Navisworks 2018 COBie Explorer

By James Philip

The new COBie export tool in Navisworks 2018 is easy to use once you have created an export template file.

Once you have appended all your project files open the Data pane on the COBie tab. Seen in Fig 1.Fig 1

Once opened the pane looks as shown in Fig 2.Fig 2

The tool comes with a COBie export template file. To create your own version, it is easier to edit the one provided and then save it as a different file.

To do this, select the imported file in the Selection Tree, shown in Fig 3.Fig 3

Then go back to the Data Pane and select the Property Configuration Button seen in Fig 4Fig 4

Then go back to the Data Pane and select the Property Configuration Button seen in Fig 4. e.Fig 5

To add field values, first select the category from the COBie table list, the field values will appear in the central pane.

To add more you can expand the appropriate category in the right-hand pane and drag and drop the field into the value box in the central pane. See Fig 6Fig 6

Once this task has been completed, save the file with a different name to create your own template file.

To create the COBie file, close this window and return to the Data Pane. Select the Import from Navisworks button as show in fig 7Fig 7

Navigate to the Template file you just created and select it. See Fig 8Fig 8

The COBie file is then generated from the fields in your template file which extracts all the data from the Appended files. Resulting in the file shown in Figs 9 & 10Fig 9Fig 10