Importing Alias Files

Importing an Alias file (*.wire) in Pixyz Studio requires Autodesk Alias to be installed (with a valid license) on the same computer on which Pixyz Studio is running.

Configuring Pixyz Studio

To start importing *.wire files in Pixyz Studio, the software needs to be configured first from the menu Preferences:

  1. Press F9 or go to Edit menu > Preferences > IO > Import > Alias

  2. Fill the path in the AliasApiDllPath field: browse to the libalias_api.dll file (most likely located in the bin directory).

    You're all set.

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If the path is not properly configured, Pixyz Studio will prompt the following error message:

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Warning

The libalias_api.dll is not the only file required to import a *.wire file: other files located in the same directory where libalias_api.dll file is located are needed.

Import preferences

The import of Alias file can be parametrized using additional import preferences:

Preference Description
AliasImportMode
  • Import by layer (one part by layer) (default): the resulting hierarchy after import corresponds to the By Layers display mode for the Object Lister in Alias, with each layer imported as a single Part occurrence.
  • Import by object: the resulting hierarchy after import corresponds to the By Objects display mode for the Object Lister in Alias, with the full hierarchy of objects.
  • Import by layer: the resulting hierarchy after import corresponds to the By Layers display mode for the Object Lister in Alias, with each layer imported as a root occurrence for all its children objects.
AliasImportEmptyLayer If enabled, empty layers are imported as empty occurrences.
AliasImportSymmetries If enabled, symmetrized layers are imported. Each symmetrized layer is an instantiated symmetry of its prototype layer.