# How to generate GUID to each node during conversion?

**URL:** https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/how-to-generate-guid-to-each-node-during-conversion/2671
**Category:** HOOPS Exchange
**Tags:** how-to
**Created:** [September 20, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/how-to-generate-guid-to-each-node-during-conversion/2671 "2023-09-20T12:42:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![khaled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/74df32/32.png) [@khaled](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/u/khaled)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/how-to-generate-guid-to-each-node-during-conversion/2671/1 "2023-09-20T12:42:16Z")

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When converting CAD and BIM files, how to generate GUIDs and assign them to nodes as attribute and include them in the output file?

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### Author: ![shawn.meng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@shawn.meng](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/u/shawn.meng)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/how-to-generate-guid-to-each-node-during-conversion/2671/2 "2023-11-02T15:59:02Z")

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HOOPS Exchange supports the concepts of both persistent IDs and non persistent IDs for certain file formats. You can find more information here:  
[https://docs.techsoft3d.com/exchange/latest/guide/persistent\_ids.html](https://docs.techsoft3d.com/exchange/latest/guide/persistent_ids.html)  
[https://docs.techsoft3d.com/exchange/latest/api/structA3DRootBaseData.html#\_CPPv4N15A3DRootBaseData16m\_pcPersistentIdE](https://docs.techsoft3d.com/exchange/latest/api/structA3DRootBaseData.html#_CPPv4N15A3DRootBaseData16m_pcPersistentIdE)

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### Author: ![dave.calkins](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.techsoft3d.com/dave.calkins/32/156_2.png) [@dave.calkins](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/u/dave.calkins)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://forum.techsoft3d.com/t/how-to-generate-guid-to-each-node-during-conversion/2671/3 "2023-12-07T23:55:02Z")

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We had a need to export STEP files and preserve unique IDs recently. While they didn’t support the persistent IDs directly, we were able to instead use the entity name field. We formatted the IDs as strings and set them on the name fields before exporting to STEP and the string IDs showed up in the STEP file. Something to keep in mind if you’re not using one of the formats listed in the link provided earlier.