PDF Exporter – Exporting IFC Model Sections to PDF
PDF Exporter is a plugin for BIMvision that enables users to create and export vector section drawings of IFC models to PDF files. Based on the cutting planes defined in the 3D view, the plugin generates clear technical drawings featuring filled outlines of intersected elements, a sheet border, a title block, a scale and optional external dimension lines.
The generated documents can be printed, measured in PDF viewers and imported into CAD applications. By storing additional information about the model geometry and its elements, PDF files can also serve as a link between 2D documentation and the BIM model.
Key Features
- Export sections to PDF – create drawings based on the actual geometry of elements intersected by a cutting plane.
- Multiple cutting planes – generate several sections in a single PDF file, with a separate sheet for each active cutting plane.
- Automatic sheet layout and scale – each section is placed on an A3 sheet in landscape or portrait orientation, selected to match the proportions of the drawing.
- External dimensions – optionally generate automatic dimension lines for characteristic points of the section and overall dimensions.
- Layers by IFC type – elements are grouped into layers corresponding to their IFC types, such as IfcWall, IfcSlab and IfcColumn. Each layer can be independently shown or hidden in a PDF viewer.
- Interactive links to elements – optionally click an element in the drawing to open the associated model in BIMvision and identify the corresponding object.
- Measurements directly in PDF – the embedded drawing scale allows measurement tools in compatible PDF viewers to be used without manually setting the scale.
- Data linked to the BIM model – the file contains element GUIDs, element names and information that allows drawing coordinates to be related to model coordinates.
Accurate Drawings Based on IFC Geometry
PDF Exporter uses the actual geometry of IFC model elements to generate sections. Intersected elements are represented by filled outlines in the colours used to display them in BIMvision. Openings in the geometry remain unfilled, while elements without a closed solid geometry are drawn using thin lines.
The plugin respects element visibility in the model, allowing users to hide objects that should not appear in the drawing before exporting. The viewing direction corresponds to the section view in BIMvision, while automatic orientation adjustment helps produce clear drawings even for buildings rotated relative to the model coordinate axes.
Automatic Dimensioning and Flexible Units
Optional external dimensions simplify the preparation of technical documentation without the need to dimension the entire section manually. The plugin generates dimension chains covering characteristic points of the visible outline, such as corners, offsets and the edges of door and window openings, as well as overall dimensions.
Users can select dimension units based on the IFC file settings, BIMvision configuration or their own preferences. Available units include millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres, with configurable dimension precision. This makes it easy to adapt the documentation to the requirements of a specific project.
Clear Drawings Ready for Use
Each generated section is placed on a separate A3 sheet with automatically selected orientation and scale. The sheet includes a project name header, a title block, the export date, the scale and information about the position of the cutting plane. When dimensioning is enabled, the dimension units are also specified.
PDF Exporter generates fully vector-based PDF files that remain sharp at any zoom level. Documents can be printed at 100% scale, measured in PDF viewers and used in further design workflows. Support for text in multiple languages, including Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, facilitates work with models from international projects.
Integration of Drawings with the BIM Model
PDF Exporter preserves the connection between 2D documentation and the 3D IFC model. When the object links option is enabled, clicking an element in the drawing can launch BIMvision and identify the corresponding object in the model. The PDF also stores element GUIDs and names, as well as georeferencing data that allows sheet coordinates to be converted into model coordinates.
In addition, the scale information embedded in the PDF allows users to measure lengths and areas directly in compatible PDF viewers. As a result, the documentation is more than a static drawing – it can serve as a practical extension of the BIM model.
Requirements: BIMvision version 3.2.1 or later.