Add feature to merge by material when importing, useful for artists

src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/import_ifc.py

@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ class IfcImporter():
             self.create_products()
         if self.ifc_import_settings.should_merge_by_class:
             self.merge_by_class()
+        elif self.ifc_import_settings.should_merge_by_material:
+            self.merge_by_material()
 
     def auto_set_workarounds(self):
         applications = self.file.by_type('IfcApplication')
@@ -345,6 +347,18 @@ class IfcImporter():
         for obj in self.added_objects:
             if '/' in obj.name:
                 merge_set.setdefault(obj.name.split('/')[0], []).append(obj)
+        self.merge_objects(merge_set)
+
+    def merge_by_material(self):
+        merge_set = {}
+        for obj in self.added_objects:
+            if not obj.material_slots:
+                merge_set.setdefault('no-material', []).append(obj)
+            else:
+                merge_set.setdefault(obj.material_slots[0].name, []).append(obj)
+        self.merge_objects(merge_set)
+
+    def merge_objects(self, merge_set):
         for ifc_class, objs in merge_set.items():
             context_override = {}
             context_override['object'] = context_override['active_object'] = objs[0]
@@ -702,4 +716,5 @@ class IfcImportSettings:
         self.should_use_cpu_multiprocessing = False
         self.should_use_legacy = False
         self.should_merge_by_class = False
+        self.should_merge_by_material = False
         self.diff_file = None

src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/operator.py

@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ class ImportIFC(bpy.types.Operator, ImportHelper):
         ifc_import_settings.should_use_cpu_multiprocessing = bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.import_should_use_cpu_multiprocessing
         ifc_import_settings.should_use_legacy = bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.import_should_use_legacy
         ifc_import_settings.should_merge_by_class = bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.import_should_merge_by_class
+        ifc_import_settings.should_merge_by_material = bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.import_should_merge_by_material
         ifc_importer = import_ifc.IfcImporter(ifc_import_settings)
         ifc_importer.execute()
         ifc_import_settings.logger.info('Import finished in {:.2f} seconds'.format(time.time() - start))

src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/prop.py

@@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ class BIMProperties(PropertyGroup):
     import_should_use_legacy: BoolProperty(name="Import with Legacy Importer", default=False)
     import_should_use_cpu_multiprocessing: BoolProperty(name="Import with CPU Multiprocessing", default=False)
     import_should_merge_by_class: BoolProperty(name="Import and Merge by Class", default=False)
+    import_should_merge_by_material: BoolProperty(name="Import and Merge by Material", default=False)
     qa_reject_element_reason: StringProperty(name="Element Rejection Reason")
     person: EnumProperty(items=getPersons, name="Person")
     organisation: EnumProperty(items=getOrganisations, name="Organisation")

src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ui.py

@@ -647,6 +647,8 @@ class BIM_PT_mvd(Panel):
 
         row = layout.row()
         row.prop(bim_properties, 'import_should_merge_by_class')
+        row = layout.row()
+        row.prop(bim_properties, 'import_should_merge_by_material')
 
         layout.label(text='Vendor Workarounds:')