IFC Files

You can export SOLIDWORKS top-level assemblies or components as .ifc files, using either IFC 2x3 or IFC 4. You can export an .ifc file with custom properties that include the IFC metadata along with other properties.

1. Click File > Export As.
2. From the Export dialog box, for Files of type, select IFC 2x3 or IFC 4.
3. Click Options.
4. Select the OmniClass™, Uniclass2015, Custom Properties, Material and Mass Properties, and Units, and click OK.
   Before you select an OmniClass or UniClass, it is important that you understand the classes listed in the dialog box. See http://www.omniclass.org and [http://www.cpic.org.uk/uniclass2/].
5. If you are exporting to IFC 4, save as one of the following:
   • BREP
   • Tessellation
6. Select the file name and location, enter an optional description, and click OK.

When you export SOLIDWORKS models as IFC files, you can map the SOLIDWORKS custom properties to IFC property sets.

1. In the SOLIDWORKS file, click File > Properties and on the Custom tab, add properties that you want to export to the IFC file. Save the file.
2. Create an XML mapping file that maps the SOLIDWORKS custom properties to the IFC property set values. SOLIDWORKS offers sample mapping files at SOLIDWORKS install folder\lang\language\IFC.
   Sample mapping file:

   <CustomPropertiesPSETMapping>
       <Schema Version="1.0"/>
       <PropertySet Name="Pset_DoorCommon">
           <AppliesTo ElementType="IFCDOOR"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="Reference" IFC="Reference" Type="IfcIdentifier"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="FireRating" IFC="FireRating" Type="IfcLabel"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="NoiseRating" IFC="AcousticRating" Type="IfcLabel"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="Security" IFC="SecurityRating" Type="IfcLabel"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="External" IFC="IsExternal" Type="IfcBoolean"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="Infiltration" IFC="Infiltration" Type="IfcVolumetricFlowRateMeasure"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="ThermalTransmit" IFC="ThermalTransmittance" Type="IfcThermalTransmittanceMeasure"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="Verglasungsflächenanteil" IFC="GlazingAreaFraction" Type="IfcPositiveRatioMeasure"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="Accessible" IFC="HandicapAccessible" Type="IfcBoolean"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="FireDoor" IFC="FireExit" Type="IfcBoolean"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="StarTrekDoor" IFC="SelfClosing" Type="IfcBoolean"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="SmokeStop" IFC="SmokeStop" Type="IfcBoolean"/>
       </PropertySet>
       <PropertySet Name="ACME_CageCodes">
           <AppliesTo ElementType="IFCDOOR"/>
           <AppliesTo ElementType="IFCWINDOW"/>
           <PropertyMapping SOLIDWORKS="RefCode" IFC="CageCode" Type="IfcLabel"/>
       </PropertySet>
   </CustomPropertiesPSETMapping>

3. In the SOLIDWORKS file, click File > Save As.
4. In the dialog box, for Save as type, select the IFC file type, then click Options.
5. In the System Options dialog box, under Options > Output as, select Use Property Set mapping file, and select the mapping file from the list or browse to select it.
6. Click OK then click Save to export the file as an IFC file.
   The IFC file contains the SOLIDWORKS custom properties in the IFC property set, based on the mapping file.

You can import .ifc files into the SOLIDWORKS software to include information from models originally created with structural software applications.

When you import .ifc files into SOLIDWORKS, the file geometry is imported but the resulting SOLIDWORKS model has essentially no features.

You can specify which IFC entities or components to import.

Benefits: Filtering of components on import of IFC files lets you specify exactly the components you need, which saves you time and streamlines your work, especially for large IFC files.

1. Click File > Open.
2. Optional: 3DEXPERIENCE Users: If the Open from 3DEXPERIENCE dialog box appears, click This PC.
3. In the dialog box, for Files of Type, select IFC 2x3.
4. To specify general options, click Options, specify the IFC entities to import, and click OK.
5. To filter which components to import, in the Open dialog box, select Enable Filter.
6. Select the file and click Open.
   If you selected Enable Filter, see Filtering Components When Importing IFC Files for more information.

When you import IFC files, you can filter which components to import.

1. Click File > Open.
2. In the dialog box:
   1. For File type, select IFC 2x3 (*.ifc).
   2. For File name, browse to select the IFC file.
   3. Select Enable Filter.
   4. Click Open.
   A progress bar reports the status as SOLIDWORKS generates the product structure. The file opens with the product structure and an empty graphics area. A message bar alerts you that you can filter the components to generate a preview. The Import Filter CommandManager displays the available tools.
   
   

   If you specified filter options in Tools > Options > System Options > Import > File Format: IFC under Entities to Import, SOLIDWORKS automatically applies those filter options. Specifying these system-level settings before filtering components saves you time, especially for large IFC files, because you can target the exact entities and components to open.
3. Do any of the following:
   • From the FeatureManager design tree, select or clear the components to import. You can select individual check components or box select multiple components.
   • Click Generate 3D Preview to display a graphical 3D preview of the selected components.
   • Click Cancel to cancel the operation and close the preview.

   Subassemblies that contain a mix of selected and cleared components display a partially selected check box . To assist you with handling multiple selections, you can right-click the selected components and select Keep Components or Exclude Components. To invert the selections, select Exclude Other Components. If the components are identical, the Select Identical Components option also appears.
   
   
4. When you finish selecting the components to import, click Import Model .
   SOLIDWORKS imports the IFC file with the components that you selected.

You can save a SOLIDWORKS file as an .ifc file with .ifc entity classification.

1. Open a SOLIDWORKS part or assembly file.
2. Click File > Properties.
3. In the dialog box, on the Custom tab:
   1. In Property Name, select IFC.
   2. In Value/Text Expression, select the appropriate taxonomy.
   3. Click OK.

You can select which IFC entities to import from the IFC files by defining filters in System Options.

1. In an IFC file, click Tools > Options > System Options > Import.
2. In the dialog box:
   1. In File Format, select IFC.
   2. Under Entities to Import, expand the IFC entities under Classification.
   3. Under Import, select the IFC entities to import.
   4. Click OK.
   After you open the IFC file, only the IFC entities that you specified in the System Options dialog box are imported.