Convert DAE to CGR in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read DAE files and write CGR, carrying the mesh data across without re-tessellating it.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads COLLADA · Writes CGR
- Triangle mesh → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
DAE to CGR at a glance
Both formats store triangles, so the facets carry over without re-tessellation. The differences are in structure, appearance and metadata.
| COLLADA (source) | CGR (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange | CATIA Graphical Representation |
| Standard / owner | Khronos Group, ISO/PAS 17506 | Dassault Systèmes |
| File extensions | .dae, .zae | .cgr |
| Geometry | Triangle mesh | Tessellated geometry |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes: scene hierarchy | Single part |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from COLLADA to CGR.
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Preserved
Mesh dataThe DAE facets are read and written to CGR without being re-tessellated.
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Changes
Assembly structureCGR has no native assembly hierarchy. Decide in your application how COLLADA product structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
Why software vendors add DAE to CGR conversion
Lightweight review
CGR carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.
Sharing outside engineering
Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A CGR file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, CGR files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- Written CGR versions: CATIA V5 R15 to V5-6 R2026, with the CATIA V5 writer.
- Supported DAE input: COLLADA 1.4.1, .dae and .zae.
- Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
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Source format
What is a DAE (COLLADA) file?
COLLADA (.dae) is an XML-based open format from the Khronos Group for exchanging 3D scenes: meshes, materials, cameras and lights. It is common in visualization and AR/VR pipelines.
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Target format
What is a CGR (.cgr) file?
CGR is CATIA’s lightweight graphical representation format. It stores a tessellated version of a part for fast display in large assemblies.
Frequently asked questions
No re-tessellation is needed. 3D InterOp reads the DAE facets as visualization data and writes them to CGR.
CGR has no assembly hierarchy, so your application decides how the DAE structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads the visual material properties of COLLADA files, from .dae and .zae.
3D InterOp reads COLLADA 1.4.1, .dae and .zae, as visualization data.
3D InterOp writes CGR files with its CATIA V5 writer, for CATIA V5 R15 to V5-6 R2026.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so CGR to DAE is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert DAE to CGR?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read COLLADA and write CGR alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.