Extract text from ArchiCAD projects (PLN)
To convert PLN projects to another format, you need ArchiCAD or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "BIM Project File" file type, you need software like ArchiCAD or a similar tool.
The .pln file extension most commonly represents an ArchiCAD Solo Project file, created by Graphisoft ArchiCAD. These files store comprehensive 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) data, 2D architectural drawings, and deep project settings. Alternatively, a .pln file functions as a flight plan used by Microsoft Flight Simulator, structured entirely in plain XML.
Working with ArchiCAD .pln files is frustrating if you do not maintain an expensive Graphisoft subscription. The format is highly proprietary and locks your architectural data inside a closed ecosystem. You cannot easily open, view, or edit these files in standard web browsers, making it difficult to share models with clients or external contractors who lack specialized CAD software. Furthermore, .pln files do not embed external library parts; if you transfer the file to a different computer, the 3D model may break or display missing textures. For Microsoft Flight Simulator users, the .pln format is just text, but strict syntax requirements mean the file often fails to load if it was generated by an outdated third-party route planner.
To escape vendor lock-in and share your work freely, you must convert the file. For architectural collaboration and cross-platform editing, convert to IFC to retain critical BIM data in software like Revit. For 2D drafting, convert to DWG or DXF to edit in AutoCAD. If you simply need to show a floor plan to a client, convert to PDF or JPEG. For flight simulator users, convert to KML to visualize your routes in Google Earth.
Convert.Guru analyzes your PLN file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted BPN, PLA, PNL, LCK, DWG, PDF, PLAN, ZIP, PLNX, CDW, JPG, PIN and SIG files.
If you want to convert PLN file to RON, DWG, DXF, DGN, RVT, RFA, SKP, 3DM, STEP, IGES, SAT or X_T, you can use ArchiCAD or similar software from the "BIM Project Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert SLDASM, DGN, PRT, IAM, X_B, CATPRODUCT, SLDPRT, RVT, ASM, DWG, CATPART or DXF files to PLN, try ArchiCAD or another comparable tool in the "BIM Project Storage" 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 PLN converter.