Converting and Viewing 3D CAD Files
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The use of the 3D viewer requires conversion of native 3D CAD models to the format used by the viewer (hwf). This is done using the Aras 3D CAD to PDF Converter, which runs inside the Aras Conversion Server. This converter takes any standard native 3D CAD files as input and runs a conversion process in the background. In the typical case, these input native 3D CAD files are coming from an Aras CAD Connector.
By default, the Aras 3D CAD to PDF Converter will produce as output the following set of files, which will be set to the listed properties on the CAD Document Item.
Table 10: Supported FileTypes
| FileType | Extension | CAD Property | Purpose |
| HOOPS Stream Cache Single Model | scs | native_file > fr_representation > fr_representation_file > related_file | Viewing within Aras Visual Collaboration |
| PNG Image | png | thumbnail | Thumbnail image |
| 3D PDF Document | viewable_file | Viewing within Adobe Reader | |
| PRC Model | prc | monolithic_model_file | Neutral 3D representation |
Note that unlike the Aras PDF viewer, the 3D viewer does not view the 3D PDF file directly. The 3D PDF file is made available for other purposes, such as sending outside the company to those without direct access to Aras Innovator, for viewing in Adobe Reader. If the requirement is just to view 3D inside Aras Visual Collaboration, the generation of the 3D PDF file can be disabled. See the Aras 3D Visualization CAD to PDF Converter Setup Guide for details. This also means that 3D viewing in Visual Collaboration cannot be achieved just by attaching a 3D PDF file to an item. The 3D viewer requires the scs format, which must be generated by the converter. Please contact Aras Support with any questions regarding the ability to convert and view 3D models.
Setting the Proper FileType for 3D PDF Files
The Aras PDF viewer is only designed to view “standard” PDF files and not 3D PDF files. Therefore, it is important that 3D PDF files be set as a separate FileType in Aras Innovator, because otherwise the PDF viewer will attempt to view them. The two standard FileType definitions exist in Aras Innovator, both with the .pdf extension. 3D PDF files generated by the Aras 3D CAD to PDF Converter are automatically set to the 3D PDF Document FileType. However, if a 3D PDF file is manually attached to an item, it will be set to the PDF Document FileType. Administrators should be aware that files manually attached in this way may show up in the sidebar as an available PDF file for viewing. Users will see only a static image of the 3D model in this case.
Table 11: PDF FileTypes
| FileType | Description | Ext. |
| PDF Document | Adobe Acrobat PDF Document | |
| 3D PDF Document | Adobe Acrobat 3D PDF Document |
Browser Compliance Check for 3D Viewing
The 3D viewer is only supported on HTML5-compliant browsers including Firefox, Edge, and Chrome. Since Aras Innovator is supported on some browsers that do not meet this requirement, the system checks for the browser compliance when the user attempts to use the 3D viewer.
There are two cases where this check is made:
- When the user clicks on a file in the 3D viewer tab in the item window sidebar.
- When the user clicks on the View button when a markup snapshot is active in the viewer.
In each case, the user sees an error message that displays: This web browser does not support 3D viewing. Please use a supported browser to view this file.