IDS-Import (experimental)

BIMQ offers the option of importing IDS files, regardless of their source or their creation environment. This means that the content transported in an IDS file can also be used to create information requests in BIMQ. External content can therefore be imported easily and conveniently via an internal IDS interface. The import function is currently available in version 1.0. This is an initial version that does not yet support the full range of IDS functions.

Since structured information requirements are described in an IDS file, the import interface is provided directly in the section "Project Requirements". To transfer content from an IDS file to BIMQ, it must be selected and uploaded.

Important: IDS files must comply with the official buildingSMART standard in terms of structure and format.

Figure: IDS import in the section Project Requirements

Discipline model import The IDS import always refers to a specific discipline model. For a successful import in the area Project Requirements, the corresponding discipline model must be selected. If no specific discipline model is selected, the import always takes place into the first discipline model from the list.
IDS-Import The IDS file intended for import must be selected and uploaded in the section "Project requirements". The requirement definitions defined in the IDS are then imported into BIMQ.

All elements and their requirements are imported from the IDS file into the selected discipline model. The IFC mapping of elements, groups, properties, etc. is transferred directly to the corresponding IFC mapping column. If an individual name or code is stored in the IDS file, these are used as the leading definition in the BIMQ concept column (left column).

Figure: Comparison of IDS data and BIMQ import

On the left-side, you can see an IDS file and its information requests. On the right-side, the result of the IDS import into BIMQ is displayed.

Red The red marking shows the IFC mapping, which is imported into the corresponding IFC column in BIMQ.

Yellow Code and name are displayed in BIMQ in the concept column (left column). In the IDS file, this information is stored in the field instructions for properties and in the field name for elements. This information is optional and not mandatory in an IDS file. If this is the case, the IFC mapping definition in the BIMQ concept column is also used during IDS import.

Green Descriptions can also be imported and are displayed in an IDS file in the field instructions. They are separated from the definitions for code and name by a double pipe character.

Purple The purple markings indicate the imported unit types. All IFC data types are supported.

When importing the IDS file, a simple comparison with existing definitions is also performed so that existing elements can be reused and updated. New definitions are sorted into separate groups in the templates, making them easy to distinguish from existing definitions.

Unsupported functions (IDS-Import V1.0)

Not all functions are supported in the first version of IDS Import V1.0. These limitations will be addressed in the upcoming update. Current limitations are:

IFC-type elements for IFC2x3 are currently not supported
"Classifying properties" for IFC elements are not imported
In the area Restrictions, only the import of enumeration values is currently supported. Value ranges and patterns are not supported.
Currently, the assignment of information requirements to a specific phase and use case (green tick) is not applied.