topic Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file in Collaboration with other software

Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 19:04:16 GMT

I'm not very experienced, but I had hoped I would be able to do this without help. That said, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of tutorials on importing IFC objects since Eric Bowbrow's one from 2013 on version 16. I'm using 21.
Using the interoperability.merge functions I keep being told that my file path is too long or I don't have rights. But if I shorten the file path I get told that I don't have rights or I'm trying to import the wrong IFC type. Since I'm using the standard NBS IFC download, I don't see how that can be?
What am i missing?
Thanks folks

Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 17:38:02 GMT

I posted this already with a different title, but perhaps the title wasn't clear enough.
I'm not very experienced, but I had hoped I would be able to do this without help. That said, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of tutorials on importing IFC objects since Eric Bowbrow's one from 2013 on version 16. I'm using 21.
Using the interoperability/merge functions I keep being told that my file path is too long or I don't have rights. But if I shorten the file path I get told that I don't have rights or I'm trying to import the wrong IFC type. Since I'm using the standard NBS IFC download, I don't see how that can be?
What am i missing?
Thanks folks

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Karl Ottenstein — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:23:27 GMT

I've moved your original post into this thread. In future, note that you can edit your subject line for the original post in a thread, and the entire subject for the thread will change to match.

Maybe someone else knows the answer with what you've given, but personally, I would need more information to try to reproduce the problem you're having.

Can you post a screenshot of the error you're getting from the Merge command, and perhaps post the IFC file for one of the windows that you're trying to use?

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 03:24:44 GMT

As a first step in this situation, try to Open the IFC file instead of Merging it into an ARCHICAD Project File.
Then you can examine what kind of information is included in the file.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:17:04 GMT

Thanks Karl.
This forum upload system does not seem to recognise IFC files. When I try to upload one, the files are greyed out. See screenshot. But here is a web link to the page from where I am downloading the IFC window https://www.nationalbimlibrary.com/Lomax-Wood-Limited/kensington-and-chelsea-box-cords-and-weights-sash-window-b1-66
When I open the downloaded zip file I get a pdf and a .ifc file, and the latter is what I am trying to upload to Archicad 21. When I do that now I'm getting the attached error message, although previously I did get different ones.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:22:53 GMT

Thanks Laszio
The ifc file is an exec file, and doesn't open on my mac?

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 01:20:33 GMT

Use the File>Open menu command in ARCHICAD to open the IFC file.
Then it will convert it to an ARCHICAD Project File.

To check whether this IFC file is good, open it in a free IFC Viewer application such as Solibri Model Viewer:

https://www.solibri.com/products/solibri-model-viewer/

If Solibri opens it fine, but ARCHICAD doesn't, the problem is probably with ARCHICAD's IFC Import.
If even Solibri cannot open it, then the problem is with the IFC file itself, it is then probably not in the proper format. In that case the creator of the IFC file should be notified.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 22:51:25 GMT

Thanks for this help. I managed to open the file in Solibri. I'm not at all familiar with the interface, so couldn't do much, but I definitely got a 3D view of the window unit.
But in Archicad when I try to open it as you suggested, everything works up to the point where it shows me the embedded library selection, and then I get the error messages attached.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 22:54:11 GMT

Sorry...attachments again

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 17:06:30 GMT

I now tried to save the IFC file to a local folder, and received the following error message. (below)
Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do?
I've spent 3 days now being unable to import any NBS manufacturers files, and that seems unfortunate. Beginners like me shouldn't have this much trouble finding answers to fairly common tasks. I'm wasting so much time on these issues that I sometimes feel like going back to Vectorworks. VW is limited of course, but at least I can be productive.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 22:16:24 GMT

Is there no one who can assist me with this? I can import files into Solibri, so it isn't the files that are the problem. It's something in the Archicad 21 set-up, but I am unable to work out what is incorrect.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 19:05:11 GMT

I tried to import the same ifc files into Vectorworks, and it worked first time. So this must be an issue with the Archicad import settings.
I'm puzzled that no-one has any suggestions?

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

rohanbailey — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 00:45:27 GMT

Hello,
I tried downloading and opening the NBS file Mumford Sash. There are some inconsistencies in how the IFC was generated from Revit I guess and so ARCHICAD has issues importing it. I managed to import it with both default importers "General Import" & "Exact Geometry Import" but it reported errors in how the IFC was "written". Also it is a library part that works if the walls is imported correctly. There has traditionally been issues with how Revit Doors & Windows get exported into IFC and problems translating that to ARCHICAD Doors & Windows.
I don't know your machine set up so cannot comment on why it shows those errors.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 08:31:00 GMT

Thanks Rohan, I really appreciate the feedback.
I've tried to open this file and many other ifc ones not only in the merge function but also as a standalone import in a new instance of Archicad....and still get the same error messages. I'm not sure what it is that you're saying about the walls, but I'm not trying to import into the model.
I've not changed anything in the settings, and so far as I know I'm using the default translators for General Import.
Could you do me a favour please. Could you set out the steps that you take to do the ifc import? And are you on Archicad 21?
Many thanks again
Ian

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

rohanbailey — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 10:37:59 GMT

I'm sorry, I should have confirmed before quickly replying. Something is wrong with the Revit Export to IFC. It doesn't translate well into ARCHICAD. Here is the process used to import it with result descriptions.

- Open a new ARCHICAD project file using the AC21 Template
- When open go File> Open
- In the dialog locate the file; choose Enable - IFC Files; Choose Translator - General Import
- The next dialog will ask where do you want to save the generated library parts. Save as embedded or somewhere on the local drive.
- Some messages appear saying there is an inconsistency in the IFC, Click Yes to continue.
- The object comes in after you select what to filter. (See below for notes)

Second attempt.
Follow all instructions yet this time choose Translator - Exact geometry. (See Below for notes)

In the first attempt the object comes in as a window but only as part of an included wall library part. See previous attachment image. If you try to insert it in a new wall in plan view then it places the elevation of the window in the wall. i.e. the elevation is the plan of the object and the plan is the elevation of the object.

In the second attempt the object comes in the right orientation, however because of the Exact Geometry import, it is no longer a window and so cannot be inserted in a wall.

This indicates that the object was improperly exported from Revit and so cannot be used in Archicad appropriately. Solibri only opens the IFC as exact geometry hence you can see it. I think you have wasted your time on an object that the author couldn't have bothered to check in other software.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 20:07:21 GMT

This is really detailed Rohan....thanks so much.
It seems however, that my problems are even more severe, because I can't even get the responses that you get. As soon as I choose Embedded Library I get the error message about EDM path being too long. and shortening the name makes no difference. If I switch locations I get the other error messages, but at no time can I get the object in any shape or form.
I've tried this with 4 or 5 ifc's from NBS, and they all behave the same way. And more significantly I can import this same file into Vectorworks very simply. So it does seem to be my set up that's at fault somehow.

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

rohanbailey — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 21:13:34 GMT

Ordinary NBS furniture items come into our ARCHICAD Ok. Problems are special items like doors and windows.

It does look like your set up. Perhaps you should try on a different machine not connected to your network and running ARCHICAD in demo mode.
Have you tried exporting an IFC (or asking a colleague) and bringing it back into ARCHICAD?

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 08:14:45 GMT

Will keep working on this. Last night I installed Archicad 22, and immediately was able to import ifc's. They're incomplete and don't work properly....but at least it's an import whereas before I couldn't get anything. Will compare the settings

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 08:16:42 GMT

I haven't yet been able to find an Archicad file that we can import for a traditional double-hung sash window. That's what got me started on this whole ifc thing. Do you happen to know where we would find one, so we can bypass the ifc's altogether?

Re: Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Barry Kelly — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 08:25:51 GMT

gabalco wrote:
I haven't yet been able to find an Archicad file that we can import for a traditional double-hung sash window. That's what got me started on this whole ifc thing. Do you happen to know where we would find one, so we can bypass the ifc's altogether?

Are the double hung window objects in the standard library not of any use?
I don't really know as I don't use them - I have my own windows.

Barry.