Exporting IFC projects

Export Options

Sets export parameters for the file

File Format

Select whether to export an .ifc, .ifczip, or .ifcxml file

IFC Version

Select the IFC version

Model View

Select the MVD that specifies the geometry and data required for export.

CV 2.0 - Architecture is an official buildingSMART International MVD for exporting architectural models for coordination with structural and building services models.

Extended Vectorworks Model View allows you to customize the geometry and data to be exported in conjunction with the Export Options for data exchange workflows without a standard or official MVD.

This MVD exports the following elements that exceed the CV 2.0 MVD:

3D geometry as proxy objects (IfcBuildingElementProxy)

Linear/angular/arc/slope dimensions

North arrow

Break line

Text nodes (with IFC data attached)

IES VE is a custom MVD to exchange model information with the IES-Virtual Environment platform to conduct building energy performance simulation and analysis.

COBie/Facilities Management MVD enables the handover of graphic and non-graphic facility management information to the building manager. It includes the international version of COBie/COBie2 exchange requirements.

Simplified Geometry exports walls as IfcWallStandardCase, merging all components into one extrude. Slabs are exported as multiple slab instances (one slab for each component).

Reference View MVD (IFC4 only) exports geometry to be used as a reference model only. The model is not converted to native objects, and will not be modified by the receiver. This MVD is useful for visual presentations, coordination planning, clash detection, quantity take-offs, and so on.

The model view and any add-on views are included as information in the IFC file header.

Add-on Views

Select optional information to be added to the model view at export.

Quantity Take Off writes element quantity data to specific IFC data fields for use by costing/estimating applications.

1st Level Space Boundaries exports planes that represent the contact surface between a Space object and an adjacent surface, like a wall, floor, or ceiling. These boundary planes also indicate the placement and extents of openings, such as doors and windows. (Many energy analysis programs require this element.)

Export Visible Objects Only

Exports objects within visible classes only (the selection of layers for export is handled by the Layer Mapping options). When deselected, exports any objects required by the Model View selection.

Export Site Model

For drawings with a site model, this option exports the site model geometry and enables site model layers to be mapped on the Layer Mapping tab

Export Custom Property Sets

Exports custom Psets that were specified in the Manage Custom Property Sets dialog box for objects’ IFC data, for models not explicitly defined in the Model View definition, or when using the extended Vectorworks model view

Export Solids Operations as BREPs

Depending on the receiving application and data exchange requirements, solids operations may need to be simplified to a surface model, also known as a boundary representation (BREP) to display correctly and be properly identified

Export Text in Unicode Format

The Unicode format is more reliable for double-byte characters (text representing characters from such alphabets as Japanese, Chinese, and Cyrillic) but it must also be supported by the receiving application

Export Walls/Slabs by components

Exports the components of walls and slabs as sub-elements, for estimation purposes

Project Data

Name

Type the project name

Phase

Enter the construction phase information

Project Type

Specify the type of project

Project Description

Enter a description of the project

Building Permit ID

Enter the building permit information

Gross Area (Planned)

Enter the total planned area for the entire project

Currency Code

Select the currency code (such as EUR for Euro, USD for US dollars)

Time Unit

Enter the time unit for the project

Default Classification

Select the project classification code; if User-defined is selected, enter the default classification

Author Data

Enter the information for the primary author of the file

Role

Select the author’s professional role; if User-defined is selected, enter the role title

Category

Click Look Up to open the Look Up <Default Classification> Category dialog box; the classification list displayed is determined by the Default Classification selection on the Project Data pane. Select the classification category. If the Default Classification is user-defined, User-defined is selected; enter the category. The selected Category displays.

Author Addresses

Enter pertinent information related to the physical location of the author’s place of business

Organization Data

Enter pertinent information related to the professional organization in charge of the project

Role

Select the organization’s professional role; if User-defined is selected, enter the role title

Category

Click Look Up to open the Look Up <Default Classification> Category dialog box; the classification list displayed is determined by the Default Classification selection on the Project Data pane. Select the classification category. If the Default Classification is user-defined, User-defined is selected; enter the category. The selected Category displays.

Organization Addresses

Enter pertinent information related to the physical location of the organization’s place of business. If the author address data and the organization address data are identical, click Copy Author Addresses to complete the telecom and postal information automatically. Subsequent edits made to either pane remain unique to the pane.

Site Data

Specify site information for the project location, regardless of whether site model data is selected for export.

If the file contains georeferenced information, IFC 2x3 exports geolocated coordinates, and IFC 4 exports geolocated coordinates plus the specified coordinate system for the file. See Specifying document georeferencing. 

If the file is not georeferenced, but the site latitude/longitude and elevation values are known, enter them here.

Site Address

Enter address information for the project site

Building Data

Specifies the IFC properties associated with the building

ID/Name/Description

Enter the building’s ID, name, and description

Category

Click Look Up to open the Look Up <Default Classification> Category dialog box; the classification list displayed is determined by the Default Classification selection on the Project Data pane. Select the classification category. If the Default Classification is user-defined, User-defined is selected; enter the category. The selected Category displays.

Gross Planned Area

Specifies the total planned area for the building, used for programming purposes

Reference Elevation/Site Reference Elevation

Enter the elevation above sea level for the building and the building site

Occupancy Type

Specifies the occupancy classification, defined according to the presiding national building code

Primary Construction Type

Specifies the main fire use for the building, assigned from the fire use classification table as given by the relevant national building code

Secondary Construction Type

Enter any ancillary fire use for the building, assigned from the fire use classification table as given by the relevant national building code

Sprinkler Protection

Indicates whether the building has sprinkler protection, and if so, whether it is automatic (the selection is reflected on the Layer Mapping tab, where it can be overridden for an individual story)

Year of Construction

Enter the year when the building was built

Landmark Status

Indicates a building with special historical landmark designation

Building Address

Enter address information for the building; if the site address and building address are identical, click Copy Site Address to complete the postal information automatically. Subsequent edits made to either pane remain unique to the pane.

Vectorworks Story Name

Specify the mapping options for each story, and for the site model, if it is selected for export on the Data tab. As each story is selected, its associated layers display for mapping. Files set up with a story structure automatically map the story layers for export.

IFC Story Name

Displays the name assigned to the currently mapped layers for export; change the story name if necessary

Available Layers

Lists Vectorworks layers available for mapping; lists the layers associated with the number of stories and the story selected in the Story/Site Selection list

Number of Stories

Displays the number of stories in the file, which determines the number of stories available in the Story/Site Selection list. If the number of stories entered here is different from the number of stories set up for the file, additional layers display for possible mapping for the current story. This allows greater export flexibility, to override the story structure in the file and assign certain layers to different stories at export.

Mapped Layers

Lists layers that have been selected for export; they are associated with the Story Name entry

Add >

Adds available Vectorworks layers to the Mapped Layers list for export

< Remove

Removes mapped layers from the export list, returning them to the Available Layers list

Mapped layer data

Specifies IFC properties for selected mapped story layers

Above Grade

Indicates whether the story is fully above ground

Entrance Level

Indicates whether the story includes an entrance for the building

Sprinkler Protection

Specifies whether the story includes sprinkler fire protection, and if so, whether the sprinklers are automatic; initial settings match the sprinkler protection setting on the Data tab

Planned Areas, Gross/Net

Indicates optional gross and net planned areas, used for design and programming purposes