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# OrcaSlicer sends G-code instead of a 3MF: the Use 3MF instead of G-code setting

OrcaSlicer 2.4.0 added a printer setting called **Use 3MF instead of G-code**. It decides whether OrcaSlicer sends SimplyPrint a plain `.gcode` file or a sliced `.gcode.3mf`. If files from OrcaSlicer arrive as G-code when you expected a 3MF, or your Bambu Lab printer is not offered for them, this setting is the cause.

## In this guide
* [What the setting changes](#2-what-the-setting-changes)
* [Which one your printer needs](#2-which-one-your-printer-needs)
* [Turn the setting on or off](#2-turn-the-setting-on-or-off)
* [Related articles](#2-related-articles)

## What the setting changes
| | Setting off | Setting on |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OrcaSlicer sends | a plain `.gcode` file | a sliced `.gcode.3mf` |
| Thumbnail in SimplyPrint | the picture OrcaSlicer stores in the G-code (its **G-code thumbnails** setting), or one SimplyPrint draws from the toolpath | the plate picture inside the 3MF |
| Bambu Lab printer in cloud mode | cannot print it, so it is not offered as a printer for the file | can print it |

The setting is off by default, but some printer profiles that come with OrcaSlicer have it turned on.

## Which one your printer needs
* **Bambu Lab printers in cloud mode:** turn it **on**. They only print 3MF files, never plain G-code.
* **Bambu Lab printers in LAN mode, the QIDI Q2, and Creality, Anycubic and Flashforge printers on the SimplyPrint Client:** either works.
* **The Anycubic Kobra X and Kobra S1 models, the Creality K2 Plus, and printers on Klipper, OctoPrint or Prusa:** turn it **off**. They need plain G-code.

|| Do not rename a `.gcode.3mf` to `.gcode` to get around this. A 3MF is a zipped package, so the renamed file is broken. Change the setting and slice again instead.

The full list of which printers read a sliced 3MF is in [Uploading files and splitting multi-plate 3MF files](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/uploading-files-and-splitting-multi-plate-3mf-files-1dpbgrz/).

## Turn the setting on or off
1. In OrcaSlicer, open the printer settings for the printer preset you send to SimplyPrint.
2. If you don't see the setting, switch OrcaSlicer to **Advanced** mode.
3. On the **Basic information** tab, under **Advanced**, tick or untick **Use 3MF instead of G-code**.
4. Save the printer preset.
5. Slice again and send the file to SimplyPrint.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/f/f/2/2/ff22a914001c1000/image_19xzl9w.png =500x402)

Check: in SimplyPrint's Files, the new file's name ends in `.gcode.3mf` with the setting on, or `.gcode` with it off.

The setting is saved with the printer preset, so you set it once per printer.

| The setting only matters when you slice in OrcaSlicer on your computer. SimplyPrint's own cloud slicer ignores it and always produces the right file for your printer.

## Related articles
* [The OrcaSlicer SimplyPrint integration: how to set up and use](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/the-orcaslicer-simplyprint-integration-how-to-set-up-and-use-1miu532/)
* [Uploading files and splitting multi-plate 3MF files](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/uploading-files-and-splitting-multi-plate-3mf-files-1dpbgrz/)
* [Print thumbnails: where they come from and why one is missing](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/print-thumbnails-where-they-come-from-and-why-one-is-missing-1l7l6ef/)
* [3MF splitting feature (Bambu Lab)](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/3mf-splitting-feature-bambu-lab-1qgdreg/)