diff --git a/assets/locales/pending/open-progress-steps.json b/assets/locales/pending/open-progress-steps.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5248a4418a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/locales/pending/open-progress-steps.json
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{
+  "en": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "Building the model",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "Feature {done} of {total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "Part {done} of {total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent}%",
+    "file_load.step_read": "Reading the file",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "Rebuilding the features",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "Checking and repairing the parts",
+    "file_load.step_show": "Preparing the view"
+  },
+  "ar": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "جارٍ بناء النموذج",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "الميزة {done} من {total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "الجزء {done} من {total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent}%",
+    "file_load.step_read": "جارٍ قراءة الملف",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "جارٍ إعادة بناء الميزات",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "جارٍ فحص الأجزاء وإصلاحها",
+    "file_load.step_show": "جارٍ تجهيز العرض"
+  },
+  "de": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "Modell wird aufgebaut",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "Merkmal {done} von {total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "Teil {done} von {total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent} %",
+    "file_load.step_read": "Datei wird gelesen",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "Merkmale werden neu aufgebaut",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "Teile werden geprüft und repariert",
+    "file_load.step_show": "Ansicht wird vorbereitet"
+  },
+  "he": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "בונה את המודל",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "תכונה {done} מתוך {total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "חלק {done} מתוך {total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent}%",
+    "file_load.step_read": "קורא את הקובץ",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "בונה מחדש את התכונות",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "בודק ומתקן את החלקים",
+    "file_load.step_show": "מכין את התצוגה"
+  },
+  "ja": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "モデルを構築中",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "フィーチャー {done}/{total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "パーツ {done}/{total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent}%",
+    "file_load.step_read": "ファイルを読み込み中",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "フィーチャーを再構築中",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "パーツを確認・修復中",
+    "file_load.step_show": "ビューを準備中"
+  },
+  "ko": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "모델 만드는 중",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "피처 {done}/{total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "부품 {done}/{total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent}%",
+    "file_load.step_read": "파일 읽는 중",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "피처 다시 빌드 중",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "부품 확인 및 복구 중",
+    "file_load.step_show": "뷰 준비 중"
+  },
+  "zh": {
+    "file_load.step_build": "正在构建模型",
+    "file_load.step_feature": "特征 {done}/{total}",
+    "file_load.step_part": "零件 {done}/{total}",
+    "file_load.step_percent": "{percent}%",
+    "file_load.step_read": "正在读取文件",
+    "file_load.step_rebuild": "正在重建特征",
+    "file_load.step_repair": "正在检查和修复零件",
+    "file_load.step_show": "正在准备视图"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/file_load.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/file_load.rs
index a1b1bb7363..0549ebdd9a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/file_load.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/file_load.rs
@@ -979,6 +979,39 @@ pub(crate) fn phase(app: &SolveApp) -> Option<&'static str> {
     })
 }
 
+/// The three steps the card lists for an open or an import (`cad`: a STEP or IGES file), the one
+/// under way and how far it is. A STEP file is read, its parts checked and repaired one by one
+/// (the kernel's `converting`), then the model is built and shown; a design is read, its
+/// features rebuilt, then shown. `work` is the kernel's last report, which stays at its end
+/// once the step is over; `features` is (built, total).
+fn load_steps(
+    cad: bool,
+    phase: u8,
+    work: Option<(&'static str, usize, usize)>,
+    features: (usize, usize),
+) -> ([&'static str; 3], usize, Option<String>) {
+    let (done, total) = features;
+    let labels = if cad {
+        ["file_load.step_read", "file_load.step_repair", "file_load.step_build"]
+    } else {
+        ["file_load.step_read", "file_load.step_rebuild", "file_load.step_show"]
+    };
+    let count = |key: &str, done: usize, total: usize| {
+        Some(crate::i18n::format(key, &[("done", &(done + 1).min(total).to_string()), ("total", &total.to_string())]))
+    };
+    let percent = |d: usize, t: usize| Some(crate::i18n::format("file_load.step_percent", &[("percent", &(d * 100 / t.max(1)).to_string())]));
+    let (current, detail) = match (phase, work) {
+        (1.., _) => (2, None),
+        (_, Some(("reading", d, t))) if cad => (0, percent(d, t)),
+        (_, Some((_, d, t))) if cad && d < t => (1, count("file_load.step_part", d, t)),
+        (_, Some(_)) if cad => (2, None),
+        _ if total == 0 => (0, None),
+        _ if cad => (1, None),
+        _ => (1, count("file_load.step_feature", done, total)),
+    };
+    (labels, current, detail)
+}
+
 pub fn show(app: &mut SolveApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     let Some(r) = &app.file_load.running else { return };
     let cancelled = r.cancelled();
@@ -1061,29 +1094,40 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SolveApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
                 };
                 ui_kit::text(ui, &note, ui_kit::Text::Note("preview"));
             }
-            let status = if cancelled && export {
-                crate::i18n::tr_label("dxf.cancel_wait").to_string()
-            } else if cancelled {
-                crate::i18n::tr("file_load.stopping").to_string()
+            // An open or an import goes through three steps the card lists; the other operations
+            // (and a cancelled one) say what they are doing in a line.
+            let stepped = !cancelled && matches!(r.request.kind, Kind::Open | Kind::Insert | Kind::Recover { .. });
+            if stepped {
+                let cad = matches!(r.request.kind, Kind::Open | Kind::Insert)
+                    && (solidcraft_engine::io::is_step_path(&r.request.path) || solidcraft_engine::io::is_iges_path(&r.request.path));
+                let (labels, current, detail) = load_steps(cad, phase, r.progress.work(), (done, total));
+                let labels = labels.map(crate::i18n::tr);
+                ui_kit::steps(ui, "file_load", &labels, current, detail.as_deref());
             } else {
-                match (phase, work) {
-                    (_, work) if r.request.kind == Kind::ExportDxf => crate::dialogs_view_dxf::progress_text(work),
-                    (_, Some(("reading", d, t))) => {
-                        crate::i18n::format("file_load.reading_percent", &[("percent", &(d * 100 / t.max(1)).to_string())])
+                let status = if cancelled && export {
+                    crate::i18n::tr_label("dxf.cancel_wait").to_string()
+                } else if cancelled {
+                    crate::i18n::tr("file_load.stopping").to_string()
+                } else {
+                    match (phase, work) {
+                        (_, work) if r.request.kind == Kind::ExportDxf => crate::dialogs_view_dxf::progress_text(work),
+                        (_, Some(("reading", d, t))) => {
+                            crate::i18n::format("file_load.reading_percent", &[("percent", &(d * 100 / t.max(1)).to_string())])
+                        }
+                        (_, Some((_, d, t))) => {
+                            crate::i18n::format("file_load.converting", &[("done", &(d + 1).to_string()), ("total", &t.to_string())])
+                        }
+                        (1, _) => crate::i18n::tr("file_load.preparing_view").to_string(),
+                        (2, _) => crate::i18n::tr("file_load.preparing_thumbnail").to_string(),
+                        _ if total > 0 => crate::i18n::format(
+                            "file_load.rebuilding",
+                            &[("done", &(done + 1).min(total).to_string()), ("total", &total.to_string())],
+                        ),
+                        _ => crate::i18n::tr("file_load.reading").to_string(),
                     }
-                    (_, Some((_, d, t))) => crate::i18n::format("file_load.converting", &[("done", &(d + 1).to_string()), ("total", &t.to_string())]),
-                    (1, _) => crate::i18n::tr("file_load.preparing_view").to_string(),
-                    (2, _) => crate::i18n::tr("file_load.preparing_thumbnail").to_string(),
-                    _ if total > 0 => {
-                        crate::i18n::format("file_load.rebuilding", &[("done", &(done + 1).min(total).to_string()), ("total", &total.to_string())])
-                    }
-                    _ => crate::i18n::tr("file_load.reading").to_string(),
-                }
-            };
-            ui.horizontal(|ui| {
-                ui.spinner();
-                ui_kit::text(ui, &status, ui_kit::Text::Report("status", false));
-            });
+                };
+                ui_kit::steps(ui, "file_load", &[status.as_str()], 0, None);
+            }
             // Always there, so the card keeps its height as the phases change.
             let fraction = if cancelled {
                 0.0
@@ -1120,6 +1164,23 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SolveApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    /// A STEP file goes through its three steps in order as the kernel reports them, and stays
+    /// on the last once the parts are done; a design's steps follow its features.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_card_follows_an_import_through_its_three_steps() {
+        let step = |phase, work, features| {
+            let (_, current, detail) = load_steps(true, phase, work, features);
+            (current, detail)
+        };
+        assert_eq!(step(0, None, (0, 0)), (0, None));
+        assert_eq!(step(0, Some(("reading", 40, 80)), (0, 0)), (0, Some("50%".into())));
+        assert_eq!(step(0, Some(("converting", 11, 140)), (0, 1)), (1, Some("Part 12 of 140".into())));
+        assert_eq!(step(0, Some(("converting", 140, 140)), (0, 1)), (2, None));
+        assert_eq!(step(1, Some(("converting", 140, 140)), (1, 1)), (2, None));
+        let (labels, current, detail) = load_steps(false, 0, None, (2, 5));
+        assert_eq!((labels[1], current, detail.as_deref()), ("file_load.step_rebuild", 1, Some("Feature 3 of 5")));
+    }
+
     fn completed_open(app: &mut SolveApp, request: Request, session: Session) {
         let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         tx.send(Ok(Made { session, result: json!({"loaded": true}), thumbnail: false })).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/status.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/status.rs
index b98851908e..8606aab32c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/status.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/status.rs
@@ -60,3 +60,49 @@ pub(crate) fn progress(ui: &mut egui::Ui, key: &str, fraction: f32) -> egui::Res
     crate::scenario::publish_rect(&format!("dialog:progress:{key}"), bar);
     response
 }
+
+/// Steps of a running operation, one row each: a tick for the ones done, a spinner for the one
+/// under way and a ring for the ones to come, each the height of the text and centred on it.
+/// `detail` (how far the current step is) goes at the end of its row. Pair it with `progress`
+/// for the current step. Tokens: `font_label, control_height, form_ink/dim/primary, space_2/8`.
+pub(crate) fn steps(ui: &mut egui::Ui, key: &str, labels: &[&str], current: usize, detail: Option<&str>) {
+    let t = Tokens::get();
+    let mark = t.font_label;
+    for (i, label) in labels.iter().enumerate() {
+        let (row, response) =
+            ui.allocate_exact_size(vec2(super::metrics::dimension(ui.available_width()), super::row_height()), egui::Sense::hover());
+        let slot = egui::Rect::from_center_size(egui::pos2(row.left() + mark / 2.0, row.center().y), vec2(mark, mark));
+        let painter = ui.painter();
+        let (font, ink) = match i.cmp(&current) {
+            std::cmp::Ordering::Less => {
+                super::checks::paint_check_glyph(painter, slot, false, t.form_ink);
+                (egui::FontId::proportional(t.font_label), t.form_ink)
+            }
+            std::cmp::Ordering::Equal => {
+                egui::Spinner::new().size(mark).color(t.form_primary).paint_at(ui, slot);
+                (crate::fonts::semibold(t.font_label), t.form_ink)
+            }
+            std::cmp::Ordering::Greater => {
+                painter.circle_stroke(slot.center(), mark / 2.0 - t.space_2, egui::Stroke::new(1.0, t.form_dim));
+                (egui::FontId::proportional(t.font_label), t.form_dim)
+            }
+        };
+        let mut text = egui::Rect::from_min_max(egui::pos2(slot.right() + t.space_8, row.top()), row.max);
+        if let Some(detail) = detail.filter(|_| i == current) {
+            let galley = ui.painter().layout_no_wrap(detail.to_string(), egui::FontId::proportional(t.font_label), t.form_dim);
+            let at = egui::pos2(row.right() - galley.size().x, row.center().y - galley.size().y / 2.0);
+            if at.x > text.left() + t.space_8 {
+                ui.painter().galley(at, galley, t.form_dim);
+                text.max.x = at.x - t.space_8;
+            }
+        }
+        super::text::paint_text(ui, text, label, font, ink, false);
+        let state = match i.cmp(&current) {
+            std::cmp::Ordering::Less => "done",
+            std::cmp::Ordering::Equal => "current",
+            std::cmp::Ordering::Greater => "next",
+        };
+        response.widget_info(|| egui::WidgetInfo::labeled(egui::WidgetType::Label, ui.is_enabled(), *label));
+        crate::scenario::publish_rect(&format!("dialog:step:{key}:{i}:{state}"), row);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/ui-kit.md b/docs/ui-kit.md
index bb20665c9b..a5506665e8 100644
--- a/docs/ui-kit.md
+++ b/docs/ui-kit.md
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ table. Panel/Window/Confirm compositions also have dedicated geometry and intera
 | `label_actions` | Clipped row name beside compact actions | `control_height`, form font/spacing tokens |
 | status: `status_header`, `StatusHeader` | Supplied icon/name/status and constraint meter | `font_label`, `text/dim`, `accent`, sketch/header tokens |
 | `progress` | Clamped determinate progress | `space_3/6`, `dialog_rule`, `accent` |
+| `steps` | A running operation's steps: ticked when done, a text-high spinner on the current one with how far it is, a ring for those to come | `font_label`, `control_height`, `form_ink/dim/primary`, `space_2/8` |
 
 History contents are selected from measured panel width. A 56 pt thin strip shows icons
 and four vertical transport controls: beginning, back, forward and end. The minimum named