Schedules: bypassing the shortcomings of component properties with ifc

Rastko Pecar — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:36:40 GMT

Hi there,

The answer will probably be no, but one has to ask...

So Archicad for some reason does not allow operating on component properties (skin thickness for example) in expression editor.

When I learned that IFC export allow exploding composites/complex profiles into individual parts ("split complex building elements into parts" option in geometry conversion menu), that IFC information can be previewed in Archicad and even listed in schedules, Ive tried accessing and operating on composite skins (like concating material + skin thickness for quantity takeoff purposes) but it didn't work because Ive read somewhere that the explosion of composites happens at the export operation itself and not in preview phase.

Recently I was tinkering with ifc property mapping and found how you can create rules for each ifcElementType and noticed you can list composite data as parameters. Is it is possible to write a rule that concatenates for example material and skin thickness and display this information inside Archicad schedule?

Ive made a 2 general rules for all ifcElementTypes: one for composites at the top and one for elements below. When I go to my component schedule I can list this ifc property but the displayed values come from the 1st rule and do not contain the information about the material and skin thickness.

Screenshoot below display the mapping rules (1st with only element parameters, 2nd with additional component data) and how the 2nd rule is applied in component schedule, not first.

Do maybe these things play a role in making the thing work:

- enabling "split complex building elements into parts" (exploding composites) doesnt make the thing work, Ive tested it.

- Archicad classification category "Components" (structural, filler, insulation...) Do I need to classify my materials with these categories?

- IFC type mapping?

- does IFC version play a role (i used IFC 4)?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Operating system used: Windows 28.1.0 (4001)

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Schedules: bypassing the shortcomings of component properties with ifc