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Beginner unable to import IFC object file

Anonymous
Not applicable
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
24 REPLIES 24
Anonymous
Not applicable
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
Karl Ottenstein
Moderator
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?
One of the forum moderators
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Laszlo Nagy
Community Admin
Community Admin
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.
Loving Archicad since 1995 - Find Archicad Tips at x.com/laszlonagy
AMD Ryzen9 5900X CPU, 64 GB RAM 3600 MHz, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
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Anonymous
Not applicable
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-s...
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.
Anonymous
Not applicable
Thanks Laszio
The ifc file is an exec file, and doesn't open on my mac?
Laszlo Nagy
Community Admin
Community Admin
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.
Loving Archicad since 1995 - Find Archicad Tips at x.com/laszlonagy
AMD Ryzen9 5900X CPU, 64 GB RAM 3600 MHz, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
2x28" (2560x1440), Windows 10 PRO ENG, Ac20-Ac28
Anonymous
Not applicable
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.
Anonymous
Not applicable
Sorry...attachments again
Anonymous
Not applicable
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.