Migrating to Dataflows
In previous versions of Simplebim we had several alternatives for automation. Starting with Simplebim 11 our goal is to unite them all under the Dataflow ‘umbrella’. You can still use all the old automation and benefit from the effort you have put into learning and developing them. However, all new functionality will be developed only within dataflows, so you should get familiar with the migration possibilities.
| Simplebim 10 | Simplebim 11 | Notes |
| Tool Run / Saved tool configurations | Dataflow Step for running a tool | Previously you could run a tool directly from the ribbon (Run Tool) and you could save named configurations for each tool. A dataflow step that runs a tool is essentially the same; a tool with a configuration and the name of the step is the same as the name for a tool configuration in the old system. |
| Apply Excel template | Dataflow step for applying a template | Previously you could apply a template directly from the ribbon (Apply Template). All Excel Templates in the User Templates folder are automatically migrated to Dataflow Steps, which means that you can use them as part of your dataflows. For other templates there is a new ‘Apply Template’ -tool that has the name of the Excel template file as a parameter. This allows you to apply any other template as a Dataflow Step. As a shortcut you can still drag&drop an Excel template file on the 3D window to apply that template. |
| Saved Groups | Dataflow Step for applying a template | Saved groups are also Simplebim templates and you can use the ‘Apply Template’ -tool to turn them into a Dataflow Step |
| Scripts | Data Pipelines | To start with Simplebim 11 still supports the old scripts. However, the plan is to migrate them to Data Pipelines, which basically consist of importing one or more models, running one or more dataflows and finally exporting one or more models (or Excel, .csv etc. files) |
The overall change is to move from ad-hoc automation to more structured and manageable automation. This requires some compromises. Before it was convenient to apply one template or run one tool, but for example running many tools with specific configurations in a sequence was cumbersome. With dataflows it is a bit more cumbersome to apply a single template or run a single tool, but automating longer sequences is much easier.
NOTE: Several tools have undergone extensive refactoring and they are no longer backward compatible. You may encounter these situations when you are running tools from a script or from inside a template. If your script or template no longer works like expected, please contact us at supprt@simplebim.com and we will help you resolve the issue.
There will be a transition period when some automation is more convenient to define or only possible using the old Excel templates. Over time our plan is to enable all the Excel Template functionality in Dataflows. At that time we also plan to make a converter from Excel Templates to dataflows. In the meantime the following table tells you what can already be done using dataflows.
| Excel Template | Dataflow |
| Settings – worksheet | |
| Template | Dataflows have a name and description. The other information in this section is irrelevant in the context of dataflows. |
| Model Author | Not yet supported |
| Model License | Not yet supported |
| Depends on Templates | Nested dataflows |
| Tools | Any tool can be run as a dataflow step |
| Application Configuration (Advanced) | Not relevant for dataflows |
| IFC Import Settings | The startup window in Simplebim 11 allows you to define the IFC import settings |
| IFC Import Configuration (Advanced) | Not relevant for dataflows |
| IFC Export Settings | You can use the new ‘Export IFC’ -tool as a step in a dataflow. The configuration of this tool is equal to the old IFC export settings. |
| Variables | Not relevant for dataflows |
| Resources – worksheet | |
| Define IFC Property (PropertySet) | The new ‘Add Property’ -tool allows you to add a new property to the model and also to decide which object classes get that new property. |
| Define IFC Property (Element Quantity) | Not yet supported |
| Define Property | Not yet supported |
| Add Property Source | Not yet supported |
| Add Property Metadata | Not yet supported |
| Model -worksheet | |
| Set Units | Not yet supported |
| Add Identity to Object | Not yet supported |
| Add Property to Object Class or Group | The new ‘Add Property’ -tool allows you to add a new property to the model and also to decide which object classes get that new property. Adding properties to Object Group Categories and Object Groups is not yet supported |
| Add Identity to Property | Not yet supported |
| Swap Property Values | Not yet supported |
| Trim Text Property Values | Not yet supported |
| Find and Replace Text Property Values | Not yet supported |
| Copy Property Values | The new ‘Copy Property Values’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Rotate Site Around Pivot Point | The improved ‘Move and Rotate’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Move and Rotate Site | The improved ‘Move and Rotate’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Move and Rotate Project | The improved ‘Move and Rotate’ -tool has the same functionality |
| ModelView -worksheet | |
| Include/Exclude Objects Based on Object Class or Group | The new ‘Include/Exclude Objects’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Include/Exclude Property | The new ‘Include/Exclude Properties’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Set Object Color and Transparency Based on Object Class or Group | The new ‘Set Appearance’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Validation -worksheet | |
| Required Objects | Not yet supported |
| Required Properties | Not yet supported |
| Rules for Text Property Values | Not yet supported |
| Enrichment -worksheet | Not yet supported |
| Substitution -worksheet | Not relevant for dataflows |
| Groups -worksheet | |
| Add Group Categories | The new ‘Add Group Category’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Define Groups Based on Property Values | The new ‘Add or Modify Group’ -tool has the same functionality |
| Assign Groups to Group Categories | Not yet supported |
| Add Classification Systems | Not yet supported |