BIM management with IDS

Command	Path
Data Manager	Tools

BIM data needs to be updated, verified, and shared among multiple collaborators during all phases of a building's life cycle. You can use IDS (Information Delivery Specification) files to check a Vectorworks model for compliance with regulations and contract requirements and to streamline data exchange processes.

The Data Manager allows you to import IDS files and then use them to validate the data. Validation results can be reported in the Data Manager, BCF Manager, and/or a worksheet.

Importing IDS files

To import an IDS file:

Acquire the necessary IDS file (or files) from the BIM manager of the project.

In the Data Manager, click IDS Import and select the desired file.

The IDS Import dialog box opens.

The IDS View pane shows the structure of the file as XML nodes, for advanced users and for diagnostic purposes.

The IDS Requirements pane displays the validation requirements in human-readable format. If desired, click Save Report to save the requirements as a tab-delimited text file.

If the IDS file has syntax errors or doesn't match the document's IFC version, an alert displays and the file is not imported.

Import additional IDS files as needed.

Validating BIM data

To validate BIM data:

In the Data Manager, select the desired file from the IDS Validation list and click Validate.

The IDS Validation dialog box opens.

Select the desired report output options and click Run.

Check Data Manager mappings: Checks that document objects have mappings as specified in the IDS file.

Create BCF and Create Worksheet Report: Both options export the model to an IFC project and check it against the IDS file. Validation results are automatically provided as a BCF file or a worksheet in the document. You can select both options if desired.

Use the validation output to make corrections, and run the validation again.

If you have multiple IDS files, repeat the validation and correction process for each file.

Data Manager mappings

This validation option checks that all IFC entities, data, and classifications required in the IDS file have appropriate data mappings assigned.

In the Data Manager, the Objects list displays all objects and Psets that have requirements in the selected IDS file with bold text. If there are mandatory fields that have no data mapping, the affected items are displayed with red text, in both the Objects list and the Data Sets list. Create or correct the mappings for red items and run the validation again.

BCF file

This validation option exports the model to an IFC project while checking the model against the IDS file. Each failure or warning from the validation is saved as a topic in a BCF file. The BCF Manager palette opens automatically to allow you to manage and share the validation issues as described in The BCF Manager palette.

Worksheet report

This validation option exports the model to an IFC project while checking the model against the IDS file. The validation results for all objects are saved as a worksheet. The "Check Result" column shows "Out of IDS" for objects that are outside the scope of the selected IDS file.

Correct objects that have "Fail" or "Warning" in the "Check Result" column. To make a correction, right-click the worksheet row and select Select Item. In the Data tab of the Object Info palette, IFC Entity and Pset fields that didn't pass the validation are highlighted in red. Create or correct the data for red items and run the validation again.