Import Export Preferences

Introduction
FreeCAD can import and export many file formats. For some formats dedicated preferences apply. These can be found in the Preferences Editor, in the menu.

Note that not all tabs in the Import-Export preferences are available by default. For some a workbench has to be loaded first.

Related
See the following pages for more details:
 * : A shorter more concise description table of file formats.
 * : A list of tutorials that can help users convert data from one format to another

DAE
The Collada DAE (Digital Asset Exchange) format is a standard file format for exchange of Mesh data. FreeCAD can import meshes from files, and export Arch and other Shape-based objects to the  format.

For the DAE format you can specify the following:

DWG
DWG (from drawing) is a proprietary, closed source, binary file format used for storing two- and three- dimensional design data and metadata. FreeCAD requires the external ODA file converter to process DWG files.

For the DWG format you can only specify the path to ODA. Note: All settings for DXF file format also apply to DWG.

DXF
AutoCAD DXF (Drawing eXchange Format) is a proprietary format to exchange CAD data between AutoCAD and other programs.

For the DXF format you can specify the following:

IGES
The Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) file format is a file format that allows the digital exchange of information among CAD systems. After publication of the STEP file format, IGES development was stopped in 1996, but it is still supported by many CAD programs. IGES files have the or  extension.

The tab IGES is only shown in the preferences if you are in the Part,  PartDesign or  OpenSCAD workbench or if you have been in one these workbenches before.

For the IGES format you can specify the following:

IFC
Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is a wide spread format to exchange data between BIM applications. It is used in architecture and engineering.

For the IFC format you can specify the following:

INP
INP is the input file format for the FEM software Abaqus. It is used for the CalculiX solver in the FEM Workbench.

The tab INP is only shown in the preferences if you are in the FEM Workbench or if you have been in this workbench before.

For the INP format you can specify the following:

Mesh Formats
Meshes are a special type of 3D object, composed of triangular faces connected by their vertices and edges. They are widely used for additive manufacturing. FreeCAD provides the Mesh Workbench to create and handle meshes. FreeCAD supports several mesh file formats: AMF, AST, BMS, OBJ, OFF, PLY, SMF and STL.

The tab Mesh Formats is only shown in the preferences if you are in the Mesh Workbench or if you have been in this workbench before.

For the Mesh formats you can specify the following:

OCA
The OCA file format is a community project to create a free, simple and open CAD file format. OCA is largely based on the GCAD file format generated by gCAD3D. Both formats can be imported in FreeCAD and the OCA files exported by FreeCAD can be opened in gCAD3D.

For the OCA format you can specify the following:

STEP
The Standard for The Exchange of Product model data (STEP) file format is an ISO standard for the computer-interpretable representation and exchange of product manufacturing information. STEP is commonly used to exchange 3D data between CAD software. STEP files have the or  extension. For compressed files the extension is used.

The tab STEP is only shown in the preferences if you are in the Part,  PartDesign or  OpenSCAD workbench or if you have been in one these workbenches before.

For the STEP format you can specify the following:

SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a vector image format for two-dimensional graphics. A vector image can be scaled to any size without losing its shape or details. An SVG image can be converted to bitmap formats like PNG or JPEG for printing.

For the SVG format you can specify the following:

VTK
The Visualization Toolkit (VTK) is an open-source, freely available software system for 3D computer graphics, image processing and visualization. VTK files are used by the FEM workbench for the post processing of simulation results.

The tab VTK is only shown in the preferences if you are in the FEM Workbench or if you have been in this workbench before.

For the VTK format you can specify the following: