BIM - Objects Library vs External Reference

A forum dedicated to the Draft, Arch and BIM workbenches development.
Forum rules
Be nice to others! Respect the FreeCAD code of conduct!
Post Reply
paullee
Veteran
Posts: 5098
Joined: Wed May 04, 2016 3:58 pm

BIM - Objects Library vs External Reference

Post by paullee »

Hi, just try Objects Library vs External Reference.

Wondering what is the difference in usecases...? Seem External Reference has a 'Transient Reference' while Objects Library is simply a File Import right?

Note below Objects Library indicates 'FCstd can't be placed' - what does it mean?

Screenshot from 2019-02-26 01-24-13.png
Screenshot from 2019-02-26 01-24-13.png (258.61 KiB) Viewed 718 times
User avatar
yorik
Founder
Posts: 13640
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:16 pm
Location: Brussels
Contact:

Re: BIM - Objects Library vs External Reference

Post by yorik »

Seem External Reference has a 'Transient Reference' while Objects Library is simply a File Import right?
Yes. Arch reference keeps a link to its original file (whenever it changes, the reference object changes too), while the library just imports the contents of the file (so far).

The 'FCstd can't be placed' is because when you import for ex. a step file, you will be offered to click a point in the 3d space to place it there. For FCStd file, they can contain long chains of models or even (PartDesign) unmovable objects, and trying to change the location of some objects might give unwanted results, so for these you cannot choose the location, the objects will appear where they have been defined in the original file.
User avatar
regis
Posts: 725
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:17 am
Contact:

Re: BIM - Objects Library vs External Reference

Post by regis »

yorik wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 4:27 pm Seem External Reference has a 'Transient Reference' while Objects Library is simply a File Import right?
Yes. Arch reference keeps a link to its original file (whenever it changes, the reference object changes too), while the library just imports the contents of the file (so far).

The 'FCstd can't be placed' is because when you import for ex. a step file, you will be offered to click a point in the 3d space to place it there. For FCStd file, they can contain long chains of models or even (PartDesign) unmovable objects, and trying to change the location of some objects might give unwanted results, so for these you cannot choose the location, the objects will appear where they have been defined in the original file.
Good explanation. This should be on wiki aswell.
User avatar
Pauvres_honteux
Posts: 728
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:05 am
Location: Far side of the moon

Re: BIM - Objects Library vs External Reference

Post by Pauvres_honteux »

yorik wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 4:27 pm
... Arch reference keeps a link to its original file ... (so far).
... the objects will appear where they have been defined in the original file.
This is fantastic news Yorik!

That "(so far)", does it refeer to movement and rotation of the linked file?
If so, and in my opinion, a proper assembly function will be in place.

The final, and so far illusive, step is to make a separate file for assy's (assembly infrastrucure). Really hoping it's not too much work to fix such a file?
User avatar
yorik
Founder
Posts: 13640
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:16 pm
Location: Brussels
Contact:

Re: BIM - Objects Library vs External Reference

Post by yorik »

The "so far" was because we could also offer that the library would create arch references instead of directly insert the object.
Post Reply