Project: HiCAD Interfaces

IFC

IFC import

Drawing > New/Open > Open > STEP, IGES, ....

To open IFC files (IFC2x3 or IFC4) in HiCAD, call the function, then select the desired *.ifc or *.ifczip file from the dialogue.

In the dialogue window, deactivate the Create feature checkbox if you do not want to save the feature data after creation of the part in HiCAD. During IFC export, parts are generated via feature calculation. After creation of the part the feature data will be discarded if this option has been deactivated beforehand. This can be useful in large drawings, where the feature data may decrease the overall performance.

You have the option to suppress processings when carrying out IFC file imports, namely,

• Cuts (trimmings, mitres, notches etc.) and
• Exclusions (subtractions, bores etc.)

Activate or deactivate the corresponding checkbox(es) in the IFC import dialogue window.

Please note that this suppression is only possible for specific processings, and not for faceted parts. For instance, the processing shown in the image below will always be imported:

The handling of cuts and exclusions can be preset in the Configuration Editor at Active configuration > Interfaces > IFC:

If the Filter option is active, another dialogue for deselection of IFC classes will be opened after choosing Open:

In the tree structure you can deselect all classes that you want to exclude from import.

At the top left of the window you can find an input field where you can restrict the displayed classes by an explicit search for particular classes.

If the Transform IfcSite to origin checkbox has been activated, IfcSite (top element icl. sub-elements) will be transformed to the origin. The original coordinate system will be saves as Fitting CS with the name IfcSite in the Feature of the IfcSite assembly.

If the Show report checkbox has been activated, a report will be displayed after completion of the import. The report lists possible errors, warnings and other information.

Click on an entry in the report to view further information on an object. Click on the Save report button to save the report as CSV file.

The default settings in the dialogue window and further parameters can be defined in the Catalogue Editor at Interfaces > IFC.

IFC export

Drawing > Save/Print... > Save as > 3D Formats (Step, ...)

With this function you can export HiCAD drawings in IFC format. For this, save the file in the *.ifc format, or, as a zipped file, in the *.ifczip format. Select the required file type:

On the right hand side of the export dialogue window you can specify the following settings:

• Parts to be exported:
  Here you can select whether you want to save the complete drawing (All), or only selected parts (Selection list).
• Prefer CONTOUR part:
  If you activate this checkbox, HiCAD will check during export whether a CONTOUR representation exists. If this is the case, it will be exported. If no CONTOUR representation exists, the EXACT/SIMPLE representation will be exported, which will also happen if the checkbox is not activated.
• Unite sheets:
  Activate this checkbox if you want all sub-parts (also flanges and bend zones) of a sheet metal part and its superordinate part to be combined into one part for the export.
• Unit of length:
  Via this option you can select whether the length specifications in the IFC files are to be output in Millimetres (mm), Metres (m) or Inches (inch).
• Export standard parts:
  By activating or deactivating the checkbox you can specify whether Standard parts (bolts, screws, roller bearings, springs etc.) are to be included in the IFC export or not.
• Transfer part structure:
  If this checkbox has been activated, the part structure will be transferred with its actual hierarchy. If it has been deactivated, all parts will be located on one level (as with a BOM).
• Export displayed parts only: 
  By activating the checkbox you are able to export only the currently displayed parts instead of exporting all parts of a drawing.
• Output identical parts as referenced parts:
  When exporting drawings with many identical parts, it is worth selecting this option. Identical parts are then grouped together as referencing, which reduces the amount of data and improves performance.

• Consider IfcSite CS
  If this checkbox has been activated, the data model will be transformed to the Fitting CS with the name IfcSite saved in the Feature of the IfcSite assembly (top assembly), if any.
  

• Show report
  If this checkbox has been activated, a report will be displayed after completion of the export. The report lists possible errors, warnings and other information. Click on the Save report button to save the report as CSV file.

In the Configuration Editor at Active Configuration (Base configuration) > Interfaces > IFC you can specify which export options are to be activated or deactivated by default upon function call. Also, you have the option to define an Attribute mapping configuration for Import and Exportthere.

Please note: 

• 3-D CAD formats (Step, Iges, ...) imported to HiCAD will automatically be opened in a new drawing file.
• If any standard beams/profiles are contained in an IFC file, they will only become the corresponding standard parts in HiCAD if the designation of the profiles in the IFC file corresponds to those in HiCAD. Use the mapping table in the Catalogue Editor (Catalogues > Factory standards IFC interface > IFC mapping ISD) to specify how standard parts are to be transferred from IFC to HiCAD.
• The IFC format version (IFC2x3 or IFC4) can be chosen in the Configuration Editor at Interfaces > IFC > Interface version.
• HiCAD supports the Coordination View 2.0 Subschema. Further information can be found on the website of buildingSMART International.
• Special IfcProcuct-based objects (e.g. electric components) are not interpreted separately, i.e. only connected geometries will be processed (including properties such as Materials/Colours/PropertySets etc. and parameterisations, e.g. for beams and profiles.

Steel Engineering Interfaces • Interfaces