Connectors

BIM connector: sync instead of exporting and re-importing

A connector links SeveUp App to the platform where your models and issues already live. Without one, every new version of an IFC file leaves the platform for a workstation, then travels back to the app, and that is where a version goes missing or a name changes. With one, the app reads the project at the source.

The "Connectors" page offers five of them: BIMcollab, BIM Track, Trimble Connect, Catenda and Kairnial. They do not play the same role. Trimble Connect, Catenda and Kairnial are a starting point for a project: you pick a project on the provider's side, and its models become those of the SeveUp App project. The BIMcollab and BIM Track cards only connect the account.

Connecting an account and importing a project are two separate actions. The "Connectors" page opens or closes access to a platform. Picking the project comes later, in the "Create a project" window, with the "From Trimble", "From Catenda" and "From Kairnial" cards. An existing project is not fed from a connector after the fact.

What each connector syncs: models, issues, direction and authentication

Trimble Connect is the most complete connector. Authorisation goes through OAuth, in a Trimble sign-in window. You check the folders to bring in, with "Include subfolders" if needed, and the "File name filter" keeps only the files whose name contains the text you type. Models flow from Trimble to SeveUp App: a new version dropped in Trimble Connect arrives by itself at the next sync pass, ten minutes later at most. For issues, Trimble projects show up as read-only boards on the "Issues" page. The "Send to Trimble" setting of a SeveUp board goes the other way: it sends the board's issues to the chosen Trimble project, with topics, viewpoints and comments.

Catenda also authorises through OAuth. The import always takes the whole selected project, with no folder selection. Two settings come with it: a "Naming convention" applied to every imported model, and the "Process only the latest revision" option, checked by default, to uncheck if you also want each model's revision history. Issues from Catenda projects appear read-only on the "Issues" page. No setting sends issues to Catenda.

Kairnial is the only connector without OAuth. The "Sign in to Kairnial" window asks for a "Username" and a "Password". When creating the project, you check the Kairnial folders to import, and their IFC models become the project's models. The "Relaunch import" button reuses that same scope. Kairnial does not feed the "Issues" page: its follow-up goes through the "Kairnial tracking" entry, shown in a project created from Kairnial, which lists "Observations", "Visas" and "Forms" in the state synced from Kairnial.

BIMcollab and BIM Track authorise through OAuth from their card, which then switches to "Connected". In the app, these two cards stop there. No screen creates a project from BIMcollab or BIM Track, and the "Issues" page only lists SeveUp, Trimble and Catenda boards. Exchanging issues in BCF format is covered by the BCF and collaboration topic.

Connect an account from the "Connectors" page

Each card on the "Connectors" page shows its state, "Connected" or "Not connected", and a "Connect" or "Disconnect" button. For Trimble Connect, Catenda, BIMcollab and BIM Track, the button opens a window of the platform where you sign in; the app then checks the authorisation and updates the card. For Kairnial, the window stays inside SeveUp App.

The connection belongs to the person who made it. Their Trimble account is what keeps a folder's sync running. When the authorisation expires, the "Trimble connection expired: this folder no longer updates" banner appears above the models, and the models are no longer synced until that person reconnects.

Importing a project also requires a role capability. In the organisation's roles, the "Connectors" box allows people to "Create and sync an espace from Trimble, Kairnial or Catenda". Without it, the import cards stay greyed out; on hover, they give the reason and, when the organisation has one, the administrator to ask for access. The "Issues" page, where Trimble and Catenda boards arrive, is available depending on the plan.

Create a project from Trimble, Catenda or Kairnial, step by step

The sequence is the same for all three platforms; only the scope step changes. Once the project exists, the manage IFC models guide covers working with the imported models.

1. On the "Choose a project" screen, open "Connectors", then click "Connect" on the platform's card. For Kairnial, enter your "Username" and "Password".
2. Go back to the project list and click "New project". In the "Create a project" window, choose "From Trimble", "From Catenda" or "From Kairnial".
3. Select the platform's project. When the list is long, the "Search projects" field filters by name, reference or author.
4. Set the scope. Trimble: check the folders, and add "Include subfolders" and a "File name filter" if needed. Catenda: choose the "Naming convention" and keep or clear "Process only the latest revision". Kairnial: check the folders that hold the IFC models.
5. Start with "Create & sync" for Trimble or "Create & import" for Catenda and Kairnial. The import carries on in the background, and models appear in the project as they are converted.

Common mistakes with connectors

The sign-in window does not open. The browser is blocking pop-ups, and SeveUp App shows "Allow popups to connect". Allow them for the site, then click "Connect" again.

On Trimble, checking no folder means importing the whole project. The wizard says so and asks for an explicit confirmation, but a Trimble project that mixes several jobs then brings in models that have no business in your project. On Catenda there is no choice: the whole project is imported, and the selected naming convention applies to every model.

A model in a folder synced with Trimble comes from Trimble. Uploading its new version straight into SeveUp App creates a parallel source. The new version goes into Trimble Connect, from where it comes down by itself; "Sync now" forces the pass without waiting.

The last trap is issues. A Trimble or Catenda board can be read in SeveUp App but not edited there. The only push to a platform is "Send to Trimble", limited to organisation administrators, and it starts from a SeveUp board.

Going further

The manage and track BIM issues guide shows the "Issues" page, its boards and how to open an issue in the viewer, and explore a model in 3D takes over once the model is open. Imported models then go through the checks of the IFC model quality audit topic, and the BIM project organisation topic helps you split your projects before importing them.