💡Link IFC

Linking or referencing IFC files in Revit is the recommended and most reliable method for using IFC data in Revit. This method processes the IFC file in the background and displays it as a reference. If the linked IFC file is updated, it will be reloaded and updated in Revit the next time the project is opened. Alternatively, it can be updated manually by selecting it in the project browser and clicking Reload.

Currently, selecting the insertion point when linking an IFC in Revit is not possible. This means that an IFC will always be linked ORIGIN to ORIGIN in Revit:

IFC Origin selected during the export will be positioned to match the Revit Internal Origin.

As Revit Internal cannot be moved, the following workflows are recommended:

  • Ideally, place the project base point in all software solutions to match the Revit internal origin in relation to the project.

  • If the above is not possible: Use a coordination marker (e.g. a cube or a pyramid) at the project base point and manually align the linked model in Revit.

Linking absolutely geo-referenced files in Revit might lead to issues, as the geometry is very far from the Revit origin. Check this article for more information. As a last option, try opening a geo-referenced IFC file in Revit and then linking the .RVT in the main project.

Linking IFC files in Revit creates three files in the same directory:

* ifc.RVT is used by Revit internally and must not be moved or edited to maintain the relationship between the Revit project and the IFC file.

* ifc.log.html is a logfile created during the conversion process. It contains a report about the linked elements, error messages, and hints that can help troubleshoot.

* ifc.sharedparameters.txt contains the shared IFC parameters found in the IFC. To schedule parameters from the linked IFC file in the main project, these must be added to the main project.

💡 Some best practices for using shared parameters from linked IFC flies can be found in this article: https://bim-me-up.com/en/ifc-vorlage-in-revit-fur-intelligente-informationsverwaltung/

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