topic ifc: exporting the wall/slab elements by components in Collaboration with other software

ifc: exporting the wall/slab elements by components

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 23:26:38 GMT

hi,
i'm currently a vectorworks user (formerly i've used ac12 a lot) and i wonder if there is a possibility in current archicad releases to export ifc complex elements not as whole ifc entities (walls or slabs), but as their components. i mean e.g. concrete core, rock wool insulation and plaster.

the reason is to make the ifc models readable for the 3rd pty model evaluation software (e.g. navisworks) and thus to enable an interactive work scheduling.

my bim manager has come up with such a wish, claiming archicad can do this with ifc export options.

is it true?

thx in advance,
rob

Re: ifc: exporting the wall/slab elements by components

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:08:04 GMT

This is now possible to do in ArchiCAD 18, it is a new feature.

In the IFC Translation Setup Dialog, in the Export Options panel, click the Options button for the Geometry representation field.
In the appearing Dialog, you will see the "Export Composite and Complex Profile elements into parts" checkbox. Check this checkbox. The Help file says it will do the following:

Explode Composite and Complex Profile elements into parts: This will save composite elements (e.g. Slab or Wall) and Complex Profiles (e.g. Column, Wall, Beam) as so-called “Building Element Parts”. This means that the main element (e.g. IfcWall) will be saved as a container element without geometry, and its parts (the skins or profile components) will provide the geometry. Use this option to ensure the correct export of the individual colors assigned to the Building Materials of each component. This export option retains the original colors of all building parts, instead of exporting them in all one color.

http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/guides/archicad-18-int-reference-guide/interoperability/file-handling-and-exchange/working-with-ifc/importexport-settings/

Re: ifc: exporting the wall/slab elements by components

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 07:53:40 GMT

laszlo,
thanks for your answer. it was exactly the information i was looking for.
rob