Assigning IFC Data to Objects

When a building project is exported to an IFC file, Vectorworks plug-in objects and pre-assigned symbols are automatically assigned to IFC entities. Simple hybrid or 3D geometric objects, unless they receive IFC assignments, are not exported. To be exported, these object associations must be made prior to export with the IFC Data command. IFC data can also be included or excluded from export with the IFC Data Mappings command.

Assigning IFC data to an object does not alter it in any visible way. The object can still be edited with standard Vectorworks tools and commands. An example of this would be to use a floor or slab object to model a flat ceiling. Select the floor or slab in the model, and then select the IFC Data command. From the list in the Select IFC Object dialog box, select IfcCovering, the correct assignment for a ceiling. Then, in the IFC Data dialog box, select CEILING from the PredefinedType list in the Properties for the selected Data Set lists.

The IFC Zones, Systems and Groups command attaches IFC data to space zones, systems, or groups. See Assigning IFC Data to Zones, Systems, and Groups.

An object can also be “wrapped” in a container so that it is identified in the Vectorworks file as an IFC Entity object. Editing an IFC Entity is less direct than editing simple Vectorworks objects with IFC data attached. For this reason, an IFC Entity can be useful for model elements that need to be secured from casual changes.

To assign IFC data:

1. Select the object, group, symbol instance, or symbol definition for assignment of IFC data. More than one item can be selected at one time.

IFC data applied to symbol instances affect only the selected instances, not all instances. To attach IFC data to a symbol definition, locate the symbol definition in the Resource Manager. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) the symbol and select IFC Data from the context menu. This attaches the IFC data to future symbol placements, and to any current instances that do not have IFC data already attached to them.

2. Select the IFC Data command from the appropriate menu:

●    Architect workspace: AEC > IFC Data 

●    Landmark workspace: Landmark > Architectural > IFC Data

●    Spotlight workspace: Spotlight > Architectural > IFC Data

Alternatively, select Show IFC Data from the Coordinate/IFC menu on the Object Info palette to enable IFC-related information display on the palette, and then click IFC from the bottom of the Object Info palette.

 

The Select IFC Object dialog box opens, listing available IFC object types.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
IFC Version	Select the IFC version
Simple List/Full List view	Choose the list view. The simple list is an adjusted view of primary IFC objects, while the full list displays all available IFC concepts
Filter List	Enter text or keywords to filter the objects list; only entries which contain the text are listed
IFC object types	Lists available IFC object types; click the object type to select it

3. Select the object type and click OK.

The IFC Data dialog box opens.

The property sets of objects with IFC data and IFC entities can be mapped and saved in mapped configurations as described in Managing IFC Data Mapping; use the assigned mapping by selecting the “by style” data mapping option, or specify mapping for the instance by selecting “by instance” for the data set property.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Entity	Displays the selected type of IFC entity
Select	Opens the Select IFC Object dialog box, to select a different entity type
GUID	Displays the Global Unique Identifier assigned to the entity; this ID follows the entity throughout the IFC workflow to distinguish it from other IFC objects
Create IFC Entity	Leave deselected to retain the Vectorworks object properties in the Object Info palette (the IFC Data remains attached); select to display the object as an IFC Entity in the Object Info palette. IFC Entities are container objects. They display the type IFC Entity on the Object Info palette.
IFC Version	Select the IFC version
Data Sets for this object	Displays the property sets associated with the IFC object; select how to use each IFC pSet by clicking in the Use column. ●    No icon: Data fields are empty, containing no IFC data or data mapping ●    : Some or all of the data fields contain IFC data or data mapping ●    : Does not export to IFC, as defined by its data mapping
Manage Custom Property Sets	Opens the Manage Custom Property Sets dialog box. This allows you to include data from your model even if the data are not defined as part of the IFC specifications.
Properties for the selected Data Set	Displays the available properties and values for the selected pSet, and the source of the values. The data source can have no value, be assigned by instance, or be assigned by style. ●    No icon: No value has been assigned to the property. ●    (by instance): The property value comes from the value set in this IFC Data dialog box, and String/Enum/Number value for selected property becomes available for entering a value. ●    (by style): The property value comes from custom mapping as described in Managing IFC Data Mapping Configuration Sets. Click in the Source column to toggle the source of the property value. A property that has not been custom mapped toggles between no value and by instance value. A property that has been custom mapped toggles between by instance and by style.
String value for selected property/Enum value for selected property/Number value for selected property	When the selected property’s data value is set by instance, specifies a string, list of choices, or value for the selected pSet property; when the selected property’s data value is set by style, displays the result of the formula displayed in Data Source
Data Source	Displays the mapped value formula for the selected property’s data value
Select IFC Instance	For some pSet properties with complex values, an IFC Instance is specified. Select from the list of instances, or click New to open the IFC Instance Edit dialog box. Specify the values of the complex properties and click OK to return to the IFC Data dialog box. (To delete an IFC instance, select it from the list and click Delete.)

4. Click OK to assign the IFC data to the object, or create the IFC entity. The Object Info palette displays the selected IFC object or entity information (IFC value type and the object name, if any) when Show IFC Data is enabled on the palette. Objects like walls and slabs, with default IFC data assigned, display with <Default> to indicate that the default IFC data have not been modified.

The geometry of IFC entities can be edited with the Modify > Edit IFC Entity command; alternatively, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Macintosh) on the IFC entity and select Edit from the context menu.

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Assigning IFC Data to Zones, Systems, and Groups

Managing IFC Data Mapping

Viewing and Editing IFC Data

IFC Format Interoperability

Using Custom IFC Property Sets

Exporting IFC Projects

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