Translator Options

The tables below list the valid name-value pairs that can be used to define the various options when translating files using the translator add-ins. The serve as the API equivalent to the Options dialog when translating a file interactively.

Questions about what most of the options do can be answered by reading the Inventor online help for the thranslator and by experimenting interactively with the various options in the Options dialog of the "Save Copy As" or "Open" dialogs.

Import options for Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STL, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion and OBJ.

Option Name Value Type Default Value Supported Translators
SaveComponentDuringLoad Boolean False Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STL, STEP, SolidWorks, OBJ
SaveLocationIndex Integer 0 (Save in workspace) Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STL, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks , OBJ
ComponentDestFolder String Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STL, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks , OBJ
SaveAssemSeperateFolder Boolean False Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks
AssemDestFolder String Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
EmbedInDocument Boolean True Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STL, STEP, SolidWorks , OBJ
SaveToDisk Boolean False Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STL, STEP, SolidWorks , OBJ
ImportSolid Boolean True Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
ImportSurface Boolean True Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
ImportWire Boolean True Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
ImportWorkPlane Boolean True JT, NX, Pro/ENGINEER
ImportWorkAxe Boolean True JT, NX, Pro/ENGINEER
ImportWorkPoint Boolean True JT, NX, Pro/ENGINEER
ImportPoint Boolean True Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Rhino, STEP
ImportMeshes Boolean True CATIA V4, CATIA V5, Alias, NX, STEP, Rhino, Fusion
ImportMeshes Boolean False JT
CreateIFO Boolean False Alias, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
ImportAASP Boolean False CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
ImportAASPIndex Integer 0 (Part with multiple solids) CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
CreateSurfIndex Integer 1 (Single composite) CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
GroupNameIndex Integer 0 (Default) CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
GroupName Integer 0 CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
ExplodeMSB2Assm Boolean True SAT
CHKSearchFolder Boolean False NX
SearchFolder String Array NX
AssociativeImport Boolean True Alias, Catia, NX, Pro/ENGINEER, STEP, SolidWorks, Fusion
DefaultNames Boolean True SAT
CEGroupLevel Integer 0 (Level) IGES, Rhino
CEPrefixCk Boolean False Alias, IGES, Rhino, STEP
ImportUnit Integer 0 (Source unit)
STL, OBJ: 0 (Template units)		 CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks, STL, OBJ
CheckDuringLoad Boolean False CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks
AutoStitchAndPromote Boolean True CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks
AdvanceHealing Boolean False CATIA V4, CATIA V5, IGES, JT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, SAT, STEP, SolidWorks
NoShowExpModelList (Input) Boolean True CATIA V4 (For *.exp and *.div3 import)
ExpModelIndex (Input) Integer N/A CATIA V4 (For *.exp and *.div3 import)
ExpModelCount (Output) Integer N/A CATIA V4 (For *.exp and *.div3 import)
ExpModelNameList (Output) String Array N/A CATIA V4 (For *.exp and *.div3 import)
ImportColor Boolean True STL
ImportColorIndex Integer 0 STL
TessellationDetailIndex Integer 0 JT
SplitGroup Boolean True OBJ

Import options for DWG import when importing into a sketch.

For other DWG import cases, an .ini file is used to define the options. You can manually use the dwg translator to set the various options you want and then write out an .ini file with the settings that you can then specify later when translating via the API.

Option Name Value Type Default Value Notes
ImportModelSpace Boolean True Specifies whether to import model space or not, set this to False to import the layout paper space where you specify the layout name using the SelectedLayout setting.
SelectedLayout String Specifies the layout name to import when the ImportModelSpace setting is set to False.
FileUnits String Specifies the units for import. The units can be “Meters”, ”Feet”, “Microns”, “Inches”, “Centimeters”, or “Millimeters”. If not specified it will use the units from the document.
SelectedLayers String Specifies the layer names to import. The names are comma delimited.
InvertLayersSelection Boolean True Specifies whether to invert the layers selection during import. Leaving the SelectedLayers empty and setting this value to True will import all the layers.
ConstrainEndPoints Boolean False Specifies if end points constraints should be applied to the imported geometry.
ApplyGeometricConstraints Boolean False Specifies if geometric constraints should be applied to the imported geometry to fully constrain the sketch. This is ignored if the ConstrainEndPoints setting is set to False.
ImportParametricConstraints Boolean False Specifies if AutoCAD 2D parametric constraints should be imported.
ProxyObjectsToUserDefinedSymbols Boolean False Specifies if proxy objects should be converted to user-defined symbols. This is only valid in Inventor drawings.

Definitions of Import Values

Option Name Valid Values
SaveLocationIndex SAVE_IN_WORKSPACE = 0
SELECT_SAVE_LOCATIONS = 1
SAVE_AT_IMPORT_LOCATION = 2
CreateIFO 1. When CreateIFO is true, CreateSurfIndex only supports SINGLE_COMPOSITE or MULTIPLE_COMPOSITE; if CreateSurfIndex’s value is illegal, it will be set as SINGLE_COMPOSITE.
2. When CreateIFO is true, AutoStitchAndPromote can be set as true or false.
3. When CreateIFO is true, AdvanceHealing will be set as false.
ImportAASPIndex MULTIPLE_SOLID_PART = 0
SINGLE_COMPOSITE_FEATURE = 1
CreateSurfIndex INDIVIDUAL_SURFACE = 0 (Translates all surfaces to individual ones, and consumes much more memory and time.)
SINGLE_COMPOSITE = 1
MULTI_COMPOSITE = 2
SINGLE_CONSTRUCTION = 3
MULTI_CONSTRUCTION = 4
GroupNameIndex DEFAULT = 0
ENTERED_NAME = 1
CEGroupLevel eLevelType = 0
eGroupType = 1
ImportUnit SOURCE_UNITS = 0
TEMPLATE_UNITS = 1
INCH = 2
FOOT = 3
CENTIMETER = 4
MILLIMETER = 5
METER = 6
MICRON = 7
NoShowExpModelList When set to true, a dialog that lists all models in the *.exp or *.dlv3 file is shown and ask the user select a file to open.
ExpModelIndex Used for user’s input to open one of the models in the *.exp or *.dlv3 file.
ExpModelCount User can get the model count in the *.exp or *.dlv3 file.
ExpModelNameList User can get a list of all model"s name in the *.exp or *.dlv3 file.
ImportColorIndex RGB = 0
BGR = 1
TessellationDetailIndex eHighestDetail = 0
eLowestDetail = 1

Export options for CATIA V5, IGES, JT, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT, STEP, STL and OBJ.

Option Name Value Type Default Value Supported Translators
Work Plane Export Boolean TRue JT, Pro/ENGINEER
Work Axes Export Boolean True JT
Work Point Export Boolean True JT, Pro/ENGINEER
IncludeSketches Boolean True CATIA V5, IGES, JT, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT, STEP
Version Integer CATIA: 28
JT: 102
Pro/ENGINEER Granite: 11
Parasolid: 31
SAT: 7
 CATIA V5, JT, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, SAT
ConfigFileEnabled Boolean False JT
ConfigFilePath String JT
OutputFileType Integer 0 (BrepAndFacets) JT
XTBrep Boolean True JT
FileStructure Integer 0 (Monolithic) JT
ApplicationProtocolType Integer 4 (eAP214IS) STEP
Author String STEP
Organization String STEP
Authorization String STEP
Description String STEP
GeometryType Integer 1 (Solids) IGES
SurfaceType Integer 0 (143-Bounded) IGES
SolidFaceType Integer 0 (NURBS) IGES
ExportBodyNames Boolean False SAT
OutputFileType Integer 0 (Binary) STL
ExportUnits Integer STL: 4 (Centimeters)
OBJ: 1 (Source unit) 		STL, OBJ
ExportFileStructure Integer 0 (One File) STL , OBJ
Resolution Integer 1 (Medium) STL , OBJ
SurfaceDeviation Integer 60 STL , OBJ
NormalDeviation Integer 14 STL , OBJ
MaxEdgeLength Integer 100 STL , OBJ
AspectRatio Integer 21.5 STL , OBJ
AllowMoveMeshNode Boolean False STL
export_fit_tolerance Double 0.001 IGES/STEP
ExportColor Boolean True STL

Definitions of Export Values

Option Name Valid Values
Version CATIA V5 (10 - 28)
Pro/Engineer Granite (1 - 11)
JT (80, 81, 82, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 100, 101, 102) e.g. 102 means 10.2 version file.
PARASOLID (9 - 31)
SAT (7)
OutputFileType eBrepAndFacets = 0
eBrepOnly = 1
eFacetsOnly = 2
XTBrep XTBrep = True
JTBrep = False
FileStructure JtkMONOLITHIC = 0
JtkPER_PART = 1
JtkFULL_SHATTER =2
ApplicationProtocolType eAP203 = 2
eAP214IS = 4
eAP242 = 5
GeometryType SURFACES = 0
SOLIDS = 1
WIREFRAMES = 2
SurfaceType 143_Bounded = 0
144_Trimmed = 1
SolidFaceType NURBS = 0
ANALYTICS = 1
OutputFileType BINARY = 0
ASCII = 1
ExportUnits INCH = 2
FOOT = 3
CENTIMETER = 4
MILLIMETER = 5
METER = 6
MICRON = 7
ExportFileStructure ONE FILE = 0
ONE FILE PER PART INSTANCE = 1
Resolution HIGH = 0
MEDIUM = 1
LOW = 2
CUSTOM = 3
BREP = 4
SurfaceDeviation Range 0 to 100, the value has precision of 0.0001. None-zero value is used if Resolution is CUSTOM (3), otherwise value is ignored.
NormalDeviation Range 0 to 41. Non-zero value is used if Resolution is CUSTOM (3), otherwise value is ignored. Any input value out of this range will be changed to 14 by force.
MaxEdgeLength Range 0 to 100. Non-zero value is used if Resolution is CUSTOM (3), otherwise value is ignored.
AspectRatio Range 0 to 21.5. Non-zero value is used if Resolution is CUSTOM (3), otherwise value is ignored.
export_fit_tolerance Set the tolerance for the IGES/STEP file. The accepted range for the tolerance value is from 0.00001 (cm) to 0.001 (cm). You can change this value, using cm units only. A smaller tolerance creates more accurate geometry approximations and larger file size.
ExportColor Write color information to STL binary file.

Export options for DWF.

Option Name Value Type Default Value Supported Documents Supported Translators Notes
Launch_Viewer Long 0 Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF  
Publish_Mode DWFPublishModeEnum kBasicDWFPublish Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF  
Publish_Component_Props Boolean False Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF
Use this to publish ALL component properties 
Publish_Mass_Props 
 Boolean False Part, Assembly, Drawing DWF
Use this to publish ALL mass properties 
Publish_All_Component_Props Boolean False Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF
Same as Publish_Component_Props 
Publish_All_Physical_Props Boolean False Part, Assembly, Drawing DWF
Same as Publish_Mass_Props 
Enable_Measure 
 Boolean True Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF DRM protection
Enable_Printing 
 Boolean True Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF DRM protection
Enable_Markups 
 Boolean True Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF DRM protection
Enable_Markup_Edits 
 Boolean True Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF DRM protection
Password String "" Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF  
Password_Protect 
 Boolean False Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF  
Password_Type 
 string or enum   Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF  
Enable_Large_Assembly_Mode 
 Boolean True  Assembly DWF
Enables large assembly optimizations (transactions and out of process publishing) 
Output_Path 
 String Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF  
Publish_3D_Models   Boolean False Drawing DWF Specify the publish mode.
Publish_All_Sheets 
 Boolean False Drawing DWF  
Include_Sheet_Tables 
 Boolean Drawing DWF  
Sheet_Count 
 Integer Drawing DWF  
Sheets
 NameValueMap Drawing DWF  
Override_Sheet_Color 
 Boolean False Drawing DWF Set whether to override the sheet background color.
Sheet_Color 
 Integer Drawing DWF Specify the sheet background color using an Integer. The Integer is calculated with R,G,B values(0 to 255) using below equation:
Sheet_Color = R+G*256+B*65536.
Include_Sheet_Tables
 Boolean True Drawing DWF Set whether to include sheet tables or not.
BOM_Structured
 Boolean False Assembly;Presentation DWF Set whether to publish the Structured BOM.
BOM_Parts_Only 
 Boolean False Assembly;Presentation DWF Set whether to publish the Parts Only BOM.
Design_Views 
 NameValueMap Assembly;Presentation DWF Specify the design views which will be published.
Positional_Representations 
 NameValueMap Assembly;Presentation DWF Specify the
positional representations 
which will be published.
Sheet_Metal_Style_Information 
 Boolean False Sheetmetal DWF Specify whether to publish the sheet metal style infomation.
Sheet_Metal_Flat_Pattern 
 Boolean False Sheetmetal DWF Specify whether to publish the flat pattern.
Sheet_Metal_Part 
 Boolean True Sheetmetal DWF Specify whether to publish the sheet metal part. At least one of the Sheet_Metal_Flat_Pattern and Sheet_Metal_Part should be specified as True for a sheet metal publish.
Facet_Quality 
 AccuracyEnum kHigh    DWF
Specify the facet quality. Only kLow, kMedium and kHigh are valid values for this.
Animations 
 Boolean False Presentation DWF Specify whether to publish the animations.
Instructions 
 Boolea False Presentation DWF Specify whether to publish the instructions. This will be ignored if the Animations is set to False.
Presentations 
 NameValueMap Presentation DWF  
iAssembly_All_Members 
 Boolean False iAssembly DWF Specify whether to publish all the iAssembly members.
iAssembly_3D_Models Boolean False iAssembly DWF Specify whether to publish all the 3D models for all the iAssembly members.
iAssemblies NameValueMap iAssembly DWF Specify which of the iAssembly members will be published.
iPart_All_Members 
 Boolean False iPart DWF Specify whether to publish all the iPart members.
iPart_3D_Models 
 Boolean False iPart DWF Specify whether to publish all the 3D models for all the iPart members.
iParts 
 NameValueMap iPart DWF Specify which of the iPart members will be published.
Include_Empty_Properties
 Boolean False Part, Assembly, Drawing,Presentation DWF Specify whether publish the empty properties

 

Definitions of Export Values

Option Name Name Value Supported Documents Notes
Sheets Sheet1 NameValueMap Drawing Create a NameValueMap("Sheet1",NameValueMap) to specify options for a sheet, the name should start from Sheet1 and the number increases one by one.
  Sheet2 NameValueMap Drawing See above.
  Sheet# NameValueMap Drawing See above.
Sheet1 Name String Drawing The name of a sheet in drawing, this can be any sheet name but not just for Sheet:1.
  3DModel Boolean Drawing Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the sheet.
Sheet2 Name String Drawing The name of a sheet in drawing, this can be any sheet name but not just for Sheet:2.
  3DModel Boolean Drawing Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the sheet.
Sheet# Name String Drawing The name of a sheet in drawing, this can be any sheet name but not just for Sheet:#.
  3DModel Boolean Drawing Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the sheet.
Design_Views Design_View1 NameValueMap Assembly Create a NameValueMap("Design_View1",NameValueMap) to specify a design view to publish, the name should start from Design_View1 and the number increases one by one.
  Design_View2 NameValueMap Assembly See above.
  Design_View# NameValueMap Assembly See above.
Design_View1 Name String Assembly The name of a design view.
Design_View2 Name String Assembly The name of a design view.
Design_View# Name String Assembly The name of a design view.
Positional_Representations 
Positional_Representation1 
 NameValueMap Assembly Create a NameValueMap("Positional_Representation1",NameValueMap) to specify a positional representation to publish, the name should start from Positional_Representation1 and the number increases one by one.
 
Positional_Representation2
 NameValueMap Assembly See above.
 
Positional_Representation1#
 NameValueMap Assembly See above.
Positional_Representation1  Name String Assembly The name of a positional representation.
Positional_Representation2 Name String Assembly The name of a positional representation.
Positional_Representation1# Name String Assembly The name of a positional representation.
Presentations 
Presentation1
 NameValueMap Presentation Create a NameValueMap("Presentation1",NameValueMap) to specify a presentation view to publish, the name should start from Presentation1 and the number increases one by one.
 
Presentation1
 NameValueMap Presentation See above.
 
Presentation#
 NameValueMap Presentation See above.
Presentation1 Name String Presentation The name of a presentation explosion view.
Presentation2 Name String Presentation The name of a presentation explosion view.
Presentation# Name String Presentation The name of a presentation explosion view.
iAssemblies Member1 NameValueMap iAssembly Create a NameValueMap("Member1",NameValueMap) to specify options for an iAssembly member, the name should start from Member1 and the number increases one by one.
  Member2 NameValueMap iAssembly See above.
  Member# NameValueMap iAssembly See above.
Member1 Name String iAssembly The name of an iAssembly member, this can be any iAssebly member name.
  3DModel Boolean iAssembly Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the iAssembly member.
Member2 Name String iAssembly The name of an iAssembly member, this can be any iAssebly member name.
  3DModel Boolean iAssembly Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the iAssembly member.
Member# Name String iAssembly The name of an iAssembly member, this can be any iAssebly member name.
  3DModel Boolean iAssembly Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the iAssembly member.
iParts Member1 NameValueMap iPart Create a NameValueMap("Member1",NameValueMap) to specify options for an iPart member, the name should start from Member1 and the number increases one by one.
  Member2 NameValueMap iPart See above.
  Member# NameValueMap iPart See above.
Member1 Name String iPart The name of an iPart member, this can be any iPart member name.
  3DModel Boolean iPart Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the iPart member.
Member2 Name String iPart The name of an iPart member, this can be any iPart member name.
  3DModel Boolean iPart Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the iPart member.
Member# Name String iPart The name of an iPart member, this can be any iPart member name.
  3DModel Boolean iPart Specify whether to publish the 3D model for the iPart member.

Export options for 3D PDF.

Option Name Value Type Default Value Supported Documents Supported Translators Notes
AttachedFiles String array   Part, Assembly 3D PDF An array of string values indicating the full file paths.
ExportAllProperties Boolean True Part, Assembly 3D PDF Use this to publish ALL component properties. If set this to False, the ExportProperties can be used to specify which properties to export.
ExportDesignViewRepresentations String array   Part, Assembly 3D PDF
An array of string values indicating the names of the design view representations.
ExportProperties 
 String array   Part, Assembly 3D PDF
 A string array that indicates the properties to be exported. Use below format to specify a property to export: “PropertySet.InternalName:Property.Name”. A sample is “{F29F85E0-4FF9-1068-AB91-08002B27B3D9}:Title” which indicates the Title property in “Summary Information” property set.
ExportTemplate String   Part, Assembly 3D PDF
Specify the template PDF full file name.
FileOutputLocation String   Part, Assembly 3D PDF
A string value indicates the PDF full filename to export the document to.
GenerateAndAttachSTEPFile
 Boolean False Part, Assembly 3D PDF Specify whether to generate the STEP file and attach it in PDF.
LimitToEntitiesInDVRs 
 Boolean True Part, Assembly 3D PDF Specify whether the export scope is limited to the selected design view representations.
STEPFileOptions 
 NameValueMap   Part, Assembly 3D PDF Specify the STEP save options when generate the STEP file.
ViewPDFWhenFinished 
 Boolean True Part, Assembly 3D PDF Specify whether to view the PDF after the export is finished.
VisualizationQuality AccuracyEnum kMedium Part, Assembly 3D PDF Specify the visualization quality.

 

Definitions of Export Values

Option Name Name Value Supported Documents Notes
STEPFileOptions ApplicationProtocolType Integer value that indicates the application protocol type. Valid values are: eAP203 = 2, eAP214IS = 4 and eAP242 = 5. Part, Assembly
  Author String value that specifies the author. Part, Assembly  
  Authorization String value that specifies authorization. Part, Assembly
  Description String value that specifies description. Part, Assembly
  ExportFitTolerance Double value that specifies export fit tolerance Part, Assembly  
  Organization String value that specifies organization Part, Assembly  
  IncludeSketches Boolean value that specifies whether include sketches or not. Part, Assembly  

STL Export Format

When exporting an STL through the user-interface or using the API, you have an option of whether to include color information. Color information is not part of the STL standard but companies have figured out ways to add color information into the file in ways that allows standard STL readers to continue to be able to read the file and ignore the colors. If you have an STL reader and want to support colors from Inventor STL files you need to understand how the color is encoded within the binary STL file. Color is not supported in STL ASCII files. Inventor uses a format designed by Materialise and is described on Wikipedia.

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