Batch Convert CAD/BIM Files to XLSX/DAE with Validation and Reporting

Description

CAD2DATA: Batch Converter (Revit/IFC/DWG/DGN → XLSX/DAE)

Batch-convert CAD/BIM files to analysis-ready XLSX and optional DAE with automatic verification and a clean HTML report. Runs locally via RvtExporter.exe and PowerShell on Windows.

Supports configurable export modes — basic (309 categories), standard (724), and complete (~1209) — plus optional outputs such as bounding boxes, Revit schedules, and PDF drawings.

What it does
Scans a source folder (optionally including subfolders) for .rvt, .ifc, .dwg, or .dgn.
For each file, runs: RvtExporter.exe [input] [output.xlsx] [output.dae] [options].
Verifies outputs (existence + size) and aggregates results.
Generates a summary HTML report and opens it automatically on completion.

Converter options
Export modes:** basic | standard | complete | custom
Flags:** bbox (BoundingBox to XLSX), schedule (Revit schedules), sheets2pdf (Sheets → PDF)
Disable:** -no-xlsx, -no-collada
Custom files:** [<output file>] and [<category file>] (used with custom)

Examples
basic bbox — minimal export + BoundingBox
complete schedule sheets2pdf — full export + schedules + PDFs
standard -no-collada — XLSX only (skip DAE)

Prerequisites
Windows** host (PowerShell + local executable).
DDC Revit toolkit installed:
C:\DDC_Converter_Revit\datadrivenlibs\RvtExporter.exe
Read access to the source folder and write access to the output folder.

How to use
Import this JSON workflow into n8n.
Open Set Configuration Parameters and set:
converter_path: C:\DDC_Converter_Revit\datadrivenlibs\RvtExporter.exe
source_folder: folder with your projects
output_folder: folder for results
include_subfolders: true / false
file_extension: .rvt | .ifc | .dwg | .dgn
options: see Converter options
Run Manual Trigger.
The workflow discovers files → runs conversions → verifies outputs → writes and opens the HTML report.

Outputs
*_ext.xlsx — tabular data per input file.
*_ext.dae — lightweight 3D (if not disabled with -no-collada).
CAD_Conversion_Report_YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS.html — summary with:
success rate and progress
per-file and total processing time
input/output sizes and file paths

Notes & tips
Uses PowerShell Get-ChildItem for discovery and cmd /c start to open the report.
With -no-collada, success/verification is XLSX-only (DAE is skipped).
Prefer ASCII paths and ensure write permissions in the output folder.

Categories
Data Extraction · Files & Storage · ETL · CAD/BIM

Tags
cad-bim, revit, ifc, dwg, dgn, converter, batch, xlsx, dae, qto
Author
DataDrivenConstruction.io

Author
DataDrivenConstruction.io
[email protected]

Consulting and Training
We work with leading construction, engineering, consulting agencies and technology firms around the world to help them implement open data principles, automate CAD/BIM processing and build robust ETL pipelines.

If you would like to test this solution with your own data, or are interested in adapting the workflow to real project tasks, feel free to contact us.


Docs & Issues:
Full Readme on GitHub