EXPORTING MUTIPLE CONTACTS WITH THE COBIE EXTENSION

by | Jun 10, 2025 | Evolve Consultancy

COBie Contacts

It is easy to create multiple contacts in Revit using the COBie extension. However, creating contacts alone isn’t enough to make sure COBie is completed correctly.

If the process defined in blog post Revit IFC Export #3: Working with the COBie Extension is followed, the contacts (ifcPersonAndOrganization) are created but are not accessible in some IFC readers e.g. Solibri. This guide will cover the process to make sure they are all accessible.

This guide focuses on COBie.Type.Manufacturer as it is a required COBie property at construction and handover, and to comply with the requirements it must match the Contact.Email field, as per the NBIMS definition:

  • 2.3.2.2.59
    Type.Manufacturer
    “during construction and handover phase: the Contact.Email of the installed product. During planning and design phase: not applicable.”

This means that the Contact sheet must list out all manufacturers of installed products. This guide explains how to ensure that the COBie.Contact properties align exactly between the IFC and XLSX outputs when using multiple Contacts to complete Type.Manufacturer compliantly.

This guide assumes a working knowledge of the COBie Extension which would have already been set up and potentially implemented within a Revit file (RVT).

COBie extension: Setup project

manufacturer parameter mapping

This guide will use the default settings for parameter mapping to COBie.Type.Manufacturer. These can be checked by:

  1. Clicking on Interoperability Tools ribbon > COBie Extension Panel > Setup Project
  2. In the COBie Extension dialog click on Parameter Mappings.
  3. Scroll down to locate Type > Manufacturer.
    The Parameter Mapping column will show COBie.Type.Manufacturer meaning this COBie property will be drawn from the Type properties > Manufacturer parameter.

  1. Click on Save and Close.

COBie Extension: ADDING CONTACTS

  1. To add COBie contacts click on COBie Extension panel > Contacts.
  2. In the COBie Extension dialog click on Add Contact…
    Complete all the Required and relevant Optional fields
    Note: This contact is for the information manager role responsible for the COBie deliverables.

  1. Click on Add Contact.. to repeat these for all manufacturers of relevant COBie Assets:
  • Furniture
  • Door
  1. Click on Save and Close.

APPLYING THE CONTACTS to families

Having added the Contacts, the identical email address must be added to the Type properties of the relevant RFA:

  1. Select the Door Family
    Click on Properties > Edit Type

  1. In the Type Properties dialog enter the email address to the Identity Data.Manufacturer

  2. Scroll down to check the Type.Manufacturer parameter.
    In this example it is blank as are all other COBie.Type parameters as they have not been updated.
    Click on OK to close the dialog.
  1. Repeat this process for other RFAs.

COBie Extension: Updating COBie fields

To populate or the COBie.Type.Manufacturer parameter:

  1. Click on Interoperability Tools ribbon > Update button.
  2. Edit the settings as required.
    In this example all fields will be updated.
    Click on Apply and Close.
    Note:  The Information Manager role is selected in the Created By dropdown.
  1. Select the Door Family.
    Click on Properties > Edit Type.

  1. Scroll down to the COBie.Type parameters to view the updated parameters.
    Click on OK to close the Type Properties dialog.
    Note: COBie.Type.CreatedBy is using the IM Contact.

COBie Extension: generating COBie

Having used the tool to populate all required manufacturers email addresses the COBie spreadsheet (XLSX) can be generated by:

  1. Clicking on Interoperability Tools ribbon > Create Spreadsheet

  2. In the COBie Extension dialog edit the settings as required.
    Click on Create Spreadsheet.

  3. The XLSX will open.
    Click on the Contact Worksheet.

    Check that all expected Contacts have been populated.
  4. Click on the Type Worksheet

    Confirm that the COBie.Type.Manufacturer field is populated as expected.

Viewing COBie.contacts in ifc

Selecting the relevant ifc entity will show the Pset_ManufacturerTypeInformation.Manufacturer property aligns with the XLSX as shown in the image below.

Note:  Revit parameters are only exported to IFC if selected in the IFC export settings. For more information on mapping properties see blog post Revit IFC Export #4: Property Sets pt I