Extract text from CAD and blanking files (BLN)
To convert BLN blanking files to another format, you need Nemetschek Allplan or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "Reinforcement Steel Schedule" file type, you need software like Nemetschek Allplan or a similar tool.
The .BLN file extension is primarily associated with CAD reinforcement steel schedules used in Nemetschek Allplan, a leading BIM (Building Information Modeling) platform. Under the hood, these specific .BLN files often utilize the Microsoft Compound (OLE) file architecture to store structured tabular data about steel rebar configurations. Alternatively, the .BLN extension is also used by Blum for 3D model formats representing hardware components, and by Golden Software for Blanking Files used in mapping to exclude specific data areas (which are usually simple ASCII text or binary).
The main disadvantage of the .BLN format is its fragmented and proprietary nature. A .BLN file from Allplan requires an expensive commercial license to open, and a Blum 3D model might not be natively supported by standard 3D viewers. You cannot simply open these files in a web browser, and sharing them with contractors often results in compatibility issues. Standard online converters fail because the exact same extension represents completely different, closed-source file architectures.
If you need to share Allplan schedules, converting them to PDF or CSV is the most practical choice. Blum 3D models should ideally be exported as STEP, OBJ, or DXF for universal CAD compatibility, while Golden Software Blanking files are best converted to standard vector formats like SHP or DXF.
Because .BLN is a proprietary and heavily application-dependent format, it is extremely difficult for third-party tools to parse without the original software. Often, only Allplan or the original creator's program can properly read or export the complex internal data. However, just drag and drop your .BLN file into convert.guru to identify the actual format, view its internal structure, and convert it when possible. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, like OLE tabular data or ASCII coordinates, viewing or partial conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your BLN file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted $$$BLN, KML, KMZ, DMP, PNG, BIN, PDF, BHS, BHA and EXE files.
If you want to convert BLN file to SHP, KML, KMZ, GPX, GEOJSON, TOPOJSON, TIF, TIFF, ECW, SID, IMG or DEM, you can use Nemetschek Allplan or similar software from the "CAD Reinforcement Steel Schedule" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert LAZ, KMZ, DTM, CSV, DEM, PRJ, LAS, GPX, DSM, SHP, DBF or KML files to BLN, try Nemetschek Allplan or another comparable tool in the "CAD Reinforcement Steel Schedule" 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 BLN converter.