Transform imported geometry

By Adam Nagy

When importing geometry from another CAD format like *.step then you cannot specify the transformation for it in the UI. The only thing you can do is transform the geometry in another part document derived from the one that has the imported geometry.
However, using Brian's solution you can achieve that through the API directly in the part document that has the imported geometry. It also takes care of keeping the look of the component the same by copying the Appearance of the original faces:

Public Sub ReorientBaseBody()
  Dim partDoc As PartDocument
  Set partDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
  Dim pcd As PartComponentDefinition
  Set pcd = partDoc.ComponentDefinition
  Dim npbfs As NonParametricBaseFeatures
  Set npbfs = pcd.Features.NonParametricBaseFeatures' Get the base feature that was created as a result of ' the translation.
  Dim baseFeature As NonParametricBaseFeature
  Set baseFeature = npbfs(1)' Get the body created by the translation.
  Dim originalBody As SurfaceBody
  Set originalBody = baseFeature.InputSurfaceBodies(1)' Create a transient copy of the body.
  Dim newBody As SurfaceBody
  Set newBody = ThisApplication.TransientBRep.Copy(originalBody)

  Dim tg As TransientGeometry
  Set tg = ThisApplication.TransientGeometry
 
  Dim tr As TransientObjects
  Set tr = ThisApplication.TransientObjects

  ' Define the transform to apply to the body.
  Dim trans As Matrix
  Set trans = tg.CreateMatrix
  Call trans.SetCoordinateSystem( _
    tg.CreatePoint(2, 2, 2), tg.CreateVector(0, 1, 0), _
    tg.CreateVector(-1, 0, 0), tg.CreateVector(0, 0, 1))' Apply the transform to the transient body.
  Call ThisApplication.TransientBRep.Transform(newBody, trans)' Create a new base feature.
  Dim baseFeatureDef As NonParametricBaseFeatureDefinition
  Set baseFeatureDef = npbfs.CreateDefinition()
  Dim inputBodies As ObjectCollection
  Set inputBodies = tr.CreateObjectCollection
  Call inputBodies.Add(newBody)
  baseFeatureDef.BRepEntities = inputBodies
  baseFeatureDef.OutputType = kSolidOutputType
  Dim newFeature As NonParametricBaseFeature
  Set newFeature = npbfs.AddByDefinition(baseFeatureDef)

  Dim realBody As SurfaceBody
  Set realBody = newFeature.SurfaceBodies(1)

  Dim i As Integer
  For i = 1 To originalBody.Faces.count
    Dim originalFace As Face
    Set originalFace = originalBody.Faces(i)
    
    If originalFace.AppearanceSourceType = kOverrideAppearance Then
      Dim newFace As Face
      Set newFace = realBody.Faces(i)
        
      newFace.Appearance = originalFace.Appearance
    End If
  Next

  ' Delete the original feature.
  baseFeature.Delete
End Sub