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Export Models and Drawings (DWG, PDF, IFC, OBJ, FBX)

Export your Snaptrude model as OBJ, FBX, DWG, IFC or RVT, export PDF sheets from Present Mode, and send a site to Revit.

Export your Snaptrude model to share it with consultants or continue work in other tools, such as AutoCAD, Revit, Archicad or a visualization app. Model and CAD exports start from the project name menu. PDF drawings and sheets are exported from Present Mode.

Before you start

  • Check your plan. Model and drawing export isn't available on the Free plan. Revit export (.rvt) isn't available on the Free or Starter plans.

  • Check which layers are visible. Hidden layers are left out of exports. In the Layers section of the left panel, show every layer you want in the file and hide the ones you don't.

  • Pick the right place to export from. Use Export > Model/Drawing for 3D models and CAD/BIM files. To get PDFs of plans, views or sheets, use Present Mode (see "Export drawings and sheets as PDF" below).

Export a model or drawing file

  1. Open the project and click the project name at the top left of the screen.

  2. Point to Export and click Model/Drawing.

  3. Rename the file in File name if you want to.

  4. Choose a format in File type. It defaults to OBJ (.obj); change it if you need another file type (see "Choose a format" below).

  5. Click Begin Export. When it's done, the file downloads to your computer as a .zip file and you're also sent a link to it. Extract the .zip before you open the file in another app.

Note: You can run one export at a time. If you start another RVT, DWG, IFC or PDF export while one is still running, Snaptrude shows An export is already in progress. Wait for the first export to finish. Clicking the export button twice doesn't create a duplicate job.

Choose a format

File type

Use it for

OBJ (.obj) (default)

A general 3D mesh for visualization and modelling tools. Also the format to use to bring a Snaptrude site or topography into Revit (see below).

Motion Builder (.fbx)

3D mesh for animation, game engines and visualization tools.

GLB (.glb)

Compact 3D file for web viewers, AR and real-time tools.

3D Studio (.3ds)

3D mesh for 3ds Max and other tools that read .3ds.

AutoCAD Drawing (.dwg)

2D/3D CAD work in AutoCAD and similar tools.

Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc)

Open BIM exchange with consultants and other BIM tools.

Revit model (.rvt)

Taking the model into Revit as a native file. See "Export to Revit".

Revit Export (.trude) / Archicad Export (.trude)

Snaptrude exchange files for bringing the model into Revit or Archicad. Revit export works with the Snaptrude Manager add-in, which can also update an existing Revit model and carries custom parameters and tag values (as Room parameters) into Revit. See "Export to Revit".

Note: DWG, RVT and IFC exports run on Autodesk Platform Services (APS). If Autodesk's service is down, these exports can fail or be unavailable until it's back.

Export drawings and sheets as PDF

PDF export isn't in the Design or BIM Mode export menu. Use Present Mode instead:

  1. Switch to Present Mode.

  2. Place the views you need on sheets. Plans come in as vector drawings at the scale you pick.

  3. Click Export at the top right.

  4. Enter a File name, choose which Sheets to export, and pick a File type: PDF, PNG or JPG.

  5. For PDF, select Export as single PDF file to combine the sheets into one file, or clear it to get separate files.

  6. Click Export.

Present Mode exports download straight to your computer in a few seconds. For the full workflow, including view styles and sheet setup, see "Create Sheets and Export from Present Mode".

Export a site or topography for Revit

To use a Snaptrude site (terrain and surroundings) as context in Revit, export it as an OBJ and import it into Revit.

1. Import the site in Snaptrude

  1. Click the project name, then Import.

  2. In the Snaptrude's Toposolid section, click Import Site.

  3. Search for the location in Search places, addresses, or coordinates, or pan and zoom the map to it.

  4. Select the checkboxes for what you want in the export: Elevation (terrain), Neighborhood Buildings and Satellite.

  5. Under Property Parcels, pick the parcel or parcels you need on the map.

  6. Click Import site.

2. Export the site as OBJ

  1. In the Layers section of the left panel, hide any layers you don't want in the Revit file, such as your massing, so only the site is exported.

  2. Click the project name, then Export > Model/Drawing.

  3. Keep the file type as OBJ (.obj), rename the file if you like, and click Begin Export.

  4. Go to your Downloads folder and extract the .zip.

3. Import the file into Revit

  1. Open your project in Revit.

  2. On the Insert tab, click Import CAD.

  3. Select the extracted .obj file and import it.

Note: Not every Revit release can import OBJ files. If you can't select an .obj file in the Import CAD dialog, your Revit release doesn't support it.

Troubleshooting

  • "An export is already in progress": another export is still running. Wait for it to finish, then try again.

  • The export dialog closed with an error: when an export fails, Snaptrude closes the dialog and shows the reason. Fix the issue it names and export again. If a DWG, RVT or IFC export fails for no obvious reason, Autodesk's service may be down. Try again later.

  • Objects are missing from the file: check the Layers section. Objects on hidden layers aren't exported.

  • Export isn't available: model and drawing export needs a paid plan, and Revit export needs Pro, Organization or Enterprise.

Related articles

  • Export to Revit

  • Create Sheets and Export from Present Mode

  • Import a Site and Topography

  • Use Layers

Related Articles
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