Arch Reference

Component

Text

BIM

THIS COMMAND IS PART OF THE INTEGRATED BIM WORKBENCH IN V1.0
This page has been updated for that version.

Arch Reference
Menu location
3D/BIM → Generic 3D tools → External reference
Workbenches
BIM
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
-
See also
None

Description

The Arch Reference tool allows you to place an object in the current document that copies its shape and colors from a Part-based object (including Arch BuildingPart) stored in another FreeCAD file. If that FreeCAD file changes, the reference object is marked to be reloaded.

Usage

1. Press the External reference button,
2. Press the "Choose file..." button and select an existing FreeCAD file,
3. Select one of the included Part-based objects from the drop-down list,
4. Press OK.

Options

• The reference object can be moved and rotated, the current position will be retained after reloading the object.
• If the original object gets moved in containing file, this movement will reflect in the reference object.
• By right-clicking a Reference object in the tree view, you have the options to reload the original object, or open the containing file.
• To reference several objects at once, place them inside an Arch BuildingPart.
• When turning off the Update Colors view property of the Reference, it won't reload the original colors anymore, so you can safely change them.

Properties

• DataFile: The base file this component is built upon
• DataPart: The part to use from the base file
• ViewUpdate Colors: If true, the colors from the linked file will be kept updated

Scripting

The Reference tool can by used in macros and from the Python console by using the following function:

reference = makeReference([filepath], [partname], [name])

Creates a reference object named name from the object partname in the file filepath. All arguments are optional.

Example:

import Arch
Arch.makeReference("/path/to/some/file.FSCtd", "myPart")

Component

Text

BIM

BIM

• 2D drafting: Sketch, Line, Polyline, Circle, Arc, Arc by 3 points, Fillet, Ellipse, Polygon, Rectangle, B-spline, Bézier curve, Cubic Bézier curve, Point

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• 3D/BIM: Project, Site, Building, Level, Space, Wall, Curtain Wall, Column, Beam, Slab, Door, Window, Pipe, Pipe Connector, Stairs, Roof, Panel, Frame, Fence, Truss, Equipment
  • Reinforcement tools: Custom Rebar, Straight Rebar, U-Shape Rebar, L-Shape Rebar, Stirrup, Bent-Shape Rebar, Helical Rebar, Column Reinforcement, Beam Reinforcement, Slab Reinforcement, Footing Reinforcement
  • Generic 3D tools: Profile, Box, Shape builder..., Facebinder, Objects library, Component, External reference

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• Annotation: Text, Shape from text, Aligned dimension, Horizontal dimension, Vertical dimension, Leader, Label, Axis, Axes System, Grid, Section Plane, Hatch, Page, View, Shape-based view

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• Snapping: Snap lock, Snap endpoint, Snap midpoint, Snap center, Snap angle, Snap intersection, Snap perpendicular, Snap extension, Snap parallel, Snap special, Snap near, Snap ortho, Snap grid, Snap working plane, Snap dimensions, Toggle grid, Working Plane Top, Working Plane Front, Working Plane Side

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• Modify: Move, Copy, Rotate, Clone, Create simple copy, Make compound, Offset, 2D Offset..., Trimex, Join, Split, Scale, Stretch, Draft to sketch, Upgrade, Downgrade, Add component, Remove component, Array, Path array, Polar array, Point array, Cut with plane, Mirror, Extrude..., Difference, Union, Intersection

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• Manage: BIM Setup..., Views manager, Manage project..., Manage doors and windows..., Manage IFC elements..., Manage IFC quantities..., Manage IFC properties..., Manage classification..., Manage layers..., Material, Schedule, Preflight checks..., Annotation styles...

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• Utils: Toggle bottom panels, Move to Trash, Working Plane View, Select group, Set slope, Create working plane proxy, Add to construction group, Split Mesh, Mesh to Shape, Select non-manifold meshes, Remove Shape from Arch, Close Holes, Merge Walls, Check, Toggle IFC Brep flag, Toggle subcomponents, Survey, IFC Diff, IFC explorer, Create IFC spreadsheet..., Image plane, Unclone, Rewire, Glue, Reextrude
  • Panel tools: Panel, Panel Cut, Panel Sheet, Nest
  • Structure tools: Structure, Structural System, Multiple Structures
  • IFC tools: IFC Diff..., IFC Expand, Make IFC project, IfcOpenShell update
  • Nudge: Nudge Switch, Nudge Up, Nudge Down, Nudge Left, Nudge Right, Nudge Rotate Left, Nudge Rotate Right, Nudge Extend, Nudge Shrink

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• Additional: Preferences, Fine tuning, Import Export Preferences, IFC, DAE, OBJ, JSON, 3DS, SHP

User documentation

• Getting started
• Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
• Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

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• Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
• Workbenches: Std Base, Assembly, BIM, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Material, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework

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• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

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• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub