File format comparison

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This is a file format comparison of popular and widely used file formats for geometry and AEC related data storage.

For descriptions see AEC Open Data Standards Directory

Format Open Format? Support Stores metadata Stores materials Stores parametric controls
GSM No ArchiCAD Yes (proprietary) Yes (proprietary) Yes (proprietary)
IFC Yes ArchiCAD, Autodesk Revit, Blender, FreeCAD, Rhino, SketchUp, Tekla, and over 300 other software. Yes (ISO-compliant) Yes (ISO-compliant) Basic (ISO-compliant)
RFA No Revit, bimrv Yes (proprietary) Yes (proprietary) Yes (proprietary)
DWG No Most proprietary CAD, not compatible with most open source CAD Basic (proprietary) Basic (proprietary) No
DXF Yes Supported by all that support DWG, plus all open source CAD Basic Basic No
STL Yes Blender, FreeCAD, Rhino, SketchUp No Possible, but inconvenient No
STEP No Good Yes (Most vendor exports don't) Yes (Most vendors have not implemented) Yes (Most vendors have not implemented)
OBJ Yes Good ? Yes (.mtl)
FBX No Good ?
SKP No SketchUp Yes (proprietary) Yes (proprietary) Yes (proprietary)
BLEND Yes Blender BlenderBIM_Add-on Yes Yes Yes