Export Industry Foundation Classes Files (.ifc)

Export to an Industry Foundation Classes file (.ifc) all or some of the objects that make up an IFC 3D model in your project. IFC is a commonly used schema for Building Information Modeling (BIM). IFC 3D models can display varying types of geometry in the graphic views, including mesh surfaces and linework. The BIM hierarchy of the schema used to define the 3D model can include a large number of objects, each representing a physical architectural component.

The following example shows the BIM object hierarchy displayed in the Project Explorer and IFC 3D model surface meshes displayed in the 3D View.

For more information, see Work with Industry Foundation Class 3D Models.

Note: Optionally, instead of exporting the IFC 3D model to an IFC-formatted file (.ifc), you can export it to a TrimBIM-formatted file (.trb) using the TRB exporter.

To export an Industry Foundation Classes files (.ifc):

Note: For general instructions on exporting data files, see Export Data.

Select Export in Home > Data Exchange to display the Export command pane.
On the CAD tab, select IFC exporter in the list.
Click in the Data field and then do one of the following to select the objects you want to export:
- Draw a selection box around the objects in a graphic view. Or click each object individually using Ctrl + click.
- Select the objects in the Project Explorer using Ctrl + click or Shift + click.
- Click the Option button for more selection options
Along with IFC objects, you can include annotated (non-IFC) simple linework (straight lines and arcs, including linework in CAD blocks) and surface objects in the exported IFC file, along with the selected IFC objects.
Note: When the exported IFC file is imported into a TBC project, annotated linework and surface objects are imported along with the IFC objects and are displayed in the graphic views. In the Project Explorer, annotated object nodes are grouped together beneath an "Appended data" node for the BIM Data Project, ensuring easy review and selection.
Hint: To easily select all of the objects that make up a 3D model, right-click the node representing the model project in the Project Explorer and select Select Members.
The following example shows all of the objects that make up the 3D model selected.
The following example shows just some of the objects that make up the 3D model selected.
Note: It does not matter whether the selected BIM objects were imported into your project from a TrimBIM file, an IFC file, or both.
By default, the name for the export file is the same as the project. The default location for the new file is the project folder.
Optionally, in the File Name field enter a different file name and/or file path for the new IFC file.
Click Export.
The new IFC file is created in the selected location.
You can verify that your export file is correct in either or both of the following ways:
- If you want to verify that all of the necessary 3D model data is included in the exported file, you can import the file into a new project and compare it to the 3D model displayed in the current project.
- If you moved the 3D model prior to export and want to verify that it's positioning is correct in the exported file, you can import the file into your current project and compare the imported 3D model with the existing 3D model to ensure they are correctly aligned "on top" of each other.