IFC WorkflowsIFC WorkflowsGenerally, IFC-compatible applications are set up to work with an entire project (sites with buildings consisting of stories) in a single file. When you select the Export IFC Project command, you assign design layers to building stories for meaningful export (Vectorworks Architect required). For a project initially set up with stories, mapping is done automatically so that the layers assigned to the building stories are automatically included in the Mapped Layers list and are mapped to an appropriately named IFC Story. Mapping can also be controlled manually, allowing you to override or edit the automated process or make any subsequent changes. The Import IFC command automatically assigns IFC building stories to their own design layers.
To make Vectorworks building models easy to export to IFC, the following guidelines may be useful:
● Set up the project initially with stories as described in Setting Up the Building Structure with Stories (Vectorworks Architect required).
● Design layers for the building model should correspond to building stories (Vectorworks Architect required), not categories of information. (Use classes for categorization.)
● Take care to set up the elevation values of layers correctly, and verify that all the objects in the drawing are aligned correctly vertically. Examining the project in Unified View mode makes this much easier.
● Use standard Vectorworks plug-in objects listed in IFC Format Interoperability wherever possible.
● Use the IFC Data command to attach IFC data to custom user-defined hybrid or 3D symbols, custom 3D elements, or auto-hybrid objects, so that they will be recognized at IFC export.
● Manage the IFC data with the IFC Data Mappings command, attaching IFC data sets, selecting objects and property sets for export, and defining mapping formulas. See Managing IFC Data Mapping.
● Use the Choose Schedule command (Vectorworks Design Series required) to generate default IFC schedules, or create your own schedules to verify and correct the IFC data attached to objects. See Using Preformatted Schedules.
● Test the quality of the IFC export file by verifying it in an IFC model viewer. Almost all IFC viewers can traverse the IFC hierarchical “tree” structure to view and validate the model. Some examples of IFC viewers available at this time include:
● Solibri Model Viewer (Macintosh or Windows)
● FZKViewer (Windows)
● DDS-CAD Viewer (Windows)
● Tekla BIMsight (Windows)
● Constructivity Model Viewer (Windows)
● RDF IFC Viewer (Windows; Macintosh and Linux versions planned)
● Field 3D (iOS)
● IFC WebServer (web browser)
● xBIM Xplorer (Windows)
● IfcPlusPlus (Windows)
For more information about additional available IFC viewers and other IFC-compatible applications, visit the buildingSMART IFC-Compatible Implementations Database website or IfcWiki.org.
● If you receive comments or corrections for the project in BIM Collaboration Format (BCF), use the Open BCF Viewer command to view the notes, and then correct the project file (see Managing BCF Information).
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