ISM - IFC Import Details


 Product(s):Structural Synchronizer
 Version(s):SELECTseries 5 and later
 Area: Import/Export

Where is the option to import an IFC File?

In early versions of ISM, the IFC import action could only be started from the Windows Start menu - All Programs - Bentley Engineering - Structural Synchronizer V8i - Import IFC. With more recent versions, the Synchronizer Viewer may be started without any file in context. Then go to File - IFC Exchange - Import IFC


The dialog box that comes up allows you to select the ifc file and choose a name for the new ism.dgn repository that will be created.

Afterwards, the ISM-IFC process dialog will appear providing status information. 

If the IFC file has materials that have not already been mapped, then a Material Mappings dialog box will appear where you can map the IFC file materials to ISM material types.

Then the process ends with a view of the imported data in the Viewer.

Click Close to finish the process.

What IFC entity types can be imported?

The following is a summary of the various IFC entity types that can be imported, For each, the mapped ISM entity type and properties are listed.

Supported IFC Entities:

  1. IfcBeam -> IsmCurveMember (Use – Beam)
  2. IfcColumn ->  IsmCurveMember (Use – Column)
  3. IfcPile -> IsmCurveMember (Use – Pile)
  4. IfcMember -> IsmCurveMember (Use – HorizontalBrace/ VerticalBrace)
  5. IfcWall -> IsmSurfaceMember (Use – Wall)
  6. IfcWallStandardCase -> -> IsmSurfaceMember (Use – Wall)
  7. IfcFooting -> IsmSurfaceMember (Use – Footing)
  8. IfcSlab -> IsmSurfaceMember (Use – Slab) (true)
  9. IfcPlate -> IsmSurfaceMember (Use – Footing)
  10. IfcDiscreteAccessory -> IsmSurfaceMember (Use – Unset)
  11. IfcFeatureElementAddition -> IsmFeatureAddition
  12. IfcOpeningElement -> IsmSurfaceMemberOpening/IsmFeatureAddition (depending on situation) 

Supported IFC representations:

 Supported IFC profile definitions:

Why is there a warning, "IfcFacetedBrep is not supported"

The ISM API has some surface limitations. Consequently Boundary representation (BREP) surfaces are not imported at this time.