Home > Supported File Formats > PLM XML to DWF

How to convert PLM XML (Siemens) to DWF (DWFx)?

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

PLM XML

PLM XML is a format created by UGS for facilitating product lifecycle interoperability using XML. Representing a variety of product data both explicitly and via references, PLM XML provides a lightweight, flexible mechanism for transporting high-content product data over the internet.

Related to PLM XML, Okino was one of the very first members of the Siemens 'JT Open' initiative and hence we provide excellent support for the import and export of JT files. "JT" is the predominant and lightweight 3D visualization file format for PLM. Due to the overlap in functionality between JT files and PLM XML files, we do support PLM XML directly but rather we rely upon JT for our PLM coverage.

DWF

Okino knows of the DWF file format very well as we have been involved with its evolution since the year 2000. A DWF file is nothing other than a renamed "ZIP" file which contains other internal assets such as a HOOPS HSF 3D model file and several XML files used to describe meta data and other aspects of the model. You can rename the .dwf file to .zip and then open it in any ZIP handling software.

The HSF file format was created by Ithaca Software in the mid 1980's as an efficient, light weight, compressed 3D visualization format. Thereafter it was adapted and adopted by Tech Soft 3D in the early 2000s for use by Autodesk as a "3D variation" of its prior 2D-vector-centric DWF file format (and hence how HSF became DWF). DWF/HSF is considered a "polygonal mesh" file format and not a NURBS/solids MCAD file format.

DWF attained acceptable traction after 2006 when Autodesk made it a primary conduit to export high quality 3D visualization data from its main CAD products such as AutoCAD, Navisworks, Revit and Inventor. Okino considers DWF as one of its most important non-MCAD file formats to bring in very large 3D models (such as massive oil & gas rigs, 3D plants and refineries) from these 4 aforementioned Autodesk products as well as from AVEVA PDMS software.

Vist the Siemens WEB site

JT import converter's overview

DWF export converter's overview