Update history​

Open BIM Switchboard

Quick access toolbar

As of version 2025.a, CYPE applications with a "Ribbon" have a customisable quick access toolbar (QAT), located in the top left corner of the program. This bar contains a set of commands that are separate from the active ribbon tab.

To add or remove a command from the quick access toolbar, a button has been included to access the configuration of the toolbar. Clicking it displays a window where users can add commands from the application's menus. Specific commands can be selected or all the commands found in a menu can be added using the "Assign all" button.

The list of commands added to the quick access toolbar provides options to perform the following actions:

  • Move up (move to the left) or move down (move to the right) commands in the toolbar.
  • Add a dividing line to the right of the button.
  • Remove a command or dividing line from the toolbar.

Each application can include several commands in the initial settings of the quick access toolbar and can be restored using the "Default settings" option. Furthermore, applications that are connected to the BIMserver.center platform include the "Update" and "Share" options in their default settings.

New groups and applications. Installing and uninstalling

In version 2025.a, CYPE Menu (which can now be downloaded exclusively from the BIMserver.center platform) has new program groups.

  • Architecture
  • Structures
  • MEP (Mechanical and Plumbing)
  • MEP (Electrical)
  • Energy and acoustic simulations
  • Project management
  • Project documents
  • Interoperability

Most of the CYPE applications are sorted into these groups. In previous versions, most of these applications could only be downloaded as single applications from the BIMserver.center platform.

By downloading and installing CYPE Menu, users will only have the CYPE programs menu installed, but none of the applications included in it will be downloaded or installed. Initially, each of the icons representing the CYPE Menu applications appears in a box with a grey background. When clicking on any of them for the first time (or on the button under the application's name), a contextual menu will appear allowing users to download and install the latest version of that application or an earlier version if available. Earlier versions (from 2024 onwards) will be available for those programs that include paid modules. Normally, free applications will only allow the latest version of these programs to be installed. Any installed version of any application can be uninstalled.

When an application has been installed, by clicking on the button under its name, the context menu that appears includes the "Uninstall" option.

More information on this program menu can be found in the FAQ "How to download and install programs from CYPE’s general menu".

The CYPE Menu download of versions before 2025 (with the applications included) is still available in the download area of the CYPE website.

CYPE Menu. Exclusive download from the BIMserver.center platform

As of version 2025.a, the CYPE program menu can only be downloaded from the BIMserver.center platform.

The CYPE Menu application was already available from version 2024.b on the BIMserver.center platform. Now, in version 2025.a, the advantages of CYPE Menu compared to previous versions, which were downloaded from the download area of the CYPE website, are as follows:

  • As of version 2024.b
    • Once CYPE Menu has been installed, the applications it contains will be installed from this new menu when they are opened for the first time.

  • As of version 2024.f
    • CYPE Menu allows users to manage the updates of the applications it contains.

  • As of version 2025.a
    • New program groups and many CYPE applications that could only be downloaded directly from BIMserver.center are included.
    • The version of each application to be installed can be selected (from version 2024 onwards).
    • Previously installed applications can be uninstalled.

Further information on the new features can be found in the following new features of CYPE Menu version 2025.a.

In the download area of the CYPE website, the download of the program menu for versions prior to 2025.a (in 64-bit and 32-bit) will still be available. In this download area, there is also a link to the BIMserver.center platform "Store" for downloading the 2025.a version of "CYPE Menu".

As a result of these changes, the 32-bit version of the CYPE Menu is no longer available in version 2025.a. As of 18 February 2019 (version 2019.f), the CYPE programs have been running on 64-bit systems. Since then, only the classic CYPE menu could be installed on 32-bit systems. All other applications (downloadable from the BIMserver.center platform) only worked on 64-bit systems. We believe that 32-bit programming is no longer feasible to take advantage of the superior performance of 64-bit processors and operating systems. Users who still want to use certain 32-bit CYPE programs (those available in the "CYPE Menu" prior to version 2025.a) must install a version prior to 2025.a from the download area of the CYPE website, but will not be able to upgrade their programs to later versions. Please refer to our FAQ question "Which version should I download, 64-bit or 32-bit?" for more information on the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Shortcuts for all applications

CYPE apps have keyboard shortcuts common to all programs. In versions before 2024.e, each program displayed the keyboard shortcuts for each app via the "Search and activation of commands and options" in the top left-hand corner of the programs.

As of version 2024.e, the "Shortcuts for all applications" tab has been implemented in the dialogue box displayed when selecting this option and it shows all the keyboard shortcuts common to CYPE apps.

Change of application names

In version 2024.d, the following CYPE applications have been renamed:

Previous nameNew name
CYPEHVAC HydronicsCYPEHVAC
CYPELEC SwitchboardOpen BIM Switchboard
Open BIM Construction SystemsCYPE Construction Systems
Open BIM Cost EstimatorCYPE Cost Estimator
Open BIM Gas SupplyCYPE Gas Supply
Open BIM Health and safetyCYPE Health and safety
Open BIM LightningCYPE Lightning
Open BIM SewerageCYPE Sewerage
Open BIM Water SupplyCYPE Water Supply

Enhancements made to the program's features and name change

The distribution panel design program CYPELEC Switchboard will be renamed Open BIM Switchboard as of version 2024.d.

The new program is based on the core features of its predecessor and also includes new features.

  • Connecting with the BIM project in order to import the single-line diagram of the electrical system.

  • Designing generic distribution panels.

  • Representation of busbars.

  • Representation of bridge lines.
  • Selecting manufacturers' catalogues and designing distribution panels based on their enclosure models and protection devices (switchgear) (new feature).
  • Automatically selecting manufacturer's devices in order to comply with BIM project specifications (new feature).
  • 3D work environment including the possibility of reading the architecture of the BIM project for the location of the different distribution panels (new feature).

Installation modes (professional, campus, evaluation, temporary license)

All CYPE programs can be installed in their different versions (Professional Version, Evaluation Version, Campus Version, Temporary License). In previous versions, users could only choose the type of version to be installed from the classic CYPE menu.

As of version 2024.a, the selection of version types has been implemented in all CYPE programs on the BIMserver.center platform.

As of version 2024.d, this selection can be made during the installation of all CYPE programs, regardless of where they are downloaded.

Improvements in the connection to BIMserver.center

Version 2024.b includes the following improvements and corrections to the connection of applications to the BIMserver.center platform:

  • After sharing a contribution, there is a delay before it becomes available in the BIMserver.center project. This could result in another application not having immediate access, even if the export was made from the same computer. Now applications can read contributions from the "File directory stored in local cache" before they are accessible in BIMserver.center.

  • It is now possible to export a contribution without an internet connection. When this occurs, a confirmation dialogue box will appear to inform users that if the contribution is exported, it cannot be shared in the BIMserver.center project. The contribution can be read in another application as long as it is on the same computer and linked to the same project. However, for the contribution to be available on the platform, users will need to "Share" it again with an internet connection.

  • The uploading process has been improved to allow larger files to be included.

  • An error that did not allow users to connect to the platform when the "AppData" system folder was not accessible has been fixed.

  • An error that showed the user as logged in when the session had already expired has been fixed.

  • The warning messages displayed when there is a problem in the communication with BIMserver.center have been improved.

  • Now, when creating a new project, the same default fields are used as in the BIMserver.center website.

Links to the BIMserver.center platform

From the BIMserver.center project information window (displayed by clicking on the project name shown in the project information bar - upper right part of the application window) you can access the project page of the BIMserver.center platform via a link that has been inserted in the text indicating the project name.

Likewise, from the information window about the project contributions ("Contributions" option in the project information window), users can access the page of each contribution in the BIMserver.center platform. These links are inserted in the texts indicating the name of each contribution.

Notifications on the project status

The status information bar of the BIMserver.center project is located at the top right of the window of the programs included in the Open BIM workflow. This bar has been available in the applications since version 2022.e and shows a warning icon when there is a problem with the connection to the project, as well as other things. Now, in version 2024.b, users can obtain more information about the warning by hovering the mouse cursor over the icon.

Creating BIMserver.center Corporate projects

As of version 2024.b, users can create projects associated with a "BIMserver.center Corporate" account from all CYPE applications included in the Open BIM workflow. To do this, the "Owner" field has been added to the window for creating a new project. This is a drop-down menu that includes, as one of the available options, the logged-in BIMserver.center user name along with the "BIMserver.center Corporate" accounts to which it has access. When selecting the user name as the owner, the project will be associated with this personal account, as was the case in previous versions. On the other hand, if a BIMserver.center Corporate account is selected, the project will be associated with that account.

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.