Changing IFC Units after opening a IFC

Z by zoomer on 28 Dec 2024, edited 28 Dec 2024 #

I want projects in Meters but may get IFCs unwanted in Millimeter (which I can only see - after loading them)

If I open such an IFC, Bonsai switches Blender to Millimeter.

I realized that I can switch Blender Units back to Meter and it only switches units but keeps objects scale. Great.

That also seems to work the same way for Bonsai, it only switches (also !) Bonsai IFC units but keeps objects scale. Great.

But when I save the IFC and open it again, IFC is back in Millimeter and switches Blender back too.

So far I found that Quality and Coordination/Patch/Recipes/ConvertLengthUnits can convert external IFC file's Units from mm to m successfully.

But is there any way to directly switch/convert IFC Units of an active open IFC in a Bonsai session ?

(Basically I just want to "switch" my "Working" Units to my liking - without losing scale of geometries - and perpetually, by saving the IFC)

T by theoryshaw on 28 Dec 2024 #

But is there any way to directly switch/convert IFC Units of an active open IFC in a Bonsai session ?

I think you can switch the units the Blender session is using, the same way @arunarchitect showed here.

...

Also too, you might know this but if you want to move something 500mm, you can type in =500mm. Or if in meters, =500m.

The same works for feet and inches. =3'+2"+5/8" All this can be done without changing the units in the blender session.

Z by zoomer on 28 Dec 2024 #

I think at my first try, when I realized my Bricscad IFCs come in in Millimeters

(Millimeters are kind of a Bricscad standard - but have to re-check if it is really mandatory for its IFC exports, e.g. when you "force" Bricscad to work in Meters, IFCs may export in Meters too....)

And from my memory with last try, I thought that Blender would just switch Units without respecting the scale. E.g. the 2000 mm Cube would get 2000 m Cube.

Realized only today that it is not the case/problem. (switching to Millimetres makes the 2x2x2 m Cube a 2000x ... mm Cube - as it makes sense)

So the same unit switch works for Bonsai - but just for the session. I can't save the unit switch with saving the Bonsai IFC.

I still have no real overview about what Bonsai really saves in IFC or things that should be in IFC or which Bonsai forgets to.

Or things like Visibilities of IFC Elements - Bonsai should either save in IFC - or if not possible, allow/offer a synch with Blender (?)

I am just a mere Mac user, but so far from my experience, I really believe, synching/exchanging/uniting Blender and IFC File is mandatory and the solution to a lot of issues. But I may be totally wrong.