AutoCAD export to .IFC file?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have ACA 2017, its own Help file even shows me to go to "Export" then hit IFC... but IFC is not an available option!?

Now what? I have the AutoCAD Architecture SP1 version...

How do I export to IFC now?

Thanks!

[dgorsman]

Thing is, IFC is suited for typed objects with associated data.  While it can represent basic 3D solids there's no benefit over other formats such as IGES or FBX from AutoCAD since they don't have any data or type other than 3D solid.  So the question becomes - do you really need IFC, or will another neutral format (like the two mentioned) work as an intermediate format?

[Anonymous]

Is it greyed out or missing? You do have to scroll down with the arrow (circled) to see it at most resolutions

[Anonymous]

Hey Robin,

Thanks for the screenshot. The option to choose IFC just doesn't show up at all.

Here's my screenshot where unlike your version, it continues to FBX after DGN.

So now I'm wondering if my company gave me a "light" version after all...?

[Anonymous]

Hello dgorsman,

Thanks for the input, and I was told that one of the engineers could only import IFC. I'll have to see about other file formats, as you mention in your post, maybe this will solve the issue for now. I'll still have to see about the missing option for IFC export.

Regards,

Axel

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Ah, looking at your ribbon assuming that is the home tab it looks like you have AutoCAD Architecture running a plain AutoCAD profile. See if you can find the folder/profile named "AutoCAD Architecture (Global)" or similar and load that (from Options > Profiles > Import...)

C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ACA 2017\enu\Support\Profiles on my machine has

"C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ACA 2017\enu\Support\Profiles\AutoCAD Architecture (Global)"

"C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ACA 2017\enu\Support\Profiles\AutoCAD Architecture (US Metric)"

[Victoria.Studley · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. Based on your screenshot, as @Anonymous mentioned, you may be running AutoCAD Architecture as AutoCAD, and the IFC Export options are only available in the ACA-specific profiles (as well as other AEC-specific features).

Did switching to one of the ACA profiles help you access the IFC Export feature?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I'm currently traveling and once I'm back in the office I'll get right to it. I'm very surprised to learn that one can have ACA, yet "only" run it as AutoCAD.

[Anonymous]

Robin,

Sorry for the late reply, I was out of the office.

On the path you show, I only have a folder "Unnamed Profile" and a file "FixedProfile.aws". It seems that all installations at my company have this basic setup.

Where would I find the files/profiles (and even other profiles which might be helpful to me) you listed? Or is it not as easy as I think it is?

regards,

Axel

[Victoria.Studley · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

It sounds like you may be missing the ACA-specific content packs that allow you to access the AEC features within the program. They typically install by default, but you can install them manually as follows:

• Go to START > Control Panel > Programs and Features > AutoCAD Architecture 2017
• Right-click and choose Uninstall/Change.
• Choose Add or Remove Features.
• Check the content packs you need (Global, Imperial, and Metric are typically installed by default).
• Click Next then Update.

Could you try this and let us know if you can now launch ACA 2017 into one of the ACA-specific profiles (Global, Imperial, Metric, etc.)?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

If you start ACA without its special profiles it will create a plain AutoCAD profile and use that. It appears that is what has happened. If you have admin rights may be able to reinstall from control panel apps but probably best to talk to whoever deployed the app first. It appears the deployment wasn't configured properly if common across machines.

[Anonymous]

Hello after a long time,

For the last weeks, I struggled with the IT department of my company, and they weren't able to help me with a customized installation. I did not have the option to check out different content packs as you mention in your response. Long story short: I now have ACA 2018 installed...or only AutoCAD 2018, since the IFC icon still does not appear.

But: It seems that I have all functionality, just not with the comfort of clicking on icons, since e.g. the <ifcexport> command that I recently learned does work just fine. So am I just facing an icon-issue, while having all features that I just need to learn the command for?

Thanks everybody for your help. I'm sure your answers were heading in the right direction for those who have more admin control over their software installation, so I'll check them as accepted solutions to the issue, in case others have similar problems.

Regards,

Axel