13 Replies Latest reply on Jun 1, 2017 8:09 AM by Marcel Sax

I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.

Brett Leland Jul 6, 2011 4:20 PM

Good Afternoon,

I am trying to open a step file that I recieved from a chassis manufacture. I am unable to complete the task for some reason. I either get a memory error or SW just shuts down. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Brett

Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.

Deepak Gupta Jul 6, 2011 4:45 PM (in response to Brett Leland)

Welcome to SW forums Brett

Can you share the file or more info on it. Like size for e.g. as without the file or some info it may not be possible to through any balls towards you.

You may try changing the import options for step files. File > Open > Change file type to STEP. Click on Options and then check/change settings and finally try importing again.

You might also find this post helpful for your future reference.
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- Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
  
  Brett Leland Jul 7, 2011 12:59 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
  
  Deepak,
  
  I have tried adjusting the settings before I open the file. Still no luck.
  
  The file size is 159 MB.
  
  What would be the best settings to use for a file of this size?
  
  I had to sign a confidentiality agreement with Ford Motor Company in order to get the file so I would rather not post it.
  
  I am running SW Premium 2011 SP3.0
  
  Any other help will be greatly appreciated.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Brett
  
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  - Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
    
    Anna Wood Jul 7, 2011 1:29 PM (in response to Brett Leland)
    
    Brett,
    
    Give us your computer spec and operating system. Sounds like you are running out of memory with the big file import. Are you using a x64 system?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Anna
    
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    - Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
      
      Brett Leland Jul 7, 2011 1:59 PM (in response to Anna Wood)
      
      Anna,
      
      Here you go,
      
      Dell Precision M4500
      
      32 Bit System
      
      Intel Core i5 CPU
      
      4 GB Ram (3.24 Usable)
      
      Window 7 Professional
      
      Thanks,
      
      Brett
      
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      - Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
        
        Doug Seibel Jul 7, 2011 2:12 PM (in response to Brett Leland)
        
        Unless you've done the "3GB Switch" trick, only about 1.7GB of your memory is actually available. The OS reserves half for itself unless you have enable the 3GB switch. Enabling the 3GB switch may help, it also may cause other system stability issues. Installing more memory will not fix the problem either, a 32 bit pc will only recognize and use 4GB of RAM...even if you have more installed (and of that 4 GB, only 1.7 to 1.8 is really "available").
        
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        Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
        
        Brett Leland Jul 7, 2011 4:21 PM (in response to Doug Seibel)
        
        Doug,
        
        I preformed the "3GB Switch" and was able to open the file. Thank you for your help!!!!
        
        Thanks Again,
        
        Brett
        
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        Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
        
        Doug Seibel Jul 7, 2011 5:07 PM (in response to Brett Leland)
        
        Glad to have helped!
        
        If files of that size are something you will frequently need to use, you're overdue for a workstation upgrade.
        And on the topic of upgrades:
        64 bit
        Solidworks Certified Graphics Card (don't get the cheapest)
        Favor processor clock speeds over # of cores
        
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Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.

Jeff Holliday Jul 6, 2011 4:56 PM (in response to Brett Leland)

I had the same problem yesterday. I have opened them without problems for years and do not know what changed.

Deepak - I will try your suggestions and let you know.

By the way - I installed a free viewer for step files and the file "viewed" ok so I don't think it ws a corrupt file.
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Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.

Brett Leland Jul 6, 2011 10:53 PM (in response to Brett Leland)

Thanks for the help. I will try this in the morning. I will keep you all posted.
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Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.

Doug Seibel Jul 7, 2011 1:12 PM (in response to Brett Leland)

To quote the great Tim (the tool man Taylor):

"Looks like you need more power!"

If you increase the size of your pc's virtual memory, it may get you by for now. Or you may need to find someone with a more powerful pc. My boss often has problems like yours but I have no problem opening the same file that shuts his down. His pc is not even close to the monster on my desk, performance wise.
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- Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
  
  Luis Antonio Torres Juarez Apr 3, 2013 2:27 PM (in response to Doug Seibel)
  
  Doug, my pc has 12 g of ram in a 64bit version of windows 7, when i load the step file, solid does an analisis of the step file, but when it's finished solid only opens a empty assembly , with no components, or solids. Can you give me any advise?
  
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  - Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
    
    Doug Seibel Apr 4, 2013 9:38 AM (in response to Luis Antonio Torres Juarez)
    
    Can you upload the stp file to here? It could be an "empty" step file, or it could be that the step file does not contain any surfaces (but may have lines/arcs/curves/splines/points). When you go to import the file, check the import options for importing step files. Is the "Free point/curve entities" box checked? If that box is NOT checked, and the part has no surfaces/solids, than SW will "open" it but make it look like the file contains nothing.
    
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    - Re: I am having trouble with a .STP file not wanting to open.
      
      Marcel Sax Jun 1, 2017 8:09 AM (in response to Doug Seibel)
      
      Thanks, this helped me!
      
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