Home
Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
File Import and Export
Learn how to import geometry and export results.
Product Data Management (PDM)
Open, import, and save files to PTC Windchill™ or Siemens Teamcenter™.
Configure PDM Connectors
Teamcenter Configuration Details
Check PIE_IMP_FOR_CAD Setting for NX Export
Check the PIE_IMP_FOR_CAD setting for proper NX export from Teamcenter.

Welcome
Inspire Release Notes
Discover new features and enhancements in Inspire.
Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
- What is Altair Inspire?
  Inspire is a concept design tool, which you can use to run structural optimization, finite element analysis, motion analysis, and additive manufacturing analysis.
- Videos: Getting Started with Inspire
  A series of videos introducing the view controls, 3D modeling, structural analysis, topology optimization, and PolyNURBS.
- 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 and Tool Belts
  Learn how to customize the workspace and tool belts.
- 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.
  - Product Data Management (PDM)
    Open, import, and save files to PTC Windchill™ or Siemens Teamcenter™.
    - Configure PDM Connectors
      - Configure pdmsys.cfg for a PDM Repository
        The pdmsyscfg.xml file defines system behaviors for Inspire PLM connectors. The pdmsyscfg.xml file supports background processes, file-type recognition, revision checks, dataset mapping, encoding schemes, and more.
      - Set Up UDM to PDM Mapping Files
        Set up the UDM to PDM mapping files: plmxml_udm_config.xml, wc_udm_config.xml, openpdm_udm_config.xml, and ap242_udm_xml.
      - Create and Register Webjects on the Windchill Server
        Configure and register Altair Webjects for use with Windchill.
      - Teamcenter Configuration Details
        Export a BOM from Teamcenter
        Export a Bill of Materials (BOM) from Teamcenter using the PLMXML format.
        Identify the Teamcenter Item Revision Type and Add Custom Query
        Identify the Item Revision Type in the Teamcenter Rich Client and configure a new custom query in the pdmsyscfg.xml file.
        Check PIE_IMP_FOR_CAD Setting for NX Export
        Check the PIE_IMP_FOR_CAD setting for proper NX export from Teamcenter.
        Find URLs to Create a Teamcenter Repository
      - Update Java Security Certificates
        Learn how to update Java security certificates for Inspire using the keytool utility that comes bundled with Inspire's Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
    - Open a File from Your PDM system
      Open a model from your PDM system, or import a saved model from the PDM system and merge it with the current model.
    - Save a File to Your PDM System
      Save a file to your PDM system.
- 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 optimization objects, and access objects that aren't currently shown in the modeling window.
- Run a Simulation
  Use the Analyze icons that appear on various ribbons to run and view the results of a simulation.
- 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 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 parametric sketches, geometry, and PolyNURBS with construction history and variables.
Implicit Modeling
Create implicit models with primitives, lattices, point clouds, fields, offsetting, Booleans, inverting, smoothing, morphing, and filleting.
Structures
Set up your model and run a structural analysis or optimization.
Motion
Inspire Motion provides Multibody Simulation (MBS) capabilities to analyze the motion, dynamics, and interactions of interconnected rigid or flexible bodies within a system.
Fluids
Prepare and run a computational fluid dynamics simulation.
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.
Manufacture
Set up and run a basic porosity or thinning analysis.
Print 3D
Prepare and run an additive manufacturing simulation, and export a file for 3D printing.
Rendering
Adjust the materials and environment of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Inspire Python API
Learn how to access the Inspire Python API including online help, quick start demos, and the Extension Manager.
Reference
View the glossary, frequently asked questions, and errors and alerts.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.

Check PIE_IMP_FOR_CAD Setting for NX Export

Check the PIE_IMP_FOR_CAD setting for proper NX export from Teamcenter.

The PIE_IMF_FOR_CAD preference is a configuration setting in Teamcenter that controls the import/export behavior for CAD files, particularly for NX. Ensuring this preference is properly set is critical for successful and clean PLMXML exports.

Setting the PIE_IMF_FOR_CAD preference to NO is critical for ensuring exported NX files contain fully resolved parent child links.

When the PIE_IMF_FOR_CAD preference is set to NO, Teamcenter resolves all assembly references during export.
This ensures that the resulting NX assemblies can be opened and interpreted correctly by Altair's software, not just NX.
If the PIE_IMF_FOR_CAD preference is set to YES (or omitted), the export may rely on NX specific internal metadata, causing:
- Assembly links to remain unresolved
- Exports to fail when opened outside of NX

Verify the PIE_IMF_FOR_CAD preference in the Teamcenter Rich Client.

Open the Teamcenter Rich Client.

Note: Ensure you're logged in with permission to view system preferences.
From the menu bar, click Edit > Options to access the Options menu.
Go to the Search tab and enter PIE in the Search On Keywords field.
From the search results, select PIE_IMF_FOR_CAD.
Verify the Preference Value is set to NO.

If the Preference Value is missing or incorrect, contact your Siemens Teamcenter administrator or IT support.

Updating the setting may require administrative access or an environment restart depending on your Teamcenter configuration.