BricsCAD BIM Compositions Explained

Quick answer: BIM compositions are stored in the central database, either multi-ply or single-ply (ply materials are managed in the Physical Materials dialog), assignable to any solid in a BIM model, listed in the BIM Compositions panel, and managed in the Compositions dialog (BLCOMPOSITIONS).

The BIM Compositions Panel

• Menu: general panel options.
• Composition types list: filters the list to just the selected type.
• Search field: filters the list to compositions matching a search term.
• Available compositions: shows every composition of the selected type from both the Central Database and the project database, unless you select Show only compositions in project.

The Compositions Dialog

• Composition category selection: filters by Wall, Slab, Roof, or Generic.
• In project: compositions of the selected category currently used in the project.
• In Central Database: compositions of that category from the Central Database.
• New composition: creates a new one.
• Preview pane: shows the currently selected composition.
• Name field: the selected composition’s name, editable.
• Category dropdown: sets the category for a new composition.
• Structure grid: shows each ply’s material and thickness; the top (exterior) ply applies to the solid’s reference face.
• Add ply: opens the Physical Materials dialog to choose or create a material; a copy icon duplicates the selected ply instead.
• Properties grid: shows the selected composition’s properties.
• Custom properties…: opens the Select/Create a Custom Property dialog.

Creating a New Composition

1. Open the Compositions dialog: choose Open compositions dialog… from the BIM Compositions panel’s menu, or type BLCOMPOSITIONS.
2. Select a database by clicking a material listed inside it.
3. Click New Composition; an empty composition adds to that database.
4. Add and edit its plies (see below).

Editing a Composition

Name and type: select the composition, type a new name in the Name field, and choose its type (Wall, Slab, Roof, or Generic) from the dropdown.

Adding, editing, and deleting plies: click Add Ply to open the Physical Materials dialog, select a material from either database and double-click it or click OK to assign it as a new ply (optionally right-click a material and choose Make Composition to create a single-ply composition from it directly, visible after reopening the dialog). To change a ply’s material, double-click its Pattern or Name in the Structure grid, pick a different material, and click OK. To delete a ply, select it and click Delete.

Modifying thickness and ply order: click a ply’s Thickness field (only editable if that material’s Variable thickness property is set to Yes in the Physical Materials dialog), type a value, and press Enter, the composition’s overall thickness updates accordingly. Plies order from exterior (top) to interior (bottom); drag a ply’s number to reposition it. Modifying a composition automatically updates every solid it’s attached to; run BIMUPDATETHICKNESS to apply the changes across the model, confirming the same command referenced on this hub’s BIM entity selection page.

Locking and unlocking ply thickness: a composition’s overall thickness is the sum of its plies’ thicknesses. Only one ply per composition can have unlocked (variable) thickness at a time, the rest stay locked (fixed). This produces three possible overall thickness behaviours: Fixed (every ply locked), Minimal (two or more plies, one unlocked, minimum thickness equals the sum of the locked plies), or Free (a single-ply composition with unlocked thickness). Toggle a ply’s lock via the icon beside its Thickness field, only possible if that material’s Variable thickness property is Yes.

Adding tags: select the Tags field in the Properties grid, type comma-separated tags (case sensitive), or click Browse to open the Tags dialog, click New Item to add one, select a tag to edit, delete, or reorder it, then click OK to save.

Creating new materials: build them from scratch or copy an existing one via the Physical Materials dialog.

Displaying Compositions

LEVELOFDETAIL controls whether a composition’s plies display in the 3D model; RENDERCOMPOSITIONMATERIAL controls whether ply materials render. Toggle both from the Home/View ribbon panel or the BIM toolbar.

Confirming the exact behaviour covered on this hub’s Level of Detail page: with LEVELOFDETAIL at 0, a solid’s major faces render using the outside plies’ material, while minor faces (a wall’s top, bottom, start, and end faces, for example) render using the exterior ply’s material specifically.

Copying Compositions

Works the same way in both the BIM Compositions panel and the Compositions dialog.

1. Select the composition(s) in the source database (hold Ctrl for multiple).
2. Either drag the selection to the other database, or right-click and choose Copy to Central Database or Copy to Project.

If a composition with the same name already exists in the target, an alert lets you skip, overwrite, or rename it (duplicates get an index number appended); optionally tick Don’t show this message again for this operation.

Deleting Compositions

1. Select the composition(s) in the In Project or In Central Database list.
2. Right-click and choose Delete, or click the Delete button (dialog only).

Compositions currently used in the project can’t be deleted from the Central Database.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can more than one ply in a composition have variable thickness? No, only one ply per composition can be unlocked at a time.

What determines a composition’s minimum possible thickness? The sum of its locked plies’ thicknesses, when exactly one ply is left unlocked.

Does modifying a composition automatically update every solid using it? Yes, though you’ll need to run BIMUPDATETHICKNESS to apply those changes across the model.

Can I delete a composition from the Central Database if it’s still in use in my project? No, compositions currently used in the project are protected from deletion there.