To Import Industry Foundation Class (IFC) Files

  1. Click Open IFC Find.

    Alternatively, on the command line, enter ifcimport.

  2. In the Import IFC File and Create Drawings dialog box, click Browse, navigate to the IFC file, and select it.
  3. Specify if the imported file is to be part of a project.
    If you want to… Then…
    import the file and create a project and project drawings select Create a Project and specify a folder name, or click Browse, navigate to the folder, and select it.

    The drawings are imported with the structure of an AutoCAD Architecture project.

    import the file as standalone drawings enter a drawing name, or click Browse, navigate to the file, and select it.

    Unless you specify otherwise, the drawing is created at the same location as the IFC file.

  4. If you want to change the default value for Create Drawings from Template, click Browse, navigate to the DWT file, and select it.

    If the template (DWT file) you select does not have the same units as the IFC file being imported, you are given the choice to continue with that template or to select a different template. If you choose to continue with the selected template, the units in the IFC file will override the units in the template file.

    Note: The template you select becomes the new default template.
  5. Click Options to specify import options:
    If you want to… Then…
    select specific objects to import under Select Objects to Import from IFC File, specify the objects to import by selecting or clearing the check boxes. Click Select All and Clear All to assist with the selection.
    • Select the Building Element Proxy check box to import objects that were exported as 3D solids to an IFC file.
    have a new style name created to correspond with each instance of the style name in the IFC file select Create New Style with Unique Name.

    If multiple occurrences of the same style name exist, a number is displayed incrementally at the end of the name.

    use the first instance of the style name for all objects select Use The First Style Encountered with the Same Name.
  6. Click OK to close the IFC Import Options dialog box.
  7. Click Create.
    If you… Then…
    specified to create project drawings when you imported the IFC file the Project Navigator opens on your drawing screen. Use the Project Navigator to browse the project drawings created at import.
    created standalone drawings and want to view the top-level drawing click Yes.
    created drawings outside of a project and want to view a different drawing click No.