Property Mapping for IFC Export

From this preset dialog, click the Map IFC Properties for Export to access the mapping definitions.

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These mappings define the IFC properties assigned to elements when exported from ARCHICAD. Elements (identified by IFC entity) are listed in the tree at left. The IFC Properties of each selected entity are listed in the IFC Properties column.

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In addition to the predefined IFC properties for each IFC entity, you can create and assign new custom IFC Properties or Classification References.

In the IFC management dialogs, Mapping Preset data are shown with a checkbox in front of them. In contrast, custom data are shown with a red X in front. Mapping Preset properties cannot be deleted in either the Settings dialogs or in IFC Project Manager; you can only set their values there.

To map data automatically, use the optional Mapping Rules to assign values to IFC Properties.

See Examples of Property Mapping Rules, below.

The Property Mapping preset of the Preview Translator has an additional function: to provide the default set of IFC Properties used while working with IFC-related functions in the current ARCHICAD project.

See also Preview Translator.

Note: In ARCHICAD versions prior to 21, these settings were project-specific, and managed in IFC Scheme Setup. For information on migrating IFC Schemes to ARCHICAD 22, see: Changes in IFC Translators in the Migration Guide.

Tree list of IFC Entities

IFC Entities are listed in the tree at left.

IFC Entities which have property data assigned to them are listed in the tree in bold type.

The tree list can be filtered by Structural and MEP domains. For example, the Structural domain contains the building element (IfcBuildingElement) types (IfcBeam, IfcColumn, etc.) while the MEP domain contains the IfcDistribution types.

The tree list can also be narrowed to the IFC Assignment types, IFC Type Objects, or IFC Spatial element types (IfcSpatialStructureElements: IfcSite, IfcBuilding, IfcBuildingStorey and IfcSpace).

Add New Property/Classification Reference

To add a new IFC Property or Classification Reference data to the currently selected Entity, do one or both of the following:

Click the New button to create a New Property or Classification.

The same function is available in the IFC Project Manager and Element Settings dialog boxes.

See Create New, Custom IFC Property or Classification.

Import from Current Project: Click this button to add all the custom IFC Property Sets and Properties (defined in either IFC Project Manager or Element Settings) that are available in the current Project.

List of IFC Properties

BOLDFACE: Property data assigned to a bold parent element (such as IfcBuildingElement) are automatically assigned to all its child elements (e.g. IfcBeam, IfcColumn, IfcSlab, IfcWall, etc.) The child element will not be shown in bold type. This way it is easy to locate, in the tree structure, where the data were added.

BLUE TYPE: Data assigned to a child element are shown in blue type. This data can be modified only at the parent level (which is in black). The child element’s name is augmented by the parent type name in parentheses.

Thus, to create a common property for all building elements, you don’t have to create it for every single building element type (IfcWall, IfcColumn, IfcSlab, etc.): instead, create it once at a higher level (e.g. at IfcBuildingElement).

GREY: Properties shown in grey are mapped but not editable, because there is a 1-to-1 mapping relationship with ARCHICAD parameters. Examples: the “Renovation Status” (same as the Renovation Status in ARCHICAD); the “LoadBearing” (same as Structural Function in ARCHICAD); and the “IsExternal” (same as ARCHICAD Position Category items).

ITALICS: A new data item is shown in italics if no ARCHICAD parameter/quantity or mapping rule can be applied to it.

Chain icon: Indicates that the property is mapped. View its mapping rule at the right side of the dialog box. Blue mapped properties cannot be edited (they are derived from a higher-level item).

X: Delete any data item by clicking the red X. Attributes cannot be deleted.

Clear All Settings

Delete the entire contents (mapping rules, Properties and Classification References) of the current Property Mapping Preset.

Import from Current Project

Click this button to synchronize all changes (name and value type modification, and data mapping) in the IFC Project Manager and Settings dialogs for properties that already exist.

If a property assigned to an IFC element type (for example IfcWall) is not yet available in the current project, it is not displayed in the IFC management dialogs until one instance of the type has been defined in the model.

If you have a new empty project, the Preview Translator’s Property Mapping data are used as initial IFC data.

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