ifc-to-excel
Convert IFC files (2x3, 4x1, 4x3) to Excel databases using IfcExporter CLI. Extract BIM data, properties, and geometry without proprietary software.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/DDC_Skills_for_AI_Agents_in_Construction /tmp/ifc-to-excel && cp -r /tmp/ifc-to-excel/1_DDC_Toolkit/CAD-Converters/ifc-to-excel ~/.claude/skills/ifc-to-excelSKILL.md
# IFC to Excel Conversion
## Business Case
### Problem Statement
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is the open BIM standard, but:
- Reading IFC requires specialized software
- Property extraction needs programming knowledge
- Batch processing is manual and time-consuming
- Integration with analytics tools is complex
### Solution
IfcExporter.exe converts IFC files to structured Excel databases, making BIM data accessible for analysis, validation, and reporting.
### Business Value
- **Open standard** - Process any IFC file (2x3, 4x, 4.3)
- **No licenses** - Works offline without BIM software
- **Data extraction** - All properties, quantities, materials
- **3D geometry** - Export to Collada DAE format
- **Pipeline ready** - Integrate with ETL workflows
## Technical Implementation
### CLI Syntax
```bash
IfcExporter.exe <input_ifc> [options]
```
### Supported IFC Versions
| Version | Schema | Description |
|---------|--------|-------------|
| IFC2x3 | MVD | Most common exchange format |
| IFC4 | ADD1 | Enhanced properties |
| IFC4x1 | Alignment | Infrastructure support |
| IFC4x3 | Latest | Full infrastructure |
### Output Formats
| Output | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `.xlsx` | Excel database with elements and properties |
| `.dae` | Collada 3D geometry with matching IDs |
### Options
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `bbox` | Include element bounding boxes |
| `-no-xlsx` | Skip Excel export |
| `-no-collada` | Skip 3D geometry export |
### Examples
```bash
# Basic conversion (XLSX + DAE)
IfcExporter.exe "C:\Models\Building.ifc"
# With bounding boxes
IfcExporter.exe "C:\Models\Building.ifc" bbox
# Excel only (no 3D geometry)
IfcExporter.exe "C:\Models\Building.ifc" -no-collada
# Batch processing
for /R "C:\IFC_Models" %f in (*.ifc) do IfcExporter.exe "%f" bbox
```
### Python Integration
```python
import subprocess
import pandas as pd
from pathlib import Path
from typing import List, Optional, Dict, Any, Set
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from enum import Enum
import json
class IFCVersion(Enum):
"""IFC schema versions."""
IFC2X3 = "IFC2X3"
IFC4 = "IFC4"
IFC4X1 = "IFC4X1"
IFC4X3 = "IFC4X3"
class IFCEntityType(Enum):
"""Common IFC entity types."""
IFCWALL = "IfcWall"
IFCWALLSTANDARDCASE = "IfcWallStandardCase"
IFCSLAB = "IfcSlab"
IFCCOLUMN = "IfcColumn"
IFCBEAM = "IfcBeam"
IFCDOOR = "IfcDoor"
IFCWINDOW = "IfcWindow"
IFCROOF = "IfcRoof"
IFCSTAIR = "IfcStair"
IFCRAILING = "IfcRailing"
IFCFURNISHINGELEMENT = "IfcFurnishingElement"
IFCSPACE = "IfcSpace"
IFCBUILDINGSTOREY = "IfcBuildingStorey"
IFCBUILDING = "IfcBuilding"
IFCSITE = "IfcSite"
@dataclass
class IFCElement:
"""Represents an IFC element."""
global_id: str
ifc_type: str
name: str
description: Optional[str]
object_type: Optional[str]
level: Optional[str]
# Quantities
area: Optional[float] = None
volume: Optional[float] = None
length: Optional[float] = None
height: Optional[float] = None
width: Optional[float] = None
# Bounding box (if exported)
bbox_min_x: Optional[float] = None
bbox_min_y: Optional[float] = None
bbox_min_z: Optional[float] = None
bbox_max_x: Optional[float] = None
bbox_max_y: Optional[float] = None
bbox_max_z: Optional[float] = None
# Properties
properties: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
materials: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
@dataclass
class IFCProperty:
"""Represents an IFC property."""
pset_name: str
property_name: str
value: Any
value_type: str
@dataclass
class IFCMaterial:
"""Represents an IFC material."""
name: str
category: Optional[str]
thickness: Optional[float]
layer_position: Optional[int]
class IFCExporter:
"""IFC to Excel converter using DDC IfcExporter CLI."""
def __init__(self, exporter_path: str = "IfcExporter.exe"):
self.exporter = Path(exporter_path)
if not self.exporter.exists():
raise FileNotFoundError(f"IfcExporter not found: {exporter_path}")
def convert(self, ifc_file: str,
include_bbox: bool = True,
export_xlsx: bool = True,
export_collada: bool = True) -> Path:
"""Convert IFC file to Excel."""
ifc_path = Path(ifc_file)
if not ifc_path.exists():
raise FileNotFoundError(f"IFC file not found: {ifc_file}")
cmd = [str(self.exporter), str(ifc_path)]
if include_bbox:
cmd.append("bbox")
if not export_xlsx:
cmd.append("-no-xlsx")
if not export_collada:
cmd.append("-no-collada")
result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
if result.returncode != 0:
raise RuntimeError(f"Export failed: {result.stderr}")
return ifc_path.with_suffix('.xlsx')
def batch_convert(self, folder: str,
include_subfolders: bool = True,
include_bbox: bool = True) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
"""Convert all IFC files in folder."""
folder_path = Path(folder)
pattern = "**/*.ifc" if include_subfolders else "*.ifc"
results = []
for ifc_file in folder_path.glob(pattern):
try:
output = self.convert(str(ifc_file), include_bbox)
results.append({
'input': str(ifc_file),
'output': str(output),
'status': 'success'
})
print(f"✓ Converted: {ifc_file.name}")
except Exception as e:
results.append({
'input': str(ifc_file),
'output': None,
'status': 'failed',
'error': str(e)
})
print(f"✗ Failed: {ifc_file.name} - {e}")
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