IFCout-Cloud Help
IFCout Cloud is an add on to AutoCAD PLANT 3D, Advanced Steel and all other AutoCAD verticals to export drawings to IFC files. It exports plant components, structural members and native AutoCAD entities to IFC2x2, IFC2x3 or IFC4 files. IFCout Cloud uses IFCout desktop generation engine and allows you to run the export outside of AutoCAD in a batch. The drawings to export can be on your local machine or on Autodesk Drive, Docs or any other cloud services that can be mapped to your computer such as Google Drive, OneDrive etc... The generated IFC files can also be exported to your local machine or to the cloud. It also allows you to set up task schedules at certain times to run the export automatically and repeatedly.
Necessary Steps to run the app from scratch
1- You must have AutoCAD installed on your local machine with any of the following versions: 2026,2025, 2024 or 2023.
2- To use the Cloud, you must map Autodesk Drive, Autodesk Docs or any other cloud service to your local machine. For Autodesk Drive or Autodesk Docs more information, visit:
3- You must be signed into your Autodesk 360 Account in AutoCAD.
4- For IFCout Cloud downloaded from Autodesk App Store, you must register your online user ID within AutoCAD. After installing IFCout Cloud, run AutoCAD and type in this command: MDCSETUSERID , a message will appear to confirm this registration.
When you run IFCout Cloud, the MAIN window appears as seen below:
The above window shows the main user interface. Other windows appear when you click certain buttons, such as 'Properties', 'Drawing List', 'Schedule' and 'Log File'. Each is discussed later. The following is a detailed description of each control as it is represented by a number in red.
1- Browse: for the Working Folder, working folders hold all your defined and saved configuration files. A configuration file is a file that contains all the information necessary to run the export batch. This information consists of the drawing files to export, the location of the output IFC files and some other options will be discussed next. It is crucial that you specify at least one working folder.
2- Working Folder path:, displays the full path of the current working folder. This path is saved and is automatically displayed when you run the App unless you change it using the browse button to the right.
3- Change: Click this button to change the AutoCAD Core Engine.
4- The latest AutoCAD Core Engine executable location on your machine is displayed. You can change it to an earlier version.
5- The Version drop down lists IFCout Cloud versions. Both AutoCAD Core Engine and IFCout Cloud versions must match.
6- Units Multiplier: The conversion factor between the Drawing units to metric millimeter. If the drawing units is in inches, then the factor should be 25.4 as an example.
7- Show Color: Specifies whether the original colors of the drawing entities are also exported along with the graphics.
8- Include AutoCAD entities: Specifies whether to export AutoCAD native entities such as lines, arc and solids as well.
9- Use Solid Meshing: Specifies whether to export all geometry as 3D mesh surfaces. If this option is unchecked, then
IFCout Cloud will attempt to export Plant components as smooth surfaces for the most part, especially for standard pipes, elbows, tees, crosses, etc. However, for more custom complex shapes, it will automatically generate them as 3D mesh surfaces.
10- Combine into one IFC File: Specifies whether to export each drawing to its own IFC file OR, combine all drawings into one IFC file.
11- IFC version: Specifies the version of the exported IFC file format. It can be either IFC2x2, IFC2x3 or IFC4.
12- Apply: Once you make any changes for numbers 4, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 12, you must click this button to apply one or more changes you made. These changes are saved in the selected configuration listed in 13.
13- Saved Configurations: Lists all saved configuration in the current working folder.
Program Source
Specifies which AutoCAD vertical to use. If you select 22, the program runs AutoCAD PLANT3D. If you select 23, the program runs Advanced Steel. Finally, if you select 24, the program runs plain AutoCAD. For option 24, any drawing can be specified to export whether it is plain AutoCAD, AutoCAD MEP, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil 3D, etc... However, only primitive AutoCAD entitles are exported along with any XDATA that are associated with them.
26- Update Source: You can change the program source to a selected configuration after creating it. Select program source then click this button.
27- New Configuration: After you have specified all options above, now you can start creating export configurations. Clicking this button allows you to specify a new configuration name. This name must be unique for the current working folder. The following dialog box appears. A default name is given but you can change it.
28- Log Files: Allows you to view all log files.
29- Show Tooltips: Toggles between showing or hiding window's controls tooltips.
30- Languages: Allows you to change the program language to your localized language.
20- Close: Closes the main window.
21- Help: Navigates to the Help website.
14- Properties: Click this button to specify the data to be exported along with the geometry. Based on the Program source you selected, a different default properties appear in the following dialog box.
Properties for PLANT3D
This dialog appears if you selected AutoCAD PLANT3D as a Program Source. It allows you to check or uncheck default PLANT3D properties. Any properties you have checked are exported along with the geometry. It also allows you to specify additional properties that are not displayed in the default properties list. Additional properties can also include XDATA definitions that are stored in the AutoCAD entities. You must click 'Save and Close' button in order to add these properties to the selected configuration. You can right click in the Property List Space to get additional options as shown below:
Add Item: Allows you to add a new property using the dialog box below:
Modify Item: Allows you to modify selected property.
Delete Item: Allows you to delete selected property.
Add from file: Allows you add items from a text file.
Reset: Allows you load default property items.
Open: Allows you load and replace all property items from a text file.
Saves As...: Allows you save currently displayed property items to a text file.
Properties for Advanced Steel
This dialog appears if you selected Advanced Steel as a Program Source. It allows you to check or uncheck default Advanced Steel properties. Any properties you have checked are exported along with the geometry. All functionalities stated above for PLANT3D option are also applied to this dialog box.
Properties for All other AutoCAD Verticals including Plain AutoCAD
This dialog appears if you selected AutoCAD\Others as a Program Source. It allows you to check or uncheck default Advanced Steel properties. Any properties you have checked are exported along with the geometry. All functionalities stated above for PLANT3D option are also applied to this dialog box. Typically, property items would represent XDATA stored in AutoCAD entities. It is recommended to use XDATAo1 to add your XDATA so that they can be formatted as smart data.
15- Drawing List: The dialog box shown below allows you to add drawings to the current export configuration. It also allows you to specify the location of the exported IFC file as well as where the log files are to be located.
Browse to Select Drawings: Allows you navigate to any folder on your local machine or any MAPPED cloud-based services to select the drawings to add to your configuration. A configuration file can have a mixed drawings from several different folders.
Existing Drawing: Lists all drawings you have selected from one or more folders. The drawings in this list are NOT the drawings to be exported. You still need to add them to the 'Drawings to Export' list as discussed below.
Add All: Click this button to add all drawings in the 'Existing Drawings' to 'Drawings to Export' list.
Add: Click this button to add only the selected drawings in the 'Existing Drawings' to 'Drawings to Export' list. You can use CTRL or Shift keys to select more than one drawing.
IFC output files folder: Click the 'Browse...' button to navigate to where you want the exported IFC file to be located. The location can be any folder on your computer or any MAPPED cloud-based service.
Log File Path: Click the 'Browse...' button to navigate to where you want the log files yo be located. The location can be any folder on your computer or any MAPPED cloud-based service.
Drawings to Export: List the actual drawings to export.
Remove All: Allows you to remove all drawings in the 'Drawings to Export list.
Remove: Allows you to remove only selected drawings in the 'Drawings to Export list.
Export All Drawings in Folder: Check this option if you want to export all drawings in the folder where each drawing specified is located. The advantage of using this option is that you won't have to modify the drawings every time you need to add or remove one or more drawings. The program automatically picks all the drawings in the folder. All you have to do is add or remove drawings from these folders.
Save and Close: You must click this button in order to save all the data you have made in this dialog box.
16- Schedules: Click this button to add, modify or delete task schedules you want to include in the configuration file. The dialog box shown below appears:
New Schedule: Click this button to create a new task schedule using the dialog box as shown below. The configuration files (listed in 'Configuration Used') and the 'Task Trigger Details' options are then added to the new task schedule.
Available Schedules: Displays all task schedules saved in the current configuration file if any.
Available Configurations: Displays all configuration files available for the current working folder. You need to select one or more configuration file(s) that you want use in the task/job schedule.
Configurations Used: Displays the configuration files to use in the selected task schedule.
Add: Click this button to add selected configuration files listed in 'Available Configurations' list.
Remove: Click this button to remove selected configuration files listed in 'Configurations Used' list.
Scheduled Job Description: You can optionally add description to the task/job schedule.
Repeat Every: Allows you to specify how often the task/job schedule is run. You can set to 'Hours', 'Days' or weeks.
Start Date/Time: Allows you to specify the start date and time for the first run of the task schedule.
Update Scheduled Job: Click this button to apply any changes you made to the selected task schedule. Typically, you would want to specify all information above before you click the 'New Schedule' button. But you can always come back and update any saved scheduled task/job.
Disable Scheduled Job: Click this button if you want to toggle the status of the selected task schedule; stop/disable or re-start/enable depending on its current status.
Remove Scheduled Job: Check this button to completely remove the selected task/job schedule.
NOTE: AFTER CLICKING 'OK' IN THE 'New Schedule' DIALOG BOX. THE TASK/JOB SCHEDULE IS IMMIEDIATELY REGISTERED WITH 'WINDOWS TASK SCHEDULER"
28- Log Files: Click this button to view the log files. The dialog box shown below appears:
Browse: Allows you to navigate to where the log files are located. All log files exist in the selected folder are listed as shown. When you click on any log file, its contents are displayed to the right as shown above.
Delete Log Files: Delete selected log files from the log files folder.
Show Details: Displays a detailed list of the selected log file.
18- Run Selected Configurations: Click this button to manually run one or more configuration files displayed in the 'Available Configurations' list 13.
19- Delete: Click this button to delete one or more configuration files displayed in the 'Available Configurations' list 13.