Type Mapping for IFC Export

File > Interoperability > IFC > IFC Translators

Choose a Translator for Export and open the Type Mapping preset.

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

TypeMappingButtonExport.png 

Topics in this Section

About Type Mapping for Export

Mapping by Element Type

Mapping by Classification

About Type Mapping for Export

When a model is exported to IFC format, every one of its elements is assigned an IFC Type.

This dialog defines how to assigns an IFC Type to each exported ARCHICAD element.

There are two ways to take care of Type Mapping for IFC Export:

By Element Type

By Classification

Each is described below.

Mapping by Element Type

Assigns each ARCHICAD Element Type automatically to a default, basic IFC Type, corresponding to its ARCHICAD tool or (for GDL objects) to its Object Subtype.

If you choose this method, no further manual mapping is needed. The rest of the dialog controls are inactive.

MapIFCTypesExport.png 

For more details, see Built-in IFC Type Mapping for ARCHICAD.

Mapping by Classification

Maps each ARCHICAD Classification to an IFC Type, Type Product, and/or Predefined Type. This method allows for flexible and detailed IFC Type classification, according to specific IFC standards.

To use this method:

1.Select Mapping by Classification.

MapByClassification.png 

2.Choose a Classification System (among those available in the ARCHICAD project). The Classifications of the selected System are now listed on the left side of the dialog.

3.Set the Filter to display IFC Type definitions by the IFC4 Schema, the IFC2x3 Schema, or both. This is relevant for fixing erroneous mapping definitions (see How to Fix Error Warnings in the Type Mapping Dialog). By default, the filter automatically corresponding to the IFC Schema of the current preset.

Now you can map the Classifications on the left to the IFC Type definitions on the right, as detailed below (By Parent and Custom).

Classification Mapping by Parent

For a selected Classification (e.g. Pilaster): “By Parent” maps it to the same IFC Type as its parent item (e.g. Pilaster gets the same IFC Type as Column, that is: “IfcColumn”). Classifications mapped “by Parent” are shown in blue: you don’t have to define its IFC Type, because it will automatically get the same one as its parent.

TypeMappingExport.png 

Custom Classification Mapping

Maps the Classification to an IFC Type and IFC Type Product selected by you. This assigns more specific IFC Type definitions to the exported elements.

For example, here an element is classified in ARCHICAD as Thermometer, and it is mapped to the IFC Type and IFC Type Product assignments as shown: just click the popups to access a list of valid definitions.

FlowElement.png 

Map to IFC Type and IFC Type Product

If the chosen IFC Type or IFC Type Product have Predefined Types, you can map those too.

Here, the Flow element’s Type Product is assigned the Predefined Type of PRESSUREGAUGE:

PredefinedType.png 

Choose a Predefined Type

User Defined Type

If the list of Predefined Types does not contain what you need, choose USERDEFINED and then enter the desired value in the text field below.

Synchronize Predefined Type Values

In most cases, the Predefined Types for IFC Type and IFC Type Product should be identical. To speed things up, the Synchronize checkbox is on by default:

SynchronizePredefined.png 

Invalid Predefined Types

If a Classification element is mapped with a Predefined Type that is not available in the current Schema (e.g. the MOLDING value is available in IFC4 but not IFC2x3), then this value will be grayed out, and will not be exported. (The Translator preset will still be valid.)

InvalidPredefined.png 

Reset Mapping

Click this button to undo the mapping definitions made since opening the dialog.

Note: The Type Mapping preset of the Preview Translator has an additional function: to define the default IFC Type classification of elements in the current ARCHICAD project.

See also Preview Translator.

Related Topics

IFC Type

How to Fix Error Warnings in the Type Mapping Dialog