STEP/IGES Import Reference

Specifies the import criteria for imported STEP or IGES files. Specifies the data types to import and how data are grouped in Inventor. A translation report is generated that includes information on the imported data and its quality, as well as a list of the parts and assemblies that were created in Inventor.

Access:

In the Open, Import dialog boxes: Set the Files of type to IGES or STEP. Note: You cannot import STEP files using the Import dialog box. Select or browse to the IGES or STEP file. Click Open. Note: If you choose to translate a file using the Import command, some import options are not available in the Import [file name] dialog box.

Save Options	Save Components during Load. Select the check box to save the assembly and part files in Autodesk Inventor format during the import process. Choose where to save the components from the drop down menu. If you choose to Select Save Locations, the Component Destination Folder and Place Top-level Assembly in Separate Folder become available. This setting is not available when the Import command is used.   Note: Save Components during Load minimizes memory consumption by saving each component to disk during the import process. If you import larger assemblies and experience long import times or import failures, use this option to reduce memory requirements. For smaller assemblies, the increased process time required to save each component to disk can offset the benefit of improved memory utilization.   Component Destination Folder. Sets the location for the part and assembly files created from the import operation. If Save in Workspace is selected, this folder is defined in the Edit Projects panel.   Place Top-level Assembly in Separate Folder. Select to save the top-level assembly file to a location different than the part files. If Save in Workspace is selected, this folder is defined in the Edit Projects panel.   Note: Specify file destinations that are included in the active project or add the paths to the project to assure that referenced files resolve when you open a file.
Translation Report	Embed in Document. Select to display the translation report icon , under the 3rd Party browser node , in your new file. To view the translation report, double-click the report icon, or right-click and select Edit.   Save to Disk. Select to save a copy of the report to disk. In Inventor Professional, under Save Options, if Place Top-level Assembly in Separate Folder is selected, the translation report is stored along with the top-level assembly. Otherwise, the report is stored in the Component Destination Folder.
Entity Types to Import	Solids. Select to import solid bodies and water tight stitched shells as individual solid bodies.   Surfaces. Select to import surface bodies. Water tight stitched shells are imported as solid bodies.   Wires. Select to import wires.   Points. Select to import points.
Data Organization	Import into Repair environment. Select to check the model for errors and create a repair node in the browser. You can edit, diagnose, and repair an imported base body in the Repair environment. A repair body participates in the model history. Import Assembly as Single Part. Select to import the assembly as a single part. Choose from: Single Composite Feature to import the assembly as a single composite feature in the part environment. Multiple Solid Part to import the assembly as individual solid bodies in the part environment. This setting defaults to on and is not selectable when the Import command is used.   Create Surfaces As. Select the surface types to create during the import. Choose from: Individual Surface Bodies to import each surface as a single surface body in the part environment. Single Composite Feature to import the surfaces as a single composite in the part environment. Multiple Composite Features to import the surfaces as multiple composites in the part environment. Composites are created for each level, layer, or group, as defined by the Create From selection. Single Construction Group to import the surfaces as a single group in the construction environment. Multiple Construction Groups to import the surfaces as multiple groups in the construction environment. Construction groups are created for each level, layer, or group, as defined by the Create From selection. Note: Enable the Construction Environment on the Part tab in the Application Options to make Single Construction Group and Multiple Construction Groups available.   Create From. Specify Levels (Layers) or Groups from which to create Multiple Composite Features or Multiple Construction Groups. Available when the Create Surface As selection is Multiple Composite Features or Multiple Construction Groups. Add Prefix to Group Names. Select to add a prefix to the source file group names. For example, if the source file has a group Surfaces1 and you define INV_ as the prefix to add, the translated group becomes INV_Surfaces1. Available when the Create Surface As selection is Multiple Composite Features or Multiple Construction Groups.   Group Name to Place Data. Select a Group Name under which to place the imported data. The group name is shown in the browser.
Units	Import Units. Converts the imported geometry and parameter values to the selected units.
Post Processes	Check Parts during Load. Select to perform a quality check of the imported data. If a bad data is found, the composite is marked with in the browser and the remaining bodies are not checked. Note: This option may significantly increase the amount of time required to translate a file.   Auto Stitch and Promote. When selected, Autodesk Inventor attempts to stitch surfaces into a quilt or solid. If the surfaces are stitched into a single quilt or body, the resulting quilt or body is promoted to the Part environment. Otherwise, the surfaces remain in the Construction environment.   Enable Advanced Healing. If selected, slight alterations in the surface geometry are allowed to stitch the surfaces.

Note: By default, Inventor applies the part name (file name of the inserted part) to browser file nodes. Other CAD systems might apply the part number property. When a STEP file is imported into Inventor, its name might differ from the name of the CAD system which generated the STEP file. To avoid confusion, use the Rename Browser Nodes command to specify the browser node naming scheme.