Convert DGN to DAE in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read DGN files and write DAE, generating the DAE mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.
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 MicroStation DGN · Writes COLLADA
- Exact geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
DGN to DAE at a glance
MicroStation DGN stores exact geometry; COLLADA stores triangles. The translation is a tessellation, and the settings you choose decide how close the mesh stays to the original.
| MicroStation DGN (source) | COLLADA (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MicroStation Design file | COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange |
| Standard / owner | Bentley Systems | Khronos Group, ISO/PAS 17506 |
| File extensions | .dgn | .dae, .zae |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep | Triangle mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes: models and references | Yes: scene hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read only | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from MicroStation DGN to COLLADA.
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Changes
Geometry is tessellatedThe exact MicroStation DGN B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.
Why software vendors add DGN to DAE conversion
Lightweight review
COLLADA 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 COLLADA file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, COLLADA files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- Written DAE versions: COLLADA 1.4.1 (.dae).
- The DAE writer is available through the UConnect interface only.
- Supported DGN input: DGN V7 to V8.
- 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 DGN (.dgn) file?
DGN is the native design file format of Bentley MicroStation, widely used for infrastructure, plant and civil engineering projects. It exists in two generations, V7 and V8.
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Target 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.
Frequently asked questions
3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from DGN when it writes DAE. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.
The DAE writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.
3D InterOp reads DGN V7 to V8.
3D InterOp writes COLLADA 1.4.1 (.dae).
No. 3D InterOp reads DGN but doesn’t write it. To send data back to MicroStation users, write a neutral format they can import, such as IFC or STEP.
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Building software that needs to convert DGN to DAE?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read MicroStation DGN and write COLLADA alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.