Alias Concept and Inventor Import type

December 27, 2023 Shawn Heator

Issue:

Autodesk Inventor includes a lengthy list of translators that allows users to import a variety of file types. After creating a .wire file in Alias Concept and trying to import into Autodesk Inventor, the following dialog box appears that states “The input file was not generated through Autodesk Alias or Alias Studio. The associate import is not support with this file”.

After selecting “OK”, the user is presented with the Inventor import dialog box that only allows the user to “Convert” the .wire file into an Inventor model.

The option to “Reference Model” is not available in the Import dialog box. The “Import Type” automatically defaults to “Convert Model.” This will convert the model into an Inventor file. Converting the model is a one time action that will break the reference to the original file. Reference model will maintain a link between the current file and the Inventor file. With the selection as a "Reference model", the geometry will update if the original file is updated.

Causes:

Alias Concept .wire files are generated with a slightly different code than Alias Studio or Alias Surface. While .wire files generated from Alias Studio or Alias Surface can be imported into Inventor as a reference model, at the time this article is written, the only available import option for Alias Concept .wire files is to “Convert Model”. 

Solution:

Autodesk development is aware there is a difference between the exported .wire files between the different versions of Alias and how they import into Inventor. Development is currently investigating a solution to allow .wire files generated from Alias Concept to be imported as a reference model.

Currently, the only option during import of an Alias Concept .wire file in Inventor Professional is to “Convert Model”.

If you have access to a different version of Alias (Alias Studio or Alias Surface), then use the alternate version of Alias to create .wire files as they should include the option to “Reference Model” when importing into Autodesk Inventor Professional.

About the Author

Shawn Heator

Technical Support Specialist

Follow on Linkedin More Content by Shawn Heator
Previous Article
IMAGINiT Utilties: “A Licensing issue was detected”
IMAGINiT Utilties: “A Licensing issue was detected”

'WRONG HOSTID' error: This means that your license for IMAGINiTC3DUtilities does not match the information ...

Next Article
Vault Client 2024.2 update and Dark Theme Reports background
Vault Client 2024.2 update and Dark Theme Reports background

Vault Client Dark Theme doesn't apply to the new Reports section introduced by Vault 2024.2 update.

×

Get Tips Delivered.

Subscribe to Email Updates.

First Name
Last Name
Country
Thank you!
Error - something went wrong!