roadmap2023.md

1. Get a working concept up

• Write an importer that allows an initial import of an IFC file into FreeCAD
• Write a custom parametric FreeCAD object that represents an IFC document in the FreeCAD tree
• Do an initial geometry import
• Write a custom parametric FreeCAD object that represents in IFC product in the FreeCAD tree
• Reveal the document structure in the FreeCAD tree
• Allow an object shape to be built automatically from its children
• Allow to expand a document (reveal its children)
• Use group extension
• Support colors

2. Allow basic editing

• Use enums in enum-based properties
• Fetch attribute documentation canceled for now because it yields too much text
• Fetch context-dependent IFC types
• Find a way to not store the whole enum in the file
• Add progress feedback
• Allow to change an attribute of an object
• Allow to manually save the linked IFC file
• Implement mesh mode
• Allow different storage strategies (full shape or only coin representation)
• Write a hook system that allows FreeCAD to save the IFC document
• Test (and solve!) what happens when opening a NativeIFC file in vanilla FreeCAD
• Add a shape caching system
• Tie the shape caching to the corresponding IFC document
• Allow to change the class of an object
• Allow late loading/rebuilding of coin representation

3. Allow adding and removing objects

• Allow different import strategies (full model, only building structure...)
• Allow to create an IFC document without an existing IFC file
• Allow to add building structure (building, storey...)
• Allow to add a simple generic IFC product
• Allow to delete objects
• Allow to hide children of an object
• Tie all of the above to BIM commands cancelled because the only one necesary is the Project tool

4. Allow advanced editing

• Allow to edit placements
• Define a strategy for expanding non-IfcProduct elements
• Expand attributes cancelled for now because only non-link attributes need to be shown so far
• Expand materials
• Expand properties
• Allow to regroup elements
• Handle drag/drop
• Allow to change the IFC schema
• Support layers
• Support groups

5. Full workflow (creation and edition) of different tools

• Support Arch walls
• Support Arch structures
• Support Arch objects with subtractions and additions
• Support Arch windows
• Support custom openings and protrusions
• Support Draft 2D entitties
• Support Draft dimensions
• Support Part extrusions
• Support Part booleans

Additionals

• Implement single document mode

• Handle undo/redo
• Add this to the addons manager cancelled because it will be merged with BIM
• Add to BIM WB dependencies/ reorganize addon
• Verify and adapt 2D view generation workflow
• Verify and adapt quantifying workflow
• Verify and adapt cost/surveying workflow
• Document everything
• Upstream all pure ifcopenshell functionality to ifcopenshell.utils
• Transfer Arch exportIFC.getRepresentation() functionality to ifcopenshell.api.geometry

Edit mode

• Common system: Geometry properties are created on entering edit mode, on-screen trackers system

• Edit single-line axis endpoints for walls
• Edit single-line axis endpoints for extruded profiles
• Edit rectangle widths
• Edit non-axis extrusion lengths
• Edit polyline profiles

Further goals

• Support Types
• Support quantity sets
• Support mapped geometry
• Wall joining system

Questions to solve

• Mixed or single document mode must be clearly choosable and identified by the user:
  • When opening an IFC file: Option in the import dialog to choose between Single/Hybrid
  • When opening a FreeCAD file: Implicit - The file carries the mode already
  • When creating a FreeCAD file: Dialog pops up to choose between Single/Hybrid
  • When inserting an IFC file:
    • If the active file has objects:
      • If the active file is singledoc:
        • Pop up dialog to ask between Merge/Hybrid
      • Else: Hybrid
    • Else:
      • Hybrid
• Create example workflows:
  • I am opening an existing IFC file and I want to modify/add/remove some of its contents: Opening in singledoc mode, modifying, saving.
  • I am opening an IFC file and I want to include additional IFC files in it: Opening in singledoc mode, insert, choose if merging or not
    • If merging, merge additional IFC
    • If not, creating a doc object. Any changes to that doc object must take precedence over host doc
  • I am creating an IFC file from scratch: Creating a file, choose if singledoc
  • I am creating a FreeCAD file from scratch, not only IFC: Creating a file, choose no singledoc
  • I am working on a hybrid FreeCAD file containing a BIM model. I want to export the IFC data consistently while still being able to modify the BIM objects with normal tools
  • I am working on an IFC file and I want to produce 2D documents out of it, I want to benefit of the full FreeCAD 2D capabilities while saving the result as IFC data