openLCA IPC quickstart

Connect to openLCA, search the active database, and follow the basic calculation pattern.

Before you begin

openlca-ipc is installed
openLCA is running
the intended database is open
the IPC server is running

1. Connect

python

from openlca_ipc import OLCAClient

with OLCAClient(port=8080) as client:
    assert client.test_connection()
    print("Connected")

2. Search the database

python

from openlca_ipc import OLCAClient

with OLCAClient(port=8080, read_only=True) as client:
    flow = client.search.find_flow(["steel"])
    method = client.search.find_impact_method(["TRACI"])

    print(flow.name if flow else "No steel flow found")
    print(method.name if method else "No TRACI method found")

Search instead of hard-coding guessed IDs. Databases differ in naming, geography, and available methods.

3. Start from a model you understand

For a first calculation, use an existing product system or process whose reference product and functional basis you can verify.

4. Run a calculation

python

result = client.calculate.simple_calculation(system, method)

try:
    impacts = client.results.get_total_impacts(result)
    for impact in impacts[:5]:
        print(impact["name"], impact["amount"], impact["unit"])
finally:
    result.dispose()

Warning

Always dispose calculation results when you are finished with them.

5. Inspect before rerunning

Use the same result for inventory inspection, contribution analysis, normalization, weighting, Sankey data, or exports where possible. This reduces the chance of silently analyzing a changed model.