Settings for Optimizing File Import and Export

This section contains the following topics:

Options for File Types

You can set import and export options for the file types listed below. If you work frequently with any of these file types, you should set their file options to optimize the importing and exporting process for your needs. To modify file settings, access File > Settings > File and then select a file type.

This section contains the following topics:

ACIS

Import Convert ACIS bodies to Discovery model components Select this option to create components and use the name of the ACIS bodies for the components. If you deselect this option, then the ACIS structure is used in the model tree. Split body name by the following characters to insert the character between the part name and the body name, when the names are different. For example, with the character set to a period, the name would be part.body. If you deselect this option, then the component name of imported components and solids are the same in the model tree.
Export Export part manufacturing information Select this option to include part manufacturing assignments in the exported file.
Export material information Select this option to include material assignments in the exported file.
Version Select this option to set the format of exported designs.

AutoCAD

Import Model Space units

Select how to manipulate the unit of an imported AutoCAD file since these files do not have units saved in them.

Select Automatic to recognize the units in which the file was saved and import the model in same unit scale but in current session units.(For example, If the model contains a 1 inch line saved in AutoCAD and current Discovery session is in mm, then the line will be shown as 25.4 mm in Discovery)

Select any of the specific units if the model was saved in AutoCAD in that unit. Then import the model in the current session units.
Insert polyface mesh, 3D face and solid entities into 3D as Select how to import these entities as 3D into Discovery.
Insert polyface mesh, 3D face and solid entities onto drawing sheet as Select how to import these entities onto drawings sheets.
Insert hatch entities as Select the behavior for hatch entities.
Center imported data This is useful for AutoCAD files that have models positioned outside of the Discovery modeling range (+/- 1km). The center of the bounding box for the imported data is moved to world origin coordinates (0, 0, 0). This option is ON by default.
Allow default code page conversion This setting must be ON to support text entities and table names that require a code page conversion. The latest version of Teigha has removed the need for this but the current version of RealDWG still needs it.
Associate dimensions to geometry Import associated dimensions.
Substitute font Select a font to use when the original font if the DXF file is missing.
Export Version Select the AutoCAD version to set the format of exported designs.
Save as black and white Select this option to remove color information from exported designs.
Associate dimensions to geometry Select dimensions to associate with adjacent geometry.
Include drawing format On by default.
Scale output 1:1 Off by default. Set the output of your AutoCAD files to a 1:1 ratio.
Export solids as Choose either Solids or Hidden line curves.

CATIA

Import Trim control points outside face boundaries Select this option to perform surface optimization on CATIA files when they are imported. This option is ON by default.
Map CATIA geometric sets to Discovery groups Select this option to create Discovery groups from CATIA Geometric Sets.
Import CGR file as Select this option to specify how to import the faceted data. Specify options for Connected facets, Simple facets, and Solid/surface body. When facets are connected, the imported model will share facet vertices and the imported bodies will be watertight as possible. Simple facets do not share any vertices in the imported body, between adjacent facets. Select Merge faces to seamlessly merge one or more faces. This reduces the overall model size.

CREO Parametric

Import Import quilts Select this option to import quilts, a collection of individual surface bodies.

ECAD

Import Layout Geometry Select this option to import the layout geometry.
Layer Topology Select this option to import the layer topology.
Create solderballs as If Layer Topology is selected, you can choose to Create solderballs as either Bounding Box or Cylinders/Spheroids.

Fluent

Export File Select this option to choose the file format between Per design or Per component.

FMD

Export Resolution Set the Resolution options to control the size and shape of mesh facets in areas with curvature: Coarse and Custom use preset values for Deviation and Angle. Medium and Fine enable the Deviation and Angle sliders so you can use your own specific values. Deviation is the distance between a chord drawn through a curved cross-section of the model and the curve's most distal point. The angle is the angle that the chord line makes with a line tangent to the cross-section curve.
Facet maximum edge length Enter a desired edge length. The value you specify is the maximum value for the edges, however smaller edge lengths may be created. The modeler attempts to meet your desired edge length setting, but in some design scenarios, may create an edge length that is less than what you specify as your facet maximum edge length setting, to best accommodate the design.
Facet maximum aspect ratio Select to change the triangle faceting ratio when you export the FMD file.

IGES

Import Use facewise connection Select to stitch everything together and make a solid if possible. The import may fail if the model is corrupt.
Import faces independently Select to import models as a collection of individual surfaces, skipping only the surfaces that are corrupt.
Export Export Discovery body as Select this option to export the body as:
  • Manifold solid b-rep object (MSBO - Type 186): MSBO defines a manifold stitched body with all the necessary topology information like shells, faces, loops, edges and vertices.
  • Trimmed surfaces (Type 144): the boundaries of these surfaces are represented as an unstitched body, by curve on a Parametric Surface Entity (Type 142).

JT Open

Import Import polylines Select this option to import polylines from JT facet data.
Import data Select this option to import B-Rep and Facets data.
Import facets data as Select this option to import facets data as Connected facets, Simple facets or Solid/surface body. When facets are connected, the imported model will share facet vertices and the imported bodies will be watertight as possible. Simple facets do not share any vertices in the imported body, between adjacent facets. Select Merge faces to seamlessly merge one or more faces. This reduces the overall model size.
Export Export current graphics Select this option to export the graphics.
Resolution Select this option to specify the export resolution:
  • Coarse, Medium, Fine to use the deviation and angle preset values.
  • Custom to use the Deviation and Angle sliders to set a custom resolution. Resolution indicates the number of sides of a polygon used to represent a circle. The deviation is the difference in distance between the circle's radius and the polygon's radius. The angle is the angle between the edge of the polygon and a tangent drawn through the circle at the same point.
  • Use JTOpen toolkit configuration file to import/export JT files, which allows you to control common translation parameters using a standard configuration file, the format of which is defined by JT Open Toolkit. Using the toolkit also ensures 100% data compatibility and allows you to have more control over the number of LODs (Levels of Detail) and tessellation parameters for each LOD in an exported JT file.
  • You can also select a Configuration file and specify its length units.
Export part manufacturing information Select this option to export part manufacturing information.
Version Select this option to specify a JT version.

OBJ

Import Units Select this option to choose a system of units. The file is imported using the same unit system in which it was originally created (which is set as Automatic).
Export Export current graphics Select this option to export the graphics.
Resolution Indicates the number of sides of a polygon used to represent a circle. The deviation is the difference in distance between the circle's radius and the polygon's radius. The angle is the angle between the edge of the polygon and a tangent drawn through the circle at the same point. Select options to specify the settings as:
  • Coarse and Custom to use the deviation and angle preset values.
  • Medium and Fine to use the Deviation and Angle sliders to set a custom resolution.
Facet maximum edge length Enter a value in current model units.
Facet maximum aspect ratio Enter a value in the range 1- 10.

Parasolid

Export Version Select the Parasolid version to set the format of exported designs.
Shallow assembly export Select this option to create an extra instance node for every component in the assembly during export.

Rhino

Import Convert Rhino layers to Discovery components Select to import layers.
Import facets data as Options include:
  • Connected facets:When facets are connected, the imported model will share facet vertices and the imported bodies will be watertight as possible.
  • Simple facets:Simple facets do not share any vertices in the imported body, between adjacent facets.
  • Solid/surface body
    • Merge faces to seamlessly merge one or more faces. This reduces the overall model size.
Export Convert Discovery components to Rhino layers Select to export layers.
Version Select this option to choose a Rhino version.

SketchUp

Import Import as Choose Solid or Facets. If Facets, enable Simplify to surfaces to cleanup geometry by fitting planes, cylinders, and cones.
Export Version Choose a SketchUp version.

Solid Edge

Import Expand Assemblies When this option is enabled, opening a *.asm file launches the Assembly Browser, from which you can choose to load the entire assembly, a sub-assembly, or a part.

SOLIDWORKS

Import Expand Assemblies When this option is enabled, opening a *.sldasm file launches the Assembly Browser, from which you can choose to load the entire assembly, a sub-assembly, or a part.

STEP

Import Import method Select this option to choose the import method:
  • Use facewise connections to attempt to stitch everything together and make a solid if possible. With this option selected, the import may fail if the model is corrupt.
  • Import faces independently to import models as a collection of individual surfaces, skipping only the surfaces that are corrupt.
Export Protocol Select this option to choose a protocol to use to format exported designs.

STL

Import Units Select this option to choose a system of units.
Import as Select this option to choose the import options. You can choose:
  • Connected facets: Create a lightweight mesh with full connectivity information between facets.
  • Simple facets: Create a lightweight mesh with no connectivity information between facets.
  • Solid/surface body: Convert STL triangles into full geometry. Select Merge faces to seamlessly merge one or more faces. This reduces the overall model size.
Export Format Select this option to choose the format between Binary (default) or ASCII.
File Select this option to choose the file format between Per design, Per component or Per body.
Export current graphics Select this option to export the graphics.
Resolution Set the Resolution options to control the size and shape of mesh facets in areas with curvature: Coarse and Custom use preset values for Deviation and Angle. Medium and Fine enable the Deviation and Angle sliders so you can use your own specific values. Deviation is the distance between a chord drawn through a curved cross-section of the model and the curve's most distal point. The angle is the angle that the chord line makes with a line tangent to the cross-section curve.
Facet maximum edge length Enter a desired edge length. The value you specify is the maximum value for the edges, however smaller edge lengths may be created. The ACIS modeler attempts to meet your desired edge length setting, but in some design scenarios, may create an edge length that is less than what you specify as your facet maximum edge length setting, to best accommodate the design.
Facet maximum aspect ratio Select to change the triangle faceting ratio when you export an STL file.

VRML

Export Export current graphics Select this option to export the graphics.
Resolution Set the resolution options:
  • Coarse and Custom to use the deviation and angle preset values.
  • Medium and Fine to use the Deviation and Angle sliders to set the resolution of the VRML mesh. Deviation is the distance between a chord drawn through a curved cross-section of the model and the curve's most distal point. The angle is the angle that the chord line makes with a line tangent to the cross-section curve.

Workbench

Import Basic Geometry Options Set basic geometry options for importing Workbench files.
Advanced Geometry Options Set advanced geometry options for importing Workbench files.
Always use Discovery's reader when possible Set the Always use Discovery's reader when possible option depending on whether you want Discovery to ignore the Ansys CAD Configuration Manager's (CCM) settings when opening a document. File formats that can be imported into Discovery fall into these categories:
  1. Formats that are never routed through Ansys Part Manager (IGES, STEP, STL, VRML, and so on). These formats always use Discovery's reader.
  2. Formats that must be read through Ansys Part Manager (CATIA, CREO Parametric, and so on). Workbench preferences always apply to these formats.
  3. Formats that are readable by both Part Manager and Discovery's reader.
Enabling the option forces any format from category 3 to be routed through Discovery's interoperability functions. When the option is disabled, each format's behavior is determined by its setting in the CCM.
Export Export to Workbench

The following options are supported for exporting to Workbench:

  • Select Merge connected beams to merge connected beams when exporting to Workbench.
  • Select Physics definition to export the physics conditions, material data, simulation setup and settings to the downstream solvers. For more information, see Geometry Transfer.