How to Attach Compositions in BricsCAD BIM

Quick answer: BIMATTACHCOMPOSITION applies a composition to a selection of solids, flippable or redefinable to a different reference face, and optionally aligns solids by that reference face or by the composition’s centre. This fully resolves the BIM Compositions panel briefly mentioned on this hub’s BIM workspace page.

Attaching a Composition via the Command

1. Launch BIMATTACHCOMPOSITION. You’re prompted for a composition name, or to choose Dialog or Entity.
2. Either type a composition name (case sensitive) and press Enter, or press Enter to open the Compositions dialog, where clicking a composition in the In Project or In Library list opens its menu (double-click to select it directly without opening that menu).
3. Choose a Composition Type from the dropdown and click Select to accept.
4. Select the entities to attach it to and press Enter.
5. Choose the reference face; hovering the widget that appears shows a submenu of options for redefining it.
6. Press Enter to accept the reference face; BricsCAD reports how many elements the composition was assigned to.

Using Bimify first classifies building elements automatically, making it much easier to select the right entities for this.

Dragging a Composition onto a Single Solid

1. Select the composition in the BIM Compositions panel.
2. Hold the left mouse button and drag it onto the solid; the face under the cursor highlights as the reference face.
3. Release the mouse button to attach it.
4. A widget appears for choosing the reference face; that face stays fixed, while the opposite face moves if the composition’s thickness doesn’t match the solid’s current thickness.
5. A darker volume previews the solid’s shape and position after attachment.
6. Press Enter to accept the current reference face and attach the composition.

If the composition is a single ply with variable thickness, no reference face selection is needed at all, it attaches directly to the selected solid.

Dragging a Composition onto Multiple Solids

1. Select the solids you want to apply the composition to.
2. Select the composition in the BIM Compositions panel.
3. Hold the left mouse button and drag it onto any of the selected solids.
4. Release the mouse button; a widget appears letting you choose the reference face for each segment separately.
5. Press Enter to accept the current reference face and attach the composition.

Worth knowing: BIM compositions copy into the Project database once attached. Attaching a Wall composition to a solid automatically classifies it as a wall, and attaching a Slab or Roof composition automatically classifies it as a slab.

Copying a Composition from Another Solid

1. Launch BIMATTACHCOMPOSITION.
2. Choose the Entity option; you’re prompted to select another entity to get the composition from.
3. Select the solid to copy the composition from.
4. Select the solid(s) to attach that copied composition to.
5. A widget appears letting you choose the reference face for each segment separately.
6. Press Enter to accept the current reference face and attach the composition.

Removing Compositions from Solids

The Unclassify option of BIMCLASSIFY removes a composition from a solid.

1. Select the solid(s).
2. Choose Unclassify from the BIM command group in the Quad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are composition names case sensitive when typing them at the Command line? Yes.

What happens if a composition’s thickness doesn’t match the solid I’m attaching it to? The reference face stays fixed, while the opposite face moves to accommodate the composition’s actual thickness.

Does attaching a Roof composition classify the solid as a roof specifically? No, attaching a Slab or Roof composition classifies the solid as a slab.

How do I remove a composition I’ve already attached to a solid? Select the solid and choose Unclassify from the BIM command group in the Quad, part of the BIMCLASSIFY command.