# Autodesk Navisworks Reader

Autodesk Navisworks
File Extension | NWC, NWD
Supported Versions | From 2012 to 2026
Platforms |
Tessellation | Supported
Boundary Representation (B-rep) | Unsupported
Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI) | Unsupported

Autodesk Navisworks files are aggregation formats used to combine and review data from multiple CAD sources. When read by HOOPS Exchange, they provide access to model structure and tessellated 3D objects for visualization, without exposing full CAD model definitions.

However, the file extension of Navisworks files that you can expect to be loaded by HOOPS Exchange is:

- .NWD
- .NWC

## How to Import From Autodesk Navisworks

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

To load an autodesk navisworks 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.nwd", &sReadParam, &pModelFile);

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

## Assembly

HOOPS Exchange supports the full assembly tree definition of an imported Navisworks file. However, incremental load is unsupported by our Navisworks reader.

## Boundary Representation (B-rep)

The list of supported entity types include:

- parametric cylinder
- parametric circle

## Visualization

As previously noted, the full assembly tree definition is supported, but incremental loading is not.

## Views

All view types are supported by HOOPS Exchange. However, there are some known limitations regarding default views and zoom factors.

## Miscellaneous

### Markups

Markups are currently unsupported by the HOOPS Exchange Navisworks reader.

### Materials and Colors

HOOPS Exchange supports materials when reading Navisworks files. It also supports imported and overridden colors and transparencies on wires, faces, and tessellation.

### Metadata

HOOPS Exchange fully supports Navisworks metadata (properties) with their units.

### Animations

Animations are currently unsupported by the HOOPS Exchange Navisworks reader.

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