
• Import and export files in VRML format.
• Export a tessellated model for use in the Xpatch Radar Cross Section analysis software.
TIFF
TIFF supports the interface of digital image data between systems with different architectures. You can use TIFF to store graphical and textual information in a bitmap format and later exchange it between the Creo applications and different application programs.
Creo supports the export and import of TIFF in all graphics modes.
VDA
You can transfer part geometry between computer systems by importing and exporting through the VDA Surface Data Interface available with the Interface for Creo.
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Creo only supports the default fonts in 2D import and export for most formats. In DWG and DXF formats, Creo supports the default fonts for export and the default and IGES-1003 fonts for import to DWG files.
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Creo supports VDA Version 2.0.