You can now create, open, and save projects from the file menu, with simple project presets. Also the scene is cleared so no more manual cube / light / camera deletion. Also poll prior to saving. No more import / export menu to confuse users.

https://imgur.com/a/EIt2H5b

src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/project/__init__.py

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from . import ui, prop, operator
 classes = (
     operator.AppendLibraryElement,
     operator.AssignLibraryDeclaration,
+    operator.AppendEntireLibrary,
     operator.ChangeLibraryElement,
     operator.CreateProject,
     operator.DisableEditingHeader,
@@ -33,10 +34,10 @@ classes = (
     operator.LoadLink,
     operator.LoadProject,
     operator.LoadProjectElements,
+    operator.NewProject,
     operator.RefreshLibrary,
     operator.RewindLibrary,
     operator.SaveLibraryFile,
-    operator.AppendEntireLibrary,
     operator.SelectLibraryFile,
     operator.ToggleFilterCategories,
     operator.ToggleLinkVisibility,
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ classes = (
     prop.FilterCategory,
     prop.Link,
     prop.BIMProjectProperties,
+    ui.BIM_MT_project,
     ui.BIM_PT_project,
     ui.BIM_PT_project_library,
     ui.BIM_PT_links,
@@ -57,22 +59,11 @@ classes = (
 )
 
 
-def menu_func_export(self, context):
-    op = self.layout.operator(operator.ExportIFC.bl_idname, text="Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc/.ifczip/.ifcjson)")
-    op.should_save_as = True
-
-
-def menu_func_import(self, context):
-    self.layout.operator(operator.ImportIFC.bl_idname, text="Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc/.ifczip/.ifcxml)")
-
-
 def register():
     bpy.types.Scene.BIMProjectProperties = bpy.props.PointerProperty(type=prop.BIMProjectProperties)
-    bpy.types.TOPBAR_MT_file_export.append(menu_func_export)
+    bpy.types.TOPBAR_MT_file.prepend(ui.file_menu)
-    bpy.types.TOPBAR_MT_file_import.append(menu_func_import)
 
 
 def unregister():
-    bpy.types.TOPBAR_MT_file_export.remove(menu_func_export)
+    bpy.types.TOPBAR_MT_file.remove(ui.file_menu)
-    bpy.types.TOPBAR_MT_file_import.remove(menu_func_import)
     del bpy.types.Scene.BIMProjectProperties

src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/project/operator.py

@@ -38,6 +38,53 @@ from blenderbim.bim import export_ifc
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
+class NewProject(bpy.types.Operator):
+    bl_idname = "bim.new_project"
+    bl_label = "New Project"
+    bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
+    bl_description = "Start a new IFC project in a fresh session"
+    preset: bpy.props.StringProperty()
+
+    def execute(self, context):
+        bpy.ops.wm.read_homefile()
+
+        for obj in bpy.data.objects:
+            bpy.data.objects.remove(obj)
+
+        if self.preset == "metric_m":
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.export_schema = "IFC4"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.system = "METRIC"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.length_unit = "METERS"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.area_unit = "SQUARE_METRE"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.volume_unit = "CUBIC_METRE"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.template_file = "0"
+        elif self.preset == "metric_mm":
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.export_schema = "IFC4"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.system = "METRIC"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.length_unit = "MILLIMETERS"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.area_unit = "SQUARE_METRE"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.volume_unit = "CUBIC_METRE"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.template_file = "0"
+        elif self.preset == "imperial_ft":
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.export_schema = "IFC4"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.system = "IMPERIAL"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.length_unit = "FEET"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.area_unit = "square foot"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.volume_unit = "cubic foot"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.template_file = "0"
+        elif self.preset == "demo":
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.export_schema = "IFC4"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.system = "METRIC"
+            bpy.context.scene.unit_settings.length_unit = "MILLIMETERS"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.area_unit = "SQUARE_METRE"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.volume_unit = "CUBIC_METRE"
+            bpy.context.scene.BIMProjectProperties.template_file = "IFC4 Demo Library.ifc"
+
+        if self.preset != "wizard":
+            bpy.ops.bim.create_project()
+        return {"FINISHED"}
+
+
 class CreateProject(bpy.types.Operator):
     bl_idname = "bim.create_project"
     bl_label = "Create Project"
@@ -528,6 +575,7 @@ class LoadProject(bpy.types.Operator, IFCFileSelector):
     filter_glob: bpy.props.StringProperty(default="*.ifc;*.ifczip;*.ifcxml;*.ifcsqlite", options={"HIDDEN"})
     is_advanced: bpy.props.BoolProperty(name="Enable Advanced Mode", default=False)
     use_relative_path: bpy.props.BoolProperty(name="Use Relative Path", default=False)
+    should_start_fresh_session: bpy.props.BoolProperty(name="Should Start Fresh Session", default=True)
 
     def execute(self, context):
         if not self.is_existing_ifc_file():
@@ -540,6 +588,12 @@ class LoadProject(bpy.types.Operator, IFCFileSelector):
         return {"FINISHED"}
 
     def invoke(self, context, event):
+        if self.should_start_fresh_session:
+            bpy.ops.wm.read_homefile()
+
+            for obj in bpy.data.objects:
+                bpy.data.objects.remove(obj)
+
         context.window_manager.fileselect_add(self)
         return {"RUNNING_MODAL"}
 
@@ -828,6 +882,10 @@ class ExportIFC(bpy.types.Operator):
     use_relative_path: bpy.props.BoolProperty(name="Use Relative Path", default=False)
     save_as_invoked: bpy.props.BoolProperty(name="Save As Dialog Was Invoked", default=False, options={"HIDDEN"})
 
+    @classmethod
+    def poll(cls, context):
+        return tool.Ifc.get()
+
     def draw(self, context):
         layout = self.layout
         layout.prop(self, "json_version")

src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/project/ui.py

@@ -18,11 +18,36 @@
 
 import os
 from blenderbim.bim.helper import prop_with_search
-from bpy.types import Panel, UIList
+from bpy.types import Panel, Menu, UIList
 from blenderbim.bim.ifc import IfcStore
 from blenderbim.bim.module.project.data import ProjectData
 
 
+class BIM_MT_project(Menu):
+    bl_idname = "BIM_MT_project"
+    bl_label = "New IFC Project"
+
+    def draw(self, context):
+        layout = self.layout
+        layout.operator("bim.new_project", text="New Metric (m) Project").preset = "metric_m"
+        layout.operator("bim.new_project", text="New Metric (mm) Project").preset = "metric_mm"
+        layout.operator("bim.new_project", text="New Imperial (ft) Project").preset = "imperial_ft"
+        layout.operator("bim.new_project", text="New Demo Project").preset = "demo"
+        layout.operator("bim.new_project", text="New Project Wizard").preset = "wizard"
+
+
+def file_menu(self, context):
+    self.layout.menu("BIM_MT_project", icon="COLLECTION_NEW")
+    op = self.layout.operator("bim.load_project", text="Open IFC Project", icon="FILEBROWSER")
+    op.should_start_fresh_session = True
+    self.layout.separator()
+    op = self.layout.operator("export_ifc.bim", icon="FILE_TICK", text="Save IFC Project")
+    op.should_save_as = False
+    op = self.layout.operator("export_ifc.bim", text="Save IFC Project As...")
+    op.should_save_as = True
+    self.layout.separator()
+
+
 class BIM_PT_project(Panel):
     bl_label = "IFC Project"
     bl_idname = "BIM_PT_project"
@@ -160,10 +185,8 @@ class BIM_PT_project(Panel):
             row.operator("bim.select_ifc_file", icon="FILE_FOLDER", text="")
 
         row = self.layout.row(align=True)
-        op = row.operator("export_ifc.bim", icon="EXPORT", text="Save Project")
+        op = row.operator("export_ifc.bim", icon="FILE_TICK", text="Save Project")
         op.should_save_as = False
-        op = row.operator("export_ifc.bim", icon="FILE_TICK", text="Save As")
-        op.should_save_as = True
         row.operator("bim.unload_project", text="", icon="CANCEL")
 
     def draw_create_project_ui(self, context):
@@ -182,7 +205,7 @@ class BIM_PT_project(Panel):
 
         row = self.layout.row(align=True)
         row.operator("bim.create_project")
-        row.operator("bim.load_project")
+        row.operator("bim.load_project").should_start_fresh_session = False
 
 
 class BIM_PT_project_library(Panel):

src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/root/data.py

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class IfcClassData:
 
     @classmethod
     def name(cls):
-        element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(bpy.context.active_object)
+        element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active)
         if not element:
             return
         name = element.is_a()
@@ -170,13 +170,13 @@ class IfcClassData:
 
     @classmethod
     def ifc_class(cls):
-        element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(bpy.context.active_object)
+        element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active)
         if element:
             return element.is_a()
 
     @classmethod
     def can_reassign_class(cls):
-        element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(bpy.context.active_object)
+        element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active)
         if element:
             if element.is_a("IfcOpeningElement") or element.is_a("IfcOpeningStandardCase"):
                 return False