Interface > Working with Data Exchange Formats > STEP > Importing Part and Assembly STEP Files > Importing in 3D
  
Importing in 3D
AP203, AP214, or AP242 STEP format files can be imported in Part or Assembly mode. Although you can import a STEP file that contains Conformance Class 5 entities, these entities are skipped during import although all other data is imported.
You can import a STEP file from another CAD system that has multiple solid entities in a single part file as an assembly. The interface for STEP imports this file (part file without explicit assembly structure) as an assembly. It imports each solid as a separate part and creates an assembly model into which these parts are placed.
The import of a STEP file includes non-geometric data such as annotations and the combined states. A single annotation feature is created in an imported STEP file that contains annotation data. The graphical representations of the annotations are converted to symbols placed in annotation elements of this annotation feature. The ap203_e2 and the ap214_is formats support the exchange of annotations that include Product Manufacturing Information (PMI). The AP242 format supports the import of PMI graphical representations of parts and assemblies. Theap203_e2 format exports them by default. Annotation assignments to layers are preserved during the export and import. You can export and import the layer state and the orientation of the combined state. The cross-section and the simp rep designations are not supported. Layer assignments are supported as are the stripped-down version of the combined states.
The Unicode characters of the STEP files are imported as is.
You can replace an imported feature with a new import file without having a one-to-one correspondence between existing entities and the replacement entities.
You can use profiles for the import. Import log files are automatically generated in the working directory when the import is complete.