How to Use Column Units in BricsCAD Mechanical BOM Tables

Quick answer: Adjust the units placement mode for any column with associated units, resolving the Unit placement and Units mode properties covered on this hub’s BOM Manager and BOM Columns pages.

Unit Placement Modes

• Don’t show units: no units displayed at all.
• In column title: if every value shares a unit, or can convert to a common one, all values convert to it and the unit name appends to the column title. Customize the layout with the Title format property, using <Title> and <Unit> placeholders (<Title>, <Unit>. is the default) and \n for a line break. The common unit is chosen in priority order: a unit you’ve explicitly set; if the property is distance, area, volume, or mass and Units mode is Best for all values, the best representation for the majority of values; or, if every value already shares one unit, that unit.
• In cell: the unit name joins the value in the same cell.
• In additional column: the unit name gets its own separate column.

Units Mode Options

• Don’t show units: units don’t display.
• Best for all values (default): displays the unit best representing the majority of values (dimensions, area, volume, and mass properties only).
• User-defined: choose the unit yourself, usable not just for dimensions, area, volume, and mass, but also material properties like density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat.
• Best for each value: uses whichever unit best suits each individual value (dimensions, area, volume, and mass properties only); note that this automatically switches an “In column title” placement mode to “In additional column” instead.

Units in Formulas

If a user-defined unit is set for a column that’s referenced in a formula field, the values substituted into the formula use that converted unit, confirming exactly the unit conversion note covered on this hub’s evaluated columns page. Without a user-defined unit set, the document unit is used instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my “In column title” unit placement suddenly switch to “In additional column”? Choosing the Best for each value units mode automatically forces that switch, since each row could display a different unit.

Can I choose a specific unit for a material property like density, not just dimensions? Yes, the User-defined units mode supports density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat, alongside dimensions, area, volume, and mass.

What unit does a formula actually use if I haven’t set one explicitly for the referenced column? The document unit.

How is the common unit chosen when placement is set to “In column title”? First any unit you’ve explicitly set, then the best representation for the majority of values (if Units mode is Best for all values), then whatever unit every value already shares.