# IGES Writer

IGES
File Extension | IGS, IGES
Supported Versions | 5.1
Platforms |
Assembly |
Tessellation | N/A
B-Rep |
PMI | N/A

The IGES file format (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) was created by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards and first published in January 1980. It was developed as part of the Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) project by the United States Air Force from 1976 to 1984 to facilitate the exchange of product definition data among different CAD systems.

The HOOPS Exchange IGES writer allows developers to export B-rep data from Exchange to IGES. The file extensions that you can create when you export the data are:

- .IGES
- .IGS

As a B-rep-only format, we only export B-rep data.

## How to Export to IGES

To export a model to IGES, use `A3DAsmModelFileExportToIgesFile()`. Customize the export using `A3DRWParamsExportIgesData`.

    A3DRWParamsExportIgesData sParamsExportData = A3D_MAKE_DATA(A3DRWParamsExportIgesData);
    // ... set export parameter options

    A3DAsmModelFileExportToIgesFile(pModelFile, &sParamsExportData, "path/to/file.IGES");

Export to Buffer

Our IGES writer provides additional parameters to export data, which can be found in the `reference manual`.

Before exporting, ensure that the model contains the geometry and tessellation you expect. See our pages on tessellation for tips on generating visualization data for export.

## Assembly

The assembly structure is maintained during export.

## B-Rep

When we export to IGES we look at the source data and map each surface to one of the following:

- B-spline surface
- Cylinder
- Cone
- Offset surface
- Plane
- Sphere
- Surface of extrusion
- Surface of revolution
- Torus

…and each curve to:

- B-spline curves
- Composite curves
- Circle
- Ellipse
- Hyperbola
- Line
- Parabola

## Visualization

This format does not support a tessellation representation.

## Views

Views are not supported by this format.

## PMI

PMI is not supported by this format.

Conversation saved
HOOPSY BETA

### Hello! I'm HOOPSY

Your multilingual generative AI assistant for documentation. Ask me anything about HOOPS Exchange in your own language, or choose a sample question below to start a conversation:

What is HOOPS Exchange?
What are the latest release notes for HOOPS Exchange?
How do I start evaluating HOOPS Exchange?
How do I write my first sample application?
How can I get assistance?

HOOPSY may store conversations according to OpenAI's policy. Responses may not always be accurate.

HOOPSY is thinking...