ifcopenshell.api.sequence.assign_sequence

Module Contents

ifcopenshell.api.sequence.assign_sequence.assign_sequence(file, relating_process=None, related_process=None, sequence_type='FINISH_START') → None

Assign a sequential relationship between tasks

Tasks in construction sequencing typically have sequence relationships between them, indicating that one task must happen after another. This is used to automatically compute new start and end dates and cascade changes when dates are changed. This is also used to calculate critical paths and floats.

There are four types of sequence relationships, known as finish to start, finish to finish, start to start, and start to finish, sometimes abbreviated as a (FS, FF, SS, and SF). The most common is the finish to start relationship, indicating that the previous task must finish before the next task can start.

You must not create cyclical task sequences. This makes the computer unhappy.

Note that “previous” or “next” does not necessarily mean the task chronologically happens before or after. They simply indicate the order of the sequence relationship. For this reason, they are often called predecessor and successor tasks in the planning profession.

Parameters:
Returns:

The newly created IfcRelSequence

Return type:

ifcopenshell.entity_instance

Example:

# Let's imagine we are creating a construction schedule. All tasks
# need to be part of a work schedule.
schedule = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_work_schedule", model, name="Construction Schedule A")

# Let's imagine a root construction task
construction = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task", model,
    work_schedule=schedule, name="Construction", identification="C")

# Let's imagine we're doing a typically formwork, reinforcement,
# pour sequence. Let's start with the formwork. It'll take us 2
# days.
formwork = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task", model,
    parent_task=construction, name="Formwork", identification="C.1")
time = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task_time", model, task=formwork)
ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.edit_task_time", model,
    task_time=time, attributes={"ScheduleStart": "2000-01-01", "ScheduleDuration": "P2D"})

# Now let's do the reinforcement. It'll take us another 2 days.
reinforcement = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task", model,
    parent_task=construction, name="Reinforcement", identification="C.2")
time = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task_time", model, task=reinforcement)
ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.edit_task_time", model,
    task_time=time, attributes={"ScheduleStart": "2000-01-01", "ScheduleDuration": "P2D"})

# Now the pour it It'll only take 1 day.
pour = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task", model,
    parent_task=construction, name="Reinforcement", identification="C.3")
time = ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.add_task_time", model, task=pour)
ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.edit_task_time", model,
    task_time=time, attributes={"ScheduleStart": "2000-01-01", "ScheduleDuration": "P1D"})

# Now let's say the formwork must finish before the reinforcement
# can start, and the reinforcement must finish before the pour can
# start. This is a typical finish to start relationship (FS).
ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.assign_sequence", model,
    relating_process=formwork, related_process=reinforcement)
ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.assign_sequence", model,
    relating_process=reinforcement, related_process=pour)

# Notice how we set all the scheduled start dates arbitrarily at
# 2000-01-01. This is because we can ask IfcOpenShell to
# automatically cascade the dates, starting from any task. This will
# update the reinforcement date to be 2000-01-03 and the pour date
# to be 2000-01-05.
ifcopenshell.api.run("sequence.cascade_schedule", model, task=formwork)