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IFC Import and Export in BricsCAD

Commands: IMPORT, IFCEXPORT, EXPORT

Overview: In this lesson, you learn how to import and export IFC files in BricsCAD BIM.

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Import an IFC model to BricsCAD. 
  • Export an IFC model from BricsCAD.

Tutorial: How to import & export IFC files in BricsCAD BIM

Click here to watch

About IFC

The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model is designed to describe building and construction industry information. IFC is a platform neutral data exchange format. The goal of IFC is to provide interoperability between different BIM software platforms. BIM authoring tools like BricsCAD BIM can export a building model to an IFC file, allowing interoperability between IFC-compliant software applications. BricsCAD BIM is certified for IFC 2X3 coordination view 2.0. The IFC standard includes both parametric and non-parametric shapes, material definitions, metadata in the BIM file, and property sets (PSets) that can be assigned to the diverse BIM types available in IFC (e.g. PSet_WallCommon).

When you export an IFC file from BricsCAD the BricsCAD properties will be exported as IfcPropertySet. These property sets contain common IFC properties. If you have any user-defined property sets in your BIM model, these properties can also be exported.

Mechanical system layouts, structural models, and architectural models that are exported from different IFC compliant software applications can be imported into BricsCAD BIM.

Keyboard: IMPORT, EXPORT, IFCEXPORT

Menubar: File > Import, Export

Procedure: Importing an IFC file in BricsCAD   

  1. To import an IFC file in your project, click the File menu, and then select Import

The import file dialog box displays.

  1. Select the .ifc file format (1) in the Files Of Type list and choose the IFC model you want to import.

The following illustration shows the import file dialog box.

  1. Click Open to import the IFC model.

When the IFC file is imported the data from the imported file integrates with the BricsCAD data structure which means you can work with them right away.

If the imported data contain custom properties these property sets will be available for the related entities.

Note: You have the ability to create custom property sets and properties directly in BricsCAD BIM and associate them with imported entities.

Procedure: Exporting an IFC file in BricsCAD   

  1. To export an IFC file in your project, click the File menu, and then select Export

The Export Drawing As dialog box displays.

  1. Select the .ifc file format (2) in the Save as type list and save the IFC model in a folder where you want to store.

The following illustration shows the Export Drawing As dialog box.

  1. Click Save to export the IFC model.

The exported BIM model is saved as an IFC file and it is ready to use in any IFC certified applications.

  1. (Optional) Change the IFC import and export settings using the BIM section in the Settings dialog.

The following illustration shows the IFC import and export settings in the settings dialog.

IFC setting preferences: 

Import Spaces

Enable/disable importing IfcSpace entities as BIM Rooms.
If this setting is enabled,  IfcSpace entities will be imported as BIM Room entities.
 By default, this setting is enabled. 
Import BIM Data

Enable/disable importing BIM data from different BIM platforms to BricsCAD BIM.
By default, this setting is enabled. 
Import model position

Controls the insertion point of the imported model.
The options are:

  • 0: BricsCAD WCS matches the IFC Global Coordinate system.
  • 1: BricsCAD WCS matched the IFC Site Location.
Import Parametric Components Enable/disable importing windows and doors as parametric components. 
Import IFC project structure as xrefs

Enable/disable importing IFC project structures as separate XRef drawings.
If this setting is enabled, drawing files are created as XRefs. These files correspond to each building and each story of the IFC project structure.

Import BREP geometry as meshes

Enable/disable importing BREP geometry as meshes. 
If this setting is enabled, BREPs in the drawing is converted into meshes. 
Export base quantities

Enable/disable exporting derived base quantities from BIM elements.
If this setting is enabled , calculated quantities (e.g. length, thickness, height) for each BIM element can be exported to IFC.

Export elements on OFF and FROZEN layers

Enable/disable exporting BIM elements that are in OFF and Frozen layers.
By default, this setting is enabled.

Explode external references in IFC spatial structure

Enable/disable exploding external references in IFC spatial structures.
If this setting is enabled , each external reference will be divided into the elements (e.g. IfcSite, IfcBuilding)  based on the spatial project structure.

Export multi-ply elements as aggregated elements

Enable/disable exporting building elements with multi-ply compositions as aggregated entities.
If this setting is enabled , each ply material belonging to a building element (e.g. wall, column) is calculated and exported individually.

Level of tessellation 

Controls the level of tesselation of exported geometry.
 If the 'Current' faceting option is chosen, the faceting as set by FacetRes or Modeler properties is used.
 Choosing the 'Low', 'Medium', 'High' options causes according regenerations of facets which makes the process longer.

 

Procedure: Exporting an IFC file only for selected entities

  1. To export IFC model partially in your project, type IFCEXPORT in the command line;

    You are prompted: 
    Select entities to export [Entire model] <Entire model>:     (Select the entities in your model space to export as IFC)

    After selecting the entities, press Enter.

    The IFC file name dialog box displays.

  1. Enter a name for the IFC file and click the Save button to save the entities as IFC.

    The selected entities exported to IFC file. 

 

 

 

 

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