Importing IFC files to IES VE from Vectorworks

[Jack Garlick]

Hi,

Can anyone please point me towards any tutorials or guides for importing IFC into IES VE or Exporting IFC from Vectorworks

Cheers,

Jack

[Terence]

Hi Jack,

We have a IFC import in VE 2012 but it is in a beta stage and we are still some way off getting useful geometry into VE. We hope to work with software vendors who generate IFC (such as Vectorworks) so we can recommend optimum settings for the IFC export to allow a successful import but just now I don’t know much more than that we require Space Boundaries to form closed volumes.

[Jack Garlick]

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I got this response from a vector works sales person

"Vectorworks Architect can export 3D models to IES GAIA using either IFC or gbXML (IFC is preferred). Also, the relationship between Nemetschek and IES is likely to keep growing, as the pair improves the way their respective software programs communicate with one another"

I think I even read somewhere from a vectorworks source that IFC to IES has been tested and works. I guess working and useful are two different things though!

I am learning IES and looking at the best interoperability solutions with our software ( mainly VectorWorks but also SketchUp).

The last two days I have been looking at the SketchUp plugin and have to say that so far I am very impressed.

But I also need to know the best way of getting models into IES straight from VectorWorks. Is it true that using DXF Construct will probably be the best way to do this? Im just learning the DXF process now.

Cheers,

Jack

[PCully]

DXF would be the most robust route as it is long established form and you'll have full control over what goes into the DXF, even as far as in VE as you could choose to trace the DXF to get rooms correct if Construct DXF isn't giving what you want.

SketchUp plug-in should be pretty robust these days as well, the modelling guidance for this is good and gives a good insight into how best to work in SketchUp to get your models into VE quickly and to a high quality.

IFC is coming along, we've done some initial collaborations as you noted and this is going to be the way to get it up to a standard where you get usable models into VE. At present we're getting rooms through, I've not got great expertise with these other packages so I don't know exactly what you want to choose on the export options to ensure you get good closed volumes for room (space boundaries, closed shells are terms I'd expect to see). This could vary product by product as well we really want IFC for BIM to be as standardised as possible before we can really work with this, geometry has to be right before we can add all this other data in there but the potential is great.

Phil

[ditmarmartinson]

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[ditmarmartinson]

Hi guy's

Im having a similar problem. Im trying to get a model from Archicad to IES and i would prefer IFC for that. But it when im trying to import an IFC model into IES im prompted with "The file was not a supported IFC format". Im using standard IFC 2x3 file format. Also playd around with what exactly to export(only spaces, the whole model ... ) and different settings, but nothing worked.
I understand, that the IFC module is still in development, but i should be able to get something in to IES shouldnt't i ?

Any ideas?

[PCully]

do you have any contacts at ArchiCAD who could advise on export settings? I believe they have looked at their gbXML and IFC links to VE in the past so may have some results form those investigations that could be shared with you.

Phil

[waleeed1]

The last two days I have been looking at the SketchUp plugin and have to say that so far I am very impressed.

But I also need to know the best way of getting models into IES straight from VectorWorks. Is it true that using DXF Construct will probably be the best way to do this? Im just learning the DXF process now.