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Get organised with ArchiCAD

Writer's picture: Viviana FulfucViviana Fulfuc

Applications for the Splitting Rule


We all know that ArchiCAD is the user-friendly #design #software that most of us go for, thanks to its intuitive #commands. Some may be aware of the multitude of tasks and #customisation this software is capable of, yet few choose to go down this route, as the more information a #project has, the more difficult is to run. Since the idea of #BIM is that the #3D model becomes the source of design information, inputting less or no data at all would negate the purpose of it. Thus, it comes down to how well the #data can be #organised and standardised to be manageable in a safe and efficient way. For this, #ArchiCAD has built-in smart #features to make life easier, the #splitting #rule being one of them.


This feature does exactly what it says on the tin – splitting a name into separate #fragments, so what is so special about it? Well, this little feature can tremendously #improve the #workflow by allowing #users to input a piece of information ONCE and use it MULTIPLE times, in SEVERAL ways. Not only this saves #time at the start of the project, but also during the #design #development, when it becomes crucial to ensure all information stays #current and up to date throughout the whole project.


There are several ways to do this, by using #expressions or within the #IFC translators. In this case, I will expand on the later and demonstrate my way of using the splitting rule function to deal with composite walls names in a project to create wall ID tags, wall type names and detailed descriptions, all from a single line of text.


This feature does exactly what it says on the tin – splitting a name into separate fragments, so what's so special about it?

Applying the splitting rule to the #composite walls is not an arduous #process itself, however, it calls for some forethought, as understanding #compatibilities and #limitations between the software’s tools and its #attributes stays at the core of this process. Therefore, one needs to determine what information is required in each situation. In this case, I choose to document the wall type ID, the wall type name and the additional notes for internal/ later use. Equally important it is to consider how this is going to be passed on to the people reading the drawings - in this instance, via Composites, using the corresponding ArchiCAD #documenting #tools such as #Classification & Properties and the Property #Labels.

The splitting rule can be set up in just a few simple steps, under File –Interoperability - IFC - IFC Translators, as illustrated in the diagram below.


Figure 1 - Setting out the splitting rule


Next, I need to make sure that the wall composites names follow the same format and that the string separators match the ones defined in the splitting rule ie ID - Wall Type Name, Description, which stands for WT A - External-Masonry Partial Fill, 0.18 W/m²K as in my example below. The rule set in the diagram above is for the Wall Type Short Name property, which can now be used to tag the wall type ID, using the Property Label, as in Figure 2.



Figure 2 - Property Label ID using IFC Property Value Wall Type Short Name

Figure 2 - Property Label ID using IFC Property Value Wall Type Short Name

Note Bene: The reason I prefer the IFC split name property value over the element ID to #tag the wall types on drawings stemmed from the fact that during the design development, the wall types tend to change. The element ID is #static, so it needs to be #manually amended by the user to ensure the ID label reads the correct wall #construction, following the wall composite #amendment. Of course, this poses a risk to keeping abreast of #variations, if the 3D wall is assigned a different composite and someone omits changing the element ID to match, as illustrated in the next example. Here, the highlighted wall in Fig.3, was modified to WT B (Wall Type B), but the element ID stayed the same and the Property Label in the circle-shaped frame still indicates WT A. Not only this can generate #inconsistencies throughout the project if left unchanged, but it may lead to the wrong wall being built on #site and that is something to be avoided at all costs.

Figure 3 - Property Label ID element ID vs IFC property value


Instead, when using the IFC property value Wall Type Short Name to tag the wall, rather than the element ID, the WT B tag in the square-shaped frame was automatically updated following the composite wall replacement. By the same token, Fig. 4 demonstrates how a different splitting rule, called Wall Short Name_End, was used to label the wall type – WT A – External-Masonry Partial Fill, using the Classification and Property Label, this time keeping the beginning of the fragment, without displaying the notes after the ‘,’ separator, that are recorded for internal/ later use. This is yet another use for the same composite name, that has proved beneficial in keeping up the pace with the build-up changes within wall types schedules.


Figure 4 - Classification and Properties Label using IFC property value Wall Short Name_End


As already pointed out, this IFC property value has quite a few advantages, since it requires the user to only amend the wall build-up under the composites list, so all wall tags and labels already placed in the drawings are automatically updated - in one go.

Using the splitting rule in this context comes as a precaution I take against the occurrence of issuing #misleading information, as any small mistake can have a huge significance on site. It is a proven and efficient way to BIM #micromanagement, for using the readily available information in the model and for reducing the human factor to prevent errors.

What are your thoughts on the splitting rule application? Would you approach this differently? Let me know what you think in the comments box below.



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