Loading WebViewer models in BIMcollab Zoom

When working with a project created in BIMcollab Nexus, 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 BIMcollab Nexus and BIMcollab Zoom. If this feature is enabled, whenever a user connects to a BIMcollab Nexus project from BIMcollab Zoom, any files that exist in the WebViewer at the time will always be readily available to load. 

This feature is only available from BIMcollab Zoom version 8.0 together with a paid Nexus plan.

Allow access to WebViewer files

When the integration to BIMcollab WebViewer is setup in BIMcollab Nexus 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.) 

To know how to upload your models to a project in Nexus, consult the article Quick Start Guide BIMcollab Model WebViewer.

Load models from BIMcollab Nexus

To begin checking your models that have been added to a project in Nexus, follow these steps:

1. Open BIMcollab Zoom 
   
2. Connect to the project on BIMcollab Nexus
   
3. 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"
   

          

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.

 

      4. 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.

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. 

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 Zoom the next time you connect to the project:

1. If a model is replaced with a newer version in Nexus, the model in Zoom will be unloaded and any previous download associated with it will be removed.
   
2. If a new model is added in Nexus, the model list in Zoom will be updated and display this as an unloaded model.
   
3. If a model is removed in Nexus, it will no longer be visible in the model list in 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".

Synchronising a project to Nexus does not take any affect on the updating of models.

If changes are made to the model list in Nexus while you are still actively working in Zoom, you can update your currently loaded models by disconnecting and reconnecting to your project. 

It is not possible to use the prefix function with models that originate from the WebViewer.

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 BIMcollab Nexus 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 but they won't be visible in BIMcollab Nexus. 

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 

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 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: 

• Related Articles

• Coordinate models with different origins

  BIMcollab Zoom will automatically coordinate your models so that they are correctly aligned, by placing the IFC Global Origins of all files at the same location. In those rare cases where a model does not align correctly, you can make use of the Move ...

• BIMcollab Zoom as a desktop app vs the BIMcollab Model WebViewer

  BIMcollab Nexus as a cloud based system is essential for sharing information and working together on models and issues. On this platform, BIMcollab Model WebViewer, powered by advanced streaming technology, flawlessly handles large models, ensuring ...

• Quick Start Guide BIMcollab Zoom

  Find a printable version as attachment This Quick Start Guide describes the work environment and functionalities of BIMcollab Zoom. It will get you up and running in no time. If you have not yet installed it, download and install BIMcollab Zoom ...

• Sort and group your models in the model tree

  In BIMcollab Zoom, the model tree is sorted alphabetically. To sort and group models, prefixes can be used on the models in your file: Right-click a model in the model tree Choose ‘Add prefix’ to give models a prefix Models with the same prefix will ...

• Explore the example project in BIMcollab Zoom

  The BIMcollab example project consists of nine IFC models. Each model belongs to a different discipline and has been exported from a variety of BIM applications demonstrating the versatility of an openBIM workflow. The BIMcollab example project can ...