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Opening models


Supported file formats

This section shows which file formats are supported in the viewer and which size restrictions apply.


Models

  • IFC
  • PLY
  • STL
  • GLB


Point clouds

  • E57
  • LAZ & LAS
  • PCD


The file size limit is :

  • IFC models: 1.2 GB
  • Point clouds: 20 GB
  • All other formats: 400 MB


If a single model is too large, it can be subdivided and then merged. You can find more information on model mergers in the following article: Model compositions & editing.


3D viewer compatibility, file size limit, point cloud formats, IFC import, GLB files, E57 support, LAS upload, viewer file formats

Opening models and point clouds in the viewer

This section describes how models and point clouds can be opened in the Viewer and what needs to be taken into account.


Models and point clouds are processed the first time they are opened. This process can take some time. You will be informed via a message as soon as the model or point cloud is available in the viewer.


To open a model with the viewer, the model can be uploaded to the documents in buildagil and then opened. Further information on uploading documents can be found in the following article: Upload folders & documents.



Viewer loading time, model processing, point cloud display, model provision, viewer compatibility, upload requirements

Display options & navigation optimization

This section describes how the display and navigation in the viewer can be customized. This enables better display and navigation, especially for large models or restricted device performance. The following settings are available:


Navigation

  • Dynamic navigation optimization (automatically adjusts the display of the model based on the performance of the device)
  • Adaptive free space navigation (Off: Center of the viewpoint is used. On: The viewpoint is based on the mouse click in free space. The setting has no effect on navigation in the model. The navigation remains the same in both cases)
  • Translucent selection (enables edges to be displayed in the background when selecting elements)
  • Striking selection (displays the edges more directly)
  • Selection without transparent objects (enables objects to be selected behind transparent objects)
  • Selection without plans (allows added plans not to be selected when selecting elements)

Object representation

  • Edges (sharper display of edges)
  • Shadows (representation of shadows)

General presentation

  • Overlay reduction (improves the display of the model if several surfaces lie on top of each other in the model)
  • Colored transparency (transparent objects are slightly colored)

Rooms

  • Rooms (representation of IFCSpace)



Options for models with textures

For models with textures (glb & glTF files), the setting to show / hide textures is also available in the object display.



Options for point clouds

For point clouds, the following additional settings are available for the point display:

  • Dot size (manual adjustment of the dot size)
  • Dynamic point size (automatic adjustment of the point size based on the distance to the viewing point)



Viewer settings, model performance, 3D navigation, selection filters, IFC display, texture control, point cloud visualization, device optimization, visibility settings, model interaction

Troubleshooting

This section describes common problems when opening and displaying models and possible solutions.



Fixing display problems

Display errors may occasionally occur in older models. We are constantly improving the processing of models. Most display problems can be rectified by new processing of existing models. To reprocess older models, click on the model and then on "Reprocess model". The option to reprocess is only available if the model was processed with a previous version of model processing.



If you have display problems that cannot be resolved with the new processing, you can proceed as follows:


  1. Check whether the model is displayed correctly in other model viewers (this way it can be determined whether the discrepancy occurs exclusively in buildagil)
  2. Find out from which program the file was exported
  3. Contact the buildagil support team


Model errors, viewer compatibility, reprocessing, visualization errors, model checking, IFC validation

Troubleshooting for unprocessed models

It may happen that a model cannot be processed. The message "This model cannot be displayed on buildagil because it could not be processed" appears.



The following steps can help to narrow down the discrepancy:


  1. Check export options in the authoring program (see also the following troubleshooting)
  2. Divide model into submodels and process separately
  3. Check IFC models with the BuildingSMART IFC Validation Service for potential inconsistencies


If the discrepancy cannot be resolved with these steps, please contact support. The following questions should be clarified in advance so that they can provide the best possible assistance:


  1. Is the model displayed correctly in other model viewers? (This allows you to check whether the discrepancy only occurs in buildagil)
  2. Could the model be opened successfully beforehand?
  3. From which program was the file exported?


Model import errors, export compatibility, partial model processing, viewer check, file format validation, IFC export options, model conversion, error diagnosis, model loading problems, model validation, model check

Troubleshooting for GLB models

It may happen that certain textures are not displayed for GLB models or that models cannot be opened.


The following possible causes can be checked:

  • At least one texture image is stored as a JPG instead of a PNG
  • The dimensions of at least one texture are too small or too large (width / height of the texture image in pixels)


Details on unsuccessful processing can be requested via Support.


Troubleshooting for models from Tekla Structures

Models exported from Tekla Structures can be displayed differently depending on the export type. If display problems occur, the "Surface geometry" export type can help.


Troubleshooting for models from Archicad

In rare cases, there may be inconsistencies in the display of models exported from Archicad. In such cases, we recommend the settings "Split complex components into individual elements" and "BREP" when exporting the model with the IFC4 translator.



Further information on exporting IFC models can be found in the Archicad help: Help page Archicad.


Troubleshooting for detailed IFC models

IFC models with a very high level of detail can make processing more difficult or significantly impair the display in the viewer. In such cases, it is recommended to reduce the level of detail to a reasonable level during export. Intricate individual parts or complex geometries that are not necessary for the overall view should be simplified or removed wherever possible. This can both shorten the processing time and improve performance when displayed in the viewer.


BIM, BCF, combine models, connect models, merge models, optimize loading times, improve loading times, prevent stalling

Updated on: 15/11/2025