BIMx workflow

Prepare the Model in ArchiCAD

Before saving your ArchiCAD model to the BIMx format, you can make some adjustments to ensure the best experience for those who will view it in a mobile device.

Basic Do's and Don'ts:

• Do place furniture, a few pictures, and simple textures into and onto the building, so that when your client takes a BIMx tour, he/she will get a feel for the building's atmosphere.
• Do create a 3D view contains only those parts of the model you want to navigate (e.g. using Marquee or Layer combos).
• Don't use highly detailed objects or large-sized texture images, as these can quickly exhaust the memory limits of the BIMx viewer device.

Each mobile device (e.g. iPad) has particular memory and performance limitations. Thus, it may be necessary to simplify the model in ArchiCAD before exporting it to BIMx.

For more information

If you run into performance difficulties while viewing the BIMx model on mobile device, go here to find more information:

See: Optimizing the ArchiCAD Model for BIMx.

Export ArchiCAD Model to BIMx Add-On (BIM Explorer)

In ArchiCAD, open the model in the 3D window (perspective or axonometric view).

Launch the File > Export for BIM Explorer command.

The Export for BIMx status window opens. Click Export.

Once the export process is finished, click Launch.

The BIMx Add-On (BIM Explorer) starts automatically and loads the exported ArchICAD model.

Working in the BIMx Add-On (BIM Explorer)

The BIMx Desktop Application interface consists of the navigation window and the BIMx menu. You can toggle between them with the ESCAPE key.

For details on navigating within the BIMx Desktop Application and adjusting its settings, see the GRAPHISOFT BIMx User Guide.

Check Memory Usage of BIMx Model

The Info menu of the Desktop Application provides feedback on the amount of memory consumed by the project’s geometry and textures. This is especially important when you plan to view the BIMx model on a mobile device whose memory or performance are limited.

See: Model Size Checking in BIMx Desktop Application

Set Starting Position of Model for iPhone/iPad

Once you have adjusted the rendering and other settings in the BIMx Desktop Application, navigate the model into the desired starting position. This is what the recipient will see when he/she first opens the BIMx file on a mobile device.

Now you are ready to save the model for use by a mobile device.

Save BIMx Model

In the BIMx Add-On (BIM Explorer) Application:

• Press the ESCAPE key to access the BIMx menus.
• Click the File menu.
• Choose Save to save the model in .bimx format. This format can be viewed in all types of BIMx viewers, including iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch and the Desktop Viewer, in addition to the Desktop Application.
• Use the appearing Save BIMx Model dialog box to name the file and set a preview picture.

  

The dialog also gives quick feedback on the size of your model: Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large. Click the link to see which mobile device (e.g. iPad1, iPad2, iPhone) has the required memory to open your model.

Which Mobile Device Will Run Your BIMx Model?

• If your model size is too large for the device you want to view it in, you have to go back to ArchiCAD and simplify the model, then re-export it to the BIMx Desktop Application, then save it again as a BIMx document.

Share with BIMx Community

See: Share Model with BIMx Community.

Export for either Windows (.exe) or MacOS (.app)

Choose one of these options if the recipient of the file does not have a mobile device for viewing BIMx files. He/she can browse for the file on a computer and double-click to automatically launch a built-in BIMx Desktop Viewer and load the exported model.

Share Model with BIMx Community

From the BIMx Add-On (BIM Explorer), use the File > Share with BIMx Community command to save the ArchiCAD model as a BIMx document and upload it to this website in a single step.

The BIMx Community site is a public site operated by GRAPHISOFT, where users can publish their BIMx models for free download by the public.

In the BIMx Add-On (BIM Explorer):

• Press the ESCAPE key to access the BIMx menus.
• Click the File menu.
• Choose Share with BIMx Community to open the Share BIMx Model dialog box. This Share command will save the model as a .bimx document and upload it to the ArchiCAD BIMx Community website, making it available for public download from the Internet, for viewing in all types of BIMx viewers.

  

• Provide License Information. As part of the upload process, you must provide a license number. In the Share BIMx Model dialog box, click License... to open the License Information dialog box and obtain a license number.

  
  You need only do this once: if you are working on a non-public computer, you can check the Remember this serial number box to fill out this field automatically the next time you share a model.

• Click OK to return to the Share BIMx Model dialog box.
• Click Share.

Open BIMx File on the iPhone/iPad

For details see: BIMx/iOStransfer

Categories: CategoryBimx

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