Extract text from ArcGlobe and TDU models (3DD)
To convert 3DD 3D models to another format, you need ArcGIS Desktop or other GIS software.
To convert other file formats to the "3D Scene Document" file type, you need software like ArcGIS Desktop or a similar tool.
A .3DD file most commonly represents a 3D Scene Document created by Esri ArcGlobe, a legacy application within the ArcGIS Desktop suite. These files function like a "save state" for global 3D visualizations, storing layer properties, camera angles, and rendering settings, but do not contain the actual geospatial data (such as shapefiles or rasters). A major limitation for users is that sharing a raw .3DD file often results in "broken data source" errors for the recipient if they do not possess the exact same referenced files on their local drive. Additionally, modern workflows have shifted to ArcGIS Pro, which uses the .APRX format, making .3DD files effectively obsolete for new projects.
In the context of gaming, a .3DD file is a proprietary 3D vehicle model used in Test Drive Unlimited. These binary files contain the geometry and texture mapping coordinates for in-game cars. They are locked to the game's engine, making them impossible to open in standard 3D editors like Blender or Autodesk Maya without specialized community-developed unpacking tools.
For GIS preservation, the best practice is to open the file in ArcGlobe and export the view to PDF or High-Res JPG for sharing, or package it as a Layer Package (.LPK). For game modding, users typically convert the geometry to OBJ or FBX to modify vehicle assets.
Convert.Guru analyzes your 3DD file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted SD, MAPX and SOS files.
If you want to convert 3DD file to SHP, KML, KMZ, GPX, GEOJSON, TOPOJSON, TIF, TIFF, ECW, SID, IMG or DEM, you can use ArcGIS Desktop or similar software from the "GIS 3D Scene Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert LAZ, KMZ, DTM, CSV, DEM, PRJ, LAS, GPX, DSM, SHP, DBF or KML files to 3DD, try ArcGIS Desktop or another comparable tool in the "GIS 3D Scene Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our 3DD converter.