Interfaces and file formats

Various eXchangers allow data to be exchanged between different software programs with options to include metadata or keep reference models only. Documents for construction can be output in the most common formats, such as DWG and PDF, and delivered in the required manner.

CADMATIC’s open database and numerous interoperability functions enable data to be easily transferred between systems.

The list below provides information on supported software systems and file formats, with additional details about the level of interoperability in each specific case.

Software

  • AUTOCAD® (DOWNLOAD EXCHANGER FOR AUTOCAD)

    2D documents can be directly imported/exported to/from the design applications with inbuilt converters. For importing/exporting 3D you need to install the AutoCAD ARX plugin by CADMATIC called “eXchanger for AutoCAD”. It is also possible to use AutoCAD as a bridge between CADMATIC and other 3D CAD for 3D import/export.

    The eXchanger can be downloaded for free from our download page. You need to register first, before you are forwarded to the download page.

    NOTE! CADMATIC eXchanger for AutoCAD is compatible with AutoCAD 2015 - 2022 software versions.

    Interoperability, eXchangers AutoCAD

    Register and download eXchanger for AutoCAD

  • Aveva/PDMS®

    There are three possible levels of interoperability:

    • Conversion of model for 3D viewer (eBrowser)
    • Import 3D reference models via 3DD format
    • Intelligent conversion including 3D model attributes and structure

    It is possible to convert a 3D RVM model to the eBrowser format, including 3D objects and attributes. The 3DD reference file can be imported into CADMATIC 3D Design applications as a reference model. Conversion services are available to convert 3D intelligent models from PDMS/PDS into CADMATIC intelligent models for further work with CADMATIC Design applications (including the entire parametric model and attribute values). These services are provided by external subcontractors.

    Interoperability, exchangers PDMS® and PDS®

  • Bentley®/AutoPIPE

    Export of piping data for pipe stress analysis using Caesar II format *.cii.

    Read more about AUTOPIPE »

  • Caesar II®

    Support for generating files from CADMATIC format pipes to be imported into Caesar II for stress analysis purposes.

    Read more »

  • E3.series®

    Interface to connect E3.series electric diagrams and CADMATIC Cable Router for 3D arrangements of cables.

  • Intergraph/PDS®

    There are three possible levels of interoperability:

    • conversion of model for 3D viewer (eBrowser)
    • import 3D reference models via 3DD format
    • intelligent conversion including 3D model attributes and structure

    It is possible to convert the 3D model to eBrowser format, including 3D objects and attributes, the 3DD reference file can be imported into CADMATIC 3D Design applications as a reference model. Conversion services are possible for converting 3D intelligent models from PDMS/PDS into CADMATIC intelligent models for further work with CADMATIC Design applications (including the entire parametric model and attribute values). These services are provided by external subcontractors.

    Interoperability, exchangers PDMS® and PDS®

  • Microstation/DGN®

    There are four possible levels of interoperability:

    • export of 2D documents from CADMATIC in DGN format
    • conversion of model for 3D viewer (eBrowser)
    • import 3D reference models via 3DD format
    • intelligent conversion including 3D model attributes and structure

    It is possible to convert the 3D model to the eBrowser format, including 3D objects and attributes, 3DD reference file can be imported into CADMATIC 3D Design applications as a reference model. Conversion services are possible for converting 3D intelligent models from DGN into CADMATIC intelligent models for further work with CADMATIC Design applications (including the entire parametric model and attribute values). These services are provided by external subcontractors.

    Interoperability, exchangers PDMS® and PDS®

  • Okino PolyTrans®

    CADMATIC eXchanger for PolyTrans® increases compatibility with mechanical CAD software. It addresses the need to utilize mechanical CAD models of equipment and modules. The imported models can be simplified and the object sizes reduced.

    Interoperability, exchangers for polytrans®

    Read more »

  • PIPEFAB®

    The PIPEFAB Interface is an interface between CADMATIC Outfitting, pipe production systems PipeFAB of the company Tracto-Technik and is used to control CNC pipe bending machines. For each automatically-generated isometric the interface creates a data file in XML format that includes all the required information to produce the pipes, like bending coordinates, pipe specifications, material information, and various other relevant attributes. The interface can be customized to the client’s needs.

    Read more »

  • PipeStress®

    Generates files from CADMATIC in *.pst format to be imported into PipeStress for stress analysis purposes.

  • Siemens/NX®

    After integrating data from Siemens/NX via the JT standard, the combined intelligent 3D model contains all the information from the respective native software applications. JT is an ISO-standardized 3D data format used in industry for product visualization, collaboration, CAD data exchange, and in some also for long-term data retention. It can contain any combination of approximate (faceted) data, boundary representation surfaces, product and manufacturing Information, and metadata (textual attributes)

    Read more »

  • Smart3D®

    There are three possible levels of interoperability:

    • conversion of model for 3D viewer (eBrowser)
    • import 3D reference models via 3DD format
    • intelligent conversion including 3D model attributes and structure

    It is possible to convert the 3D model into the eBrowser format, including 3D objects and attributes. The 3DD reference file can be imported into CADMATIC 3D Design applications as a reference model. Conversion services are available for converting 3D intelligent models from Smart3D into CADMATIC intelligent models for further work with CADMATIC Design applications (including the entire parametric model and attribute values). These services are provided by external subcontractors.

    Interoperability, eXchangers smart 3D

  • Solidworks®

    Solidworks 3D models (with or without attributes) can be imported or exported to or from CADMATIC via eXchanger for PolyTrans includes the simplification of the imported models. Alternatively, 3D reference models can be transferred between the two software packages with the help of eXchanger for AutoCAD, keeping solid and surface objects.

    Interoperability, eXchangers AutoCAD

    Interoperability, exchangers for polytrans®

    Read more about POLYTRANS »

  • TransFluid®

    Generates files for direct link from 3D model to CNC machines in pipe production

    Read more »

  • Trimble/Tekla Structures®

    The native bi-directional interface between CADMATIC and Tekla Structures enables fluent information sharing by combining the structural steel model and project design model. Designers can work simultaneously in both programs and benefit from loading models from other disciplines as native objects. The imported materials can be modified and exported for reuse with all the related information intact. As such, work can be started with a preliminary model in one software platform, after which it is enhanced with more detailed design in another.

    Read more about TEKLA »

  • Various BIM

    After integrating data from different software platforms via the IFC standard, the combined intelligent 3D model contains all the information from the respective native software applications. Imported materials are recognized not as 3D shapes as in traditional space holders, but as real objects with all their related information, such as the materials and standards used, mass density attributes etc. The imported materials can be modified and exported for reuse with all the related information intact. As such, work can be started with a preliminary model in one software platform, after which it is enhanced with more detailed design in another. Current format supported: IFC2x3

  • Various Mechanical CAD

    With the CADMATIC PolyTrans eXchanger, more than 100 MCAD formats can be imported or exported to CADMATIC.

    Interoperability, exchangers for polytrans®

    Read more »

File formats

  • .3dd, *.3dc, *.3dp

    CADMATIC formats for 3D reference data, these are intermediate formats for eXchangers and can include object attributes

  • *.asc, *.pts,*. xyz Point Clouds

    Point clouds can be imported into CADMATIC from several different file formats. The user can select one or multiple files for import. ASCII text files can be imported from various point cloud data sources. The importer attempts to automatically detect the data format and scale. Before the import starts, the scale and data from an example input line are shown. The user can modify the scale, and also rearrange the positions for coordinates and color data as seen in the file. Import requires at least X, Y, and Z values to be defined.

    There should be a separate text file named ScanPositions.txt in which each line gives the name of a scanner file, followed by the position of the scanner as x y z. If there is no such file, it will not be possible to have bubble views that show the points from the perspective of a specific scanner, but other types of shaded views can still be used.

  • *.cii

    Support for generating files from CADMATIC format pipes to be imported into Caesar II for stress analysis purposes.

  • *.dgn

    2D documents could be exported directly to DGN format. 3D models can be converted using CADMATIC eXchanger for PDMS/PDS.

  • *.dwg/*.dxf

    Export 2D drawings - sketches, isometrics and other documents for construction. 3D export of model with eXchanger for AutoCAD.

    The eXchanger can be downloaded for free from our download page. You need to register first, before you are forwarded to the download page.

    NOTE! CADMATIC eXchanger for AutoCAD is compatible with AutoCAD 2007 - 2021 software versions.

    Interoperability, eXchangers AutoCAD

    Register and download eXchanger fot AutoCAD

  • *.ebm

    CADMATIC eBrowser, eGo and eShare models files

  • *.ifc

    After integrating data from different software platforms via the IFC standard, the combined intelligent 3D model contains all published information from the respective native software applications. Imported materials are recognized not as 3D shapes as in traditional space holders with referenced objects, but as real objects with all their related information, such as the materials and standards used, mass density attributes etc. The imported materials can be modified and exported for reuse with all the related information intact. As such, work can be started with a preliminary model in one software platform, after which it is enhanced with more detailed design in another. Current format supported: IFC2x3

  • *.jt

    JT is an ISO-standardized 3D data format used in industry for product visualization, collaboration, CAD data exchange, and in some also for long-term data retention. It can contain any combination of approximate (faceted) data, boundary representation surfaces, Product and Manufacturing Information, and Metadata (textual attributes)

    Read more »

  • *.mdl

    CADMATIC Plant native 3D model format. MDL files contain references to the CADMATIC library database. It can be used to transfer fully-intelligent 3D models. If generated from third party software, it can be used with API, allowing the mapping of references to the library parts during import.

  • *.pcf

    Partial support for *.pcf format. Export of PCF file for isometrics for use of pipestress calculations or pipe fabrication.

  • *.pdf

    Any construction or fabrication drawing can be exported directly to PDF format.

  • *.pst

    Export files from CADMATIC in *.pst format to be imported into PipeStress for stress analysis purposes.

  • *.rvm

    There are two possible levels of interoperability:

    • conversion of model for 3D viewer (eBrowser)
    • import 3D reference models via 3DD format

    It is possible to convert the 3D RVM model into the eBrowser format, including 3D objects and attributes. The 3DD reference file can be imported into CADMATIC 3D Design applications as a reference model.

    Interoperability, exchangers PDMS® and PDS®

  • *.txt

    Various reports can be generated: MTO, BOM, material summary lists, with possibility to edit data tables

  • *.xls(x)

    Export of various reports: MTO, BOM, material summary lists, with the possibility to customize and edit data. In certain cases, .xls(x) files can be imported, or tables can be opened and edited in .xls, including dimension tables for components, electrical cable connection lists, or mapping of Diagram - 3D object data.

  • *.xml

    Many import/export or intermediate formats are based on the XML structure. The CADMATIC script API has the necessary tools to parse valid XML files and to extract XML entities for further processing. CADMATIC uses xml e.g. for export/import of cable lists or lists of equipment/valves for Diagram integration.

  • Various MCAD formats

    With CADMATIC PolyTrans eXchanger more than 100 MCAD formats can be imported or exported to CADMATIC.

    Read more »

AutoCAD®, PDS®, PDMS®, Smart3D®, Okino®, Tekla®, E3.series® are registered trademarks. Any other product or brand names mentioned may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.