4. From the pop-up list, choose an IFC Translator for Import.

Translator settings which will be applied in this process include:

– the Model Filter options for “IFC Domain” and “Structural function” (these are the
default filters for comparing elements); and
– the Material and Surface Conversion settings.
Note: Layer assignment is not defined by any translator; it is defined in a later step.
Click Next.
5. Filter Elements to be Compared
Although the translator chosen in the previous step defines the default filters to be used
for the elements being compared, use this page to further limit the model. In fact, you can
define entirely different filters or customize them.
Use this dialog box to optionally narrow the set of elements to be compared in the two
files:

– IFC Domain: Use one of the predefined domain filters to define the element types to
be compared. By default, it is set to match the IFC Domain setting (in Model Filter) of
the translator chosen above.
• All element types will compare all elements from the two files.
• The Structural or MEP domains will consider only IfcBuildingElements or
IfcDistributionElements, respectively.
• The Custom domain filter can be created using the Options button – e.g., you can
consider just beams (IfcBeam) or just columns (IfcColumn).
– Structural Function: If the IFC files to be compared include elements classified by
Structural Function (that is, LoadBearing IFC Property is assigned to elements), then
use this setting to filter load-bearing elements, for example as part of a structural-
architectural data exchange. By default, it is set to match the Structural Function setting
(in Model Filter) of the translator chosen above.

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 Note: Use Structural Function filtering only if you are certain that your fellow
professional, with whom you are exchanging data, is using and able to export the
LoadBearing IFC Property.
– Element Type: Optionally, further fine-tune the initial filtering set above (IFC Domain
and Structural Function). To make filtering easier, group element types by Story, Layer,
Owner, or by both Story and Layer.
– Click Next.
6. Assign New/Deleted/Modified Elements to Layers
This page summarizes the detected changes, by number and type: New, Modified and
Deleted elements. These changes will be merged to ARCHICAD as Mark-Up Entries.
Choose two layers onto which to place the elements. This will differentiate the elements
when they are merged.

7. Merge Changes to the Project

Click “Merge” to send the changes to the project as Mark-Up Entries. The detected
changes will be merged into the project and placed on the two layers you defined.
8. Vertical Position
Define the vertical position of the merged content.
See Vertical Position of Merged IFC Model (only at Merge IFC Model).
9. View changes with Mark-Up.
The Mark-Up Palette appears automatically and lists the changes as Mark-Up Entries,
using three mark-up styles: “New”, “Deleted” and “Modified Elements”. Thus, the elements
are easily distinguishable on screen according to their specific style. Entries can be sorted
by Style and by their Floor Plan View.
Elements from the two compared models are categorized separately by the Mark-Up
function:
– Elements from the older version (that is, the Deleted and Modified elements from the
older version) are shown as “Correction”

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– Elements from the newer version (that is, the New and Modified elements from the
newer version) are shown as “Highlighted”
Each of these categories uses different Mark-Up Styles and their elements can be edited
accordingly.
Functions on the Mark-Up palette enable you to view, select or zoom to the elements in
the entries.
Hint: The default colors for marking different change types can be modified in the
Mark-Up Styles palette (Options > Element Attributes).
Since the elements from each of the two model versions are categorized separately in
Mark-Up, each Modified element entry contains a pair of elements: one element from the
older model version, shown as “Correction”, and a newer-version element, shown as
“Highlighted.” Their different colors make it easy to distinguish them. Moreover, each
element in the pair is placed on a different layer (see Step 6 above). You can check any
element’s layer by reading its Info Tag, which appears when you hover your cursor over
any element.

Elements detected as changed become part of the project and are placed on separate
layers depending on their version (older or newer). To each of these elements, the Mark-
Up function assigns these elements a category: either “New”, “Deleted” or “Modified”.
Now what can you do with them?
– Deleted Element: You can leave it in as part of the project (placing it on a separate
layer); or you can delete it together with its Mark-Up Entry, by clicking “Delete Entry” in

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 the Mark-Up Palette. You can also use “Delete Entry” without deleting the elements in
the Entry.
– New Element: Since it has a Highlighted status, deleting its entry will not delete the
element, it will just lose its Highlighted status. Then you can use the element as you
wish (or even delete it from the project). A New element will be deleted together with its
Mark-Up Entry only if you first remove its Highlighted status (click the “Remove
Highlight” button).
– Modified Element: This pair of elements includes one each that is “Old” and “New”,
with the same options as described above for “Deleted” and “New” elements. That is, if
you do a Delete Entry, the older-version element can be either retained or deleted,
while the newer-version element will remain intact, while losing its Highlighted status.
Hint: If you delete a Mark-Up Entry by mistake, use Undo.

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Update with IFC Model
This command (File > Interoperability > IFC > Update with IFC Model) updates the
current ARCHICAD project content with an IFC model.
Use this if the ARCHICAD project and the IFC file contain elements in common, and if you
want to add to or modify the project elements’ data using IFC data.
– As of ARCHICAD 22, exported ARCHICAD properties that are mapped to IFC properties
are updated, provided that the correct Translator settings are used at both export and
import.
– “Elements in common” are those whose GlobalId Attribute is the same in both the host
project and the imported IFC model.
– “IFC data” include IFC Attributes, IFC Properties and IFC Classification References
Thus, this command is optimized for tracking and updating changes to property data. This
command is not suitable for updating model element changes.
Notes:
• Property update using this command works properly only if Property and Type
Mapping definitions are used correctly and consistently, both at export and at
import
• Deleted elements and modified elements are ignored!
• Geometry data (size, color, layer) will not be updated or modified.
• Properties of locked project elements will not be updated or modified.

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Workflow for Update
1. Go to File > Interoperability > IFC > Update with IFC Model.
In the Open dialog:

• Browse for an IFC model.

• Choose an appropriate Translator for Import. The Translator should use Property
and Type Mapping settings that are analogous to those used when the original
ARCHICAD model was exported to IFC.
2. In the appearing dialog, set the update options as needed (see Update Options, below).
3. Click OK.

Example Workflow: Property Mapping at Export and Import

1. The ARCHICAD model is exported to IFC, using the File > Save As IFC command.
ARCHICAD elements are exported together with their IFC data. Based on the
Translator for Export - Property Mapping for Export preset (which also depends on
the Type Mapping for Export preset), ARCHICAD properties are mapped to IFC
properties.
2. An external consultant works on the IFC model, deleting some properties, modifying
others, and adding some new ones.
3. The edited model is imported back to ARCHICAD using File > Interoperability > IFC >
Update with IFC Model.
4. New and modified IFC properties are added and updated in the ARCHICAD model,
based on the mapping definitions of the Translator for Import - Property Mapping
for Import preset.
– Important: To map the properties back to existing ARCHICAD properties, make sure
you activate the option to Import as ARCHICAD Properties.

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Update Options
Check the options to specify which data to update in the ARCHICAD model.
Note: These update data options are only relevant for incoming IFC Attributes and IFC
Classification References. Properties are updated based on Translator-based property
mapping definitions at export and import.

– Merge new model elements from IFC

– Merge new from IFC: IFC Attributes and IFC Classification References which do not yet
exist in the host project will be added to elements in common.
– Override existing if modified in IFC: For elements in common, the project data will be
modified by the corresponding data values from the merged IFC file. Corresponding
data: Attribute and Classification Reference must have the same name.
Note: This is a full override: all values for data items having the same name will be
modified.
– Remove existing if missing in IFC: For elements in common, project data which do
not exist in the merged IFC file will be removed.

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IFC Project Manager
The IFC Project Manager (File > Interoperability > IFC) provides a hierarchical overview of
the current project’s IFC model database.

Related Topics:
Functions of the IFC Project Manager
Navigating in the IFC Project Manager: Tree Structure
Navigating in IFC Project Manager: Attributes and Properties
Assign or Edit IFC Property/Attribute Values
Create New, Custom IFC Property or Classification
Apply Predefined Rules
Assignments in IFC Project Manager
Type Products in IFC Project Manager

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Functions of the IFC Project Manager

– View all IFC model entity generated from the ARCHICAD project (including IFC import
content) in a hierarchy
– View all IFC data available for project elements
– Create new IFC data (custom IFC Properties and Classification Reference) to be used in
the current project
– Group elements or assign entities to elements (called IFC Assignments) and manage
their IFC data
– Manage IFC Type Products assigned to elements with their with their IFC data
– Assign elements directly to the IfcSite or IfcBuilding. For example, the neighboring
buildings and site context elements (trees, fences, roads, vehicles etc.) can be assigned
to the IfcSite; thus, their default direct relation to their home story is removed.
– Update the IFC model with the modifications of the ARCHICAD project
– Navigate easily between the ARCHICAD model and the IFC model
– Filter the IFC model by elements visible in the current view
– Find elements both in the IFC and ARCHICAD models by their IFC GlobalId (Globally
Unique Identifier)
– In Teamwork, the following data in the IFC Project Manager can be reserved and
modified: IfcProject, IfcBuilding, IfcSite, Assignments and Type Products. IFC Properties
of model elements (e.g. IfcWall, IfcColumn, IfcBeam) can be modified via IFC Project
Manager only if those elements are not reserved by any other user.
The IFC Project Manager palette is a modeless dialog box, so you can keep it open while
working in the ARCHICAD project.

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Navigating in the IFC Project Manager: Tree
Structure

The upper left side of the IFC Project Manager, the tree, displays the IFC model hierarchy
and lists IFC Entities of the current project according to their “IFC Type” classification.
See IFC Model Hierarchy.

ARCHICAD Elements in IFC Story Structure

In ARCHICAD, all elements and objects are linked to their Home Story. Therefore, by
default, elements are listed in the IFC model hierarchy under the IfcBuildingStorey that
corresponds to their Home Story.
You can break this link (to the IfcBuildingStorey) by dragging the element out of its
IfcBuildingStorey location into the IfcSite. For example, a neighboring building modeled
with a Morph can be placed into the IfcSite folder. You can also place elements into the
IfcBuilding (such as an element that is logically tied directly to a particular building rather
than a story).
To return an element to its automatic IfcBuildingStorey classification (corresponding to its
Home Story), just drag it out of the IFC Project Manager.

Filter Data Shown in Tree

Click List visible model elements only to narrow the tree to those elements that are
visible in the current view.

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Synchronize Project Manager Data with Model
When elements are created or deleted in the ARCHICAD model, the tree will not register
these changes automatically. If a refresh is needed, a message appears below (“Tree is not
up-to-date!”). Click the “Synchronize” button to refresh it.

Find Selected Model Elements in Tree; Find Selected Tree Elements in Model

– To find and select IFC Entities of the tree in the ARCHICAD model, select them in the
tree and click Show list selection in model. The program displays and selects the
elements in the active window (Floor Plan or 3D view only).
– To find and select ARCHICAD model elements in the tree, select them in the Floor Plan
or 3D window, and click Show model selection in list.

Find Tree Elements by IFC Identifiers

You can locate elements in the tree based on their IFC identifiers (GlobalId Attribute,
ARCHICAD IFC ID, External IFC ID). Switch to the search mode using the Find by GlobalId
tool (third icon underneath the tree).
Note: The External IFC ID is created when importing an IFC model to ARCHICAD using
either Merge or Hotlink IFC. This is done to prevent existing ARCHICAD elements from
being overwritten by identical elements being imported from IFC. (The External IFC ID
stores the original ID of the model elements as defined in the external file).

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