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Opening Models


Supported File Formats

This section explains which file formats are supported by the viewer and what size limits 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 split up and then merged. For more information on model assembly, see the following article: Model Assemblies & Editing.


3D viewer compatibility, file size limits, 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 to open models and point clouds in the Viewer and what you need to keep in mind when doing so. To open a model with the Viewer, you can upload the model to the "Documents" section in buildagil and then open it. For more information on uploading documents, see the following article: Uploading Folders & Documents.



When you open the viewer for the first time, models and point clouds are processed. This process may take some time. You will be notified via a message as soon as the model or point cloud is available in the viewer.


This preprocessing makes it possible to display models and point clouds even on devices with lower processing power.



As soon as processing is completed, a corresponding notification will appear in Reporting Center.



Viewer load time, model processing, point cloud display, model deployment, viewer compatibility, upload requirements

Display Options & Navigation Optimization

This section describes how to customize the display and navigation in the viewer. This allows for improved display and navigation, especially when working with large models or on devices with restricted performance. The following settings are available:


navigation

  • Dynamic navigation optimization (Automatically adjusts the model's display based on the device's performance)
  • Adaptive Free-Space Navigation (Option On: In free space, the click point is used as the pivot point. "Free space" refers to the empty room around the model. Option Off: In free space, the center of the viewpoint is used. For navigation within the model, the click point is always used as the pivot point, regardless of the setting.)

Selection

  • Transparent selection (Allows edges in the background to be displayed when selecting elements)
  • Bold Selection (Displays the edges more clearly)
  • Selection without transparent objects (Allows you to select objects behind transparent objects)
  • Selection without plans (When selecting elements, this option ensures that added plans are not selected)

Object Representation

  • Edges (Sharper rendering of edges)
  • Shadows (depiction of shadows)

General Overview

  • Overlap Reduction (Improves the model's display when multiple surfaces in the model overlap)
  • Colored transparency (Transparent objects are lightly tinted)
  • Adjusting the field of view (Can be adjusted using the arrow keys)

Rooms

  • Rooms (as depicted in IFCSpace)



Options for Models with Textures
For models with textures (glb & glTF files), there is an additional setting available for showing or hiding textures when displaying the object.



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

  • Point size (Manual adjustment of point size)
  • Dynamic dot size (automatic adjustment of dot size based on the distance from the viewing point)



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

Troubleshooting

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



Troubleshooting Display Issues

Display errors may occasionally occur in older models. We are continuously improving the way models are processed. Most display issues can be resolved by new reprocessing of existing models. To reprocess older models, click on the model and then click "Reprocess Model." The reprocessing option is only available if the model was processed using a previous version of the model processing tool.



If you are experiencing display issues that cannot be resolved with the new processing method, you can proceed as follows:


  1. Check whether the model displays correctly in other model viewers (This will help determine whether the discrepancy occurs exclusively in buildagil)
  2. Find out which program the file was exported from
  3. Contact buildagil Support


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

Troubleshooting Unprocessed Models

There may be cases where 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 narrow down the discrepancy:


  1. Check the export options in the authoring program (see also the troubleshooting section below)
  2. Break the model down into submodels and process them separately
  3. Check IFC models for potential discrepancies using the BuildingSMART IFC Validation Service


If these steps do not resolve the issue, please contact Support. To ensure that Support can assist you as effectively as possible, please have the following questions answered in advance:


  1. Does the model display correctly in other model viewers? (This will help determine whether the discrepancy occurs exclusively in buildagil.)
  2. Was the model able to open successfully before?
  3. From which program was the file exported?


Model import errors, export compatibility, submodel processing, viewer verification, file format validation, IFC export options, model conversion, error diagnosis, model loading issues, model validation, model verification

Troubleshooting GLB models

In some cases, certain textures may not be displayed in GLB models, or models may not open.


The following possible causes can be checked:

  • At least one texture image is saved 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 regarding the failed processing can be requested through Support.


Troubleshooting Tekla Structures models

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


Troubleshooting Archicad models

For models exported from Archicad, discrepancies in the rendering may occur in rare cases. In such cases, we recommend selecting the settings "Break down complex components into individual elements" and "BREP" when exporting the model using the IFC4 translator.



For more information on exporting IFC models, see the Archicad Help: Archicad Help Page.


Troubleshooting Detailed IFC Models

For IFC models with a very high level of detail, processing can become difficult or the display in the viewer can be significantly impaired. In such cases, it is recommended to reduce the level of detail to a reasonable extent during export. Delicate individual parts or complex geometries that are not necessary for the overall view should be simplified or removed whenever possible. This can both shorten processing time and improve performance when displaying the model in the viewer.


Troubleshooting if the Model Assembly is Not Displayed

If no model is visible when you open a model assembly, it may be because individual models are georeferenced differently.



In this case, one of the models can be selected in the object overview. By using a Point Measurement, the model’s coordinates can be retrieved, thereby identifying which of the models has a different georeference. By adjusting the georeferencing in the authoring program and re-uploading the file, the model assembly can be displayed correctly.



BIM, BCF, combining models, linking models, merging models, optimizing load times, improving load times, preventing freezes, white viewer, model not displayed

Updated on: 16/07/2026