Input

The Input page lets you configure the importing of CAD files.

Notes:

The following topics are discussed:

Related Topics
Example - Input Settings

Import

You can configure Import options.

Command Name Description
Import profile Sets import options as recommended for the selected format.

Notes:

  • Selecting a profile makes all import options read-only. To override profile settings, select Custom.
  • When you revisit the Input page, the profile reverts to Custom but the import option settings are retained.
  • You cannot redefine or create new import profiles.
  • Import profiles are not available on the Sync Import Options page. Set import options manually as needed.

Merge file into one actor per part Imports parts, including multibody parts, as single actors. To load multibody parts as individual actors, clear this option.
Tip: Select this option to facilitate updates when CAD geometry changes. The identifiers are based on the part name and not the body names. Body names can change when features change.

Notes:

  • For SOLIDWORKS models, this option merges all part geometry and creates single nodes in the Composer assembly tree that are both part and geometry nodes. For other CAD formats, this option merges part geometry but creates part nodes with geometry nodes.

Import instance names Adds the instance names after the part name: #PN# (#IN#). #PN# and #IN# are also added as meta-properties so you can add annotations linked to these meta-properties.

Note: When importing 3DXML files containing 3D shapes that are aggregated directly under the root node of the product reference, make sure that you select this option if you want to import both the name of the 3D shape reference, and the name of the 3D shape instance.

Import meta-properties Imports attributes such as part number (P/N), designation, and revision number. Meta-properties appear as user properties in the Properties pane.

Notes:

Overload assembly tree names Uses the text value associated to a given meta-property (instead of the default Actor.Name property) to display actor names in the assembly tree.

In the text box, the V_Name value is entered by default. This displays the value associated to the Meta.V_Name meta-property. Enter the name of another meta-property if the default one does not suit your needs.

Notes:

  • This option is available only if Import meta-properties is selected.

Import as bodies Imports parts as solid bodies. To import parts as individual faces, clear this option and clear Merge file into one actor per part. If you select Merge file into one actor per part, it does not matter what you select for Import as bodies; multibody parts import as single bodies.
Import area, volumes, inertia axes

Displays surface and volume information from CAD models as meta-properties on the assembly level. This option is useful only for translation of CAD files into Composer format.

Import points Imports point geometry.
Import curves Imports curve geometry (curves, wires, wireframes).
Import free faces Imports surface bodies (construction faces).
Import hidden components (no show) Imports and displays hidden parts in assemblies and bodies in multibody parts. The hidden components are stored in a selection set.

Note: Suppressed components are never imported.

Import coordinate systems Imports coordinate systems.

Notes:

  • Coordinate systems are not imported when Merge file into one actor per part is selected.
  • Use this option with caution. Models can have large numbers of coordinate systems.

Import textures Imports textures, including UV textures, on actor faces.

Notes:

  • Composer can import one texture per face (single-channel). If geometry has a multi-channel texture, Composer imports the first channel only.
  • Changing the Texture > Map path property of an actor with imported textures loses texturing-by-face. The specified texture is applied to all actor faces.
  • You can apply texture properties such as Environment effect, Blending, and Transparency to imported textures.
  • The Texture > Projection mode property is set to Imported texture for actors with imported textures. Changing the projection mode loses the imported texture.
  • The Update Composer Document command updates UV coordinates of imported textures. Texture property changes made in Composer, such as Map path and Scale, are retained.

Import SOLIDWORKS BOM Imports part and assembly BOMs in SOLIDWORKS files. After import, you can access and edit all the BOM properties in Composer. You can also specify this option as follows:
  • In Composer, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable IOSWImportBOM.
  • In Composer Sync, at the bottom of the window, click More Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable Batch.IOSWImportBOM to enable batch import of BOMs.
  • In the SOLIDWORKS software, click Tools > Options > System Options > Export. Under File Format, select SMG, and select Export SOLIDWORKS BOM.
Import SOLIDWORKS assembly envelope Imports all the SOLIDWORKS assembly envelopes. You can also specify this option as follows:
  • In Composer, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable IOSWImportEnvelope.
  • In Composer Sync, at the bottom of the window, click More Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable Batch.IOSWImportEnvelope to enable batch import of envelope geometry.
  • In the SOLIDWORKS software, click Tools > Options > System Options > Export. Under File Format, select SMG, and select Export SOLIDWORKS assembly envelope.
Import SOLIDWORKS Explode Views and Saved Views Imports all exploded, saved, and named views in SOLIDWORKS files. You can also specify this option as follows:
  • In Composer, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable IOSWImportExplodeViews.
  • In Composer Sync, at the bottom of the window, click More Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable Batch.IOSWImportExplodeViews to enable batch import of exploded, saved, and named views.
  • In the SOLIDWORKS software, click Tools > Options > System Options > Export. Under File Format, select SMG, and select Export SOLIDWORKS Exploded views and Saved Views.
Import SOLIDWORKS appearance Imports all appearances in SOLIDWORKS files. You can also specify this option as follows:
  • In Composer, click File > Properties > Default Document Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable IOSWImportAppearance.
  • In Composer Sync, at the bottom of the window, click More Properties > Advanced Properties. Under INPUT - IMPORT, enable Batch.IOSWImportAppearance to enable batch import of appearances.
  • In the SOLIDWORKS software, click Tools > Options > System Options > Export. Under File Format, select SMG, and select Export SOLIDWORKS appearance.
Import PMI Imports Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) data from SOLIDWORKS models. Composer imports:
  • Dimensions
  • Datums
  • Tolerances for dimensions
  • Geometric tolerances
  • Special symbols such as diameters and degrees
  • Surface finishes

To modify the PMI colors during import, select Overwrite color and choose a color, which is applied to all the imported PMI data. After you import the PMI data into a *.smg file, the PMI data is visible in Composer Player.

Composer stores the PMI data in the PMI Data (SOLIDWORKS) folder under a root node on the Assembly tab. Select or clear check boxes to hide or show the PMI data.

Composer imports view-based data such as annotation views from SOLIDWORKS and 3D views from SOLIDWORKS MBD. Composer stores these views in the PMI Views (SOLIDWORKS) folder under a root node on the Assembly tab in Composer. The 3D Views and Annotation Views subfolders contain these specific categories of imported views.

Note:

After you import the PMI data into a *.smg file, the PMI data is visible in Composer Player. Composer Sync also imports PMI data from SOLIDWORKS models into *.smg files.

To enable this functionality from the SOLIDWORKS software, click Tools > Options > System Options > Export > SMG and select Export PMI.

Refinement

Refinement settings determine how Composer tessellates (meshes) the model, which affects model accuracy.

Set these options to achieve the best compromise between accuracy and file size.

Command Name Description
Relative

Specifies the triangulation method:

  • Chordal error - All geometry has the same chordal error. Chordal error is the distance between the triangles that define the geometry in Composer and the edges of the original geometry. When you move the slider to high quality, you decrease the chordal error and increase the quality of the assembly.

    In this image, the black circle is the original geometry. The blue triangles define the geometry in Composer. The chordal error is the distance represented by the red arrows.



  • Normal deviation - All geometry has the same normal deviation. Normal deviation is the angle between the normals of the edges that define the triangular geometry of Composer. When you move the slider to high quality, you decrease the normal deviation and increase the quality of the assembly.

    In the image, the black circle is the original geometry. The blue triangles define the geometry in Composer. The normal deviation is the angle between the red arrows.



The difference between these two triangulation methods is visible for scenes containing geometry of various sizes. Consider an assembly of one very large cylinder and one very small cylinder.

With Chordal error, because the chordal error is constant, the polygon inscribing the large cylinder has many more sides. This results in the geometry of the large cylinder looking better than the small cylinder.



With Normal deviation, because the normal deviation is constant, the polygons inscribing both cylinders have the same number of sides. This results in the geometry of the small cylinder looking better than the large cylinder.



You can optimize the geometry degradation by moving the slider between high quality (for optimum triangulation quality), medium, and low quality.

Absolute (Advanced users only, use carefully)

Defines the triangulation approximations.

Important: This option is recommended for expert users only. Configuring absolute refinement is time consuming and should be used only when relative refinement produces unacceptable results.

You can set these three parameters independently. When you set more than one, their effects are combined.

  • Chordal error - Variation in millimeters between native geometry CAD and the tessellated model.
  • Normal deviation - Angle formed between the normals of the triangle faces.
  • Edge length - Length of the triangle edges in millimeters.

    Note: Not considered for SOLIDWORKS files.

For each parameter, specify values that define the maximum limits.

Enable auto repair (healing is time intensive) Checks for missing triangles, incorrect holes in the mesh, extra faces, and other discontinuity issues, and attempts to repair problems by adding triangles. This option degrades import speed, so use only when tessellation is poor. To import files without checking for incorrect geometry, clear this option.