Extract text from BLN files
To convert your BLN file to another format, you need Allplan or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "Engineering Data File" file type, you need software like Allplan or a similar tool.
The .bln extension primarily represents the Allplan Bending Schedule, a specialized engineering format generated by Allplan (part of the Nemetschek Group). These files contain critical reinforcement steel data, such as bar shapes, lengths, and weights, used in concrete construction.
The primary problem with Allplan .bln files is their format structure; they often utilize the Microsoft Compound File binary format, making them unreadable to standard text editors or spreadsheet software without the original BIM environment. This proprietary lock-in prevents site engineers and contractors from easily verifying quantities or integrating the data into procurement systems. To make this data accessible, users typically need to convert these schedules into universal formats like PDF for archiving and printing, or XLSX (Excel) for cost estimation and data manipulation.
A secondary but significant use of the .bln extension is the Golden Software Blanking File. Used by scientific mapping tools like Surfer and Grapher, these are simple ASCII text files containing geospatial coordinates used to define boundaries or "blank" (mask) areas of a map. While transparent, they are rarely supported by mainstream GIS tools like ArcGIS or Google Earth. Users frequently convert these blanking files to SHP (Shapefile), DXF, or KML to import boundary data into broader mapping workflows. Occasionally, .bln files may also originate from Blum planning software for furniture CAD data.
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 Allplan or similar software from the "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 Allplan or another comparable tool in the "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.