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Getting Started

VIM Desktop provides a basic platform for you to create and view VIM files. The VIM file format distills complex relational data and geometry data from Autodesk Revit or International Foundation Class (IFC) files into an open file format designed for database compatibility and efficient loading and 3D rendering. You can open VIM files in VIM Desktop, which displays the building information modeling (BIM) data, the 3D mesh data, and provides a fully-rendered 3D project view.

You can upload your VIM files to VIM Cloud and generate detailed BIM reports using Microsoft Power BI templates.

NOTE: To download VIM Desktop, you will need to sign up for a VIM Cloud account.

The VIM Desktop installer also includes the following software:

  • VIM for Revit — A plugin for Autodesk Revit. A menu item is added to Revit, enabling you to export VIM files.
  • IFC to VIM — A small standalone application that converts IFC files to VIM files.
VIM Desktop

Installing VIM Desktop​

Minimum Computer Requirements​

  • Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 10 64-bit
  • CPU Type: Multi-Core Intel® Xeon®, or i-Series processor or AMD® equivalent
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • GPU: NVIDIA® GTX 970 or AMD R9 290 or greater
  • Video Display Resolution: 1680x1050 w/ True Color
  • Disk Space: 10 GB free disk space
  • Browser: Microsoft Edge (current version)
  • Connectivity: Internet connectivity for authentication, downloadable content and upgrades
  • Autodesk Revit: Version 2017-2025 (required for the VIM for Revit plugin).

NOTE: If you don't have Revit installed, you can still install VIM Desktop and view the provided sample VIM files.

Step 1: Sign up and sign in to VIM Cloud​

You will first need to sign up and then sign in to your VIM Cloud account.

VIM Cloud

Step 2: Download and install VIM Desktop​

  1. On the VIM Cloud Dashboard, click the Account icon at the top-right and choose Install VIM Desktop from the drop-down menu.
    Install
  2. In your Windows Downloads folder, double-click on the VIM-Setup-vx.x.xx.exe file to install VIM Desktop.

Opening VIM Files
Viewing BIM and Mesh Data
Navigation and Controls Guide