Import Export/en

Introduction

This page lists the various file formats that FreeCAD can import and export. For completeness the FreeCAD native format is included in the list. Some formats have a related wiki page that can be reached by clicking on the extension in the first column.

Related

See the following pages for additional information:

• Import Export Preferences
• FreeCAD Howto Import Export

Overview of file formats

Format	Description	Import / Open	Export / Create
*.FCStd	FreeCAD native format	Std Open, Std MergeProjects	Std Save
*.cam	FreeCAD frozen views (camera settings)	Std FreezeViews	Std FreezeViews
*.FCMacro	FreeCAD macro (Python code)	Std Import	Std DlgMacroRecord
*.FCMat	FreeCAD material card	Std Import	no
*.FCParam	FreeCAD parameter file	Std DlgParameter	Std DlgParameter
*.FCScript	FreeCAD script (Python code)	Std Import	Std DlgMacroRecord
*.3ds	3D Studio mesh	Std Import	no
*.amf	Additive manufacturing format	no	Std Export
*.asc	Point cloud format	Std Import, Points Import	Std Export, Points Export
*.ast	ASCII Stereolithography mesh (mostly used for 3D printing)	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.asy	Asymptote code (Asymptote is a programming language for generating graphics and figures in 2D and 3D)	no	Mesh Export
*.bdf	FEM mesh	Std Import	no
*.bdf	Nastran mesh	no	Mesh Export
*.bmp	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane, Std Import	Std ViewScreenShot
*.bms	Binary mesh	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.brep	OpenCasCade native format	Std Import, Part Import	Std Export, Part Export
*.brp	OpenCasCade native format	Std Import, Part Import	Std Export, Part Export
*.cnc	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.csg	OpenSCAD Constructive Solid Geometry format	Std Import	Std Export
*.csv	Comma-separated values spreadsheet	Std Import, Spreadsheet Import	Spreadsheet Export
*.cur	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.dae	Collada format. For Linux users: External pyCollada module required.	Std Import	Std Export
*.dat	Common airfoil data	Std Import	no
*.dat	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.dwg	AutoCAD native format. Only 2D geometry is supported. External software required.	Std Import	Std Export
*.dxf	Autodesk drawing exchange format. Only 2D geometry is supported. External software required for the legacy python importer and the legacy python exporter.	Std Import	Std Export, TechDraw ExportPageDXF
*.emn	IDF format	Std Import	no
*.frd	FEM result CalculiX	Std Import	no
*.gc	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.gcad	Open CAD format (obsolete, 2D-only format)	Std Import	no
*.gcode	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.gif	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	no
*.gltf	GL Transmission Format for the transmission and loading of 3D scenes and models	Std Import	Std Export
*.html	Web 3D format	no	Std Export
*.icns	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.ico	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.ifc	Industry Foundation Classes exchange format for BIM models. For Linux users: External IfcOpenShell module required.	Std Import	Std Export
*.iges	Older solid-based format	Std Import, Part Import	Std Export, Part Export
*.igs	Older solid-based format	Std Import, Part Import	Std Export, Part Export
*.inc	Povray format	Std Import	no
*.inp	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.iv	Inventor V2.1 format	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.jpeg	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.jpg	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane, Std Import	Std ViewScreenShot
*.json	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.json	JavaScript Object Notation	no	Std Export
*.json	Path tool	Path ToolLibraryEdit	Path ToolLibraryEdit
*.med	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.meshjson	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.meshyaml	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.nas	Nastran mesh	no	Mesh Export
*.nc	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.ncc	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.ngc	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.obj	Alias mesh	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.obj	Wavefront format	Std Import	Std Export
*.oca	Open CAD format (obsolete, 2D-only format)	Std Import	Std Export
*.off	Object file format mesh	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.pbm	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.pcd	Point cloud format	Std Import, Points Import	Std Export, Points Export
*.pdf	Portable Document Format	no	Std Export, Std PrintPdf
*.pgm	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.plmxml	Siemens PLM format	Std Import	no
*.ply	Point cloud format	Std Import, Points Import	Std Export, Points Export
*.ply	Stanford triangle mesh format	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.png	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane, Std Import	Std ViewScreenShot
*.poly	FEM mesh TetGen	no	Std Export
*.pov	Povray format	Std Import	Raytracing WriteCamera, Raytracing WritePart, Raytracing WriteView
*.ppm	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.py	Python code	Std Import	Std DlgMacroRecord
*.py	Python module def	no	Mesh Export
*.scad	OpenSCAD format. External software required for import.	Std Import	Std Export
*.shp	GIS shapefile	Std Import	no
*.smf	Simple model format	Std Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.src	KRL robot trajectory	no	Robot ExportKukaCompact, Robot ExportKukaFull
*.step	Exchange format for engineering models	Std Import, Part Import	Std Export, Part Export
*.stl	FEM mesh	no	Std Export
*.stl	Stereolithography mesh (mostly used for 3D printing)	Std Import, Mesh Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.stp	Exchange format for engineering models	Std Import, Part Import	Std Export, Part Export
*.stpz	Compressed STEP	Std Import	Std Export
*.svg	Scalable vector graphics format	Std Import	Std Export, TechDraw ExportPageSVG
*.tap	G-code	Std Import	Path Post
*.tga	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	no
*.tif	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.tiff	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.tooltable	Path tool	Path ToolLibraryEdit	Path ToolLibraryEdit
*i1.txt	FEM mesh Z88	Std Import	Std Export
*o2.txt	FEM result Z88 displacements	Std Import	no
*.unv	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.vrml	VRML Web 3D format	Std Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.vtk	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.vtk	FEM result VTK	Std Import	Std Export
*.vtu	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.vtu	FEM result VTK	Std Import	Std Export
*.wbmp	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.webp	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.wrl	VRML Web 3D format	Std Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.wrl.gz	VRML Web 3D format	Std Import	Std Export
*.wrz	VRML Web 3D format	Std Import	Std Export, Mesh Export
*.x3d	X3D extensible 3D mesh	no	Mesh Export
*.xbm	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane	Std ViewScreenShot
*.xdmf	FEM mesh Fenics	Std Import	Std Export
*.xlsx	Excel / Office Open XML spreadsheet	Std Import	no
*.xml	FEM mesh Fenics	Std Import	Std Export
*.xml	Path tool	Path ToolLibraryEdit	Path ToolLibraryEdit
*.xpm	Image format	Image CreateImagePlane, Std Import	Std ViewScreenShot
*.yaml	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.z88	FEM mesh	Std Import	Std Export
*.zip	SweetHome3D XML	Std Import	no
job_*.json	Path job template	Path Job	Path ExportTemplate

User documentation

• Getting started
• Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
• Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

---

• Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
• Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Assembly, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Start, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework, Web

---

• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

---

• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub