On the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, Derived Outputs such as PDFs, DXFs, STEP files, and other neutral formats are created from your CAD data for downstream use. These files are often shared with customers, suppliers, or partners who don’t have access to your platform tenant.

In this article, we’ll walk through a few practical ways to package and export Derived Outputs so they’re ready to send outside your organization.

Note: Dassault Systèmes provides general documentation on Derived Outputs. If you need help with setup, automation, or best practices, our technical support and implementation teams are always happy to help.

Choosing the Right Method

There are a couple of different apps and workflows you can use, each with its own advantages depending on:

  • The number of files involved

  • Whether you’re working with a single assembly or many

  • How much cleanup you want to do afterward

Let’s take a look at the most common approaches.

Using the Product Explorer App

Method 1: Download Derived Outputs from a Single Assembly

1. Open the assembly in Product Explorer that already has Derived Outputs.

2. Select the top-level assembly node (it will highlight in blue).

User exporting derived output files from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform interface.

3. Click the Information (i) icon in the lower toolbar.

Derived outputs including PDF, DXF, and STEP files displayed within the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

This opens the information side panel.

4. Navigate to Derived Formats.

Engineer preparing CAD-derived files for external sharing using the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

5. Click Download All Derived Outputs.

Export settings window for derived outputs on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

6. Choose which 2D and 3D formats you want to include.

7. Name the ZIP file and click Download.

Downloading multiple derived outputs from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform in a packaged folder.

If you’ve added multiple assemblies to Product Explorer, you’ll need to repeat this process for each one.

Trade-off:

  • ✔ Clean output (Derived Outputs only)

  • ✖ One assembly at a time

Method 2: Export Multiple Assemblies at Once

If you need to collect outputs from several assemblies or even unrelated parts, this method is much faster.

1. Add assemblies or parts to Product Explorer.

2. Select multiple items using checkboxes or Shift + Select.

3. Click Export As from the bottom toolbar.

Example of neutral CAD file formats generated from SOLIDWORKS data in 3DEXPERIENCE

4. Name the export, enable Expand All, and set the Derived Format Options.

5. Click Export.

Collaboration workflow using exported derived outputs from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

A background job will start.

Once complete:

  • A notification appears in the upper-right corner.

User selecting derived output files for export from a project dashboard in 3DEXPERIENCE.

  • Click the notification to open the CAD Data Processor Monitoring app.

  • Use the Download button to retrieve the ZIP file.

Exported PDF and STEP files ready for downstream manufacturing and review.

This ZIP will include both CAD files and Derived Outputs. To keep only the outputs, simply open the ZIP in Windows Explorer, sort by file type, and remove any files you don’t need.

Trade-off:

  • ✔ Multiple assemblies or mixed files at once

  • ✖ Manual cleanup required

Using the Bookmark Editor App

Method 1: Download Outputs from a Single Assembly

1. Locate the assembly in a bookmark (or add it to one).

2. Right-click the assembly and choose Information, or open the side panel

3. In the window or side panel, navigate to Derived Outputs.

4. Click Download All Derived Outputs.

Packaging derived outputs into a ZIP archive from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

This workflow mirrors the single-assembly method in Product Explorer.

Trade-off:

  • ✔ Simple and clean

  • ✖ One assembly at a time

Method 2: Export Multiple Items from a Bookmark

This method works the same way as the multi-selection approach in Product Explorer.

1. Add all required assemblies or parts to a bookmark.

2. Select the files you want.

3. Click Export As from the upper toolbar.

Digital workflow illustrating the transfer of derived outputs from CAD to external stakeholders.

4. Configure the Derived Format options and start the export.

As before, the resulting ZIP will include CAD data along with the Derived Outputs, so some cleanup may be required.

Trade-off:

  • ✔ Ideal for large batches or mixed content

  • ✖ Requires removing CAD files afterward

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re sending a single PDF or packaging dozens of STEP and DXF files, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform gives you flexible ways to get the right data out securely and efficiently.

The key is choosing the method that best fits your situation:

  • Single assembly, clean output → Download All Derived Outputs

  • Multiple files, faster packaging → Export As

Looking to go further?

  • Check out more tips and tutorials on our YouTube channel.

  • Explore best practices with our experts.

  • Or reach out to your Solidxperts team we’re here to help you get the most out of your platform.