IGES is a public domain, neutral file format that serves as an international standard for the exchange of data between different CAD/CAM systems. IGES is an ANSI standard maintained by the IGES/PDES Organization (IPO) under the direction of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The National Computer Graphics Association (NCGA) acts as the administrator of the standard.

You can import an IGES file by choosing File > Import > Exchange File Types > IGES or by using the key-in MDL LOAD IGESIN. The Import IGES dialog opens. Except as noted, the controls in this dialog are analogous to those in the Open dialog.

Clicking Open in the Import IGES dialog opens the Import IGES File dialog, which is used to adjust import settings before opening the drawing file.

You can export an IGES file by choosing File > Export > Exchange File Types > IGES (*.igs) or by using the key-in MDL LOAD IGESOUT.

You can export IGES files that are compliant with the CALS Class I or Class II specifications.