Alias supports VDAFS version 2.0.

Include Comments

Determines whether or not comments entered in the Edit File Comments section (found in the VDAFS File Header Information window) are included in the exported file. The default is OFF.

Export Layers

Determines whether or not Alias Layers map to VDAFS groups. The Alias Layer Number is mapped to the group name. The default is OFF.

For example, a layer number of 1 would map to a group name of Layer 001.

Rebuild Geometry

Modifies your models so that all curves and surfaces are compatible with CAD systems or neutral file formats that cannot fully support NURBS geometry by:

• reducing high degree curves and surfaces to degree 3
• making non rational curves and surfaces where rational ones existed before

When Rebuild Surface is set ON, the resulting curve or surface is forced to be at most degree three, with the weight of all CVs equal to a value of 1.

For example, if your model contains curves or surfaces that are rational (with some weights that are not equal to 1.0) or high degree (higher than cubic or bi-cubic), then it is sampled at a number of checkpoints and the data is fit with a cubic or bi-cubic, non-rational curve or surface. Knots are inserted until the fit is within the specified tolerance.

Note

When Rebuild Geometry is set OFF, rational geometry is automatically rebuilt to be non-rational because the VDAFS format supports high degree geometry but not rational geometry.

Scale Factor

Lets you save the wire model at a scale other than it was constructed. 1.0 is the default value.

Filename Extension

Some receiving systems require that CAD files have a specific filename extension before they can be recognized. The filename extension specified here is automatically appended to the filename of the exported file.

The default is.vda.

Note

There is no Output Units option for VDAFS because coordinate data exported to VDAFS files is always in millimeters, regardless of the linear units set in Alias. This is a requirement of the VDAFS standard.

VDAFS File Header Information

If you choose the VDAFS file format, the Save Options window expands to display the following:

Edit File Header

When you click this field, a File Header Information menu is displayed with fields specific to the file format you’ve chosen. Use these fields to communicate information about the model being exported and the sender and receiver of the data. This information is exported in the file header of the file.

These fields are optional.

Tip

Review IGES/VDAIS output environment variables option definitions for more information.

Edit File Comments

When you click in this field, an editor window is displayed where you can type comments specific to the file you are saving. This editor window can be specified in the General section of Preferences > General Preferences.