Modify property sets for IFC export

If the IFC export does not give the results that you expect, you can modify the property set definitions in the current IFC property set configuration files.

When Tekla Structures exports an IFC file, it uses the configuration file you selected in the Property sets list to export property sets with the exported IFC entities. The list of configuration files includes predefined files located in your environment folders and files stored in the \AdditionalPsets folder under the current model folder.

You can also create a new property set configuration file. For details about creating a custom IFC property set configuration file, see Create new property sets for IFC export.

The Property set definitions dialog allows you to add modify the property sets needed in the IFC export. In addition to modifying the current property sets, you can:

modify properties in a property set
add buildingSMART property sets
include or exclude property sets or properties

(1) The name of the selected property set configuration file. In the list, you can see all the available configuration files stored in your environment folders, and select the desired file. The file is loaded automatically after selection.

Use the Save button to save the changes in the configuration file after you have added or modified the property sets. You can also give a new name for the configuration file and save it. New and modified configuration files are saved in the \AdditionalPsets folder under the current model folder. You can also read configuration files from the following folders:

XS_FIRM

XS_PROJECT

XS_SYSTEM

Use the button to clear the contents of the displayed configuration file and create a new configuration file.

(2) To show in the list only the property sets and properties that you have selected using the Include checkbox, select Show only included.

(3) Property sets in the current configuration file. You can drag property sets up or down in the list.

(4) Search for a specific property set. The list of property sets might be very long, and the search could be very useful when you want to find and select a specific property set.

(5) Show only the property sets for the selected IFC entities.

(6) Show only the property sets for the selected IFC versions.

(7) To export all property sets and all properties in the list, select the Include checkbox on the title row for the property set or properties section. To export only the needed property sets and properties for different export purposes, select the checkbox next to a specific property set or property.

(8) Filters allowing you to further limit for which objects to export the property set. For example, specify a filter to further limit which IfcBeam objects to export the property set for, like for steel beams only.

(9) Command buttons for working with property sets:

Add buildingSMART property sets. The property sets beginning with Pset_ or Qto_ are buildingSMART property sets. The buildingSMART property sets are protected, and you cannot change the IFC entities that they are exported with, or edit the names of the properties they contain. However, you can edit the properties in the buildingSMART property sets, and select to include or exclude them.

Add a property set.

Edit the selected property set.

Delete the selected property set.

Duplicate the selected property set. You can then modify the property set so that the properties are the same but the filtering criteria are different, for example.

(10) Properties in the selected property set. You can drag properties up or down in the list.

(11) To enlarge the property set section or the property section, drag the dialog divider up or down.

(12) Command buttons for working with properties:

Add a property in the selected property set.

Edit the selected property.

Delete the selected property from the selected property set.

Modify a property set

You can modify the existing property sets.

The buildingSMART property sets (starting with prefixes Pset_ or Qto_) are protected, and you cannot modify those. However, you can modify the properties included in buildingSMART property sets, see section "Modify properties in a property set" below.

On the File menu, click Export > IFC or Export > IFC4.
Select an existing property set from the Property sets list and click the Edit button.
In the Property set definitions dialog, in the property set section, select a property set and click Modify selected property set on the right.
Modify the property set name and description.

The property set name may contain any text, including spaces. Do not start the name with prefixes Pset_ or Qto_, they are reserved for buildingSMART property sets.
Modify the included IFC entities: select new entities, or clear the selection of the entities that you do not want to include in the property set.
You can use a filter to further limit for which objects to export the property set.
For example, you can specify a filter to further limit which IfcBeam objects to export the property set for, like for steel beams only.

Do one of the following:
- Select an existing filter from the list of filters.
- To specify a new filter, click the Display filter button. In the Object group - IFC property export dialog, create a filter, set Filter type to IFC property export, and save it.
To save the modified property set, click Modify.
To save changes in the property set configuration file, click Save.

New and modified configuration files are saved in the \AdditionalPsets folder under the current model folder. You can also read configuration files from the following folders:

XS_FIRM

XS_PROJECT

XS_SYSTEM

For details about adding new property sets in a configuration file, see Create new property sets for IFC export.

Modify properties in a property set

You can modify the properties in an existing property set. You can also modify the properties in the buildingSMART property sets.

Open a property set configuration file in the Property set definitions dialog.
Select a property set from the property set list, and then select a property from the property list.
Click the Modify selected property button.
Modify the property.
You can change the name of the property and the Type of the property. For more information about the types and other properties, see Create new property sets for IFC export.
Click Modify.
To save the changes in property set configuration file, click Save.

Add a buildingSMART property set

You can add buildingSMART property sets to property set configuration files.

In the Property set definitions dialog, open the property set configuration file where you want to add buildingSMART property sets.
Click the Import buildingSMART property sets button on the right.
Select the property sets that you want to add. To do this, select the Import checkbox next to the property set.
You can search for property sets using the Search box. You can also limit the number of the displayed property sets by selecting the desired property set categories, IFC entities, or IFC versions.
Click Import.
The selected buildingSMART property sets are added in the property set list. The buildingSMART property sets are protected, and you cannot edit those, but you can exclude the unnecessary buildingSMART property sets from the export, and change and edit the mapped Tekla properties.
To save the changes in property set configuration file, click Save.

Include or exclude property sets or properties

You can keep a property set or a property in the configuration file, but exclude it from the export.

You can also exclude buildingSMART property sets and properties.

On the File menu, click Export > IFC or Export > IFC4.
Select an existing property set from the Property sets list and click the Edit button.
Do one of the following:
- To export all property sets in the list, select the Include checkbox on the title row of the property set section.
- To export all properties for the selected property set, select the Include checkbox on the title row of the properties section.
- To export only the needed property sets, select the checkboxes next to the property sets.
- To export only the needed properties for the selected property set, select the checkboxes next to the properties.
To save the changes in property set configuration file, click Save.