Viewing BCF Files

BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) allows collaborators to exchange comments between software applications without exchanging the entire BIM model. Issues, proposals, and change requests about a project are “topics” in the BCF file, linked to specific objects in the BIM model. The BCF file only contains comments; it does not modify the model.

To view a BCF file:

1. Open the Vectorworks file that is associated with the BCF file. For best results, the BIM model in the Vectorworks file should exactly match the version of the model that was used when the BCF file was created.

2. Select the Open BCF Viewer command from the appropriate menu:

●     Architect workspace: AEC > Open BCF Viewer

●     Landmark workspace: Landmark > Architectural > Open BCF Viewer

3. If no BCF file is currently imported into this Vectorworks file, the Import BCF dialog box opens. Select the desired .bcfzip file and click Open. If the BIM model in the current Vectorworks file is different from the model the BCF file was created with, an alert displays.

4. The BCF Viewer dialog box opens and displays data from the imported file.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

5. Click OK to switch the view in the Vectorworks application to display the objects described in the selected topic. The related objects are selected, and the view is similar to the snapshot.

If the view does not show the correct objects, select View > Zoom > Fit to Objects to zoom in on the selected objects. Alternatively, click Fit to Objects from the View bar.

6. To open another BCF file related to this project, click Import BCF, and select the BCF file from the Import BCF dialog box. The previous BCF file closes, and the new one opens.

7. When you open a BCF file, saved views, a symbol folder, and worksheets are added to the Vectorworks file. When you are done reviewing the BCF file, click Close BCF to remove the BCF data.

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