Data transfer How do I? > Import a Unigraphics file into AliasStudio

Import CAD data files

How to import CAD data types into AliasStudio.

Import a data file

How to import a number of different file formats.

Use File > Import > File

or

Use File > Open

Choose the appropriate file format type.

Import DWG/DXF files

How to import the geometry of a DWG or DXF file.

Use File > Import > File

or

Use File > Open

The following types of DWG and DXF data are supported:

lines, arcs, and splines
extruded curves
extrusions
layers
meshes
surfaces
text
3D solids
entity colors

Import Illustrator files

How to import the geometry of an Illustrator file.

Only up to Illustrator version 8 is supported.

To import an illustrator file

Choose File > Import > File and set the Illustrator options.

By setting Illustrator options, you can enable AliasStudio to import the geometry as a Group of curves or as individual curves. You can also Scale the image before importing it into AliasStudio.

Open a Binary STL file

How to open a Binary STL file.

Choose File > Open to open a binary STL file. The STL file opens as a mesh in AliasStudio.

The STL file is a unitless format. Set the units in Preferences > Construction options before importing the file.

Import Cloud data

Learn how to import point cloud data from a file or directly from EvalViewer.

Some cloud data is available from your own scanner, the network, DAT tape, or CD-ROM. AliasStudio can import Cyberware point cloud files.

To import point clouds from storage

Choose File > Import > Cloud from the menus.

The file requester appears.

Type the path to the cloud point file you want to import.

or

Use the file list to browse through directories, then double-click the icon of the point cloud file you want to import.

To import point clouds directly from EvalViewer

In EvalViewer, choose Edit > Copy from the menus.
Switch to AliasStudio, and choose Edit > Paste from the menus.

You may want to copy or link your scanner data directory to the relevant directory inside the cloud directory of your project.

For example:

To copy Cyberware data to your AliasStudio project directory from your current working directory, type the following in a Unix Shell window:

	cp * ~/user_data/projdir/cloud/cyberware/  

To link Steinbichler data on a CD-ROM into your AliasStudio project directory, type the following:

	mv ~/user_data/projdir/cloud/steinbichler ~/save.sb  
	ln -s /CDROM ~/user_data/projdir/cloud/steinbichler Options 

Import a PTC Granite or a Pro/ENGINEER part file

How to import PTC Granite files or a Pro/ENGINEER part file.

When importing geometry from Pro/ENGINEER to AliasStudio, you should:

Use menu File > Open to read the Pro/ENGINEER part file (.prt) or the Granite file (.g). The translator will be automatically launched.
Review the File > Open PTC Granite import options.

Import from Pro/ENGINEER into AliasStudio via Pro/RENDER

How to import Pro/ENGINEER render format files.

To convert Pro/ENGINEER Render format files into AliasStudio wire files.

Open a Unix shell.
Type utility the help command:

PRenderToAlias -h 

Choose from the following options to write your command.

PRenderToAlias  
Arguments: [<options>] [<infile> [<outfile>]]  
Options:  
-s  
scale Input scale factor (for example. -s2.0)  
-u  
Input units. Acceptable values are 
MI,FT,IN,MIL,UIN,KM,M,CM,MM,UM]. The default is
-uIN  
-g  
Group the geometry  
-n  
Do not merge vertices  
-r  
Recalculate vertex normals  
-p 
Merge vertices according to xyz position only  
-t pos_tol  
Specify merge vertices position tolerance value in input units. 
The default is 0.0001. 
-a nrm_tol. 
Specify merge vertices normal tolerance value in degrees. The 
default is 1 degree.  
Where:  
<infile> is a Pro/ENGINEER Render file. If it is absent, input 
comes from stdin.  
<outfile> is an Alias wire file. If it is absent, output goes to 
stdout.  
By default all vertices are merged according to their positions and 
normals.  

> Examples

PRenderToAlias crankshaft.slp crankshaft.wire  
PRenderToAlias -g -t0.001 hammer.slp hammer.wire  

Pro/ENGINEER options for export and import of STEP or IGES files

To make the import and export of IGES and STEP files easier for AliasStudio to read.

In Pro/ENGINEER, select Utilities > Options
Add the following data to the configuration file.

IGES_OUT_ALL_SRFS_AS 128 
IGES_OUT_SPL_CRVS_AS_126 YES 
IGES_OUT_SPL_SRFS_AS_128 YES 
IGES_OUT_MIL_D_28000 NO 
IGES_OUT_TRM_SRFS_AS_143 NO 
IGES_OUT_TRIM_CURVE_DEVIATION DEFAULT 
INTF_OUT_BLANKED_ENTITIES NO 
INTF3D_OUT_EXTEND_SURFACE YES 
INTF3D_OUT_FORCE_SURF_NORMALS YES 
IGES_IN_106_F2_AS_SPLINE NO 
IGES_IN_DWG_LINE_FONT YES 
IGES_IN_DWG_PNT_ENT YES 
IGES_IN_DWG_COLOR YES  
FIX_BOUNDARIES_ON_IMPORT YES 

Import CATIA V4 into AliasStudio

How to import a CATIA V4 file and review the mapping process used for geometry types and non-geometric data.

Choose File > Import > File to display the basic file format options.
Choose File format CATIA V4

What happens on import of a CATIA file into AliasStudio?

The model's surface geometry is converted in AliasStudio into a skin by joining surfaces and trimmed surfaces or faces. The skin can then be used for a variety of downstream processes in CATIA.

If the AliasStudio geometry is exported as a AliasStudio shell, CATIA automatically creates a skin from it. In other words, the successfully imported CATIA geometry is made up of surfaces and faces, as well as a CATIA skin. This significantly reduces the amount of time the CATIA operator must spend preprocessing the AliasStudio model to be used in CATIA.

Import a CATIA V5 file into AliasStudio

To open a CATIA V5 file, choose File > Open from within AliasStudio.

You can open either part (.CATPart) or product (.CATProduct) documents in AliasStudio simply by clicking on the file name in the file browser.

If you get "File not recognized" errors on your CATIA part file, you can either use drag or drop with Studio or use the stand-alone utility to convert the file.

One option is available for importing CATIA V5 document files:

Auto Stitch

Click this option on to convert a CATIA V5 solid body or sheet body to a shell in AliasStudio; if this option is off, a grouped set of trimmed surfaces are created instead.

The following CATIA V5 entities are brought into AliasStudio:

CATIA V5 entity	brought into AliasStudio as
Curves	NURBS curve of appropriate degree.
SplineCurve
Circle
Ellipse
Conic
Hyperbola
Parabola
Line
IntCurve
BsplineCurve
HelixCurve
PLine
PSpline
PCircle
PEllipse
PParabola
PHyperbola
PNurbs
Surfaces	NURBS surfaces of appropriate degree
Products	Groups and instanced groups.
Solids	Set of faces that have shared edges at the boundaries where the faces meet within tolerance. Brought in as NURBS surfaces. Closed shell surfaces are stiched in a shell (if Auto Stitch is ON); otherwise, a group of trimmed surfaces is created.
Color RGB, Layer, Show (Visibility)	Shader Color RGB, Layer, Visibility.
Layer	By default, Layer. Caution: no names are used, just layer numbers.
Point	SpacePoint.
Unbounded plane	Planar surface.
Surface Patch	NURBS Surface of appropriate degree
Surfaces
Plane
NurbsSurface
Cylinder
Sphere
Torus
Cone
FilletSurface
ChamferSurface
DraftSurface
OffsetSurface
SweepSurface
GenericFillet
GenericRuledSurface
Tabulated Cylinder
RevolutionSurface
BsplineSurface
CircularSweep
RuledSurface
Invisible entities Noshow	Invisible entities, unless the option -v is used when importing the file.

Import a Unigraphics file into AliasStudio

How to import Unigraphics files.

Choose File > Import > File
Choose Unigraphics file format options.

> What happens on import of a Unigraphics file into AliasStudio?

When importing a Unigraphics file into AliasStudio watch out for the following:

You must have access to Unigraphics software for the same platform on which you are running AliasStudio.
AliasStudio supports Unigraphics NX 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0.