NDO File Format (.ndo)
An NDO file is Nendo's native mesh format, a binary file identified by a "nendo" header that stores an object's edge, face and vertex tables along with UV and texture data for Izware's subdivision modeller.
NDO at a glance#
| Full name | Nendo model |
|---|---|
| File extension | .ndo |
| Category | 3D Models |
| Developer | Izware |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads this format but does not write it |
What a .ndo file can hold#
These are the things a NDO file either supports or does not, and they are what decides whether a conversion keeps everything or quietly drops something.
| Textures and materials | Yes |
|---|
Strengths and limitations of NDO#
What NDO does well
- A plain magic header and version number (1.0 through 1.2) let a parser identify the exact revision before reading further
- Stores edge connectivity directly rather than only faces and vertices, which suited Nendo's free-form modelling workflow
- Its box-free, radial-menu modelling approach influenced later free tools, including the open-source Wings 3D
Where NDO falls short
- Nendo and its publisher, Izware, are no longer active, and no current source for the software is known to exist
- No official specification was ever published; support comes entirely from reverse-engineered importers such as Assimp's
- Wings 3D was inspired by Nendo's workflow but doesn't read the NDO format itself
There's little reason to author new NDO files today; it matters only for opening a model saved by a copy of Nendo.
Convert NDO to OBJ or FBX to bring an old Nendo model into a modeller that's still maintained.
How to open a .ndo file#
A .ndo file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts NDO into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Web | FileFlip |
NDO questions people ask#
What is an NDO file?
An NDO file is a Nendo model: an object's edges, faces, vertices and UV data stored in a binary file that starts with a "nendo" header. Nendo was a subdivision modeller from Izware known for a distinctive, box-free workflow built around edge and face selection.
Is Nendo still available to open NDO files?
No. Nendo's publisher, Izware, is no longer active, and there's no current source for the software, which means an NDO file today can only realistically be opened through a library like Assimp that includes a reverse-engineered NDO importer.
Is NDO related to Wings 3D?
Only by inspiration, not compatibility. Wings 3D, the open-source polygon modeller, describes itself as inspired by Nendo and Mirai, two earlier Izware applications, but Wings 3D does not read the NDO format itself.
Converting NDO files#
Convert NDO to another format
FileFlip does not write .ndo files, so nothing on the site converts into this format. It works as a source only.
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.