STEP Writer

Supported Entities

Entities supported by the STEP writer.
  • Point
  • Line
  • Surface
  • Solid
  • Part
  • Assembly
Entities not supported by the STEP writer.
  • Axis system
  • Fixed points. In order to export fixed points, it is necessary to convert them to free points. Then, after import, those free points must be projected onto the appropriate lines or surfaces in order to generate fixed points with the proper association.
  • Vector

Export Options

The STEP writer uses the step_writer.ini file with the following available options:
@AllowDisjointShells
Value Description
on Store non-manifold geometry in one disjoint feature.
off Split and store non-manifold geometries as separate joint shell features (default).
@AssemblyMode
Value Description
Parts Create part entity hierarchy as assembly and part entity in STEP file.
Assemblies Create assembly and component entity as assembly and part entity in STEP file.
Flatten Write entities in all components into a single STEP part.
@AttributeForMaterialName
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-material name information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "Material".
@AttributeForMeshFlag
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-mesh flag information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "MeshFlag".
@AttributeForMID
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-material ID information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "MaterialId".
@AttributeForPartNumber
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-part number information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "PartNumber".
@AttributeForPID
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-property ID information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "PID".
@AttributeForRevision
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-revision information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "Revision".
@AttributeForThickness
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains PDM metadata-thickness information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "Thickness".
@AttributeForUID
Value Description
string Attribute created with the name contains the PDM metadata-UID information associated with the part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".

Default is "UID".
@Export
Value Description
All Export all geometry (default).
Displayed Export displayed geometry only.
@GeometryMode
Value Description
Standard Write CAD geometry with standard types such as cylinder, cone, circle, and so on (default).
BSpline Convert all surface geometry data into NURBS. This option may increase the output file size and be time consuming depending on the actual geometry.
@HMOrignalIdAsAttribute
Value Description
on Write HyperMesh entity Identifier as HM_ORIGINAL_ID attribute
off Do not export HyperMesh entity Identifier (default).
@LayerMode
Value Description
None No special layer handling is performed (default).
ComponentID The entities in each HyperMesh component will be assigned to the layernumber in the STEP file corresponding to that component ID.
@MetadataPrefixFilter
Value Description
string The prefix to use to find metadata to export. Only metadata with the specified prefix is exported. Any metadata without this prefix is not exported. Default is empty, meaning all metadata will be exported.
@NameFromRepresentation
Value Description
on Assign part name in CAD file from the representation file name attached to part entity.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".
off Assign part name in CAD file is assigned from the part entity name in HyperMesh.

Meaningful only if AssemblyMode = "Parts".
@OptimizeForCAD
Value Description
on Fix gaps between stitched edges and vertices to make the actual geometry of the surfaces consistent with the model topology before export, and check the topology of the model for gaps that are larger than a given tolerance between shared, non-manifold, or suppressed edges. If the gap is found to be bigger than the tolerance, the surface and edge geometries are morphed parametrically and in 3D, if necessary, to make the gap smaller than the tolerance. In addition, non-essential degenerate edges are removed. This also modifies the geometry within HyperMesh (default).
off Do not perform the optimization steps.
@RemoveMetadataPrefix
Value Description
on Remove the metadata prefix for export.

Meaningful only if @MetadataPrefixFilter is enabled and non-empty.
off Do not remove the metadata prefix for export (default).

Meaningful only if @MetadataPrefixFilter is enabled and non-empty.
@SourceUnits
Value Description
  • MKS (m kg N s)
  • MMKS (mm kg N s)
  • MPA (mm t N s)
  • CGS (cm g dyn s)
  • MMKNMS (mm kg kN ms)
  • MMGNMS (mm g N ms)
  • IPS Std (in pounds lbf s)
  • IPS Grav (in slinch lbf s)
  • FPS Std (ft pounds lbf s)
  • FPS Grav (ft slug lbf s)
 Unit system assigned to the data present in HyperMesh during export
@StepHeaderAuthorInfo
Value Description
string String to use for the AUTHOR field in the STEP header.
@StepHeaderAuthorizationInfo
Value Description
string String to use for the AUTHORIZATION field in the STEP header.
@StepHeaderOrganizationInfo
Value Description
string String to use for the ORGANIZATION field in the STEP header.
@TargetUnits
Value Description
  • Microns
  • Millimeters
  • Centimeters
  • Meters
  • Kilometers
  • Microinches
  • Mils
  • Inches
  • Feet
 Units System in the exported STEP file.
@TopologyMode
Value Description
Solid/Shell Export topology data similar to HyperMesh topology data, keeping the distinction between solids and shells (default).
Surface Export each surface, including solid faces, as a single surface, effectively neglecting connectivity.
@Version
Value Description
string The STEP version to use for export. Valid versions are AP214 (default).
@WriteColorFrom
Value Description
string Specify colors for the geometrical entities during export. Colors are supported at the component level only, whereas individual entity colors (points, lines, surfaces, solids) are not supported.

Valid values are Component (default) and Metadata.
@WriteMetaDataAsColor
Value Description
string Specify the metadata to use for coloring entities.

Default is COLOR_RGB.

Meaningful only if @WriteColorFrom = "Metadata".
@WriteMetaDataAsName
Value Description
string Specify the metadata to use for naming entities.

Default is TAG.

Meaningful only if @WriteNameFrom = "Metadata".
@WriteNameFrom
Value Description
string Specify names for the geometrical entities during export. Names are supported at the component level only, whereas individual entity names (points, lines, surfaces, solids) are not supported.

Valid values are Component and Metadata (default).