8 Feb 2025
Export IFC from RVT using Design Automation API for Revit - Part II
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Previously, we talked about exporting IFC from RVT on Design Automation API for Revit in Export IFC from RVT using Design Automation API for Revit - Part I.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to override the Revit IFC addin version on Design Automation API for Revit. Sometimes, we would need to use a specific IFC addin version from https://github.com/Autodesk/revit-ifc/releases for some reason.
For example, here are use cases that we need to include the Revit IFC addin within our appbundle.
- Use case-1: Want to use the latest version published there, but Revit DA hasn't provided that version of Revit IFC addin.
- Use case-2: There are some steel-related elements inside RVT file, but they are missing after exporting it to IFC using Design Automation. Want to bring them back in the exported IFC.
Okay, here are the steps:
- 1. We download the MSI installer of a specific version of Revit IFC addin from https://github.com/Autodesk/revit-ifc/releases and install it on the local machine. For example, Release 23.4.1 for Revit 2023.
- 2. Copy all files and folders except for `IFCExporterUIOverride.*` from the Revit IFC addin installation location or the install folder when compiling from the source code of https://github.com/Autodesk/revit-ifc. For example, "C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\IFC 2023.bundle\Contents\2023".
- 3. Put copied files and folders into the Contents folder of your IFC exporter appbundle. For example, "RevitIfcExporter.bundle/Contents" like the following, if you refer to my IFC exporter sample at https://github.com/yiskang/aps-revit-ifc-exporter-appbundle.
- 4. Modify the "PackageContents.xml" of your IFC exporter appbundle, and add this line to load Revit.IFC.addin that we put in the Contents folder of the app bundle. e.g. Add "<ComponentEntry LoadOnRevitStartup="True" LoadOnCommandInvocation="False" AppName="IFC For Revit 2023" Version="23.4.1" AppDescription="IFC For Revit 2023" ModuleName="./Contents/Revit.IFC.addin"/>" to the "PackageContents.xml".
Here is an example of using Revit IFC addin v23.4.1:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ApplicationPackage Name="RevitDesignAutomation" Description="Revit IFC Exporter" Author="your email">
<CompanyDetails Name="Autodesk, Inc" Url="your website" Email="your email"/>
<Components Description="Export Revit RVT to IFC">
<RuntimeRequirements SeriesMin="R2023" SeriesMax="R2023" Platform="Revit" OS="Win64"/>
<ComponentEntry LoadOnRevitStartup="True" LoadOnCommandInvocation="False" AppDescription="Export Revit RVT to IFC" ModuleName="./Contents/RevitIfcExporter.addin" Version="1.0.0" AppName="RevitIfcExporter"/>
<!-- Add this line>>> --><ComponentEntry LoadOnRevitStartup="True" LoadOnCommandInvocation="False" AppName="IFC For Revit 2023" Version="23.4.1" AppDescription="IFC For Revit 2023" ModuleName="./Contents/Revit.IFC.addin"/> <!-- <<<Add this line -->
</Components>
</ApplicationPackage>
- Pack your appbundle as a ZIP and upload it to Design Automation API for Revit.
That's all. Hope you enjoy it!
If you have questions about IFC export using Design Automation API for Revit, please contact APS support.