CAD objects are probably the most important, but not the only, file-based objects that ZEMAX supports. ZEMAX also supports polygonal objects and tabulated objects which are defined by datafiles. These are usually faceted objects, although some, like Fresnel objects, are objects of rotation.

For polygon objects, the face data is included in the data file used to create the object. The polygon object is described in detail in the manual, Chapter "Non-Sequential Components", section "Defining Polygon Objects". Each rectangular or triangular facet can be allocated a face number.

For tabulated objects, only one face is allocated to the entire object.