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Class Handout BES500080 Revit IFC Manual v2-11-13

The document discusses using IFC files in Revit. It recommends linking IFC files as references rather than opening them, as linking will automatically update the file if it changes and is more reliable. When linking an IFC file, Revit automatically generates three support files that should not be moved or edited. Alternatively, IFC files can be opened in Revit but this process may result in data loss or errors due to limitations in converting between formats. Best practices for importing IFC files include checking the file contents and settings prior to opening.

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89 views3 pages

Class Handout BES500080 Revit IFC Manual v2-11-13

The document discusses using IFC files in Revit. It recommends linking IFC files as references rather than opening them, as linking will automatically update the file if it changes and is more reliable. When linking an IFC file, Revit automatically generates three support files that should not be moved or edited. Alternatively, IFC files can be opened in Revit but this process may result in data loss or errors due to limitations in converting between formats. Best practices for importing IFC files include checking the file contents and settings prior to opening.

Uploaded by

mohamed nouh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USING IFC FILES IN REVIT 11

Using IFC Files in Revit

In order to use IFC files in Revit, these can be linked as


a reference (recommended) or opened.

General Settings

The settings found in Revit under File > Open > IFC
Options are valid for both opening and linking IFC files:

Default Template for IFC Import (and Link): will use


the first template from your list defined in the general
Revit options, which is also presented when creating a
new project file. It is recommended to select a minimal
template for IFC Import / Link to avoid blowing up
your file with unnecessary information like views
or families. A minimal template can be created from
Link IFC
scratch by selecting New > Project > Template: <None>
and then saving it as a new IFC template.

Import IFC Class Mapping is a mapping table very


similar to the Export mapping table. It can be directly
edited in the dialog or also by opening and editing the
referenced text file. This is particularly useful if the
default mapping table does not contain a specific IFC
class and type already. Classes can also be excluded
by entering Don‘t import instead of the Revit Category.
It is recommended to exclude classes which are not
relevant in Revit for best performance.
USING IFC FILES IN REVIT 12

Linking or referencing IFC files in Revit is the preferred and most reliable method
for using IFC data in Revit. This method will process the IFC file in the background
and display it as a reference. If the linked IFC file is updated, it will be automatically
reloaded and updated in Revit the next time the project is opened. Alternatively, it
can be updated manually by selecting it in the project browser and clicking Reload.

Linking IFC files in Revit creates automatically three files in the same directory:

* ifc.RVT is used by Revit internally and must not be moved or edited in order to
maintain the relationship between the Revit project and the IFC file.

* ifc.log.html which is basically a logfile of the conversion process and contains a


report about the linked elements, but also error message and hints which can help
with troubleshooting

* ifc.sharedparameters.txt contains the shared IFC parameters found in the IFC. In


order to be able to schedule certain parameters contained in the linked IFC file,
these can be added to the project from this file.
USING IFC FILES IN REVIT 13

Open IFC

IFC files can also be opened in Revit, which will convert all IFC geometry to native
Revit families and make them editable. As introduced at the beginning of this
manual, IFC has been developed as a coordination format and it still has limited
capabilities when it comes to converting and editing. This is being addressed with
the newer concepts like the IFC4 Design Transfer View, however this is still under
development by buildingSMART.

In addition, altering IFC data can lead to liability issues.

In certain cases it can happen that importing an IFC file is necessary due to a
change of the authoring software. It is important to be aware of the fact that
currently this process will lead to a data loss and therefore the imported model
needs to be checked for errors or missing elements. The most important factor
is however the actual content and quality of the IFC itself, which depends on the
export settings.

Following best practices can help when importing IFC files in Revit:

- Check the IFC file in a Viewer and make sure that all elements are classified
correctly – if not, request a new IFC file with a correct classification

- Open the IFC file in a text editor an check the header for information around the
IFC schema and MVD. IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0 is currently recommended for
best results when opened in Revit.

- Exclude all IFC classes not needed in Revit by inserting DontImport in the mapping
table found in IFC Options

- Disable AutoJoin Elements and Correct lines that are slightly off axis in the Open
Dialog to speed up the import process

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