Models Shared With You
When someone shares a model with you, you can look at it for free on any plan. This page covers how to open it, how to keep your own copy, and where group shares show up in your account.
Step by Step: Open a Link Someone Sent You
- Click the link in the email or message. The model opens in the viewer.
- Turn, zoom and look around. Use the tools the sender allowed: measuring, attachments, comments and downloads.
- If the link has a password, type it and click Open model.
Step by Step: Keep Your Own Copy
- Sign in to your STEPFILE.com account. A free account is enough.
- Open the shared model. A bar appears that reads "This model was shared with you."
- Click Save to my account. The standard Save to my account window opens.
- Type a Project name, pick a Folder (or type a new folder name and click Create), and click Save.
- A message reads "Saved. Opening your copy..." and your own copy opens. Click the X on the bar to dismiss it.
Not signed in? The bar reads "Want to keep this model?" with Create a free account to save or download. Click it to make an account.
Where Group Shares Appear
When a model or folder is shared with a group you belong to, it shows in your model list, under Groups at the bottom of File, Manage files.
- Each group you belong to has a row with a count.
- Open the group to see what is shared. A shared folder shows as a folder with its models inside. Each row says "shared by" and the sender's name.
- Click Open on a row to open the model on its own page.
- An empty group says "Nothing shared to this group yet." An empty shared folder says "This folder is empty right now. Models added to it will appear here."
- Models the sender adds to a shared folder later show up here by themselves.
What You Can Do With a Shared Model
The sender decides, with the Recipient may boxes: Download / Re-share, Measuring tools, Attachments, Comments and Exports (DXF, STEP, STL). Anything the sender did not allow is not offered.
- A link shows the model as it was when it was shared, until the sender refreshes it.
- You never pay for what the sender allowed. Isolating and exporting parts follow the sender's plan.
- To share your own copy with someone else, save it to your account first. Before that, the viewer says "This model was shared with you. Save it to your account first, then you can share your own copy."
Tips
- Re-share rights on your copy still follow what the sender allowed.
- To stop being part of a group, leave it on the Groups tab of your account. See Your Account: Groups.
If Something Goes Wrong
- "Save failed". Try again in a moment. If it keeps failing, contact support.
- The link says it expired or was turned off. Ask the sender for a new one.
- I cannot see a group share. Check that you accepted the group invite on the Groups tab of your account.