Add or Modify Group

This tool adds a new group to the model or replaces/modifies an existing group.

The groups can be used for classifying the building elements. Or they can be used in dataflows to define the objects for a dataflow step.

Adding and modifying groups is one of the key skills when creating and using dataflows. Each step in a dataflow takes in a group of objects (a target) that it processes. Most of the data processing operations are done on a subset of objects from the model, not on all objects.

Objects to the groups can be assigned manually from the Simplebim UI, or automatically with the rules. 

Settings

Name

Defines the name of the group. This is visible in the Simplebim's UI, like in the picture above. The Name is also the way to use the group in the dataflow steps.

Group Type

Defines the type of the group.

Manual

Objects are assigned to manual groups. After the group has been created, the group is not automatically updated based on a rule, but objects can be added and removed from it in the user interface via drag&drop.

Manual Empty

A manual group that initially contains no objects.

Rule Based

The objects in the group are determined by a rule and cannot be assigned manually. The content of the group is automatically updated based on the rule in Simplebim UI.

Container

A group that does not contain any objects itself, but can have child groups.

Ungrouped

A special group collecting all objects in the parent group that do not belong to any of the sibling groups.

Rule Type

Query

Define a rule for automatically finding objects from the model with the Query Editor.

Object Selection

Define the objects assigned to the group by dragging and dropping them onto the control.

Property Values

Define a simple rule for automatically finding objects from the model, based on a property and a list of property values. The objects that contain this property and have one of the defined values will be assigned to the group.

Group Category

Defines the category of the group. Note that Generic Groups can only be used inside Simplebim. IFC groups are exported to IFC. The category must exist in the model, otherwise the group cannot be created.

Parent Group

This is an optional setting. If you leave it empty, then the group is created under the Group Category defined above.

Groups can be hierarchical. Parent Group defines the name of the parent group, under which you want the group to be created. The parent group must exist in the model, otherwise the group cannot be created.

If Group Already Exists

Defines what should be done in the case that a matching group already exists in the model?

Replace Existing Group

Replace the already existing group with the new group.

Add to Existing Group

Add the objects from the new group into the already existing group. The existing group will be converted into a manual group if needed.

Remove from Existing Group

Remove the objects from the new group from the already existing group. The existing group will be converted into a manual group if needed.

Keep Existing Group Unchanged

Keep the already existing group unchanged and discard the new group.

Non-overlapping Child Groups

If ON, an object can belong to only one child group of this group. This restriction applies only to manual child groups.

Limit Child Groups

If ON, child groups that may be added to this group later can only have objects that this group has. This restriction applies only to manual child groups.

Do not Create Empty Groups

If ON, a new group is not created if the Group Rule does not find any objects.