VisualARQ helpVisualARQFlexible BIM for Rhino

IFC Translator

Keyboard:
Export: SaveAs
Import: Open
Menu:
Export: File > Save as...
Import: File > Open...

VisualARQ includes a built-in IFC import and export plug-in which makes it possible to exchange VisualARQ and Rhino models with other AEC software packages using IFC 2x3 files.

What is IFC?

The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) file format is a standard way of exchanging objects in the building industry to reduce loss of information when transmitting files between different applications.

Export to IFC

  • Go to File > Save as and save the model as an IFC file.

    • Export Options: click on the Options... button to open the IFC Export Options Dialog to define how you want to export the model and assign IFC types to the existing layers in the document.

    The IFC tag allows you to assign IFC properties to objects when they are exported to IFC.

    Import IFC files

  • Open a new file (File > Open...), select the Import options from the Import Options Dialog, and select the IFC file to import. Make sure you have selected the IFC 2x3 Building Model (*.ifc) file type or All compatible file types.

    • What kind of geometry and data does VisualARQ export to IFC?

    Objects

    • When a document is saved as an IFC file, all VisualARQ architectural objects keep their information and can be further edited in the output AEC software platforms. Depending on the object type and how this object has been created, their parametric features will be preserved or not.

    Geometry

    • Rhino solids, surfaces and meshes are opened as independent mesh objects, unless they have a specific IFC type assigned by object or by layer.
    • Annotation objects such as texts, hatches or dimensions are not exported to IFC.

    Project, Site, Building and Levels

    • When a model is exported to IFC, the Project (ifcProject) and Site (ifcSite) information is automatically generated in the IFC file.
    • Some data (text keys) can be added to the Project and Site this way:
      Steps:
      1. Run the SetDocumentUserText command
      2. Type one of the following text key:
        • IfcProject_Name
        • IfcProject_Description
        • IfcProject_LongName
        • IfcProject_Phase
        • IfcSite_Name
        • IfcSite_Description
        • IfcSite_LongName
      3. Type a document text (the text given to the chosen key)
    • The Building and Levels created in the Level Manager are also exported. They take their name from there. If the document has no Building, the geometry is exported located at the ifcSite.
    • Rhino geometry and VisualARQ objects are exported in the Level where they are located. Most of them take their insert point as the reference point to evaluate where they are located. If they are located below the lowest Building or Level elevation, they are exported at the IfcSite as their location.

    Properties

    • Object properties (such as Style, Thickness, Height, Volume, etc...) are exported to IFC.
    • Custom parameters and their values assigned to VisualARQ objects and Rhino geometry are stored in IFC files as ifcProperties.
    Model exported from VisualARQ to Revit in IFC.
    Model exported from VisualARQ to Revit in IFC