Question 1

How do I import and export mechanical file formats after installing BricsCAD?

Accepted Answer

In BricsCAD V27, the file formats included with your license become available once you download and install Communicator for BricsCAD.
1. Open BricsCAD. 2. Click the Communicator for BricsCAD download link on the start page (right-side panel), or download here. 3. Install Communicator for BricsCAD. The formats included with your license will then be available to import, open, and export. No additional license or activation key is required. Available formats depend on your BricsCAD level (see below).

Question 2

How do I import and export mechanical file formats in BricsCAD V26 and earlier?

Accepted Answer

In V26 and earlier, Communicator for BricsCAD remains a separately licensed add-on. Mechanical file format support is included with BricsCAD Pro and the toolsets beginning with V27.

To use these formats in V26 or earlier:

1. Install the version of Communicator for BricsCAD that matches your BricsCAD version.
2. In BricsCAD, go to Help > License Manager.
3. Click "Manage License" next to Communicator for BricsCAD to start a trial or enter your license key.

Question 3

What BricsCAD license level do I need for mechanical file formats?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the formats you work with:

- BricsCAD Pro and above can import and export for STEP and IGES.
- The Mechanical toolset, included with BricsCAD Mechanical and BricsCAD Ultimate, supports additional file formats such as CATIA, SolidWorks, Autodesk® Inventor, NX, Creo, Parasolid, Solid Edge, JT, and STL.

Question 4

I already own a Communicator for BricsCAD commercial license. What changes for me?

Accepted Answer

Day to day, nothing changes. From V27, your existing license remains valid, and you’ll keep access to the same formats with an active Communicator for BricsCAD license key. The difference comes when it’s time to renew: - Do you use Communicator only to import and export STEP and IGES? Those formats are now included with BricsCAD Pro, so you may no longer need a separate Communicator license. - Do you need more mechanical formats (such as CATIA, SolidWorks, Autodesk® Inventor, NX, Creo, Parasolid, Solid Edge, JT, and STL)? Those are now included in the Mechanical toolset, so you can choose to move to a license level that includes the toolset rather than renewing Communicator separately. - If you prefer to renew your existing Communicator for BricsCAD license, contact BricsCAD sales or your local reseller.

Question 5

Can I still renew an existing Communicator for BricsCAD license in the online store?

Accepted Answer

You can still renew your subscription and Maintenance for your Communicator for BricsCAD License in the online store. Go to "Manage Licenses" and choose renew to extend your Maintenance or subscription for another year.

Question 6

How can I trial importing and exporting mechanical file formats?

Accepted Answer

During your free 30-day trial, choose your license level in the Launcher dialog, then install Communicator for BricsCAD from the link on the BricsCAD Start Page.

- Choose BricsCAD Pro or the BricsCAD BIM toolset to trial STEP and IGES import and export.
- Choose BricsCAD Ultimate or the BricsCAD Mechanical toolset to trial all supported mechanical file formats.

From V27, no additional activation or trial license key is required.

Question 7

Which file formats can I import and export with my BricsCAD license?

Accepted Answer

- BricsCAD Pro and BricsCAD BIM: DWG/DXF, plus common exchange formats: STEP, IGES, DGN, FBX, Collada, OBJ, SketchUp, SVG, Rhino, WMF/EMF, and various point cloud formats (*.e57, *.hspc, *.las, *.laz, *.lgsx, *.pack, *.pts, *.ptx, *.rcp, *.rcs, *.rdbx, *.rsp, *.zfs).
- BricsCAD Mechanical and BricsCAD Ultimate: Everything in Pro, plus the full MCAD set (ACIS, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA V4 and V5/V6, Creo/Pro Engineer, NX, Parasolid, Siemens JT, Solid Edge, SolidWorks, STL, VDA-FS, and XCGM).

Format availability varies by operating system. Some formats are Windows-only.

Question 8

How do I check which import and export file formats my license supports?

Accepted Answer

Open a drawing, type FILEFORMATS, and press Enter. BricsCAD will list the formats available with your license. You can also see supported formats in the Import, Open, and Export dialogs.

Question 9

I got a message asking me to install Communicator for BricsCAD. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

This message appears when you try to open or import a mechanical file before Communicator for BricsCAD is installed. Follow the download link in the message or on the BricsCAD Start Page to install Communicator. Once installed, the formats included with your license will be available to use.

Question 10

Can I still buy Communicator for BricsCAD separately?

Accepted Answer

No. Communicator for BricsCAD is no longer sold as a standalone product through our website. From BricsCAD V27, STEP and IGES support is included with BricsCAD Pro, while additional file formats are included with the BricsCAD Mechanical toolset and BricsCAD Ultimate.

Communicator is still downloaded and installed separately to enable those formats.

Question 11

If file import and export are now included with BricsCAD, do I still need to install Communicator?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You no longer need to purchase or license Communicator for BricsCAD separately, but you still need to download and install it once. Communicator for BricsCAD is now provided as a free download that enables the file formats included with your BricsCAD license. Download it from the BricsCAD Start Page or download it here. No additional license key or activation is required.

Download Communicator for BricsCAD

High-fidelity 3D CAD file import/export libraries in BricsCAD

Import, edit, export, collaborate

Windows

macOS

Linux

Frequently Asked Questions