ifc-to-excel

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---
name: "ifc-to-excel"
description: "Convert IFC files (2x3, 4x1, 4x3) to Excel databases using IfcExporter CLI. Extract BIM data, properties, and geometry without proprietary software."
homepage: "https://datadrivenconstruction.io"
metadata: {"openclaw":{"emoji":"📋","os":["darwin","linux","win32"],"homepage":"https://datadrivenconstruction.io","requires":{"bins":["python3"],"anyBins":["IfcExporter","IfcConvert"]}}}
---

# 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 I