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🔓 openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
openBIM tools let project teams exchange, check and coordinate building information using vendor-neutral standards published by buildingSMART: IFC for model data, BCF for issues, IDS for information requirements, bSDD for shared dictionaries and COBie for handover data. This category covers the open-source libraries, free viewers, checkers and interoperability utilities that read, write, validate and federate that data outside any single authoring platform. They are used by BIM coordinators, developers and information managers to keep workflows independent of proprietary file formats.
What does openBIM actually mean?
openBIM is a way of working in which building information is exchanged through open, vendor-neutral standards rather than proprietary file formats. The core standards come from buildingSMART International: IFC for model data, BCF for issues and comments, IDS for machine-readable information requirements, bSDD for shared dictionaries and, for handover, COBie. The goal is that any compliant tool can read the data, so a project is not locked to one software vendor.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
Which IFC versions exist and which one should I ask for today?
The versions in practical use are IFC2x3 TC1 (still widespread), IFC4 ADD2 TC1 (ISO 16739-1:2018) and IFC 4.3 ADD2, which became ISO 16739-1:2024 and adds roads, railways, bridges, ports and waterways. IFC4x1 and IFC4x2 were interim infrastructure releases and are superseded. For buildings, IFC4 is the safe default because most authoring tools have certified exports; for infrastructure, specify IFC 4.3 and confirm each tool actually supports it. IFC5 is still in development and should not be specified on live projects.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is a Model View Definition (MVD) and why does the export dialog ask me to pick one?
An MVD is a defined subset of the IFC schema tailored to a specific exchange purpose. Common ones are IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0, IFC4 Reference View (for coordination and viewing) and IFC4 Design Transfer View (for editing in another tool). Choosing the MVD tells the exporter which entities, geometry types and property sets to include. buildingSMART software certification is granted per MVD, so a tool certified for IFC4 Reference View export has been tested only for that view. With IFC 4.3 and IDS, buildingSMART is moving toward fewer MVDs plus project-specific IDS files.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is inside a BCF file?
A .bcfzip is a ZIP archive that contains one folder per topic (issue). Each folder holds a markup.bcf XML file with the title, status, comments and assignments, one or more viewpoint.bcfv files describing camera position, visible components and clipping planes, and a snapshot image (usually PNG). Because it references IFC element GUIDs rather than geometry, the same issue can be opened in any BCF-capable tool. BCF-XML 3.0 is the current file-based version and BCF-API 3.0 is the REST equivalent used by cloud issue trackers.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is IDS and how is it different from an EIR or a BEP?
IDS (Information Delivery Specification) is a buildingSMART XML standard, final since version 1.0 in June 2025, that expresses information requirements in a machine-readable way. An EIR or BEP describes requirements in prose; an IDS states them as specifications with an applicability part (which IFC elements it applies to) and a requirements part (what attributes, properties, classifications, materials or containment they must have). Checking tools such as IfcTester, Solibri, BIMcollab Zoom and xBIM IDS Validator read the IDS and report pass or fail per element. IDS complements, and does not replace, the written documents.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
Which facets can an IDS specification use?
IDS 1.0 defines six facets: Entity (IFC class and predefined type), Attribute (schema attributes such as Name or Description), Classification (system and reference, often pointing at bSDD), Property (property set, property name and value), Material and PartOf (containment or aggregation relationship). Facets in the applicability section select elements; the same facets in the requirements section state what those elements must satisfy. Requirements can be marked required, optional or prohibited, and values can be restricted with patterns, enumerations and ranges.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is COBie and how does it relate to IFC?
COBie (Construction Operations Building information exchange) is a structured format for handing over asset data such as spaces, types, components, systems, documents and contacts to facility managers. It is usually delivered as a spreadsheet with fixed worksheets, and it is defined in the UK as BS 1192-4:2014 and in the US within NBIMS-US. COBie is also an IFC2x3 model view (FM Handover), so the same data can travel inside an IFC file. Tools such as the Autodesk COBie Extension for Revit and xBIM CobieExpress produce or read it.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is the buildingSMART Professional Certification and is it worth doing?
buildingSMART Professional Certification is a person-level qualification, delivered through buildingSMART chapters and registered training providers, that tests understanding of openBIM concepts: IFC, BCF, IDS, bSDD, MVDs and ISO 19650 principles. The entry level is Foundation (also called Basic), followed by Practitioner levels aimed at specific roles. It is vendor-neutral and increasingly referenced in tenders across Europe. It is worth doing if you coordinate or manage information across several software platforms; it does not replace tool-specific certifications such as Autodesk or Graphisoft ones.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
Which free IFC viewer should I recommend to a client who only needs to look at models?
For Windows users, BIMvision is a good default: free for commercial use, reads IFC2x3 and IFC4, and paid plugins can be added later. If the client is on macOS or Linux, or needs IFC 4.3 infrastructure models, ODA's Open IFC Viewer is free and cross-platform. usBIM.viewer+ from ACCA is useful when the client also wants to add properties or convert DWG to IFC. Solibri Anywhere used to be the answer but its free entitlement was removed in 2026, so do not recommend it for new installs.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
IfcOpenShell, xBIM or web-ifc: which library should my developers use?
Choose by language and deployment. IfcOpenShell (LGPL) is the broadest choice for Python and C++ and is the standard for scripting, server jobs and validation. xBIM (CDDL) is the natural fit for C#/.NET teams and includes COBie and IDS packages. web-ifc from That Open Company (MPL-2.0) runs in the browser through WebAssembly and pairs with @thatopen/components for viewers. If you need a commercial-grade browser viewer with support, xeokit (AGPL or commercial) is the alternative. All read IFC2x3 and IFC4; check IFC 4.3 coverage per library.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is the status of IFC5 in 2026?
IFC5 is being developed openly in the buildingSMART IFC5-development repository. The direction is a modular, composable data model published as JSON-based schemas (the IFCX work) instead of the monolithic EXPRESS schema of IFC4, with a live prototype viewer at ifc5.technical.buildingsmart.org. The repository explicitly labels the material as preliminary and not for production use. Until a candidate standard is voted on, IFC 4.3 ADD2 (ISO 16739-1:2024) remains the current official schema.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
Why do I see IFC.js, web-ifc-viewer, openbim-components and That Open referred to as the same thing?
They are stages of the same project. IFC.js began around 2020 as a JavaScript IFC toolkit built on the web-ifc WebAssembly parser and included web-ifc-viewer. In 2023 the team incorporated as That Open Company, renamed the libraries to openbim-components and later to the @thatopen/components and @thatopen/fragments packages, and branded the whole stack That Open Engine. web-ifc kept its name. Old tutorials that import from web-ifc-viewer or openbim-components target deprecated packages.
Certification: openBIM Standards, Open-Source & Interoperability Tools
What is IfcOpenShell and who maintains it?
IfcOpenShell is an open-source C++ and Python library for reading, writing and processing IFC files, started by Thomas Krijnen in 2011 and now maintained by a community that includes Dion Moult and the OSArch network. The core is licensed LGPL-3.0-or-later and funded through Open Collective donations. It supports IFC2x3, IFC4, IFC4x1, IFC4x2 and IFC4x3 and underpins Bonsai, FreeCAD's native IFC mode and many viewers. The stable Python package is 0.8.5 (April 2026), with 0.9.0 alpha builds published daily.
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How do I export all wall properties from an IFC to a spreadsheet with IfcOpenShell?
Use IfcCSV, which is part of IfcOpenShell. From the command line run ifccsv with the IFC path, a query such as IfcWall, and the attributes or properties you want, for example Name, Pset_WallCommon.FireRating and Pset_WallCommon.IsExternal, and choose CSV, ODS or XLSX output. The same tool can import an edited spreadsheet back and write the values into the IFC. In Python you can do the same with ifcopenshell.util.element.get_psets to read property sets and ifcopenshell.api to write them.
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Can IfcOpenShell check a model against an IDS file?
Yes. IfcTester, shipped with IfcOpenShell, reads IDS 1.0 files and audits an IFC model against them. It runs as a CLI, a Python library or a web app, and can output the results to the console, HTML, ODS, JSON or as a BCF file so failures become issues in your coordination tool. It also lets you author IDS files programmatically, which is handy when requirements come from a spreadsheet or a database.
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What is the buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD)?
bSDD is a free online service run by buildingSMART International that hosts data dictionaries: classification systems, object types, properties, allowed values, units and translations. Every class and property gets a stable URI, so an IFC model, an IDS specification and an authoring tool can all point at exactly the same definition. You can search it at search.bsdd.buildingsmart.org, and software reads it through REST and GraphQL APIs. Dictionary owners such as national classification bodies publish content through a management portal after registering.
Is Bonsai the same thing as the BlenderBIM Add-on?
Yes. The BlenderBIM Add-on was renamed Bonsai with the 0.8.0 release in 2024, partly to comply with Blender's trademark rules for extensions on the Blender Extensions platform. The project, maintainers and codebase are the same, and it remains part of the IfcOpenShell repository. Documentation now lives at docs.bonsaibim.org and the current stable release is 0.8.5, with 0.8.6 and 0.9.0 alpha builds available.
Why does Bonsai call itself native IFC, and what does that change in daily work?
In Bonsai the IFC file is the model. Every wall, type, property set and relationship you create is written directly as IFC entities rather than being translated on export. That means what you see in the IFC spatial tree is exactly what a client or checker will receive, there is no mapping table to configure, and you can open any IFC from another tool and edit it in place. The trade-off is that you must think in IFC terms from the start: correct classes, predefined types and containment.
Can I handle BCF issues and run IDS checks inside Bonsai?
Yes. Bonsai includes a BCF panel to create, view and save topics, comments and viewpoints as .bcfzip files, so it can exchange issues with BIMcollab, Solibri or any BCF-capable tool. For IDS, Bonsai integrates IfcTester: you can load an IDS file, audit the open model and review failures, or author specifications in the interface. Results can also be exported to BCF so the failed elements go straight into the issue workflow.
Does FreeCAD have BIM built in, or do I need an add-on?
Since FreeCAD 1.0 the BIM workbench is built in. It merged the older Arch workbench with the external BIM workbench that Yorik van Havre maintained. FreeCAD 1.1, released in March 2026, added a BIM Views panel, a drawing view tool, sun positioning tools and basic IfcType support. The current maintenance release is 1.1.3 (July 2026) and it is free under the LGPL.
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How does FreeCAD read and write IFC?
FreeCAD bundles IfcOpenShell. In classic mode, IFC import creates FreeCAD BIM objects and export converts them back to IFC. In native IFC mode, introduced from the NativeIFC add-on and now part of the BIM workbench, the IFC file itself is the document: objects you see in the tree are IFC entities and saving writes IFC directly. Native mode preserves the source file better and is the recommended route when you receive IFC from another platform.
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FreeCAD BIM or Bonsai: which should a small practice choose?
Both are free and both rely on IfcOpenShell. FreeCAD suits practices that also need precise parametric solid modelling, 2D drafting with TechDraw and mechanical or product parts in one file. Bonsai suits teams that want the deepest IFC control, better drawing generation from IFC and faster development of openBIM features, at the cost of learning Blender. Many small practices use both: FreeCAD for detailed components and Bonsai for the federated building model and IFC data management.
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What is the xBIM Toolkit?
xBIM (eXtensible Building Information Modelling) is an open-source .NET toolkit for developers. Xbim.Essentials parses and writes IFC2x3, IFC4 and IFC4x3 in STEP, ifcXML and ifcZip formats through a single interface, Xbim.Geometry produces 3D geometry, and Xbim.WebUI renders models in the browser. It is released under the permissive CDDL licence and distributed as NuGet packages; version 6.1.605 was published in July 2026 and targets .NET 8 and .NET 10.
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Can I use xBIM inside a commercial closed-source product?
Yes. The CDDL licence is file-based copyleft: you must publish changes you make to xBIM's own source files, but you may link the library into a proprietary application without releasing your code. This is less restrictive than AGPL (used by xeokit and BIMserver) and roughly comparable to LGPL (IfcOpenShell). Always check the licence of any additional package you pull in, such as the geometry engine's dependencies.
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Does xBIM support COBie and IDS?
Yes through companion packages. Xbim.CobieExpress models the COBie schema so you can read, validate and write COBie data or derive it from IFC. Xbim.IDS.Validator checks an IFC model against IDS specifications and reports results per requirement. Together with Xbim.Essentials this lets a .NET application validate deliverables against both a client IDS and a COBie handover requirement in one pipeline.
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What is BIMserver and how is it different from a file server or CDE?
BIMserver is an open-source Java model server from the opensourceBIM collective, licensed AGPL-3.0. Instead of storing IFC files, it parses each model into an object database, so every element is stored individually with revision history. This enables queries, comparisons between revisions, merging and partial exports through its APIs. A CDE stores documents and manages workflow; BIMserver focuses on the model data itself and is typically used by researchers and developers rather than as a turnkey CDE.
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Is BIMserver still maintained and what does it need to run?
The last tagged release is 1.5.188 from July 2024, described as another final release for Java 8, although the repository saw commits in March 2026. It runs as a Java web application (a JAR or WAR in Jetty or Tomcat) on Windows, macOS or Linux and stores data in an embedded BerkeleyDB. Plan for Java expertise, treat it as a research or internal-tool platform, and expect to update dependencies yourself when moving beyond Java 8.
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How do applications talk to BIMserver?
BIMserver exposes its service interfaces over SOAP, JSON and Protocol Buffers, and provides BimServerClient libraries for Java and JavaScript. A client authenticates, checks in an IFC file to a project, and can then query revisions, run plugins such as serialisers or model checkers, download a filtered subset or subscribe to notifications. Custom functionality is added as Java plugins that implement a serialiser, deserialiser, query engine or service interface.
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Is BIMvision really free for company use?
Yes. The BIMvision viewer from Datacomp is free for personal and commercial use on Windows. The business model is the Plugin Store, where Datacomp and partners sell extensions for tasks like model comparison, quantity take-off and issue management, alongside some free plugins. The current release is 3.1.4 from July 2026.
About BIMvision · Certification
Which IFC versions can BIMvision open, and can it export?
BIMvision reads IFC 2x3 and IFC 4 files. It is a viewer, so it does not edit or export IFC; changes such as issue comments or comparison results are handled by plugins that write their own outputs, including BCF where the plugin supports it. If you need IFC 4.3 infrastructure models, use ODA's Open IFC Viewer or an IfcOpenShell-based tool instead.
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How do I reference bSDD from an IFC model and from an IDS file?
In IFC, a classification from bSDD is attached with IfcClassification and IfcClassificationReference, where the Location or Identification carries the bSDD URI of the dictionary and the class, and properties defined in bSDD are written into property sets with the same names. In IDS, the Classification facet takes the system name and the reference code, and the Property facet takes property set and property names; both can use bSDD URIs so a checker can resolve the definition and its allowed values. Bonsai, ACCA usBIM and several Revit and Archicad plugins can pull classes directly from bSDD while modelling, which avoids typing errors.
Who makes Open IFC Viewer and what does it cost?
Open IFC Viewer is published by the Open Design Alliance, the membership consortium that develops the ODA SDKs for DWG, DGN, IFC and other formats. It is free with no licence fees, runs entirely locally with no cloud account, and is available for Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple silicon) and Linux. It serves as a showcase for ODA's commercial IFC SDK.
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Does Open IFC Viewer support IFC 4.3?
Yes. Open IFC Viewer reads IFC 2x3, IFC 4, IFC 4x2 (bridge) and IFC 4x3 (rail and other infrastructure), which makes it one of the few free desktop viewers for infrastructure models exported from tools such as Civil 3D or OpenRoads. It cannot edit or write IFC, but it can publish to 3D PDF.
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Can I run a clash check in Open IFC Viewer and send the results to my coordination tool?
Yes. Open IFC Viewer includes a clash detection function between loaded models or selections and can export the results as BCF. Each clash becomes a BCF topic with a viewpoint and snapshot, which you can import into BIMcollab, Revizto, Dalux or an authoring tool's BCF plugin. It is a lightweight option for quick checks rather than a replacement for rule-based checkers like Solibri or Navisworks.
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What makes usBIM.viewer+ different from other free IFC viewers?
usBIM.viewer+ from ACCA software is free but it is also an editor: you can add or edit properties, change classifications, federate models and export IFC2x3. It can convert DWG, SketchUp, 3DS, OBJ and DAE files into IFC, which most free viewers cannot do. It also opens BCF and point clouds. ACCA states the product is buildingSMART certified.
About usBIM.viewer+ · Certification
How do I turn a DWG or SketchUp model into IFC with usBIM.viewer+?
Open the DWG or SKP file in usBIM.viewer+, then use the IFC editing tools to assign IFC classes and properties to the geometry, organise it in the spatial structure and export the result as IFC2x3. This is useful for adding legacy or manufacturer content to a federated IFC model. Expect to spend time classifying objects, because the source formats carry no IFC semantics.
About usBIM.viewer+ · Certification
Is usBIM.viewer+ enough for a client who must review IFC4 deliverables?
For viewing, yes: it opens IFC files for inspection and issue review. For editing and export, ACCA's product page describes IFC2x3, so if the client must re-export edited IFC4 models you should verify IFC4 support with ACCA or use Bonsai instead. For pure review, also consider whether the client is on macOS, since usBIM.viewer+ is Windows only; the online usBIM platform covers browser access.
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Is Solibri Anywhere still free?
No. Solibri classified Solibri Anywhere as legacy on 13 April 2026 and removed the free entitlement in version 26.4.0. Installations of 25.12.1 or earlier keep working but get no updates. The replacement for basic IFC inspection is Solibri Starter, which is a paid subscription, while clash detection and BCF issue management sit in Solibri Essential and above.
About Solibri Anywhere · Certification
What could Solibri Anywhere open?
It opened IFC files and Solibri's own SMC files, which bundle federated models with checking results and presentations created in Solibri Office. That made it the standard way for clients and site staff to read Solibri check reports and respond through BCF without a checking licence. It could not export IFC.
About Solibri Anywhere · Certification
My review workflow depended on Solibri Anywhere. What should replace it?
Decide what the reviewers actually did. If they only viewed IFC and commented, move them to a free viewer such as BIMvision or Open IFC Viewer and exchange issues via BCF. If they needed to open SMC files with Solibri checking results, budget for Solibri Starter or Essential seats, or switch the checking output to BCF and PDF reports that any tool can read. Update the BEP so the reviewer software is no longer named as Solibri Anywhere.
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What is That Open Engine?
That Open Engine is the set of free, open-source JavaScript and TypeScript libraries from That Open Company for building BIM applications in the browser, on servers, desktop and mobile. The key packages are web-ifc, a WebAssembly IFC parser under the MPL-2.0 licence, and @thatopen/components under the MIT licence, which adds Three.js based tools for loading models, measurements, floor plans and BCF. It is the successor to the IFC.js project.
About That Open Engine (@thatopen/components + web-ifc) · Certification
What are Fragments and why does That Open convert my IFC to them?
Fragments is That Open's optimised binary format for displaying BIM geometry in the browser. Converting IFC to Fragments once, then streaming the fragments, avoids parsing the whole IFC on every page load and lets very large models be displayed progressively. The IFC data (properties, relationships) is kept alongside so you can still query elements by GUID. It plays the same role as XKT in xeokit or WexBIM in xBIM.
About That Open Engine (@thatopen/components + web-ifc) · Certification
Can I write IFC, not just read it, with web-ifc?
Yes. web-ifc exposes functions to create models, add entities with typed arguments and export the result as an IFC STEP file, all in JavaScript or Node.js. This is used for lightweight authoring apps and for server-side transformations, for example injecting property sets before delivery. The API is lower level than IfcOpenShell's authoring API, so you must respect the schema yourself; validate the output with the buildingSMART Validation Service or IfcOpenShell before issuing it.
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What is Speckle and is it open source?
Speckle is a data platform for AEC that stores design data as versioned objects and syncs it between tools through connectors for Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, Archicad, SketchUp, Blender, Civil 3D, Tekla, Navisworks, Vectorworks and more. The server and connectors are open source under Apache-2.0 and can be self-hosted, and AEC Systems Ltd offers a hosted service with a free plan and paid plans. It is not an IFC-based platform but it can import IFC files.
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How does a Speckle workflow differ from sending IFC files?
With IFC you export a complete file at a milestone and the receiver imports it. With Speckle you publish selected objects from a connector to a project model in the cloud; the receiving tool loads the latest version, and every publish is kept as a version you can diff. It is granular and near real-time, which suits design iteration and analytics. IFC remains the right choice for formal, contractual deliverables and long-term archiving, so many teams use both.
About Speckle · Certification
Can Speckle replace a CDE or an IFC checker?
Not on its own. Speckle handles model data exchange, viewing, comments and version history, and integrates with CDEs such as Autodesk Construction Cloud and Forma, but it does not provide document control, ISO 19650 status codes or approval workflows. It also does not export IFC, so it cannot produce the openBIM deliverable itself. Use it for exchange and analytics, and keep an IFC checker (IfcTester, Solibri, BIMcollab Zoom) for compliance.
About Speckle · Certification
Is xeokit free?
xeokit SDK is released under the AGPL-3.0 licence by Creoox AG, so it is free to use if your application that integrates it is also open-sourced under AGPL. For closed-source or SaaS products Creoox sells a commercial licence. The current release is v2.6.114 from September 2026 and the SDK is published on npm.
About xeokit SDK · Certification
Why do I have to convert IFC to XKT before xeokit can show it?
xeokit loads its own XKT format, which is a compact, pre-processed representation of geometry and metadata designed for fast download and rendering in WebGL. IFC, glTF, CityJSON, LAS or OBJ files are converted with xeokit-convert, often using an IfcOpenShell-based step for IFC geometry. The conversion happens once on the server, so end users never wait for IFC parsing in the browser and very large federated models remain responsive.
About xeokit SDK · Certification
What are the Autodesk BIM Interoperability Tools?
They are a set of free add-ins from Autodesk, downloadable from interoperability.autodesk.com, that help Revit, Civil 3D and Autodesk Docs users meet information requirements. The main ones are the Model Checker for Revit, the COBie Extension for Revit, the Shared Parameters Tool, Room & Area Sync, Standardized Data Tool and Equipment Data Tool. Only the Validation Tool is charged, on a pay-per-result basis.
How do I produce COBie from Revit with the COBie Extension?
Install the COBie Extension for Revit, then run its setup to add the COBie shared parameters to your project. Use the extension's tools to select which spaces, types and components are COBie-relevant, populate contacts, facility and zone data, and then export to the COBie spreadsheet. Run the Model Checker with a COBie checkset first to catch missing values. Remember that COBie also needs consistent naming and classification, which is where bSDD or Uniclass references help.
How does the Model Checker for Revit work and can I share my checks with other offices?
The Model Checker runs a checkset, an XML file that lists checks such as required parameter values, naming patterns, element counts or warnings, against the open Revit model and produces a pass/fail report that can be exported. Checksets are plain files, so a client or lead consultant can issue one checkset to every design team and each team runs it locally before uploading. Autodesk provides sample checksets and a configurator for building your own. It checks the Revit model, not the exported IFC, so pair it with an IFC checker for openBIM deliverables.
Can a xeokit-based viewer exchange issues with BCF tools?
Yes. xeokit includes a BCF viewpoints plugin that serialises the current camera, section planes, selected and hidden objects into a BCF viewpoint JSON and can restore a viewpoint from one. Combined with a BCF-API 3.0 back end or a generated .bcfzip, this lets a custom web viewer show issues created in BIMcollab, Solibri or Revizto and create new ones with correct element GUIDs. Because IFC is converted to XKT, make sure the conversion keeps IFC GlobalIds as object ids, otherwise viewpoints will not match across tools.
About xeokit SDK · Certification
How do I publish my own company or national classification to bSDD?
Register your organisation on the bSDD management portal, then prepare the dictionary in the bSDD JSON import model or the Excel template: dictionary metadata, classes with codes and parent relations, properties with data types, units and allowed values, and any translations. Upload to the test environment first, fix validation errors, then publish to production, where the content receives stable URIs. Updates are versioned so existing IFC and IDS references keep resolving. The repository at github.com/buildingSMART/bSDD (MIT licence) holds the schemas, API documentation and examples.
Can BIMvision be scripted or extended by my own developers?
Yes. BIMvision was one of the first IFC viewers with a plugin interface: developers build plugins against its C++ API and can distribute them through the Plugin Store. In March 2026 Datacomp announced a Python API Bridge plugin, with documentation published in May 2026, which lets Python scripts drive the viewer, read loaded model data and automate repetitive review tasks such as batch screenshots or property audits. Check the licence terms of the bridge plugin before rolling it out, as some Plugin Store items are paid.
About BIMvision · Certification
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About this database
Product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Facts are verified against vendor documentation and dated sources; pricing is described by model only. Spotted an error or a missing tool? Write to [email protected] and we will correct it. Database updated: 2026-09-15.