Attribute mapping

IFC Assistant function

Components imported as IFC data usually include various user-defined attributes that are more or less informative. When you look at the attributes, you generally get an idea of what the components are like. For example, a layer with the name "concrete_SW-1.666" can be nothing else than a concrete layer. Using attribute mapping, you can "teach" the program to detect the components, sorting them correctly.

Attribute mapping is based on mapping files which include rules (directives) triggering specific actions. You can select a mapping file during component selection in the Select component mapping dialog box. The program applies the selected mapping file to the selection of components. If the conditions are met, the program will automatically select the corresponding parameters.

Tip: Regardless of the project size, it is definitely worth spending some time and effort creating a mapping file based on the attributes selected. This saves you a lot of clicks.

To define a file for attribute mapping

1. Start by selecting the Use attribute mapping option.
2. If you want, you can now create a new file by clicking New definition.

   Note: If you have already created files for mapping definitions, you can change the entries in these files by pointing to the line of the file you want to change and clicking Define component mapping.

3. You can specify the rule to be applied in the Rule column in the Attribute rules for design objects dialog box. There are three directives for this purpose.
   • Set component type; The Set component type directive sets the material/fixture automatically (if the Material/fixture column includes a value).
   • The Assign material directive uses the component type as an additional condition.
   • Assign layer number; you can use the Assign layer number directive to directly assign to an IFC component the correct layer number based on an attribute.
     

     A component forming part of the insulation should always be assigned to Layer 2 based on the name in the IFC file.

     Just like for the other rules, go to the Condition column to enter the condition to be analyzed (in this example here, @5050@.eq."Insulation layer"). The Component column remains Not defined in this instance. The associated layer number = 2 is entered in the Material, fixture or layer number column.

     If you have further questions about this, please contact our support team!

     If the component type is not defined, the program always sets the material. If the component type is defined, the program only sets the material if it matches the component type (for example, concrete layer).

     Using the Condition column, you can analyze attributes or enter them manually by means of the formula editor. To select the formula editor in Allplan, double-click in the cell or click the Open formula editor icon, which appears as soon as you select the cell.

     A formula expression applied to a component results in TRUE or FALSE. If the result of the formula expression is TRUE, the program applies the corresponding directive to the component. Otherwise, PLANBAR ignores the directive.

     Under Component, you will find the different types of component (Concrete layer, Insulation layer, and so on) for selection next to Not defined. Select the appropriate entry.

     The other buttons in the dialog box are as follows.

   • Open file: Opens a file in the Favorites - office folder.
   • Save file: Saves the entries or changes made. When you enter a new name for the file, PLANBAR saves the entries to this new file.
   • Copy selected lines
   • Delete selected lines <ENTF>
   • Move selected lines up
   • Move selected lines down

The File name line is highlighted in yellow. When you point to this line, you can see the text Data has changed, which indicates that you have changed entries.

Note: Make sure all assignments are unique. If PLANBAR finds ambiguous entries, it always uses the first entry!