Issues and BCF files

What you'll do

Point at a problem in the model and keep the view that shows it, then hand it on in a BCF file, the format other coordination tools read and write.

Steps

1. Open an IFC model and set up the view: orbit to it, pick the elements involved, hide what is in the way, cut it with a section plane or box.
2. Click the Issues tab on the right, then New issue from this view.
3. Type a title, and a comment if you like; choose a status; give your name or e-mail. Click Create issue.
4. Click Show on an issue to put its view back.
5. Click Save BCF to download every issue as one .bcf file.
6. To see issues someone else made, click Open BCF… and choose their .bcf or .bcfzip file.

What you should see

• Each issue in the list with a picture of its view, its title, status, author and date.
• Show puts back the camera, the picked elements, what was hidden (or the only things shown) and the section. Elements are found by their GlobalId in every open model; the status line says if some are not there.
• A section plane or box from another tool is shown when it lines up with the model's axes.

Good to know

• The file is BCF 2.1 and keeps the view in the model's own coordinates, so other tools put the camera in the same place.
• Issues stay in this tab until you save them. Opening another model keeps the list; open the model the issues are about before you show them.
• A parallel (orthogonal) camera from another tool is shown with this viewer's perspective camera, backed off so the same part of the model fills the view.

Common mistakes

• Show moved the camera somewhere odd. The issue was made on another model or with other coordinates. Open the right model first.
• The file will not open. It is not a BCF zip, or it is damaged; the status line says why.

Next

• Hide, isolate and see through elements
• Cut an IFC model with a section plane