archer [_geometry_]ARCHER(1)
NAME
archer - graphical user interface for BRL-CAD solid modeling
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SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
archer is a graphical user interface for BRL-CAD, providing an integrated environment for solid modeling, geometry editing, and ray tracing. It serves as a modern alternative to the mged(1) command-line modeler and requires Tk to run.
If a geometry argument is given, archer opens it on startup. The argument is normally a BRL-CAD geometry database (a .g file), but it may also be a file in an importable format such as STL, STEP, or Wavefront OBJ, in which case the data is converted and loaded into a new database. When invoked with no argument, archer changes to the user’s home directory and starts with an empty workspace; a database can then be created or opened from the File menu.
OPTIONS
- geometry
-
Optional geometry file to open on startup. A BRL-CAD .g database is opened directly; a supported foreign format (e.g. .stl, .step, .obj) is imported into a new database.
EXAMPLES
Example 1. Open an existing database
archer havoc.gLaunches the archer interface and opens the existing havoc.g geometry database for editing and visualization.
Example 2. Import foreign geometry for editing
archer part.stlStarts archer, converts the part.stl triangle mesh into a BRL-CAD database, and loads it so the imported geometry can be inspected, edited, and saved as a native .g file. Compare with the batch converter stl-g(1).
SEE ALSO
brlcad(1), mged(1), stl-g(1), step-g(1), obj-g(1)
AUTHOR
BRL-CAD Team
COPYRIGHT
This software is Copyright (c) 1989-2026 by the United States Government as represented by U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
BUG REPORTS
Reports of bugs or problems should be submitted via electronic mail to devs@brlcad.org