Update history​

Open BIM Model Checker

Clear cache

The "Clear cache" button has been added to the CYPE applications included in the Open BIM workflow in the "Configuration" dialogue box that opens with the following sequence of commands: Select any of the options in the "BIMserver.center" tool group > "Configuration" option in the dialogue box that appears. When clicking on "Clear cache", the following options are displayed:

  • Projects
    Deletes projects, contributions and documents downloaded from the platform that are in the "File directory stored in local cache".

  • Sessions
    Deletes the data of any active sessions. This action will require applications to be re-authorised to access BIMserver.center.

  • Log files
    Deletes transaction logging from applications with BIMserver.center.

Long access paths

In previous versions, file paths used by applications were limited to a maximum length of 256 characters. This restriction is not specific to CYPE tools but is set by default in the Windows file system. As of version 2024.b, CYPE applications can bypass the restriction and allow the use of an extended path length for a maximum total path length of 10,000 characters. This eliminates the problems caused by the default limit and allows users to work with long access paths.

This improvement is particularly useful when working on projects with a complex directory structure or with long file names. By allowing longer paths, CYPE applications offer greater flexibility in file organisation.

Applications available in Japanese

As of version 2024.a, the following applications are also available in Japanese:

  • CYPE Architecture
  • IFC Uploader
  • Open BIM Analytical Model
  • Open BIM Layout
  • Open BIM Model Checker
  • Open BIM Site
  • Plugin Open BIM - Revit

Applications available in Russian

As of version 2024.a, the following applications are also available in Russian:

  • CYPE 3D
  • CYPE Architecture
  • CYPE Connect
  • CYPECAD
  • IFC Uploader
  • Open BIM Layout
  • Open BIM Model Checker
  • Open BIM Site
  • Plugin Open BIM - Revit
  • StruBIM Steel

New method for connecting applications to the BIMserver.center platform

The mode of communication between Open BIM applications and the BIMserver.center collaborative work platform has changed. In previous versions, the applications used the "BIMserver.center Sync" tool to upload and download the files of the contributions associated with the project from the platform. This tool was downloaded from the BIMserver.center platform or installed together with the installation of the platform applications if users so desired.

From version 2024.a onwards, applications are now able to work directly with BIMserver.center without an intermediary. That is, without the need for the "BIMserver.center Sync" tool.

This modification will improve the performance and efficiency of Open BIM applications significantly. By removing this dependency, the applications have more autonomy and the waiting times for communication between BIMserver.center Sync and the program have been considerably reduced. The process of downloading contributions has also been optimised, as users no longer need to obtain the entire content of a project from BIMserver.center in order to work, but only the contributions to be read.

The way of authenticating a BIMserver.center user in the applications has also been modified. Now, this process is carried out within the BIMserver.center web platform. To do this, the application with which the user is working will run the user's default browser when the "Login" button is pressed. When the credentials are entered, or after opening the browser if the user is already connected to the platform, an authorisation page will be displayed. This page details the resources the application is requesting access to and two buttons for granting or denying this access.

The authorisation must be carried out for each application. Once access has been granted, it is saved for the next time the program is run and there is no need to perform this process again for that application.

As well as performance improvements, changes have been made to the user interface of the Open BIM applications regarding the connection to BIMserver.center.

  • The "Connect to BIMserver.center" window now includes a "Configuration" button. Clicking it launches a menu from which you can edit the "File directory stored in local cache". This is the path where the files that make up the contributions will be downloaded when working with them from the applications. In previous versions, this location could be selected from the BIMserver.center Sync tool.
  • The appearance of the "Project selection" window has been modified.
  • In the "Select project" list, the "View only my projects" option has been added to show only the projects where the connected BIMserver.center user is the owner. Icons have also been included for the "Type of project" column in order to make it easier to identify them. The detailed data of a project now shows the image of each contribution, the description and the tags.
  • The "Review new contributions" and "Review updated contributions" options have been added to the "Create new project" window.
  • The list for selecting contributions ("Import BIM models") now includes the images of the contributions and the tags. The name of the contribution will be displayed in blue to indicate that the owner is the logged-in user.
  • When sharing a contribution or selecting contributions during the process of linking to a BIMserver.center project, a progress window will appear during the upload or download process.

To work in BIMserver.center with versions of Open BIM applications prior to 2024.a, users must continue to use the BIMserver.center Sync tool. This is still available for download from the platform and was included in the installation packages of the CYPE Open BIM applications prior to 2024.a.

Graphical editing of the reference system of the model

Since version 2022.a, the applications integrated within the Open BIM workflow via the BIMserver.center platform include a tool for managing project reference systems. This option is available from the configuration window that appears when linking or updating a BIMserver.center project via the "Geographic location and reference system" option. As of version 2023.d, the applications now allow users to run a graphical environment where they can visually define a reference system for their model. To do this, the "Geographic location and reference system" window now contains the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" option.

From the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" window, the origin and orientation of the reference system of the model can be indicated in the workspace with the "Define the reference system of the partial model" tool. Both the axes of the reference system of the model, which we have just entered and the axes of the reference system of the site can be viewed in the workspace. The latter appears with a "Site" tag.

To make it easier to define the reference system, the 3D models corresponding to the BIMserver.center project contributions selected during the linking process are displayed. The management of the visibility and object snaps of these models is carried out from the "Elements read" menu in the left sidebar of the window. The "Views" menu can also be found in the same options bar, from which different types of 2D and 3D views of the model can be generated. These tools can already be found in several CYPE applications. For more information on how they work, please refer to the User’s Manual for the 3D work environment tools available in CYPE applications.

Apart from 3D models, 2D drawings or plans can also be imported from CAD files (".dxf", ".dwg", ".dwf") or images (".jpeg", ".jpg", ".bmp", ".png", ".wmf", ".emf", ".pcx"). These files and object snaps are managed through the "DXF-DWG Template" and "Template object snaps" options accordingly.

Once the editing is complete, the coordinates and orientation of the reference system of the model with respect to the reference system of the site are moved to the corresponding fields in the "Geographic location and reference system" window.

Font size

The "Font size" option has been added to the general configuration menu of the applications. This tool allows users to increase or decrease the basic size of the font used in the user interface of the programs. Thanks to this implementation, the accessibility of the applications has been improved while also ensuring the correct visibility of the content on devices with different screen resolutions.

To enter a "Basic size" the "Set custom font size" option must be checked. The size users can enter is the application's basic font size. Any other font sizes that may exist in the program's interface will be automatically modified proportionally according to the change in the basic size.

It is important to note that, as this is a common parameter, its modification will affect all installed CYPE tools.

3D workspace user guide

Some CYPE OPEN BIM programs have a 3D workspace to enter the elements of the installation. This 3D interface is currently available in the following applications:

  • Open BIM Analytical Model
  • CYPE Construction Systems
  • Open BIM Model Checker
  • Open BIM Vertical Connections
  • CYPE Lightning
  • CYPEHVAC Ductwork
  • Open BIM MOVAIR
  • Open BIM RenoZEB - Focchi Facades
  • Open BIM TVITEC
  • Open BIM UNEX
  • Open BIM URSA AIR
  • Open BIM VAILLANT
  • CYPELEC PV Systems

A user guide for the tools of this 3D workspace is published with the 2020.f version.

Download it here: 3D workspace. 3D workspace tools user guide.

Corrections made in Open BIM Model Checker

  • The information of the elements on which the cursor is placed is shown correctly for all cases.
  • View the incident from the point at which it was defined
    The operation of the “View the incident from the point at which it was defined” tool has been modified. Now, the icon that activates it can be left pressed:
    • With the icon activated
      Users can browse through the incidents easily and the camera will reorientate itself to facilitate the inspection of the model.
    • With the icon deactivated
      Users can browse through the incidents without the camera reorienting itself.
  • Show only elements that are implicated in the collision
    In the collisions tab, if the collision is changed when the "Show only elements implicated in the collision" tool is activated, all the elements of the project, which were visible before activating this tool, are displayed again. In the previous version, even if the collision was changed, only the elements implicated in the previous collision were displayed.

Access and visualisation of BIM project documents

Users can now access all the information associated with the IFC files that are exported by each discipline to the project located on the BIMserver.center platform. This way, users cannot only access the geometric model of the project from "Open BIM Model Checker", but also all the documents that are associated with it (PDF, DWG...).

More information can be found in the “Document access and visualisation” section on the Open BIM Model Checker webpage.

Clash detection (new Open BIM Model Checker module)

“Open BIM Model Checker” automatically detects if there are any clashes between the different disciplines of the project, for example, between the building services installations and the structure, where it detects any possible layout errors of any of the elements of these disciplines (such as a pipe running into a column).

Even though “Open BIM Model Checker” is a free tool, users require the corresponding permit of the user license to be able to detect clashes.

More information can be found in the Managing the "Clash detection" tab section on the Open BIM Model Checker webpage.

Incident management improvements

Annotation tools have been included so users can draw directly on the 3D model (draw lines, arrows, ellipses and rectangles, and include measurements).

More information can be found in the “Incidents – Annotations” section on the Open BIM Model Checker webpage.