# Edit STL without losing supports in Preform

**URL:** <https://forum.formlabs.com/t/edit-stl-without-losing-supports-in-preform/13231>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [May 9, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/edit-stl-without-losing-supports-in-preform/13231 "2017-05-09T22:02:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Marcologue](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/marcologue/32/8944_2.png) [@Marcologue](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Marcologue)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/edit-stl-without-losing-supports-in-preform/13231/1 "2017-05-09T22:02:33Z")

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Once I’m done with creating the supports in Preform. Is it possible to edit an STL in an external sofware (moving a few vertices) and reimport the same STL (same vertex index) and maintain my orientation AND my supports?

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**Author:** ![Randy\_Cohen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/randy_cohen/32/1500_2.png) [@Randy\_Cohen](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Randy_Cohen)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/edit-stl-without-losing-supports-in-preform/13231/2 "2017-05-10T00:52:03Z")

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No. The .FORM file is proprietary and there’s no way to export it from PreForm as a STL.

Some people make their own bases and supports, probably for the same reason you’re asking this question.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marcologue](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/marcologue/32/8944_2.png) [@Marcologue](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Marcologue)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/edit-stl-without-losing-supports-in-preform/13231/3 "2017-05-10T16:35:05Z")

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Good to know thanks