Extract text from BIM files
To convert your BIM file to another format, you need Microsoft Power BI or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Metadata Container" file type, you need software like Microsoft Power BI or a similar tool.
The .BIM file extension represents a convergence of three distinct, often incompatible digital workflows. Most commonly, it functions as a Real-time Metadata file generated by Sony XDCAM camcorders, containing technical data like shutter speed, iris settings, and GPS coordinates alongside the actual MXF video footage. These files are not video files themselves; opening them directly often results in garbled text, confusing users who expect to see playback.
Alternatively, a .BIM file may contain a Business Intelligence Model used by Microsoft Power BI. These act as binary tabular data definitions, often found in older versions or specific exports (Desktop Personal Gateway). Users commonly encounter problems here because these binary blobs are not human-readable like JSON or XML and require specific software versions to interpret.
Finally, the extension is used by various architectural tools (like DDS-CAD, Abvent Twinmotion, and FICO Xpress) to store Building Information Modeling data. The primary disadvantage of these CAD-based .BIM files is proprietary lock-in; a file created in one specialized tool often cannot be opened in Autodesk Revit or Graphisoft Archicad without conversion.
Best Conversion Targets:
Convert.Guru analyzes your BIM file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted RFA, BIMX, IFC, LDBIM, STATEMENT_PDF-3, RVT, BIN, BMP, BVF, ZIP, DWG, UNKNOWN and PDF files.
If you want to convert BIM file to PDF, DWG, PBIX, STEP, SKP, OBJ, FBX, DAE, 3DS, MAX, BLEND or MA, you can use Microsoft Power BI or similar software from the "Metadata & Data Modeling" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DWG, DAE, X3D, IGES, WRL, JT, SKP, 3DS, 3DM, OBJ, STEP or FBX files to BIM, try Microsoft Power BI or another comparable tool in the "Metadata & Data Modeling" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our BIM converter.