Solid Edge Resolving IFC4 File Viewing Issues with Third-Party Software

Customers reported that IFC4 files created with Solid Edge 2023 do not display geometry when viewed with non-Siemens software such as Autodesk Viewer, Solibri, and Dalux. This issue was confirmed with IFC4 files created using NX 2312 and Solid Edge 2024, which also failed to display geometry in the same third-party viewers. However, these IFC4 files could be opened and displayed correctly in Siemens' Solid Edge and NX software.

1. Verify the Problem:

• Create a part in Solid Edge.

• Export the part as an IFC4 file.

• Open the IFC4 file in Autodesk Viewer, Solibri, or Dalux to check if the geometry is displayed.

• Import the IFC4 file back into Solid Edge to ensure it displays correctly.

2. Confirm Third-Party Software Limitation:

• The issue is confirmed to be with the third-party viewers' handling of IFC4 files, not with the Solid Edge or NX IFC4 file creation process.

• Test the IFC4 file with an alternative viewer such as "Open IFC Viewer" to confirm that the file displays correctly in other non-Siemens software.

3. Third-Party Software Support:

• Refer to the third-party viewer's support and documentation for any known limitations or issues with IFC4 file support. For instance, Solibri has noted limited support for IFC4 files.

4. Contact Third-Party Support:

• If the issue persists, contact the support teams of the third-party viewers for assistance. Provide them with the example IFC4 file and details about the issue.

5. Further Steps:

If the third-party software vendors identify an issue with the IFC4 file generated by Solid Edge, report back to Siemens for further investigation.

By following these steps, users can determine whether the issue lies with the IFC4 file creation in Solid Edge or with the third-party viewer software. The problem in this case was identified as a limitation of the third-party viewers in handling IFC4 files.