To ensure the best visualization, review experience, and accurate data processing in CoLab, it’s important to prepare your CAD files before uploading them.
Following the recommendations below will help avoid missing geometry, errors, or incomplete assemblies.
Prefer Native CAD Formats
Whenever possible, upload native CAD files instead of neutral formats.
Always prefer native CAD files when available and practical.
You can refer to the full list of supported formats here: Supported file formats
Why:
Better preservation of assembly structure
Retention of metadata and PMI
More reliable visualization and review experience
⚠️ Neutral formats may result in:
Loss of structure
Missing metadata
Reduced review quality
Resolve All Errors and Warnings
Errors such as missing references or broken constraints can lead to incomplete or corrupted geometry in CoLab.
Check for:
Rebuild errors
Missing references or external files
Suppressed or failed features
Circular dependencies
Broken constraints or mates
✅ The model should rebuild cleanly with zero errors (warnings should also be reviewed).
Rebuild / Regenerate the Model
Always ensure your CAD model is fully up to date before export.
Why it matters:
Unrebuilt models may contain outdated geometry or unresolved features that can fail during import.
What to do:
Perform a full rebuild / regeneration of the model in your CAD software
Ensure all features are up to date
Save the model after rebuilding
✅ Ensure no pending updates remain before saving.
Verify Configurations / Family Tables
If your model includes multiple configurations or variants:
SolidWorks: Configurations
Creo: Family Tables
NX / CATIA / Inventor: Variants / Representations
What to do:
Open and verify each configuration/instance
Ensure each one rebuilds successfully
Confirm geometry is valid and complete
⚠️ Invalid or unverified configurations may fail to import or appear incorrectly.
Creo-specific note:
For models using Family Tables, CoLab requires accelerator files to properly render instances.
Ensure these files are generated and included with your upload.
Assembly Integrity & Dependencies
For assemblies, ensuring completeness and resolving all references is critical.
Ensure:
All components are resolved (no lightweight or unloaded parts)
No missing components
All references are valid
Assembly structure is complete and consistent
Include all dependencies:
Always upload all required files, not just the top-level assembly. This includes:
Parts and subassemblies
External references
Linked geometry or skeleton models
Any required support files (including accelerator files, where applicable)
Recommended approach:
Use your CAD system’s packaging tools to gather all dependencies:
SolidWorks: Pack and Go
Creo: Backup
NX: Pack / Export Assembly
CATIA: Save Management
Inventor: Pack and Go
✅ This ensures nothing is missing during upload.
Special Considerations for Piping & Cabling
Routing systems (piping, tubing, electrical cabling) often rely on complex dependencies.
Before upload:
Ensure all routes are fully regenerated
Verify that:
All segments are resolved
No missing route references
Check that libraries (fittings, connectors, etc.) are included
Confirm geometry is not simplified or partially suppressed
⚠️ Missing routing data can result in incomplete or broken visualization.
Simplify When Appropriate (Optional)
For very large assemblies:
Consider using simplified configurations or representations
Suppress unnecessary hardware (if not relevant to the review)
⚠️ Do not remove critical geometry needed for the review.
Summary
Clean, fully resolved CAD data ensures:
Accurate geometry in CoLab
Complete assemblies
Better review experience
Fewer import issues
Taking a few minutes to validate your files before upload can prevent significant issues later in the review process.