The app ‘IP Import’ is a cloud-based application on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform that provides the ability to import two types of IP into the system:

• Industry Foundation Class data (IFC):

IFC data is primarily used in the “built asset sector” which encompasses facility engineering, construction, operation, property management and demolition

• CAD data:

CAD data is further divided into an expanding list of specific CAD formats. For the purpose of this post, we will focus on the import of CAD data.

Accessing the Application

The IP Import application is bundled with the following roles: 

• 3D Product Architect (PAU)
• 3DEXPERIENCE Transition Assistant (3DXTA)
• Collaborative Data Integrator for IFC (IFC)
• Collaborative Design for CATIA V5 (UE5)
• Collaborative Designer for Revit (UDV)
• Collaborative Designer for AutoCAD (UDA)

Here is an  example of the role “Collaborative Designer for AutoCAD” that contains this app:

CAD Data Import 
 

When working with CAD data, the IP Import app works closely with the “CAD Data Processor Monitoring”  application.  This app lets you monitor the status and results of import jobs executed by the IP Import app. One important value of this application is that it allows you to import CAD data without using the CAD integration tools, and the associated engineering and design staff, in import scenarios. Subsequently import interactions can be handled by non-engineering staff. 
IP Import provides the ability to import a single CAD file, or bulk load entire directories and/or sub-directories recognizing the child links in assemblies. In the case of directory bulk loads, IP Import is able to traverse sub-directories, as needed, access child links for a complete product structure.
It is important to note that the  user who imports the  IP will become the owner of the resulting products with credentials that were active for the application during the import. Subsequently, any import scenario will likely require a transfer of the IP ownership to other users. 
Another important feature of the IP Import application is it’s ability to import the the same data multiple times and not create duplicate data. This is controlled through the concept of “Scope”. Scope represents a context with which product structure data is saved to 3DEXPERIENCE platform. You can create data in a particular Scope where each CAD design is unique. You can continue to update data in the same mode. The same data can be saved as a new copy in another save scope and be updated independently and continuously. This provides a great amount of control of imported data as designs evolve across multiple imports of the same data.
In the example illustrated below, two unique assemblies are imported into the platform in the context of different saved scopes resulting in three unique product structures. This is an important capability when working with imported data that has previously been imported, as such data cannot be overwritten and may require subsequent imports of the same data into a new saved scope.
 

Saved scopes are controlled by  three maturity states that provide the following constraints on the actions that can be performed:

The following video shows an example of importing NX data with subsequent modifications. In this scenario we will explore the import of multiple CAD datasets (NX format) in a common Scope as well as different Scopes.

With the release of 25xGA, IP Import of CAD data supports incremental loading in CATIA V5 and NX but will be expanded over time to the other managed CAD solutions.