Glossary terms

A file format used by Pro/ENGINEER to represent an assembly.

An organizational file that fits together a collection of manufactured parts into a complete model.

The Berkeley Software Distribution license for redistribution and use of source code.

CATIA V4 is computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes. Autodesk DirectConnect allows the exchange of 3D model data from CATIA V4, using .model, .session, .exp, .dlv, and .dlv3 files.

CATIA V5 is computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes. Autodesk DirectConnect allows the exchange of 3D model data from CATIA V5, using the native CATIA part (.CATPart), product (.CATProduct), and (.cgr) files.

CATIA Graphical Representation (.cgr) is the triangulated format used by CATIA V5.

A legacy 3D file format from Silicon Graphics Inc. using efficient binary compression and *.csb (Cosmo scene binary) files.

Cosmo 3D™scene binary (*.csb) files.

A file format used by CATIA V4 computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes.

A two-dimensional entity defined in the drafting and detailing world.

Design Web Format, a file format developed by Autodesk for web viewing and printing.

AutoCAD drawing file) A file format used by Autodesk AutoCAD software that contains lines, curves, and 3D data.

(Drawing eXchange File) A file exchange format containing ASCII code and binary representations of the objects in a DWG file.

A file format used by Pro/ENGINEER PTC Granite for import into the Autodesk products that DirectConnect supports.

A CAD technology platform for design collaboration using solid models.

A file format in the Autodesk Inventor software represent an assembly.

(Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) A file format for transferring graphics data between CAD/CAM systems. A neutral file format that can be imported into any number of CAD or modeling packages.

A file format in the Autodesk Inventor software to represent a part.

A file format in the Open Inventor software.

JT is a DirectModel file format that is developed and supported by the JT Open Program for the visualization of 3D models.

NX is a solid modeling package based on the Parasolid kernel. The package contains many (mostly optional) modules: for example, CAD, CAM, CAE, sheet metal applications, knowledge bases, quality control, and rapid prototyping. The files structure is binary.

Open Inventor is a legacy 3D file format from Silicon Graphics, Inc. Open Inventor is not related to Autodesk Inventor software. Open Inventor is an object-oriented 3D toolkit that describes complete 3D scenes, which can be made interactive and that are optimized for OpenGL. It is an ASCII or binary file format.

The Perl-compatible regular expressions is a library of functions to support regular expressions, with syntax and semantics as close as possible to the syntax and semantics in the Perl 5 language.

A solid modeling CAD/CAM/CAE software product from Parametric Technology Corporation that requires positional construction tolerances.

A file format used by NX to represent a part or assembly file.

A file format used by SolidWorks to represent an assembly file.

A file format used by SolidWorks to represent a part file.

A solid modeling CAD/CAM/CAE software product from SolidWorks Corporation that requires positional construction tolerances.

A three-dimensional entity defined in the 3D modeling world.

Alias SPF (Studio Packet File) is a native file format used by Autodesk Alias software, with the extension .wire.

An international standard for the exchange of geometric product definitions. STEP formats that are relevant to Autodesk products are AP203 (general mechanical CAD) and AP214 (automotive CAD).

An STL (StereoLithography) file is a triangular representation of 3D surface geometry. The surface is tessellated, or broken down logically into a series of small triangles (facets). A perpendicular direction and three points representing the vertices (corners) of the triangle describe each facet.

A file format used in STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) for transferring graphics data between CAD/CAM systems.

A file format generated by a version of CATIA that is older than V4.

ZPrint CAD format (ZPR) is a proprietary file format developed by Z Corporation. It is used with ZPrint and ZEdit for printing on high definition color 3D printers. Autodesk Direct lets you export files in ZPR (*.zpr) format to use in the Autodesk Rapid Prototyping solution.