How can I extract CAD data from an Ansys SpaceClaim Model created in a future version than is installed on my computer?

This article will teach the reader how to extract the CAD data from any Ansys SpaceClaim file, regardless of version, then open in a new instance of Ansys SpaceClaim.

Ansys SpaceClaim creates its file having the *.scdoc file extension.  If a model file is opened in a newer version of SpaceClaim, then saved, it may not be opened by earlier versions of that same software.  If one tries to open a file saved in a newer version of software than is presently installed, the following message will be received: "Cannot open the document".... "This document was saved by a later version of SpaceClaim."

There is a work-around to this obstacle, which does not require upgrading your version of installed software.

The work-around requires that one extract the contents of the *.sdoc file, copy the core CAD data, then open that CAD data using a new instance of SpaceClaim.  Here is how this process works.

The SpaceClaim *.sdoc file is, in-fact, as compressed file, which contains files and folders.  To extract this data, rename your problematic CAD file from *.sdoc to *.zip, then use your favorite tools to extract its contents (such WinZip, WinRar, Windows Compression or others).

Navigate to the following extracted folder: "\SpaceClaim\Geometry\", then copy the *.sab files to a new directory to work within.  The *.sab is a ACIS Binary File which can be opened directly within SpaceClaim.