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Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
File Import and Export
Learn how to import geometry and export results.
Importing and Merging Geometry
Use File > Import to import and merge a saved model with the current model.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
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™.
- 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.
- 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
Set up and run a motion analysis, plot the results, and export the results.
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.

Importing and Merging Geometry

Use File > Import to import and merge a saved model with the current model.

Select File > Import or press Ctrl+I.
In the Import File dialog, select a file. You can filter by file type and show previous versions of models.
Click Open.

Tip:

The imported model is inserted as an assembly under the top-level folder in the Model Browser. To move the imported model within the model hierarchy, drag the folder in the Model Browser.
When you open a legacy Inspire stmod file, the History Browser will show a construction feature with the name StmodImport, which will work the same way as a CAD import.