What’s new in Solibri Office – November 2023

This version introduces IDS (Information Delivery Specification) workflow in Solibri, integrations with SharePoint and OneDrive, and user experience improvements, such as enhanced Drag and Drop functionality.

Nov 10, 2023

The newest Solibri Office release (v 9.13.6) is packed with new integrations and user experience improvements. We are excited to introduce the new IDS (Information Delivery Specification) workflow that brings the model verification process to the next level. In addition to that, we are releasing integrations with SharePoint and OneDrive, as well as several key user experience improvements, such as enhanced Drag and Drop functionality.

Check out the top release highlights and update to the new version.

#1. Meeting BIM requirements is now easier with IDS in Solibri

One of the core beliefs within Solibri is 'Open BIM', and that's why we work with the best industry players to create the most efficient BIM coordination processes to drive digital construction and help you in your everyday role.

In our pursuit of innovation, we are excited to introduce the integration of Information Delivery Specification (IDS) in Solibri. IDS is an emerging standard proposed by buildingSMART, and it represents a visionary approach to the exchange of information requirements.

The IDS allows BIM Managers to much more quickly make sure that designed buildings meet necessary requirements. It enables the built asset industry to define its requirements in a standardized form and offers project stakeholders clarity on what they need to deliver. These requirements can then be used to automatically validate BIM models by model-checking software like Solibri.

Starting from version 9.13.6, Solibri Office users can run the new IDS rule that checks the BIM model against the building requirements specified in the IDS file. This will allow to greatly speed up compliance checking and enable a more efficient workflow between project stakeholders.

Please note that buildingSMART hasn’t released the official standard v1.0 just yet. And the current IDS integration in Solibri is built around a pre-release candidate, version v0.9.6, by buildingSMART.

Check out this help article to discover how to use the IDS rule in Solibri.

Want to learn how to leverage the power of IDS in your workflow? Join our webinar Verifying BIM models with IDS in Solibri: Everything you need to know on December 13th. Sign up here.

#2. SharePoint and OneDrive Integration

By integrating SharePoint and OneDrive into our ecosystem, we are extending your ability to manage and edit project files, making Solibri an integrated workspace tailored to your needs.

What you can do with the SharePoint and One Drive integration:

Open a variety of files, including IFC, SMC, PDF, and DWG, all stored on SharePoint or OneDrive directly in the Solibri environment.
Save your SMC files back to SharePoint or OneDrive servers. This ensures that your data remains synchronized, up-to-date, and accessible across platforms.
Update your models and files to ensure you are always working with the most current versions, which promotes both accuracy and productivity.

Read this help article to learn more.

Did you know that Solibri integrates with close to 20 industry solutions, enabling you to create seamless workflows for enhanced productivity? Click here to view all available integrations.

#3. Work faster: you can now drag and drop the Info view properties

Building on our initial introduction of the Drag and Drop feature in Version 9.13.5, where users could simply drag and drop files into Solibri, we've enhanced its functionality in this version.

Now, in addition to files like IFC, Filter, Hierarchy, and BCF, users can also drag and drop information components. This means that you can select properties in the Info view and drag them to Filters, Classifications, and ITOs. This way, you can quickly prefill filters and create new classifications and ITOs. Read this article to learn how you can work more efficiently with the improved Drag and Drop feature.

#4. Enhanced filtering mechanism

With a focus on user-friendliness, we are introducing an advanced 'IFC Type' category within our component type filter. With this feature, users can effortlessly browse and select from a comprehensive list of available IFC Types. For added convenience, these types can be sorted based on the IFC Schema—be it IFC2x3 or IFC4—or even arranged alphanumerically.

Moreover, to ensure that the filtering experience is as streamlined and relevant as possible, we’ve incorporated a feature that lets users choose solely from the IFC types present in their currently loaded model.

#5. Right click for the Info view quick actions

Users can now leverage the convenience of right-click actions when viewing a property or attribute within the Info view. The following quick actions are now available:

"Create New Classification": Immediately creates a new classification using the selected component and property.
"Create New Information Takeoff": With this, users can promptly generate a new Information Takeoff, integrating the selected Component, Property, and Value.
“Add to Filtering”: Allows users to quickly add the component, property, and value to their filter. After launching, the filter view is displayed with the added elements.

These right-click functionalities are more than just shortcuts—they are designed to drive efficiency, especially catering to beginners who might not be familiar with classifications, ITOs, or filters. With this, Solibri further ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience.

#6. New BCF Live Connector Server: Poolarserver

In our ongoing mission to enhance our BCF Live Connector's capabilities, we are happy to announce the addition of a new server connection - the German “Poolarserver” Server. The Poolarserver is a web-based collaboration platform tailored for the construction industry's projects and offices. It serves as a central hub, managing all essential project-related information from documents and tasks to communications.

This integration complements our existing range of server connections, facilitating the seamless transfer and synchronization of detected issues to various Issue Management Systems or Common Data Environments (CDEs).