The toolkit
The xbim toolkit is a .NET open-source software development BIM toolkit that supports the BuildingSmart Data Model (aka the Industry Foundation Classes IFC).
Xbim allows .NET developers to read, create and view Building Information (BIM) Models in the IFC format. There is full support for geometric, topological operations and visualisation. In addition xbim supports bi-directional translation between IFC and COBie formats. Core libraries for data manipulation are all written in C#, core of geometry engine is written in C++.
Getting Started
Our main distribution channel is NuGet. Versions published there are assumed to be stable and safe. You can also use our development feeds as listed at the bottom of this page. Have a look at this quick guide to get up to speed with basic xbim functions. Examples contain other code samples and snippets which present various xbim features. You will see that it is quite powerful.
Two core libraries Xbim Essentials and Xbim Geometry are to be used for the creation of complex applications, other repositories include a number of example applications to demonstrate its capabilities:
- Xbim Xplorer - a Windows WPF sample application that can open and render 3D IFC models (and native xbim models ) as well as displaying semantic data.
- Xbim WebUI - a 3D web component that can open and render 3D models processed by xbim.
- Xbim Utilities - a set of sample console applications to perform bulk functions on IFC files.
- Xbim Exchange - Project containing libraries and sample application demonstrating various approaches to work with COBie. This includes Xbim.Cobie which represents spreadsheet view of the COBie model, implementation of CobieLite, Xbim.CobieLiteUK which is XML model inspired by CobieLite but more rigorous and memory efficient and CobieExpress as an EXPRESS based model representing COBie. XbimExchange contains sample code for conversions between IFC and various implementations of COBie.
- Xbim Samples - a sample console application demonstrating how to undertake simple IFC creation and other tasks with xbim.
Please note: all the applications except for Xbim WebUI are provided to demonstrate how to use the xbim toolkit components, they are not intended for use in uncontrolled production environments.
Stay in touch
Xbim Ltd occasionally send a newsletter with tips and tricks for the Toolkit, as well as information about the latest developments. Sign up if you want to stay updated.
Current versions
| Toolkit Component | Latest Myget (develop) | Latest Myget (master) | Latest Nuget |
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Essentials |
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Geometry |
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CobieExpress |
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Windows UI |
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Exchange |
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Compilation
The toolkit uses the NuGet technology for the management of several required packages as well as for distributing the libraries. If you wish to use the development versions of xbim, make sure to add our NuGet feeds for the master and develop branches of the solution. NuGet can download all the required dependencies for you if you have the correct package source configuration.
If you use Visual Studio 2015+ add the following package sources:
- https://www.myget.org/F/xbim-develop/api/v3/index.json
- https://www.myget.org/F/xbim-master/api/v3/index.json
If you use Visual Studio 2013+ add the following package sources:
- https://www.myget.org/F/xbim-develop/api/v2
- https://www.myget.org/F/xbim-master/api/v2
