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Get Started
New to Inspire Form? Learn the basics here.
File Import and Export
Learn how to import geometry and export results.
Supported File Formats
View a list of supported file formats for import and export.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
New to Inspire Form? Learn the basics here.
- Workspace
  The Inspire Form workspace includes the ribbon, modeling window, legend, and status bar.
- Basic Functions
  Learn how to select objects, pan and rotate the view, change the units system, and other basic tasks.
- Inspire System Requirements
  A list of supported operating systems and minimum requirements for hardware and memory.
- Licensing Features
  Some ribbon tabs are associated with license features. Depending upon the tab you have invoked, additional units may be drawn. These features will be checked out for the duration of the session.
- Workspace
  The Inspire Form workspace includes the ribbon, modeling window, legend, and status bar.
- Find and Search for Tools
  Quickly find and open the tools that are available on the ribbons.
- File Import and Export
  Learn how to import geometry and export results.
  - Create, Open, Save, or Revert a Model
    Create, open, save, or revert a model using standard keyboard shortcuts, the Files icon, or the File menu.
  - Importing CAD
    Learn how to import CAD, configure the import reader for various file formats, clean up CAD on import, and repair invalid parts.
  - Importing and Merging Geometry
    Use File > Import to import and merge a saved model with the current model.
  - Exporting Geometry and Results
    Export Inspire geometry and simulation results for use in another application.
  - Supported File Formats
    View a list of supported file formats for import and export.
- Select and Edit
  Review techniques for selecting and editing objects.
- Adjust the View
  Change the view in the modeling window using the mouse or view controls.
- Move and Snap
  Translate, rotate, and align parts and other objects using the Move tool and snaps.
- Systems
  The Systems tool is useful for aligning loads to a local coordinate system rather than the global coordinate system. Keep in mind that results are only shown in the global coordinate system.
- Screen Capture
  Record a video or take a snapshot of the screen.
- Units and Measurement
  Change the default unit system, create custom units, and measure geometry features.
- The Model Browser
  Use the Model Browser to organize your model, organize analysis and optomization objects, and access objects that aren't currently shown in the modeling window.
- Help and User Assistance
  Learn about the forms of help and user assistance available from the product.
- Preferences
  Modify the workspace display, default keyboard shortcuts, and other settings.
- Inspire System Requirements
  A list of supported operating systems and minimum requirements for hardware and memory.
- Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
  Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire Form with our interactive tutorials.
Variables
Create and assign variables to parametrize a model. This allows you to quickly iterate and compare design concepts by tweaking the values of the variables.
Parametric Modeling
Create 2D sketches, surfaces, and solids.
Feasibility Setup and Simulation
Perform Feasibility, Blank Fit, and Blank Nesting analyses.
Die Face Design
Open any part in Studio to design the die, and import the die face design into Inspire Form from Studio.
Die Design
Use the Die Design ribbon to design and generate die surfaces.
Tryout Setup and Simulation
Perform tryout analyses to validate die designs.
Design Explorer
Evaluate designs by using geometric variables and applying a design-of-experiments (DOE) or optimization method. We recommend fully constraining your sketch when sketch variables are used in the design exploration.
Rendering
Adjust the materials, environment, and properties of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Geometric Analysis
Analyze the object geometry for negative draft, trim angle, and shortest distance between parts.
Simulation Results
Review forming outcomes through the Analysis Explorer.
Reference
View the glossary or frequently asked questions.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.

Supported File Formats

View a list of supported file formats for import and export.

Geometry File Formats for Import


File Format	Windows		Linux
	Spatial	CT	CT
ACIS (.sab, .sat)	R1 — 2025 1.0	All — R27	All — R27
CATIA V4 (.model)	4.1.9 – 4.2.4	All 4.xx	All 4.xx
CATIA V5 (.CATPart, .CATProduct)	R8 — R2025	R10 — R34	R10 — R31
3DExperience/CATIA V6 (.CATPart, .CATProduct)		All - R4172014x -2022x	All - R4172014x -2022x
IGES (.iges, .igs)	Up to 5.3	5.2 and 5.3	5.2 and 5.3
Inventor (.ipt, .iam)`	V11 – 2025	All — 2024	All — 2021
JT (.jt)	through 11.0
Parasolid (.x_b, .x_t, .xmt_bin, .xmt_txt)	through 37.1
Pro/Engineer (.asm, .prt)	16 — Creo 11	13 — Creo 11	16 — Creo 8
UG NX (Unigraphics) (.prt)	11.1 — NX 2412	11.1 — NX 2406	11.1 — NX 1969
SolidWorks (.sldasm, .sldprt)	1998 — 2025	1999 — 2023 (Inspire does not support files written from SolidWorks EDU Edition 2013-2018.)	1999 — 2021 (Inspire does not support files written from SolidWorks EDU Edition 2013-2018.)
STEP (.step, .stp)	AP 203, AP 214, AP 242	AP 203, AP 214, AP 242	AP 203, AP 214, AP 242

Mesh File Formats for Import


File Format	Version
STL (ASCII .stl)
OptiStruct (.dat, .fem, .nas)	through 14.0
WaveFront (.obj)	This format will write triangular mesh data for Parasolid geometry, and n-sided polygons for PolyNURBS cages.

Geometry File Formats for Export


File Format	Version
ACIS (.sab, .sat)	R19
IGES (.iges, .igs)	5.3
Parasolid (.x_b, .x_t, .xmt_bin, .xmt_txt)	25.0 to 33.1 (the default is 28.1)
STEP (.step, .stp)	214

Mesh File Formats for Export


File Format	Version
STL (ASCII .stl)
VRML (.vrml, .vrl)	97
WaveFront (.obj)	This format will write triangular mesh data for Parasolid geometry, and n-sided polygons for PolyNURBS cages.