Solibri Model Checker (SMC) is able to generate a BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) file based on issues found in a model after running a rules-based check. The BCF file includes the 3D locations of issues along with textual information. In this article, you'll learn the workflow of communicating issues back and forth via BCF between an SMC user and a user working in ArchiCAD to correct issues found in a model.
Below, is an issue that was found using an SMC out-of-the-box validation rule "Clearance in front of windows," where the ceiling is visible through the exterior window. The SMC user wishes to communicate this issue to the designer (using ArchiCAD) to be corrected.
A window that is too tall, making the ceiling visible
An issue is created by right-clicking the result in the Results view, and selecting "Add Slide." In addition to setting the description, a comment "This window is too tall." is added in the comments box. This is a BCF comment, which also saves the date the comment was made and username of the user that created it. You can also set the "BCF Status" to one of the 4 options (Error, Warning, Info, or Unknown) in the Coordination tab
Creating an Issue Details slide with a BCF comment
After creating several slides of other issues, a new presentation is created from the checking results in the Communication layout. Once the presentation is created, a report of the results is generated. In this Create Report dialog, the BCF Report v1.0 option is selected and a report is saved, which can be sent to the user of ArchiCAD.
Exporting a BCF report
This BCF file can be opened in a standalone BCF viewer, or in a BCF Manager extension installed on the building authoring tool. KUBUS BV provides BCF managers for free for many applications including ArchiCAD. For more information on the BCF Manager and to download, please click the link:
http://www.bimcollab.com/en/BCF-Manager/BCF-Manager
After the ArchiCAD user installs the KUBUS BCF Manager over ArchiCAD, the BCF file that the user of SMC sent can be opened within ArchiCAD.
Opening the BCF Manager in ArchiCAD 19
Once opened, the ArchiCAD user sees a listing of issues that were found in Solibri. Below is the issue with the clearance in front of the windows. The issue includes the comment along with the author of the comment and the date the comment was created.
Viewing issues in the BCF Manager
By double clicking on the listed issue in the BCF Manager, the components involved are isolated in a 3D view within ArchiCAD and the camera of the 3D view is moved to the same location as that of the issue in SMC. From here, the ArchiCAD user can make the correction.
Double-clicking an issue zooms to and isolates components with issues within ArchiCAD
The issue is fixed by swapping out the window with another type of window that is shorter.
Issue resolved by replacing the window with a shorter one
The ArchiCAD user adds a new viewpoint along with a comment within the KUBUS BCF Manager, that they have corrected the issue. The status of the issue changes from "Active" to "Resolved" by clicking the Resolve button.
Adding a comment/viewpoint about the fix and setting the status to "Resolved"
The SMC user receives the BCF file that the ArchiCAD user updated along with the new model with the issue corrected. The issue presentation in SMC can be updated with the ArchiCAD user's comments and viewpoint of the issue after it was corrected by right-clicking the presentation and selecting Update Presentation from BCF.
Updating the presentation from a BCF
The issue slide in the presentation has an additional slide showing the correction, and the comment that the ArchiCAD user created is listed. The status is also changed to Resolved.
Comment, viewpoint, and status updated in SMC from BCF from ArchiCAD
After updating the model to the new corrected version and re-running the check there is no longer a result in the Results view for the clearance in front of windows issue. To update the existing presentation, right-click the presentation and select Update Presentation from Results.
Update Presentation from Checking Results of new model
In order to add new issues to the presentation, but allow existing issues that were resolved to remain, mark "Add new issues from the results," but leave "Remove issues that don't exist in results" unmarked.
Add new issues, and leave issues that no longer exist.
The presentation is updated and the clearance in front of windows issue remains in the presentation. Notice that the results link icon
no longer exists on the slide because there is no longer a result that exists, as the issue was fixed. Since the issue no longer exists, the SMC user can set the status to closed and a BCF comment is generated automatically that saves the date and user that closed the issue with the comment "Status changed from Resolved to Closed".
Closing a resolved issue
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