Import Files

File ► Import ► File...

You can import files (e.g. CAD data, point clouds, projects) into open projects in different ways:

• Option 1:
  Use the menu bar and specify the path for the file. Import the file by clicking Open.
• Option 2:
  Import the file with drag & drop.

Depending on the imported file format, the software opens a dialog or imports the file directly.

If the import situation is unique, the software imports the files directly. If several possibilities are available, you can choose between different import options.

If you import several files at the same time, the software shows the files and possible options. You can determine the handling for each file.

Supported File Formats

Examples for Directly Imported Formats

This list shows some common file formats that are imported directly.

• ZEISS INSPECT files (*. zinspect)
• GOM Inspect files (*. ginspect)
• GOM 3D format (*. g3d)
• GOM Inspection exchange format (*.gxml)
• IGP format (*. igp)
• POL format (*. pol)
• PSL format (*. psl)
• NanoFocus format (*. nms, *. oms)
  The software imports the NanoFocus format as a mesh.
• Volume data (see Import volumes)
• AxF files

Info

If you import projects (*. ginspect), the import options differ depending on the project type. The available import options also depend on the project into which you want to import the selected project.If you import projects via drag & drop, the additional import option Open project is available.

Examples for Formats Using Import Dialogs

This list shows some common file formats that are imported using a dialog.

• CAD data (see Import CAD)
• ASCII text formats (see Import ASCII)
• Measurement plans (see Import Measurement Plans)
• STL format files (see Import STL)
• PLY format files (see Import PLY)
• VDA point clouds (see Import VDA/PSET)
• CATIA list files (see Import CATIA-List)
• MeshModel files
• PSL files when imported as measuring data
• OBJ files

Import CAD Data

File ► Import ► File...

CAD data is the ideal design data according to which a component is manufactured.

To carry out inspections, you need actual data and nominal data. The actual data is your measured mesh. The nominal data is the corresponding CAD data.

Due to the polygonization process after scanning, the actual mesh gets a certain triangular structure (polygons). If you import the CAD data, the software converts also the CAD data into a triangular structure. This process is also called triangulation. The CAD data must have a triangular structure that is similar to the actual mesh. If the triangles are too large, the local resolution can be reduced, for example, in a surface comparison.

The software supplies default import templates for importing CAD data. The templates provided depend on your license and the installed packages.

You can edit import templates and create own import templates. The package concept of the software also supports CAD import templates.

Supported File Formats

You can import the following file formats with the free software licenses:

You can import the following file formats with the Professional software licenses:

Import Options

Import the CAD data via drag & drop or File ► Import ► File.

During the import, the software creates the CAD placeholder in category Part. If your CAD data consists of several CAD bodies, the CAD bodies are combined here. The software always considers the CAD data as one unit.

If you import CAD data, the software offers different import options. Depending on the license or whether your project contains data, the import options are different.

Example of import options:

You can import CAD data directly or via the clipboard. The advantage of the clipboard is that you can see the assembly tree of the CAD data. This allows you to decide whether you need all the data or just a selection.

The software loads the preview of the CAD data automatically into the 3D view. The software uses the set parameters. You can change the parameters later in the properties.

If the CAD data contains filter information, for example, visibilities, views or layer information, the software creates tags or tag scenes. The tag Import: Visible elements results always. If you choose the import via the clipboard, this tag is already created as a preview. Select the tag in the explorer. The Related Elements section in the Relates To tab shows for which elements visibilities in the CAD are defined.

Info

If your CAD data contains patches that are oriented wrongly after the import, you can correct the normal direction using the functions Invert Selected Patch Normals or Invert Patch Normals Automatically.

Direct Import

If you want to import CAD data directly, use import option New part or Add to part.

During the import procedure, the software then performs the triangulation process in accordance with the selected template. If your CAD contains several elements (for example, additional PMI data), the software creates the corresponding explorer categories.

Import via Clipboard

If you want to check first what your CAD data contains, use import option Clipboard.

The clipboard is a separate category in the explorer. This category is only visible if data is available in the clipboard. This clipboard is not identical to the clipboard of the system.

Decide which CAD bodies or nominal elements you need. Keeping the left mouse button pressed, drag the selected elements upwards. This changes the display in the explorer. Choose one of the offered import options, for example, New part. The software opens the dialog Define CAD Parameters. If you release the mouse button outside of the import options in the explorer area, the elements remain in the clipboard.

Info

If you want to import the whole content of the clipboard, drag category name Clipboard upwards with the left mouse button pressed. The software always imports elements with dependencies and the elements defined as visible in the CAD data. After the import of the whole clipboard, elements can remain in the clipboard.

In the dialog, choose the mesh resolution that results during triangulation. Decide which coordinate system you want to use.

When you click OK, the software executes the triangulation process and imports the selected data.

All other data remains in the clipboard. You can still add additional data from the clipboard to your part later. If you do not need the clipboard and the data it contains anymore, delete the clipboard with  
 .

For more information on triangulation parameters, refer to Define CAD Parameters.

Import CAD Data as Fixture

If there is CAD data that does not belong to the part, choose import option Add as fixture. The software stores the imported data in the explorer category Measuring Environment ► VMR Fixtures.

The software automatically chooses the triangulation parameters so that a very rough mesh structure results.

Replace CAD Data

If there is a new version of your CAD data, replace the data. To replace the complete CAD data, use import option Replace in part. The software replaces all elements the CAD file contains, for example, PMI elements. The CAD bodies in the CAD placeholder are also replaced completely by new data.

If elements change or new elements are added when replacing the CAD data, dialog Add Elements To Part appears.

The dialog shows a list of the elements with the corresponding information.

If the new CAD data contains fewer elements than the old CAD data, option  
Delete elements from previous imports is active. Decide whether you want to delete the elements or keep them.

If you modified imported elements in your project manually, option  
Do not update modified elements is active. Use this option if you do not want to overwrite these elements. Then, the software stores the new elements in the clipboard. You can still decide later whether you want to replace the manually modified elements with the new elements.

By clicking the Cancel button, you abort the whole import procedure.

If the CAD placeholder in the explorer contains different complete CAD files, when replacing the CAD files, dialog Replace CAD Data opens. The software asks whether you want to replace the complete CAD data or only the selected CAD data.

By clicking the Cancel button, you abort the whole import procedure.

If you want to replace only individual CAD bodies, proceed as follows:

Procedure

1. Open function  
     ( Edit CAD) in the explorer.
2. Delete the CAD bodies you want to replace individually by clicking  
    .
3. Quit the edit mode with Close.
4. Import the new CAD data using import option Clipboard.
5. Select the desired CAD bodies in the clipboard.
6. Keeping the left mouse button pressed, drag the selected elements upwards.
   This changes the display in the explorer. You see different import options.
7. Choose import option Add to part.
   The software opens dialog Define CAD Parameters.
8. Choose the triangulation parameters.

The software imports the new CAD bodies into the CAD placeholder. By clicking  
 , you see the new content.

Import template

Select a template for importing your CAD data.

In the description field below it, the software provides a description of the selected template. The description appears in the language in which it was originally written and saved with the template.

The description of the default templates always is in English. If you want to translate it into your language, use  
  or  
  and type your text.

Template Complete

The Complete default template is suitable for most users.

As a default, all bodies, points, coordinate systems, construction planes and all curves are imported. If the CAD data contains PMI elements ( Product Manufacturing Information), the software also imports these elements.

If the CAD data contains invisible elements, the software imports these elements only into the clipboard.

The software displays the CAD data with the colors from the design data.

For information on importing PMI data, refer to Edit import template for CAD data.

Template Visible surfaces

The Visible surfaces default template is suitable for VMR and large assembly groups where the PMI data is not important.

The software imports only visible surfaces. Construction elements and PMI data are not imported.

Template Airfoil

The Airfoil default template is available with the respective license.

Like with template Complete, all bodies, points, coordinate systems, construction planes and all curves are imported. If the CAD data contains PMI elements ( Product Manufacturing Information), the software also imports these elements.

For the triangulation parameters, High mesh resolution is the default setting here.

If the CAD data contains invisible elements, the software imports these elements only into the clipboard.

The software displays the CAD data with the colors from the design data.

New template

You can use the button  
  to create a new template. The software opens a dialog. The dialog is almost identical to the dialog for editing the template.

When you click OK to exit the dialog, the software saves your new template under the entered name.

For further information, see here.

Edit template

Using button  
 , you can edit an existing template. The software opens the edit dialog.

Here you can edit the default templates and create your own template. You can also change the descriptive text.

If you edit default templates, the software overwrites the default template with your settings. The icon changes to  
 . However, the default template is still available in the background. To see the default template in the drop-down list again, select Edit ► Manage Templates... from the main toolbar. Delete the template you edited from the list. The default template becomes active again.

For further information, see here.

Edit CAD Data

Using button  
  ( Edit CAD) in the explorer, you can see of which CAD bodies your CAD data consists. Use this function if you do not need individual CAD bodies anymore after the import or if you want to displace them. The explorer representation changes.

You do not edit the mesh structure of the CAD data. If you want to change the mesh structure, choose the Triangulation parameters tab in the properties.

Select the CAD bodies that you do not need anymore. Delete the elements permanently with  
 . If you do not want to delete the CAD bodies permanently, drag the selected elements downwards to the clipboard with the left mouse button pressed.

In the same way, you can displace the selected elements in a new or different part. You can use this, for example, in a project with several parts (digital assembly).

In the edit mode, you can also exclude individual CAD bodies from the computation. A possible application are windows of a car. Select the respective CAD body. Then, choose the General tab in the properties. Disable ( 
 ) the option Measurable surface.

When you made the desired changes, close the view by clicking the Close button.

Feedback

In this article:

Supported File Formats

You can import the following file formats with the free software licenses:

You can import the following file formats with the Professional software licenses:

Import Options

Direct Import

Import via Clipboard

Import CAD Data as Fixture

Replace CAD Data

Import template

Template Complete

Template Visible surfaces

Template Airfoil

New template

Edit template

Edit CAD Data

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