Forma Data Management can be used in combination with BIMcollab in several ways:
With the Forma Data Management integration in a BIMcollab project (WebViewer)
As a Project folder in BIMcollab Zoom
In this article, we will demonstrate how to set up and use these connections to use both applications to their full potential.
⚠️ Attention: Every team member in the BIMcollab project who needs access to the models from Forma Data Management in the WebViewer needs an account for Forma Data Management and should have access to the models there.
Forma Data Management integration in the BIMcollab project
⚠️ Attention: This feature is not available on all tiers. To check if it’s included in your subscription, review the feature comparison list on the pricing page or contact your admin. If the feature isn’t available, you may need to upgrade your tier.
This integration allows stakeholders to view IFC, RVT, and NWD files of their choice that are located in the Forma Data Management folder as a combined model directly in BIMcollab. This makes it unnecessary to first download the models to be able to study them. Users can evaluate existing issues in the context of the model and create new issues from the Model WebViewer.
For each project in your BIMcollab space, you can set up a separate connection to the preferred Forma Data Management folder.
To view the models located in Forma Data Management in BIMcollab, proceed as follows:
As a project leader
Set up a folder on Forma Data Management containing all the files related to the project. Make sure the folder is accessible to all team members
Set up the connection between your project and the Forma Data Management folder, as described in the article How to integrate Forma Data Management into my project
Go to the Model tab on the project page
The first time you go to the Model tab after the integration is configured, the model selection window will automatically pop up
On the left side, all folders and models in the project, matching the selected file types, are shown. Select all models you want to display
Click on the arrow button to add the selected models to the view
Once all desired models are added to the 'Selected models' list, click 'OK'
📝 Note: The selection of models is personal for every team member.
If you want to change or add models to the list of selected models, click on the
'add or change models' button in the top right corner of the model viewer.
All selected models will be shown as a combined model in the Model tab. Use the model viewer functionalities to further filter the model and define its appearance. You can zoom to issues in the model and create new issues from the issue panel on the left side of the screen.
As a team member
Log in to your BIMcollab account
Select the project where the Forma Data Management integration has been set up
Go to the Model tab
Click the 'Sign in' button
You will be redirected to the Forma Data Management login page
Complete the Forma Data Management login processOn the 'Authorize application' page, click 'Allow'
You will be redirected back to BIMcollab
The first time you log in on the Model tab after the integration is configured, the model selection window will automatically pop up
On the left side, all folders and models in the project, matching the selected file types, are shown. Select all models you want to display
Click on the arrow button to add the selected models to the view
Once all desired models are added to the 'Selected models' list, click 'OK'
If you want to change or add models to the list of selected models, click on the
'add or change models' button in the top right corner of the model viewer.
All selected models will be shown as a combined model in the Model tab. Use the model viewer functionalities to further filter the model and define its appearance. You can zoom to issues in the model and create new issues from the issue panel on the left side of the screen.
Project folder in BIMcollab Zoom
In BIMcollab Zoom, it is possible to link IFC files and point clouds stored in a shared folder to a project on BIMcollab to which you are connected. This way, it is ensured that all team members of the BIMcollab project always have access to the most recent files.
This shared folder can be located in Forma Data Management.
To use an Autodesk folder as a Project folder in BIMcollab Zoom, proceed as follows:
As a project leader
⚠️ Attention: Make sure the models that you would like to load in BIMcollab have the status 'Synced' in the Autodesk Desktop Connector. If the status is 'Online', right-click on the model and choose 'Sync'.
Set up a shared folder on Forma Data Management that contains all the files which are related to the project. Make sure the folder is accessible to all team members
Download and install the Autodesk Desktop Connector as described on the Autodesk website
Open BIMcollab Zoom
Connect to the preferred space and project
Connect the folder to your project as described in the article Set up the Project folder to link shared files to a project
When browsing to the correct folder, select the folder in the Autodesk Desktop Connector
The models will be displayed in the 'Navigation' tab
Right-click on the models that should be loaded and choose 'Load model'
As a team member
⚠️ Attention: Make sure the models that you would like to load in BIMcollab Zoom have the status 'Synced' in the Autodesk Desktop Connector. If the status is 'Online', right-click on the model and choose 'Sync'.
Download and install the Autodesk Desktop Connector as described on the Autodesk website
Open BIMcollab Zoom
Connect to the preferred space and project
Connect the folder to your project as described in the article Set up the Project folder to link shared files to a project
When browsing to the correct folder, select the folder in the Autodesk Desktop Connector
The models will be displayed in the 'Navigation' tab
Right-click on the models that should be loaded and choose 'Load model'
The next time the user connects to the project, the models will be automatically loaded from the correct location.
The load status of the models is stored for each individual user.
Because this setup is folder-based, all changes in the connected Forma Data Management folder are recognized automatically when a user connects to the project for the first time after the change.
Therefore, this workflow ensures that all team members are working with the most up-to-date models at all times.
Replace updated models, add new models, and delete outdated models from the shared folder.
⚠️ Attention: An updated version of a model can only be detected when the new file has the same name as the previous version. If the updated version has a different name, it will be added to the project as a new model, and the previous version will be shown as missing (if it was deleted from the folder).
The model tree will give feedback on the load status and availability of the models by its color. Consult this article about different colors of model names for more information on the meaning of the different colors.