Convert NPM to CDB

Understanding npm and cdb file formats

NPM files are typically associated with Navisworks, a project review software by Autodesk. NPM files are Navisworks Presenter Material files, which store material definitions for 3D models. On the other hand, a CDB file is a Card Database file, commonly used by various applications to store structured data, or in some cases, a Cloud Database or CanDo Database file. The formats are fundamentally different: NPM is for 3D material data, while CDB is for database storage.

Is direct npm to cdb conversion possible?

There is no direct or standard method to convert an NPM file to a CDB file, as they serve entirely different purposes and are used by unrelated software. If you need to extract data from an NPM file and store it in a CDB format, you would need to manually export relevant data from Navisworks and then import or structure it into a CDB-compatible application.

How to extract data from npm files

To work with NPM files, you will need Autodesk Navisworks or a compatible viewer. You can use Navisworks to open the NPM file and, if possible, export material data:

• Open your NPM file in Navisworks.
• Navigate to File → Export and choose a suitable format (such as CSV or XML) if available.
• If direct export is not available, you may need to manually record the material properties.

How to create a cdb file from exported data

Once you have exported or collected the data from the NPM file, you can use a database tool or a CDB-compatible application to create a CDB file:

• Use a database management tool like SQLite Database Browser or Microsoft Access (if CDB is supported).
• Import the exported data (CSV/XML) into the database tool.
• Save or export the database as a CDB file, if the tool supports this format.

Recommended software for the process

• Autodesk Navisworks – for opening and exporting data from NPM files.
• DB Browser for SQLite – for creating and managing database files, though you may need to convert to CDB using a specific tool if required.
• Custom scripts – in some cases, you may need to write a script (Python, etc.) to convert exported data into a CDB-compatible format.

Summary

Direct conversion from NPM to CDB is not supported due to their different purposes. The best approach is to export data from NPM using Navisworks and then import it into a database tool to create a CDB file, if your application requires it.