AutoCAD MEP

[#1]

Hi.

I am trying to export an AutoCAD Mep model to IFC and I am not having alot of luck exporting the information that I want.  Currently my drawing is very simple and only containes a few spaces and 2 VAV boxes.  The two VAV boxes have their IFCTC columns in content builder set to IfcFanType.NOTDEFINED.  The subtype of the part is set to SINGLE DUCT VAV.  When I export the file, I get this line describing the VAV box.

#1765=IFCFANTYPE('0RFsBvPhT8hgK6ItbtVPAW',#33,'Single Duct VAV','','',(#1764),$,'','Single Duct VAV',.NOTDEFINED.);

The output line is described by the following:

Attribute                                              Type                                                    Defined By

GlobalId	IfcGloballyUniqueId (STRING)	IfcRoot
OwnerHistory	IfcOwnerHistory (ENTITY)	IfcRoot
Name	IfcLabel (STRING)	IfcRoot
Description	IfcText (STRING)	IfcRoot
ApplicableOccurrence	IfcLabel (STRING)	IfcTypeObject
HasPropertySets	SET OF IfcPropertySetDefinition (ENTITY)	IfcTypeObject
RepresentationMaps	LIST OF IfcRepresentationMap (ENTITY)	IfcTypeProduct
Tag	IfcLabel (STRING)	IfcTypeProduct
ElementType	IfcLabel (STRING)	IfcElementType
PredefinedType	IfcFanTypeEnum (ENUM)	IfcFanType

So Both the name and the ElementType is being set to "SINGLE DUCT VAV'.  This is not what I want.  I want the Name to be the partsize name.  So I did a little digging and got to this page in the help file.

http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocadmep/enu/online-help/search#WS1a9193826455f5ff29a9843712b1addac1f...

I believe that this page is telling me that if I add the following property set: IFCObjectAttributes{IFCFanType] found in the IFC Property Sets location that I can override these values.  I have attached the property set, filled in the values that I want, but still get the original values.

I am at a loss at what to try next.  It is clear that the IFC exporter is not working correctly.  Why would it take the name of the part and insert the part subtype into it.  What if i have 100 of the same type of part in a single drawing.  There is no way to distinguish one from another.

Has anyone tried something like this before and came across this issue?  Any help on the matter would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Keith

[#2]

**** UPDATE ****

I have found that the method talked about in my previous post works just fine for architectural objects. i.e. (spaces).  I can attach the appropriate property set to a space and override the name and description.  But still no luck for MEP.

Why can't they make them work the same?

[#3]

I do not know the answer and have emailed some guys that may be able to help.

Joshua

[#4]

Thank you Joshua.

[#5 · Accepted solution]

Our developers have confirmed as well, that MEP objects do not behave the same as the Architectural.  They are now aware of this behavior and are researching how to address it.

Joshua