Convert VDA-FS to XCGM in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read VDA-FS files and write XCGM, with exact B-Rep geometry carried across and nothing tessellated.
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 VDA-FS · Writes XCGM
- Exact geometry → exact geometry
- C++ / C# APIs
VDA-FS to XCGM at a glance
Both formats store exact geometry, so the model stays exact. The differences are in the product data each one can carry.
| VDA-FS (source) | XCGM (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | VDA surface interface | CGM native file |
| Standard / owner | VDA (German automotive industry) | Dassault Systèmes / Spatial (CGM Modeler) |
| File extensions | .vda | .xcgm |
| Geometry | Exact curves and surfaces | Exact B-Rep |
| Assemblies / structure | No assembly hierarchy | Yes |
| PMI | None | Semantic (read) |
| 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 VDA-FS to XCGM.
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Preserved
Exact geometrySolids and surfaces stay exact B-Rep. The model is never reduced to a triangle mesh.
Why software vendors add VDA-FS to XCGM conversion
Hand models to kernel-based applications
Many CAD, CAM and CAE applications are built on the XCGM kernel. Writing XCGM gives them exact geometry they can load without another translation step.
Downstream modeling and analysis
An exact XCGM B-Rep can still be edited, meshed or machined by downstream tools, which a tessellated export would not allow.
Exchange within one ecosystem
Partners whose tools share the XCGM kernel often prefer to exchange XCGM files directly.
Things to check before you ship
- Written XCGM versions: R2012 to 2025 1.0.
- PMI and miscellaneous data aren’t written to XCGM.
- Supported VDA-FS input: VDA-FS 1.0 to 2.0.
- 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 VDA-FS (.vda) file?
VDA-FS is a neutral surface-exchange format defined by the German automotive association VDA. It stores exact curves and free-form surfaces, and is still found in automotive supply chains.
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Target format
What is an XCGM (.xcgm) file?
XCGM is the native file format of the CGM geometric kernel, used by CGM Modeler and Dassault Systèmes applications. It stores exact B-Rep geometry.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Both formats store exact B-Rep geometry, so the model is translated without being tessellated into triangles.
No. PMI and miscellaneous data aren’t written to XCGM.
No. VDA-FS has no PMI, so only the geometry is translated to XCGM.
3D InterOp reads VDA-FS 1.0 to 2.0.
3D InterOp writes R2012 to 2025 1.0.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so XCGM to VDA-FS is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert VDA-FS to XCGM?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read VDA-FS and write XCGM alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.