How would I define/model my own IfcWindowType and add it to the IFC4 Demo Library?

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Writing a BlenderBIM tutorial at EPFL. Stuck on IfcWindow and IfcOpeningElement.

Coen

How would I define/model my own IfcWindowType and add it to the IFC4 Demo Library?

theoryshaw

I thought i did, but it seems, doing the following, doesn't bring in the geometry.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/02rebynkujma8u2/2022-09-02_09-04-46_Blender_blender.mp4?dl=0

cvillagrasa

I'm also on the lookout for this topic. I've recently started to tackle the refactor of the model module and this is something I'd want to make easy and intuitive. As always, I'll try my best for some days and then call super @Moult for guidance ?

Nigel

This is a topic dear to my heart as well.
A great topic for a step by step video would get a lot of people, myself included, making library objects to a standard that can shared

Ace

At the moment I've gotten it to work by breaking this into two steps
make the IfcWindow
Add the window to the Ifc library
save the Ifc library
otherwise it gets all messed up

How to make a IFC WINDOW from scratch?
1. Model as Blender element -> Label it (e.g. 600x800_Alum_Window)
2. Draw proper 2d representation in separate object

3. Create Ifc project (no library) Save as IfcType -> Window (IfcElementType->IfcWindowType->Prdefinied type = WINDOW not LIGHTDOME)

4. Add 2d representation in Ifc Geometry (Plan/annotation/PLAN_VIEW)

5. While in 2d representation Join Objects (select IFC window last so not to override)

6. Position your 2d view and Save Ifc while in 2d representation

And then open the IFc4 demo library and add it in the project library tab then save and it will be included

Coen

@Ace

Could you provide a more detailed explanation? I am specifically talking about IfcWindowType so I could use it as an instance in my IFC projects.

Ace

Hey @Coen this is for an IfcWindow type or any type honestly, my internet is a bit on strike at the moment (the last few days) but when it recovers I'll upload a video. I've made windows, doors, bathtubs, toilets as IfcTypes and they've all worked so far ;) it takes about 10mins each

Ace

Ok so internet does not want the video so here are screenshots:

Make an IfcType from scratch in BlenderBim
Example IfcWindowType

Step 1: Model as Blender element -> Label it (e.g. 600x800_Alum_Window)

To save time what I do here is actually just copy another IfcWindowType I have already made (You can copy the window from the Ifc4 Library), first load and select the window, then break the Ifc Class then copy to your second Blender

Step 2: Draw proper 2d representation in separate object

Again I just load the other IfcWindow Type -> select the 2d representation -> break the link to the IfcClass then copy across

NB: rename the objects once you have copied across or the IFC file will mix up your IfcTypes

Step 3: Create Ifc project (no library) Save as IfcType -> Window (IfcElementType->IfcWindowType->Prdefinied type = WINDOW not LIGHTDOME)

Step 4: Add 2d representation in Ifc Geometry (Plan/annotation/PLAN_VIEW)

Step 5: While in 2d representation Join Objects (select IFC window last so not to override)

Step 6: Delete the pre-generated 2d vertices and Position your drafted 2d view and Save Ifc while in 2d representation

Save the project while in 2d repressentation:

And you made a custom IfcType Well done!

Your Ifc4 Demo library is found here on windows:
C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\3.2\scripts\addons\blenderbim\bim\data\libraries

Load it into your Ifc4 demo library:

Step 1: open the Ifc4 demo library as an Ifc File not a library

Step 2: Load your new IfcWindowType as a library

Step 3: Save your Ifc4 demo library

Well done you just added a custom IfcType to your Ifc4 Library!

Open a new file with the library loaded to try it out!

Hope that helps!

Coen

@Ace Thank you very much, :-D will try to follow your tutorial.