# I-deas Reader

I-deas
File Extension | MF1, ARC, UNV, PKG
Supported Versions | Up to 13.x (NX 5), NX I-deas 6
Platforms |
Tessellation | Supported
Boundary Representation (B-rep) | Supported
Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI) | Supported

I-DEAS files are CAD file formats historically used for mechanical design, storing precise model data including parts, assemblies, surfaces, curves, views, and PMI.

The HOOPS Exchange I-deas reader provides full access to the assembly structure, exact B-rep geometry, views, and PMI defined in the file for use in CAD applications.

A file does not need to have a particular extension to be read correctly by HOOPS Exchange. However, the file extensions of I-deas files that you can expect to be loaded by HOOPS Exchange include:

- .ARC
- .MF1
- .UNV
- .PKG

## How to Import From I-deas

Reading `I-deas` files follows the same pattern as other formats: configure load parameters, then call the standard load function.

To load a I-deas file, use `A3DAsmModelFileLoadFromFile()`. The `A3DParamsLoadData` structure is used to customize the loading behavior:

    A3DAsmModelFile* pModelFile = 0;

    A3DRWParamsLoadData sReadParam = A3D_MAKE_DATA(A3DRWParamsLoadData);
    sReadParam.m_sGeneral.m_bReadSolids = true;

    // ... set other A3DRWParamsLoadData fields as necessary

    A3DAsmModelFileLoadFromFile("path/to/file.arc", &sReadParam, &pModelFile);

See Simple Load and Export for more about loading model files.

## Tessellation

The visualization data for the I-deas file format is generated by the HOOPS Exchange tessellation engine.

## Boundary Representation (B-rep)

Supported surface types include:

- B-spline surface
- Cone
- Cylinder
- Extruded surfaces
- General quadric surfaces
- Plane
- Revolution surface
- Ruled surfaces
- Sphere
- Torus

Supported curve types include:

- B-splines
- Composite curve
- Hyperbolic curve
- Parabolic arcs

## Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI)

HOOPS Exchange provides full support for I-deas PMI.

The types supported include:

- Circle center
- Datum feature symbol
- Datum target
- Dimensions
- Feature control frame
- Measurement point/locator
- Note
- Surface finish
- Weld (spot and line)

## Assembly

HOOPS Exchange’s I-deas Reader provides full access to the Assembly, B-rep and View and PMI Data stored within a particular I-deas file.

Datum planes and construction geometry are supported and accessed through the assembly tree. The I-deas reader provides access to the whole tree of containers (or bins) of the file. In a container, we can access other containers, configurations, and or parts.

Incremental load is supported by our I-deas reader.

## Views

Full support for views including the visibilities of objects associated to views is supported.

## Import Options Specific to I-deas

- Note texts with symbol

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