IFC import – ARCHLine.XP

About IFC file format
The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model is designed to describe building and construction industry information. The IFC format is a universal, neutral data format that is now considered for industry data exchange. The IFC-based data exchange capacity is significantly higher than the content of the currently prevalent DWG-based data format information.

ARCHLine.XP is IFC Coordination View 2.0 Import certified.

Importing IFC files

When importing an IFC file, separate drawing units are created that correspond to individual parts of the IFC project structure.

IFC files can be imported as new projects, as new parts of projects, as linked external references or as stand-alone models. FC model imported retains the full storey structure and layer structure of the original model. You can check this in the Layer Manager and Level Manager dialogs.

Importing IFC files can be done in two ways:

Drag and Drop
Drag and Drop is a convenient and easy way to open an IFC file. Open the folder where you have the desired file. Drag the files from Windows Explorer to ARCHLine.XP view and drop them. Select an import option from the dialog that appears.
File menu > Import > Import IFC
To import an IFC file, select File - Import - Import IFC. Browse the IFC model you want to import. Select an import option from the dialog that appears.

Import options (from ARCHLine.XP 2024)

The first step is to import the IFC file. The program offers the following options.

Import IFC and create a new project.	The current project will be closed. The program opens a new project and the result of the import is saved as part of it. A level is created for each IfcBuildingStorey in the IFC file. Floors are created with the name of IfcStorey appended.
Import IFC	Add an IFC file to the current project as a separate, editable structure. A level is created for each IfcBuildingStorey in the project. Floors are created with the name of IfcStorey.
Link IFC	The IFC file is linked to the project as an external reference. You find the linked IFC file in File - Import - Manage links
Import IFC	Add an IFC file to the current project in a new view. IFC model will be visible separately. A level is created for each IfcBuildingStorey in the IFC file. Floors are created with the name of IfcStorey appended. This option is used if you are already working on a project and want to open a new view where you import the IFC model, some of which you may want to use later and copy from this window to your floor plan. Suitable for comparing states too.
Converting IFC to a single object	It creates an object from the contents of the IFC file.

Styles

Style names stored in the IFC file display on the Style Manager. You can specify how and when styles are created.

Create empty setting and add new ones.	The factory styles of ARCHLine.XP are deleted and the project contains only the styles imported from the IFC file.
Keep ARCHLine.XP factory settings and add new ones.	ARCHLine.XP keeps the factory styles and adds the styles imported from the IFC file.

Screenshot example when first option is selected:

Model Filter

You can choose what you want to import from IFC file:
Everything, or just architectural or MEP elements with or without geometry conversion.

With original geometry:
This means that the model retains the geometry in which it was originally created, and the elements are created in ARCHLine.XP as IFC element types. Then, when exporting, the same model you received can be returned to the co-designer, complete with your own model.

Geometry with conversion:
It means that among the architectural elements, walls, slabs, doors, windows, columns, beams, terrain are transformed into the corresponding ARCHLine.XP elements (walls, slabs, etc.).
If the original model is very complex, then walls, slabs, etc. can become IFC elements due to non-matching complex geometry. Railings, stairs, roofs can only be created as IFC elements.

Filters
In the Filters window, you can also individually select which item types to apply or not to apply the conversion to.

Property mapping

One of the most attractive features of IFC imports is that it is able to transfer architectural elements from one program to another in such a way that they not only preserve their geometry, but are indeed walls, ceilings, doors, windows, and so on. remain, not just 3D bodies. These elements not only correspond to the element types in ARCHLine.XP, but are also editable. The easiest way to check the type of an item is to select it and look at its item type in the top row of the Properties panel that appears on the page.

Fixed elements

There may also be a case where even though we see from an element what type it is, it still does not behave according to its properties. An example of this is when the program indicates that the imported model is a wall type and you want to place a window in it. We would expect the location of the window to be automatically cut out, but in 3D we get a different result. This happens if the program reads this item with its 3D shape Fixed. You can also see this in the Page menu if that wall is selected. In this case, this fix must be released to make this wall editable. After disabling this option, the window will appear correctly in the wall, but the image of the wall may change on the 3D model.

IFC elements

As we have seen, imported elements can be architectural elements such as a wall or slab. However, each program has unique elements that are not found in another program, but are nonetheless part of the plan, so they were imported during import. These are imported as IFC elements. These items are not freely editable and we will not be able to modify them beyond their dimensions.

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