The difference between 3D-Tool Free Viewer, Basic, Advanced and Premium is the file formats that are supported. All other features are the same in each version. Go to File Formats to see an overview of the file formats that are supported by each version.

Additionally, 3D-Tool Premium has the 3D-NativeCAD Converter to convert native CATIA V4/V5, Pro/E files, STEP (STP), IGS, VDA, and
SAT files into 3D CATIA V4/V5, STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT, and STL files.

The 3D-Tool Free Viewer supports 3D-Tool EXE and DDD files, as well as STL files. It has all features of 3D-Tool but files cannot be saved or published.
 

 
Within Germany: On invoice, payable within 10 days, by fax, mail, e-mail or in our online store.

Outside of Germany: By credit card in our online store.
 

You receive a License Certificate for each license that you buy. Use the Authorization Key on the certificate, to request the License Key (needed for activation) online.

Download 3D-Tool from our website and install it. Start 3D-Tool and enter the Authorization Key in the licensing window. Next, enter your
e-mail address. You should receive the License Key in about 30 minutes.

Once you have received the License Key by e-mail, enter the Key into the licensing window, or simply save the license file (license.dat) that comes with the License Key in the installation folder of 3D-Tool.
 

License Certificate
When you order a 3D-Tool license you will receive a License Certificate. This certificate contains the Serial Number, the type of license, the licensee, and the Authorization Key to activate the software online.

Authorization Key
The Authorization Key identifies you as the licensee in the online activation. Without it the online activation is not possible.

License Key
The License Key activates 3D-Tool. It is generated for the computer on which 3D-Tool is to be used and can be used on that computer only. After the online activation, you should receive the license key in about 30 minutes by e-mail.

Serial Number
The Serial Number is the consecutive number of a 3D-Tool license in our database. It is on the License Certificate. If you have any questions regarding your license, please, submit the serial number.
 

If you want to activate 3D-Tool on a computer without an internet connection, the License Key has to be requested by e-mail or fax.
Submit the Authorization Key and the Registration-ID that is displayed at the start of 3D-Tool.
 

You can try 3D-Tool Premium for 14 days once by requesting a free Trial Key.
 

Start 3D-Tool, click on Trial License in the licensing dialog, and enter the information requested. The Trial Key is sent to your e-mail address within the next 30 minutes. After you receive the Trial Key, enter it in the licensing dialog to activate 3D-Tool Premium.

Note: The 14-day-trial starts on the day that you received the Trial Key.
 

You do not need administrative rights to install the Free Viewer. However, it is recommended to have administrative rights when installing the Free Viewer because otherwise file associations to the EXE, DDD, and STL files cannot be created.
 

When you order a 3D-Tool license, you will receive a License Certificate. This certificate contains the Authorization Key to activate the software online. Print the License Certificate and keep it in a save place. Without Authorization Key an online activation is not possible.
 

The License Certificate is sent to the e-mail address that you provided when you ordered. If you didn’t order yourself, contact the person who ordered. If you don’t have a License Certificate, you can request it by e-mail: Team@3D-Tool.de. We will check if you own a 3D-Tool license and send you the License Certificate. If you happen to know the Serial Number of the license, please, provide it in the e-mail.
 

No, you will not receive a CD of the software. The current version of 3D-Tool can be downloaded on our website at any time.

Customers within the EU can request a program CD for an additional fee.
 

No, the 3D-Tool license can only be used on one computer. If you want to use 3D-Tool on more than one computer, you have to buy the required number of licenses. Contact us, so we can make you an individual offer.
 

No, network licenses are not supported by 3D-Tool. If you want to use 3D-Tool on more than one computer, contact us, so we can make you an individual offer.

For large companies, we also offer company licenses. With a company license the only restriction put on the use of 3D-Tool is that it can only be used in the company’s location(s) in one country.
 

No, if you are changing computers or reinstalling the operating system, you have to request a new License Key.
 

Download the version of 3D-Tool corresponding to your license from our website and install it.

Starting with version 8.5 you can request the License Key in 3D-Tool. To do so, enter the Authorization Key in the licensing window.
After you enter your e-mail address, the new License Key will be sent to you.

If you have an older version or don’t have a connection to the internet, you have to request the new License Key by e-mail or fax.
Please, submit your Authorization Key and the new Registration-ID that is displayed when the program is started.
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3D-Tool is continually updated, and the updates are placed on our website where they can be downloaded.

Updates within a major release are free of charge. You don’t need a new License Key. You can also check for updates by going to the Help menu in 3D-Tool and selecting Check for updates.

Updates to a higher version of 3D-Tool are subject to charge and you need a new Authorization Key.
 

3D-Tool has no specific hardware requirements. A computer with 1GB RAM or more should display large and complex 3D-models without problems.

Catia V5 files
You might not be able to use the Catia V5 import on older computers (purchased before 2003) due to hardware restrictions.
We recommend to try the Catia V5 import with a Trial Key if you want to use 3D-Tool Premium on such computers.

OpenGL Support
3D-Tool needs OpenGL support to display the models. The always available software emulation is used by default.
On most computers the OpenGL hardware acceleration can be used to speed up the display of the models.
 

There a various resources available to help you while working with 3D-Tool:

• A detailed Help that can be opened at any time by pressing F1.
• A printable PDF manual. Go to Windows Start > All programs > 3D-Tool to open the manual.
• In the same location you can find the 3D-Tool Quick Reference that gives an overview of the user interface.
   

Only 3D-Tool Premium supports the import of native CATIA V4/V5, Pro/E, and Inventor files. However, 3D-Tool Basic, Advanced and Premium support many other 3D file formats: STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT, PARASOLID, STL, VRML, 3DS, SLP, OBJ, XGL, DXF, IV. Using these file formats 3D-Tool can be used with most CAD programs.
 

You can save models opened in 3D-Tool as STL, VRML, 3DS, EXE, DDD and 3D-PDF files.
 
Additionally, 3D-Tool Premium comes with the 3D-NativeCAD Converter that converts native Catia V4/5, Pro/E and Inventor files as well
as STEP, IGS, VDA and SAT files to Catia V4/V5, STEP, IGES, VDA, SAT, and STL.
 

No; however you can open or send a 2D drawing separately or along with a 3D model.
You can also export section lines as DXF files.
 

Most times this means that 3D-Tool is still loading the file but takes longer than usual due to the size of the file.
Large and complex files may take up to a few minutes.
 

A large model with numerous triangles can slow down the display. You have the following possibilities to speed up the display:

Activate the hardware acceleration in the Options menu. In rare cases there may be problems when displaying the models after the hardware acceleration is activated. If this happens, make sure the drivers of your graphics card are up to date. If the problems remain, you can’t use the hardware acceleration with your graphics card.

Reduce the number of triangles created. In the Advanced and Premium import you can reduce the number of triangles that is created by increasing the values of the Chord height and the Angle control. This is especially useful if a large and complex model produces far more than 500.000 triangles when imported into 3D-Tool.
 

3D-Tool only supports surface and volume geometry. If a 3D file only contains lines and curves, 3D-Tool can’t create triangles that are used to display the models. 2D IGS files, for example, will not be supported. If you receive this message but you’re sure the file contains 3D elements, please, send us an e-mail.
 

This message appears if you are trying to open a file that is not a EXE/DDD or STL file while you’re using the Free Viewer. To open any other file format you need 3D-Tool and a valid License Key.

3D-Tool imports the color properties of the original file if these are available in the file format. However, textures are not supported.
 

If you activated the hardware acceleration and continually have problems, this is most often due to an inadequate OpenGL implementation in the drivers of the graphics card.

Deactivate the hardware acceleration by going to Options menu>Settings>Hardware. Then restart 3D-Tool. If the program is working properly after deactivating the hardware acceleration, try updating the drivers of your graphics card. If the hardware acceleration still causes problems, it cannot be used with your graphics card.

If problems occur without hardware acceleration, contact us by e-mail
 

The 3D-Tool EXE files contain the 3D-Tool Viewer and your CAD data. You can share them with customers or suppliers.
The EXE files can be openend on an computer with a Windows operating system without any installations or license.
The recipient can view the model on his computer and use all features of the 3D-Tool Viewer.
 

No, the 3D-Tool EXE files can be opened without a 3D-Tool license.
 

No, when a 3D-Tool EXE file is started, nothing will be installed.
 

The recipient can make changes on the model but can’t save them.
 

In case the EXE file you sent is blocked by the firewall of the recipient, use Zip the file when publishing the EXE file. That way the file is packed into a Zip archive. The recipient only has to unpack the file. If Zip files are blocked also use Password to assign a password to the Zip file. This way the file can only be opened with a password. If the file is still blocked, create an unzipped EXE file and change the file extension from *.exe to *.txt. Then zip the file. The recipient has to manually change the file extension back to *.exe.

If all of the above fails the following options are available:

• You publish the model as a DDD file. These contain everything an EXE file does except the 3D-Tool Viewer and can be sent by
   e-mail without difficulties. The recipient needs the 3D-Tool Free Viewer to view the file.
• You publish the model as a 3D-PDF file that can be viewed with the Adobe Acrobat Reader (7.0.7 or higher).
   

No, just select German as the Viewer language in the Publish file dialog.