BCF

	Interfaces toolbar
	File menu > BIM Tools > BCF Manager

The BCF-interface is only available in ELITECAD Architecture.

For collaborating with your partners, the support of BCF (BIM collaboration format) ensures for a smooth exchange of information, and is another milestone in the BIM process. The BCF format is developed by the BuildingSmart organisation and provides a data interface to easily exchange information during collaboration of different project partners in addition to an IFC model. It enables a model-based communication between various users and contains information about state, location, viewing direction, component, comments, users and time stamps in the IFC data model.

In case all people involved in a project are working with ELITECAD, the possibility to exchange information using BCF is also provided using ELITECAD models instead of IFC models.

Basics

A BFC file contains different topics. Each topic is intended to describe one independent issue. For each topic, there is some detail information available:

• general data for the topic
• image
• camera
• involved objects
• comments

In order to identify objects in an IFC file or in the ELITECAD design model, the objects need a unique id, the so-called Globally Unique ID, short GUID. GUIDs are saved in the ELITECAD drawing as well as in an IFC file.

BCF dialog window

After calling the function, the BCF dialog window is opened.

BCF file new, load, save

Using these functions, BCF files are created, selected for editing or saved.

Update GUIDs

GUIDs are created when the BCF function is selected in ELITECAD. If the design model changes or a new file is opened while the BFC dialog is on the screen, the GUIDs can be updated with this function.

Link BCF-file with drawing

The name of the corresponding drawing is saved in the BCF file.

Topic

In the left top area of the dialog window, all existing topics are listed. There is always one topic active. In the large BCF dialog window, all information of the currently selected topic is displayed.

These buttons are intended to create, delete and rename a topic. All fields of the topic properties can be filled as needed.

Information

The information area displays general data of the current topic. Examples are the author, description, date of creation or the state of a topic.

The information button displays the link from the BCF file to the ELITECAD drawing.

View point

Viewpoints and involved objects can be retrieved from the design model currently loaded in ELITECAD. Viewpoints can be reactivated afterwards. Objects are visualised if needed and added or removed afterwards as well.

Show viewpoint

This function activates the saved viewpoint in ELITECAD.

Create, edit, delete viewpoint

These buttons are used to create, edit and delete viewpoints. For creation and editing, a dialog window with a preview image opens.

Save camera viewpoint

The camera viewpoint is required in order to return to the position where the image was saved.

Save selection

In addition to the image, involved objects can be saved as well. The objects have to be selected before saving.

Edit image

With this function, the snapshot is opened in Microsoft Paint® and can be edited or supplemented with graphical notes (arrows, circles). After saving and closing Paint, the modified image is substituted.

Create snapshot from CAD

By activating this function, the image of the current view is saved with the SNAPSHOT function and displayed in the preview area.

Select saved image

A saved image file can be used instead of creating a snapshot.

Object list

This function becomes active after the first viewpoint was saved.

Involved objects are saved optionally when creating a snapshot. The function opens a dialog window where the saved objects are listed. This function is used to add further objects to the list or to remove objects.

Add / delete objects

With the + sign all selected objects in ELITECAD are added to the list. With the – sign the selected entries are removed from the list. Adding new objects is only available after the creation of GUIDs.

Show / hide objects

These two functions either set only the objects as visible or make the entire design model visible in the graphics window.

Preview

Optionally an image for a better explanation of a topic can be saved. This image is created using the VIEWPOINT function and displayed in the preview area.

Comment

Comments are sequential documentations of a topic, which are added by different project partners.

These buttons are intended to create, edit and delete comments. Comments are used for communication or remembering detail information, as well as documenting completed tasks.