When working with BIMcollab project, it's easy to upload models to the WebViewer and immediately load them in BIMcollab Zoom to start model checking. This also means that models need only to be updated in one location, the WebViewer, making it simple for all project members to have access to the most up to date IFC files within both online and in BIMcollab Zoom. If this feature is enabled, whenever a user connects to a BIMcollab project from BIMcollab Zoom, any files that exist in the WebViewer at the time will always be readily available to load.
⚠️ Attention: This feature is only available from BIMcollab Zoom version 8.0.
Allow access to WebViewer files
When the integration to BIMcollab WebViewer is setup by project leaders, it's possible to enable/disable the feature to load the models to BIMcollab Zoom. This allows all team members who can connect to the project the possibility to download the files to their computer in a cache folder and open them automatically in BIMcollab Zoom whenever connected to the right project. When you have a high security project, this toggle gives you the option to disable this feature. (The toggle is turned on by default.)
💡 Tip: To know how to upload your models to a project, consult the article Quick Start Guide BIMcollab Model WebViewer.
Load models from BIMcollab project
To begin checking your models that have been added to a project in BIMcollab, follow these steps:
Open BIMcollab Zoom
Once connected, the model names will appear as grey in the navigation panel with a white cloud icon. Right click on the model(s) you wish to load and select "Load model".
Once the model is loaded, the model name will turn black, the cloud icon
will turn yellow
and the model tree will be visible in the navigation panel. The model(s) will also be loaded in the 3D view.
5. You can also unload a model at anytime by right clicking a model name, and selecting "Unload model". The model name will then return to grey, and the cloud icon will return to white.
💡 Tip: A brief message will appear that displays the download progress of the model(s) you selected.
The speed of this will depend on your internet connection as well as the size of the IFC file.
Loaded models from the WebViewer get stored locally on your computer so the next time you open BIMcollab Zoom and connect to the same project, you can access the models quicker.
📝 Note: Model tags in BIMcollab Zoom
Starting with BIMcollab Zoom 9.4, model tags assigned in the BIMcollab WebViewer are accessible as properties within BIMcollab Zoom. These tags appear under the property set titled "Model tags assigned to this model in BIMcollab WebViewer" in the Properties tab of each WebViewer model. Once available as properties, these model tags can be used across various BIMcollab Zoom functionalities, including Smart Views, Lists, Clash Detection, and Smart Properties.
Updating models
If any changes are made to list of models present in the WebViewer, these will automatically be reflected in the model navigation panel in BIMcollab Zoom the next time you connect to the project:
If a model is replaced with a newer version in the WebViewer, the model in BIMcollab Zoom will be unloaded and any previous download associated with it will be removed.
If a new model is added in the WebViewer, the model list in BIMcollab Zoom will be updated and display this as an unloaded model.
If a model is removed in the WebViewer, it will no longer be visible in the model list in BIMcollab Zoom and any download associated with it will be removed.
Any unloaded models can simply be downloaded again by right clicking them and selecting "Load model".
⚠️ Attention: Synchronizing a project does not take any affect on the updating of models.
If changes are made to the model list in the WebViewer while you are still actively working in BIMcollab Zoom, you can update your currently loaded models by disconnecting and reconnecting to your project.
❗Warning: It is not possible to use the prefix function with models that originate from the WebViewer.
❗ Warning: It is not possible to perform the move and rotate function on models that originate from the WebViewer. Make sure to take care of the model coordinations within the IFC authoring tools for a more consistent project set up.
Other methods of opening models in BIMcollab Zoom
Syncing models from the WebViewer to BIMcollab Zoom works well to have the most up to date models across both platforms. There are two other methods to load models in BIMcollab Zoom directly. However, note that these will not be visible in the WebViewer.
1. Shared Project folder method: Read more about shared project folders here.
2. Opening IFC files locally: Look into this article for more information.
Drag and drop the models to BIMcollab Zoom
Load the models by browsing from your computer
💡 Tip: The project folder workflow can also be used alongside the WebViewer synced models.
You can also open IFC files locally, however these will only be temporarily added to the project in the current BIMcollab Zoom session.
1. File from shared project folders
2. Local file
3. Models From the WebViewer
Once these models are loaded, the icons turn yellow: