Setting Model Short Name, Discipline and Category

When you open an IFC model for the first time, you must ensure that the model discipline is correct. Once the discipline has been assigned, the model retains this assignment and the information is saved to the SMC file. In the same dialog, you can also set a short name for the model and select a category, if needed.

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Setting the model discipline

When you open an IFC model for the first time, Solibri opens a dialog where you can choose the discipline for the model. To change the discipline, click the Discipline field and select a value from the drop-down list.

Solibri includes standard disciplines such as ARC, STR, and HVAC. From Solibri 26.6 onward, you can also use custom disciplines in addition to the standard ones.

You can also change the discipline later in the Model Tree view:

Setting the model category

You can organise models into categories and add categories as needed. Categories help you group models for filtering and project organisation.

To add a category:

To change the category, click the Category field and select one from the drop-down list. You can also change the category later in the Model Tree view by right-clicking the model.

Setting the model short name

Short names are fully user-defined, and they are shown at the beginning of a component’s displayed name. This makes it easier to identify which model a component belongs to, especially in federated models with multiple disciplines.

Tip

You can change the discipline, category and short name later in the Model Tree view. Right-click the model and select an option from the context menu:

Import Mappings

Use the Import Mappings tab to define how Solibri assigns disciplines automatically when you import models.

• Each row can match an Application name and File name pattern to a Discipline.

• You can insert a new row, duplicate an existing row, or delete a row using the toolbar buttons at the top.

• To change the discipline for a row, open the Discipline drop‑down and select the desired value.

These mappings help Solibri guess the correct discipline based on the authoring application or file naming, so you have less manual work when opening models.

If needed, you can click Restore Default Settings to reset the mappings to their original values.

Custom disciplines

Note

Note: Custom disciplines are available from Solibri 26.6.

Solibri supports custom disciplines, which allow you to create, edit, and use your own discipline categories in projects. For each custom discipline, you can define a name and an icon to distinguish it from the standard disciplines.

This is useful when the standard discipline list is not enough for your project. For example, you may want to create disciplines such as Facade, Infrastructure, or Landscape.

Creating a custom discipline

1. Open Discipline Settings from File → Discipline and Color Map.

2. Go to the Custom Disciplines tab.

3. Click Add custom discipline.

4. Enter a name for the new discipline.

5. Select an icon style.

6. Save the new discipline.

Solibri automatically creates an abbreviation for the custom discipline based on its name.

Editing or removing a custom discipline

To edit a custom discipline, select it in the list and update the name or icon.

To remove a custom discipline:

1. Select the discipline in the list.

2. Click Remove line.

Removing a custom discipline removes it from the settings, but you should review any models that used it and update them if needed.

Using custom disciplines

After you create a custom discipline, you can assign it to models in the same way as any standard discipline. Custom disciplines can then be used in model organization and in workflows that rely on discipline assignments.

Changing values later

You can change the discipline, category, and short name later in the Model Tree view. 

Right-click the model and select the relevant option from the context menu.

Tip

Tips

• Check the model discipline carefully when opening an IFC model for the first time.

• Use clear short names so components are easier to identify in the project.

• Use categories for additional grouping when discipline alone is not enough.

• If your project uses non-standard domains, create custom disciplines so the model structure matches your workflow.

Discipline to Color Mapping

The Discipline to Color Mapping tab lets you define how models from each discipline are colored.

• The Discipline column lists each discipline.

• The Color Map column shows which color map is used.

• The Use Model Colors option controls whether the model’s own colors are used or overridden.

To edit the color map for a discipline, click the Open Color Map Editor button in the toolbar.

Color Map Editor

In the Color Map Editor, you can define colors for different component types:

1. Use the toolbar to add component types to the list (for example, beams, walls, doors).

2. Double‑click the Color field of a row to open the Color Chooser.

3. Pick a color and transparency, then click OK.

These settings control how components are colored when that color map is applied. You can preview the effect in your model after saving and closing the editor.

Current Assignments

The Current Assignments tab shows the discipline of each currently open model.

• The Model column lists the models in your session.

• The Discipline column shows which discipline is assigned.

You can change an assignment directly here by editing the Discipline cell. This is a convenient way to review and correct disciplines for all open models at once.