The BCF Manager palette
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Command |
Path |
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BCF Manager |
Window > Palettes > Web Palettes |
BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) is an international open standard available in almost all BIM software tools. It allows collaborators using different software to communicate with each other and manage model-based issues.
Issues, proposals, and change requests 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. It can be used to navigate to issues in the model, respond to comments, create snapshots, assign issues, and resolve issues.
The BCF Manager palette allows file-based BIM collaboration, as well as collaboration using online services.
To manage BIM issues with the BCF Manager palette:
Open the Vectorworks file that is associated or will become associated with the BCF file.
Select the command.
The BCF Manager palette opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
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Parameter |
Description |
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New |
Creates a new BCF file that is associated with the current Vectorworks file, automatically clearing any displayed BCF information. If there are unsaved changes, you're prompted to save them first. |
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Open |
Opens a dialog box to locate and open a BCF file related to the project, automatically clearing any displayed BCF information. Save any unsaved changes before clicking Open, or they will be lost. |
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Opens the Save BCF File dialog box to name and save the current data as a .bcf file of the selected Version. |
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Close |
Closes the current BCF file, clearing any displayed BCF information |
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Connect |
Opens the BCF Connect dialog box, to connect to a BIM collaboration service; see Connecting to a BIM collaboration service |
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Synchronize |
If connected to a service, updates the BCF project to the latest version from the server |
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Connection status |
Indicates whether the palette is connected to a collaboration service |
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Topics |
The upper left side of the palette lists topics for the project, filtered as specified. Topics are listed in the order they were created. Click on a topic to display the comments associated with it in the upper right side of the palette. |
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Search box |
Enter a search string to filter the list of topics |
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Opens the Filter by dialog box to specify which topics to display. Select from specific status or priority options, only topics assigned to you, and only topics associated with the current selection in the Vectorworks drawing. |
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New |
Opens the New Topic dialog box, for adding a BCF topic; see Creating and editing BCF topics |
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Edit |
Opens the Edit Topic dialog box, for editing the currently selected topic as described in the following section; see Creating and editing BCF topics |
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Comments on Selected Topic |
The upper right side of the palette lists comments associated with the selected topic. If the selected comment has a snapshot associated with it, the snapshot displays at the bottom of the palette. |
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New |
Opens the New Comment dialog box, for adding a new comment to the selected topic; see Creating, editing, and deleting BCF comments |
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Edit |
Opens the Edit Comment dialog box, to edit the currently selected topic; see Creating, editing, and deleting BCF comments. Only the author can edit a comment. You cannot edit someone else’s comments. |
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Delete |
Deletes the currently selected comment. Only the author can delete a comment. You cannot delete someone else’s comments. |
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Snapshot for the selected comment |
The bottom of the palette displays the snapshot saved with the current comment, if any |
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Set Current Render Mode |
If a snapshot is displayed, switches the drawing view to match the snapshot, using the current render mode. The related objects are selected, and the view is similar to the snapshot. Alternatively, double-click the snapshot image to switch the drawing view. 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. |
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Reset to Default View |
Resets the drawing view to what it was when the BCF file was opened, using the current render mode |
Do one of the following:
Click New to start a new BCF file.
Click Open to open an existing BCF file.
Click Connect to log in to a BIM collaboration service and open an existing BCF project (see Connecting to a BIM collaboration service).
Update and add topics as described in Creating and editing BCF topics and Creating, editing, and deleting BCF comments.
If you're doing file-based collaboration, save your edits and share the file with other collaborators. If you're connected to a BIM collaboration service, the edits are available to other collaborators on the website immediately; no saving is required.
Creating and editing BCF topics
To create or edit BCF topics:
In the Vectorworks file, select the object for which you want to create or edit an issue, comment, or change request.
From the BCF manager palette, click New, or select a topic and click Edit.
The New Topic or Edit Topic dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
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Parameter |
Description |
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Topic Title |
Enter a title for the topic that describes the issue or request |
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Creation Date |
Displays the date that the topic was created |
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Creation Author |
Displays the name of the person who created the topic |
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Modified Date |
Displays the date that the topic was last modified |
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Modified Author |
Displays the name of the person who last modified the topic |
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Assigned To |
Select a person to address the issue or request |
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Due Date |
Specifies the date for the topic to be addressed |
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Description |
Enter a more lengthy description, providing more details than the title if necessary |
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Status |
Select a topic status |
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Type |
Select a topic category |
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Priority |
Rank the topic by selecting a priority |
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Phase |
Indicate the stage of construction for the topic |
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Labels |
Select one or more labels for the topic by clicking in the first column. A check mark in the column indicates that the label will be applied. Click again to deselect the label. |
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Opens the New Label dialog box; enter the name of a custom label to add to the list |
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Delete |
Deletes the currently selected label |
If you're not using a collaboration service, you can add custom items to the Assigned To, Status, Type, Priority, or Phase lists. To do so, select the Edit List option at the top of each list. The Edit List dialog box opens. To add a list entry, press Enter to go to the next line and type a new item; the custom entry becomes available for selection from the list.
If you're using a collaboration service, changes to these lists must be made from the service.
Creating, editing, and deleting BCF comments
A selected topic can include comments and snapshots from the project. Comments can only be edited or deleted by the author of the comment.
To add or edit a BCF comment:
From the BCF Manager palette, select a topic from the list of topics.
Comments that are already associated with the selected topic display in the Comments on Selected Topic area. Click New to create a comment, or select an existing comment and click Edit.
The New Comment or Edit Comment dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
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Parameter |
Description |
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Snapshot |
After you click Attach Snapshot, displays a snapshot of the current drawing view, which will display in the BCF Manager palette |
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Attach Snapshot |
Attaches the current drawing view to the comment as a snapshot; this image displays in the bottom portion of the BCF Manager palette when the comment is selected |
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Comment |
Enter or edit a comment about the topic |
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Store the selection of elements |
For BCF version 2.1 and later, saves the current selection status of objects in the drawing along with the comment |
To delete a comment, select it and click Delete.
Connecting to a BIM collaboration service
If you use a BIM collaboration service to manage BIM projects, set up the connection and sync data from the BCF Manager palette.
To connect to a BIM collaboration service:
From the BCF Manager palette, click Connect.
The BCF Connect dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
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Parameter |
Description |
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Servers |
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Name |
The name associated with the selected server Type |
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Type |
Select a name from the list, or click Custom to create a custom connection |
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URL |
The URL of the web service |
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Authentication |
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Username |
Enter the username you use to log in to the web service |
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Password |
Enter the password you use to log in to the web service; click the eye icon to show the password |
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Log in |
Connects to the web service using the current settings |
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Projects |
Once connected, lists the projects available to your account on the web service. Select the project you want to update. |
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Select |
Connects to the specified project on the web service |
The connection status at the top of the palette changes to Connected, and the server data for the selected project is loaded into the palette.
Edit the project topics and comments as described in Creating and editing BCF topics and Creating, editing, and deleting BCF comments.