MicroStation V8i SS4: IFC

Question

I notice that the product description of MicroStation V8 i SS4 includes IFC Version 4 support (beta) . 
 I'm sure that IFC v4 support is a good thing. But, isn't it unusual to release a beta component of a released product? Beta implies "we're still testing this" and "we'd like you to help us find bugs in this unfinished software". I suspect that most MicroStation enthusiasts on this Forum are already exhausted testing MicroStation CONNECT.

Marc Thomas · Accepted Answer

Hi Jon, 
 Just to add to Paul's comments, the about to be released AECOsim Building Designer SS6 Update 1, which is based on the MicroStation SS4 platform, includes limited support for IFC 4 Open/Reference and IFC4 Export. The Open/Reference part is MicroStation SS4 platform technology, export is provided by additions to ABD's IFC Export functions. These features are being branded 'Technology Preview' in ABD. 
 Other vendors offer IFC4 features, there are even claims from a certain vendor's marketing material that they are IFC4 certified, which is obviously impossible as the certification processes have not even been published yet. 
 We have exposed our current IFC4 capabilities for use in beta form to enable our users to have access to IFC4 data that they may encounter. This should help us to gather feedback and sample data from their IFC4 experiences that will inform our development. 
 However IFC4 will not be a really meaningful data sharing format until all vendors have gone though the appropriate certification process with buildingsmart.org. 
 Our initial IFC4 implementation seeks to be compatible with what currently available IFC viewers and applications, which do not yet support IFC4 or do not support some of the advanced geometric representation or other IFC4 specific concepts, are able to handle. 
 We will be working towards a full implementation and certification for the buildingSMART Reference View in AECOsim Building Designer as the process becomes available from buildingSMART.