iConnect and Interfaces Modules

In this section you will learn the main functionalities offered by the iConnect Module:

- Connecting elements between a CAD software and Relatics

- Search options in the hybrid tree

iConnect and Interfaces Module

Select the iConnect / Interfaces Module:

In the iBIM Connector window, Click on the "Home" button

Select "iConnect" / "Interfaces"

The overall screen display is the same for each functionality (iConnect, Interfaces, iPosts):

  • a ribbon in the upper part of the screen;

  • an overview on the left side;

  • a detailed view of Relatics on the right side.

In the iConnect module, the overview on the left consists of a hybrid tree containing As Required- and As Designed elements

Connect CAD elements to Relatics Instances

The main purpose of the iConnect module is to link CAD elements to Relatics data directly from the CAD software.

In the hybrid tree (on the left part of the connector window), connected elements are displayed in blue while unconnected elements are in grey.

Root elements of the tree are "As Required" and child elements are "As Designed"

Meaning of the numbers between brackets, eg (7/5/25) on the picture below

  • 7 As Designed Objects are created in the database

  • 5 As Designed Objects are connected

  • 25 As Designed Objects are required (but only 7 exist at the moment in the database). If the number of As Required Objects is not entered in the database, a default number of "1" is shown.

When creating a new connection between a CAD- and a Relatics element, 2 scenarios are possible:

  1. There is an existing As Required (root) element but no unconnected As Designed (child)

  • Click on an object in the CAD software (e.g. a generic "room" that will be a "kitchen");

  • Select the appropriate As Required element in the hybrid tree (e.g. a kitchen) and click on the "Create and Connect" button (located on the ribbon in the "As Required" tab). It is also possible to right click on the appropriate As Required element and click on "Create and Connect"

As a result, a new instance element (As Designed) has been added as child in the tree. The child element is in blue in the tree meaning it is connected to a CAD element. Furthermore the room in the CAD Software is renamed (as Kitchen in our example)

Instead of connecting elements one-by-one, the connector allows the user to select several objects (eg doors) and connect them at once, creating the appropriate number of new instances.

2. An As Design element already exists but is not yet connected

As a result there is maybe no need to create another As Designed element and you can connect the existing one.

  • Click on an object in the CAD software (eg a generic "room" which destination will be "kitchen" );

  • Select the appropriate unconnected As Designed element (displayed in grey) in the tree (eg a kitchen) and click on the "Connect" button (located on the ribbon of the "As Required" tab), or right click on the appropriate As Required element and click on "Connect Revit Element"

Search options

There are mainly three ways to find an element in the hybrid tree:

  • By filling the search field

  • By clicking on the arrow next to the magnifying glass and selecting one of the options

  • By browsing the tree


Parent topic: Basics