Frequently Asked Questions

 What is the difference between 3D-Tool Free Viewer, Basic and Advanced?

3D-Tool Basic and Advanced offer the same functions and tools. But in addition to the file formats of the Basic version, 3D-Tool Advanced supports the file formats STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT und PARASOLID. The 3D-Tool Free Viewer supports the 3D-Tool formats EXE and DDD and the STL-format. The Free Viewer has limited functionality, for example it is not possible to save or publish data.

How can I purchase 3D-Tool?

Outside Germany: By credit card in our online shop. Within Germany: By fax, letter or e-mail on invoice, payable within 10 days after receiving the invoice.

How does the online acitvation of 3D-Tool work?

For each license ordered you will get a License Certificate. The Authorization Key on this certificate enables you to request the License Key needed to activate 3D-Tool. The request is done online, directly from the program. Download 3D-Tool from our website and install the program. Run 3D-Tool and enter your Authorization Key into the licensing window. Then enter your e-mail address. Within about 30 minutes you will receive the License Key by e-mail. 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, Authorization Key, License Key, Serial Number – What’s all this?

License Certificate If you order a 3D-Tool license, you will receive a License Certificate. This certificate contains the serial number, the type of license, details of the license holder and the Authorization Key needed for the online activation of the program. Authorization Key The Authorization Key from the License Certificate identifies you as a license holder during the online activation. Without a valid Authorization Key no online activation is possible. License Key The License Key activates a 3D-Tool installation. The License Key is computer dependent, which means it will be generated for the specific individual computer you want to use 3D-Tool on. You will receive the License Key by e-mail after online activation. Serial Number The Serial Number is the consecutive number of a license in our database. It can be found on the License Certificate. If you have needs or questions regarding your license, please state the serial number.

How can I activate a license on a computer which is not connected to the internet?

If the computer 3D-Tool needs to be activated on cannot connect to the internet, you have to request the License Key by e-mail or fax. To do so, please send us your Authorization Key and the Registration-ID, which is displayed in the licensing window of 3D-Tool.

Can I test 3D-Tool before purchasing it?

Yes, you can get a one-time 14 day test of the program by requesting a free Trial License. The Trial License will fully activate 3D-Tool in Advanced mode.

How does the online request of a free Trial Key work?

You can request a one-time 14 day trial of the fully activated program. Run 3D-Tool, select the Trial License button in the licensing window and fill in the form. The Trial Key will be sent to the e-mail address provided there. Once you have received the Trial Key, enter the Key into the licensing window. Now 3D-Tool Advanced is fully activated. Note: The Trial Key is valid for 14 days. The period starts on the day you receive the Trial Key.

Do I need admininstrative rights to nstall the 3D-Tool Free Viewer?

You do not need administrative rights to install the 3D-Tool Free Viewer. Download the Free Viewer setup file from the download page and run the file. After installation you can immediately use the program. You do not need a License Key. Note: Even if the installation is possible without administrative rights, we recommend to do it with administrative rights, so that the 3D-Tool EXE and DDD-files and STL-files will be associated with the Free Viewer.

Where can I find the Authorization Key to request a License Key?

After ordering 3D-Tool you will get a receipt and a License Certificate, which contains the Authorization Key needed to request a License Key. Print the License Certificate and keep it in a safe place. Without a valid Authorization Key no online activation is possible.

I cannot find my License Certificate containing my Authorization Key. What can I do?

The License Certificate is always sent to the e-mail address provided with the 3D-Tool order. If you are not the person who placed the order, contact the person who did. If  the License Certificate has been lost, you can request a copy of your certificate by e-mail from Team@3D-Tool.de . After we verify that you hold a 3D-Tool license then we will send the certificate. If you know the serial number of the license, please state it in your e-mail.

Do I receive a program CD and when I may expect the delivery?

Ordering a 3D-Tool license does not include a program-CD. The latest version of 3D-Tool is always downloadable from our website. After ordering you will receive a receipt and a License Certificate within one working day. With the Authorisation Key from the License Certificate you can request the License Key to activate the program. Customers inside the EU can additionally order a program CD, if needed. This service is charged a fee. The shipping of program CDs to countries outside the EU is not possible.

Can I use a 3D-Tool license on more than one PC?

3D-Tool licenses are single licenses and must only be used on one PC. If you want to use 3D-Tool on multiple PCs you will have to purchase the corresponding number of licenses. If you tell us the number of licenses needed we will be happy to make you an individual offer.

Is there a network license available for 3D-Tool?

Network licenses are not supported by 3D-Tool. If you want to use 3D-Tool on multiple PCs, we will be happy to make you an offer for the corresponding number of single licenses. For big companies requiring a large number of licenses we offer a company license, which allows the unlimited use of 3D-Tool inside the company within a country.

Can I still use my License Key when I get a new PC?

No, if you have to reinstall 3D-Tool because you get a new PC or because your PC needs the OS reinstalled you will need a new License Key to activate 3D-Tool.

How can I get a new key for my new PC and how much will this cost?

From our website download the version of 3D-Tool corresponding to your license and install it on the new computer. Then you can request a new License Key for free as follows: Users of Version 8.5 or newer can request a new License Key online, directly from the program. In the licensing window just enter the Authorization Key as stated in the License Certificate. After entering your e-mail address, the new License Key will be automatically sent to this e-mail address. For older versions, and for computers which cannot connect to the internet, new License Keys have to be requested by e-mail or fax. To do so, please send us your Authorization Key and the Registration-ID, which is displayed in the licensing window of 3D-Tool.

Are there updates and how can I get them?

Regularly we release updates for 3D-Tool. These are always downloadable from our website. Updates within one main version number are free to licenses users. Just download the latest version from our website and install it over the existing one. You will not need a new key. You can check for updates from within 3D-Tool by using the Check for Updates function in the Help menu. Updates from one main version to another are available for a fee, and you will need a new key.

 Which hardware do I need for 3D-Tool?

There are no specific hardware requirements for 3D-Tool. The bigger and the more complex the models, the higher the demand on working memory and processor power. Usually a fast graphics card and adequate working memory will result in excellent display of the models.

Is there a manual or other help on 3D-Tool?

There are different kinds of support when working with 3D-Tool: The program itself contains detailed Help which explains all functions of 3D-Tool. You can start up Help anytime by pressing the function key [F1]. Additionally the help contents exist as a printable PDF-manual. You can find the 3D-Tool manual in Windows START > Programs > 3D-Tool. There you can also find the 3D-Tool Quick Reference Card which gives you a fast overview of the 3D-Tool control elements. Last but not least you can always contact us by e-mail if you have any questions or needs.

How does the data exchange with my CAD-program work? Can I directly load native CAD-files?

3D-Tool supports many common file formats: STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT, PARASOLID, STL, VRML, 3DS, SLP, OBJ, XGL, DXF, IV. By these exchange formats 3D-Tool can be used with most CAD programs. However, the direct import of native CAD-Data, such as CATIA or ProE files, is not supported

Can I use 3D-Tool for data conversion?

Besides its own file formats 3D-Tool supports the export into the file formats STL, VRML and 3DS. Conversion into STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT or PARASOLID is not possible.

Can I create a 2D-drawing out of a 3D-model?

No, this is not possible. However, the 2D-section of 3D-Tool allows importing and sending existing 2D-drawings alone or in addition to a 3D-model. Also you can export section lines to DXF-files.

Why does 3D-Tool seem to freeze when loading a STEP, IGS or PARASOLID file?

In most cases this is not a program failure but 3D-Tool just needs some time to analyse and import the data. On slower computers big and complex models can take several minutes to import.

My imported model reacts very slowly. How can I speed up the display?

The display may slow down when importing big models consisting of a huge number of triangles. To speed up the display you have the following options: Try activating the hardware acceleration for 3D-Tool. You can find this function in the Options menu under Preferences and there under Hardware. Rarely there are display problems after activating the hardware acceleration. In this case ensure that you have got the latest drivers for your graphics card. If the display problems persist you will have to deactivate hardware acceleration. When importing STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT and PARASOLID files you can decrease the number of triangles created by increasing the values of Chord Height and Angle Tolerance. This is reasonable when importing models with large dimensions which show considerably more than 500.000 triangles after loading.

What does the message ”No facets found” mean when I try to load a file?

When loading 3D-files 3D-Tool only supports faces and volumes. If a 3D-file consists only of line and curve elements 3D-Tool cannot create triangles to display the model. For example 2D IGS files are not supported at all and will always lead to this message. If you get this message but you are sure that there are 3D-volumes in the file then please contact us by e-mail.

What does the message ”No Advanced import option“ mean when I try to load a file?

You will get this message when trying to load a STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT or PARASOLID file and you only have a Basic license. These Advanced formats can only be loaded by 3D-Tool Advanced.

What does the message „This file is not supported by the 3D-Tool Free Viewer” mean
     when I try to load a file?

This message will show up if you use the 3D-Tool Free Viewer and try to load a file which is not in the 3D-Tool EXE-format, 3D-Tool DDD-format or STL-format. To open additional formats you need 3D-Tool and a valid License Key.

How can I display the textures of my original model in 3D-Tool?

3D-Tool applies the color information of the original file, if that information is available in the particular exchange format used. However, textures are not supported by 3D-Tool.

The program does not work or does not work properly. What can I do?

If you have activated the hardware acceleration for 3D-Tool, program problems are usually due to an insufficient OpenGL implementation in the drivers of the graphics card. Try deactivating the hardware acceleration. You will find this function in the Options menu under Preferences and there under Hardware. If the problem is gone after deactivating the hardware acceleration but you want to use the acceleration, you should try to update the drivers of your graphics card to the latest version.  If this does not solve the problem, you cannot use hardware acceleration on your computer. Please contact us, if the problems persist even without hardware acceleration.

 What are 3D-Tool EXE-files?

3D-Tool EXE-files contain your CAD Data and the 3D-Tool viewer. You can send the EXE-files to customers and suppliers. The EXE-files can be started on any Windows system by just double-clicking them. Nothing will be installed and the receiver does not need a license. After starting an EXE-file the receiver can view your model on his computer and he can use almost all of the functions of the viewer.

Will the receiver need any licenses to run 3D-Tool EXE-files?

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

Does the receiver have to do any installation to run 3D-Tool EXE-files?

No, nothing will be installed when running 3D-Tool EXE-files.

Can the receiver of EXE-Files make changes to the model and save them?

No, it is not possible to save changes in EXE-files.

What can I do if my EXE-files are blocked by a firewall when I send them by e-mail?

In this case use the function ZIP the file when creating EXE-files. The EXE-file will be packed into a ZIP-archive. The receiver needs to extract the EXE-file from the ZIP-file and then start the EXE-file. This will do the trick in most cases. If the firewall also blocks EXE-files inside ZIP-files because it checks the contents of archives, then use the   Password button to secure the ZIP-file with a password. Then the ZIP-file can only be opened with this password.  If this also does not help, then first create an unzipped EXE-file. After this manually change the file extensions from *.exe to *.txt and then use a ZIP-program to store this apparent text file into a ZIP-archive.The receiver will have to extract the TXT-file from the ZIP-file and then change its file extension back to *.exe. If zipping and/or renaming the file does not help, you have the following alternatives: You publish your models as 3D-Tool DDD-files. These are equal to 3D-Tool EXE-files but do not contain the 3D-Tool Viewer and can be sent by e-mail without problems. To view the files the receiver needs the 3D-Tool Free Viewer. You publish your models as3D-PDF-files. The receiver can open and view these files with the free Acrobat Reader from version 7.0.7.

I have installed the English language version of 3D-Tool but I need a German language EXE-file.
     Do I also have to install the German language version of 3D-Tool to do this?

No, this is not necessary to create EXE-files in German language. When publishing  EXE-files in the Publish File dialog you can simpy choose English or German as Viewer Language.