Adding and Editing BIM Attributes

Once you begin to create the project model, you can use the BIM Attributes command to add and edit attributes including object types for each object in the project. You can also use the command to add extensions to an object by selecting from the available extensions for the enabled construction classification standards (modifying IFC entities).

You can specify formats according to construction classification standards including IFC, OmniClass and Uniformat (Me > Preferences). The extensions can also be driven by Data Setup dedicated files (such as automatic addition or removal operations). For more information, see About Data Setup for Building and Civil Assemblies.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
  • Prior to setting BIM attributes, ensure that the standard extensions are enabled for the type. IFC extension is selected by default.
  • Specify the object creation options in the app preferences. For more information, see Customizing Preferences.
  • Ensure that you and others working on the project enable the constructions classifications standards for the project.
    Note: Your administrator may instead enable the construction classifications standards for everyone on the project.
  • Create your project model.
See Also
About Construction Standards

Context: An alternative method of adding and editing attribute values is Link Spreadsheet available in Civil Engineering 3D Design. With a valid license for Civil Engineering 3D Design and the appropriate assigned role, the system reflects in the BIM Attributes panel any changes that you make using Link Spreadheet. Likewise, the spreadsheet that you create with Link Spreadsheet reflects any changes that you make in the BIM Attributes panel.

Add or Remove a Standard Extension

You can add or remove a standard extension that is assigned to a type of object.

  1. From the BIM section of the action bar, click BIM Attributes .
    The BIM Attributes lists the possible extensions that comply with the standards specified in Me > Preferences.

    The BIM Attributes panel groups attribute sets into individual expandable sections.

  2. Select an object.
  3. In the BIM Attributes panel, click to open the Select Extension to add section.
    A list of extensions that matches the type of object is displayed.
  4. To add extensions:
    1. Select the attribute set of interest.
      An expandable section is added.
    2. Click to expand a section and display more information.
    3. Enter the required information in the boxes.
    4. Click to collapse a section and remove it from the display.

      You can add as many extensions as you need.

  5. To remove extensions, select the extension, and click .
    The extension is automatically removed.

Note: In some cases, models are assigned undesirable extensions. If extensions are disabled in Me > Preferences but appear in the Extensions list, they are red-colored and placed at the end of the list.

Edit and Synchronize Attributes Values

Quantity take-offs (Qto) and Property sets (Pset) can be exposed as parameter sets in the BIM attributes panel and you can edit them. Synchronization status between these parameters and the PLM attributes are displayed in the tree.

In the BIM attributes panel, the attribute sets sections are attributes from the PLM level and they have an impact on geometry. For the values of the Ifc Window and Ifc Window common sections are specifications that can have an impact on geometry.

The role of Quantity take-offs (Qto) and Property sets (Pset) is described below:

  • A Property set (Pset) corresponds to specifications applied downwards to drive the geometry. They are instanced under the External Parameters node under the Ifc Window and Ifc Window common sections of the BIM Attributes panel.

    When you add a specification at the level of the PLM attribute, it is duplicated on the parameter. This is a downward information impacting the geometry. When the Pset drives the geometry, a dependency relationship exists between PLM attributes and derived external parameters.

    You cannot modify external parameters that are driven by the PLM attributes.

  • A Quantity take-off (Qto) contains internal or standard parameters and is instanced under the Parameters node in the tree or the Ifc Window base quantities section of the BIM Attributes panel.

    It is a group of accurate take-offs such as length, weight, and volume, measuring the various sizes of a design object. A measure is set on a dedicated parameter and you can change it directly in the BIM Attributes panel, with formulae if needed. Then, the information is propagated to the PLM attribute thanks to a Knowledge rule. This is an upward information impacting the reference.

Before you begin: Make sure that parameter sets related to Pset or Qto exist.
  1. Create a PLM object, a Window for example.
  2. From the BIM section of the action bar, click BIM Attributes .
    The BIM Attributes panel opens,
    • listing the possible extensions that comply with the standards specified in Me > Preferences.
    • grouping attribute sets into individual expandable sections.
    Notes: You can see the object's attributes that are exposed in the database. If you expand an attribute set section, Ifc Window base quantities for example, by clicking , the PLM attributes editor is simple, with very few contextual commands (only Copy, Cut, Paste). These attributes can also be seen via the Properties dialog box when you right-click the object in the tree.
  3. Insert a 3D Shape (a skeleton representation).

    External parameters or standard parameters are created automatically in the skeleton representation when available.

    You can decide to define the same attributes as the PLM attributes'. The information is duplicated at the External Parameters level of the tree. When synchronization exists between the PLM database and the design mock-up, this symbol appears in the tree: . When there is no synchronization, the symbol changes into: .

  4. Select the PLM object and click Update .
    The information (3m) goes down on the 3D Shape. The parameter and geometry driven by the parameter are updated accordingly. In the tree, the parameter turns green.

    The Qto value (measures for height) is not updated in the tree (0m).

    Tip: In the Sketcher app, when creating a constraint, you can add a formula. When editing this formula, you can double-click a parameter in the tree to specify that this specification (overall height) will be used.
  5. Right-click the Qto parameter (height) and click Edit Parameter to Edit formula or add a Measure Between for example.
    Notes: You can decide to set the information either on the attribute or on the parameter because there are two ways of transmitting the design information:
    • In one case, the specification moves down from the PLM attribute and impacts the geometry (Pset).
    • In another case, a measure parameter of the geometry is applied onto the PLM attribute. In this case, a Knowledge rule is automatically executed to move the information up to the PLM attribute (Qto).
    Note: The BIM Attributes panel is intended to ease the edition and synchronization of parameters. You can edit values of an attribute set either by entering the values in the boxes directly or by using the control buttons. You can also find the same contextual commands for edition as the ones accessible from the contextual menu of the tree (Edit Parameters).
  6. Click to expand the attribute set section and display more information.
  7. In the BIM Attributes panel, change a Pset (overall height for example) under the Ifc Window section.
    The parameter icon in the panel changes into to show that the geometry is not synchronized. The same status is reflected in the tree. In the panel, you can see the value of the PLM attribute in the Overall width box.
  8. In the BIM Attributes panel, change a Qto (Area for example) under the Ifc Window base quantity section.
    The new value of the parameter is automatically updated in the tree, under the Parameters node. In the panel, the symbol next to the Area box changes from to .
  9. Select the PLM object and click Update .
    The Qto PLM attribute linked to the parameter is automatically updated by the knowledge rule created by the system. The Knowledge rule, connected to the PLM object, assigns the parameter value onto the PLM attribute. The information is the same in the BIM Attributes and Properties panels and in the tree.
    Important: For the Qto, the parameter value in the BIM Attributes panel prevails over the attribute value. For the Pset, the reverse occurs. We advice you to use the BIM Attributes editor to use the available parameters to build your geometry and the Qto (measures) to move the information upwards (onto the attributes).
  10. To add parameter sets to a 3D Shape, click .
    You expose an extension as a parameter set on an object.

The changes made to the values are automatically reflected in session and will be saved along with the product.

Detect Modifications in Feature Property Set and Update

From the R2021x FD02 release level onwards, when a BIM attribute has been changed on a feature, the feature status becomes out-of-date. Then you can update your object manually. This update is triggered after the modification of Pset or base extension attributes only (Qto attributes do not impact the update status).

  1. To type a GSD volume for example, click Define Specification from the Civil Engineering section of the action bar.
  2. Search for a type, Pier for example, in the Define Specification dialog box and select your volume to type it.
  3. Click OK to validate the command.
  4. Open the BIM Attributes panel and select your volume.
    The volume is seen as a Pier.
  5. Change the Predefined type attribute.

    A mask on the feature in the tree indicates the object requires an update.

  6. In the Standard area of the action bar, click Update .

Expose an Extension as a Parameter Set

From the BIM Attributes panel, you can expose missing parameter sets linked to some Pset or Qto Attribute sets.

Before you begin: Create a new object and expose an extension as a parameter set. For more information, see Using the BIM Manager Editor.
  1. From the BIM section of the action bar, click BIM Attributes .
    The BIM Attributes panel opens.
  2. The BIM Attributes panel, click in the header of extension collapsible sections to add parameter sets to a 3D Shape.
    As you expose an extension as a parameter set on an object, it is inserted in the tree. For example, it creates a Skeleton representation with a parameter set, the name of which is the one of the exposed Property set (Pset) or Quantity take-off (Qto). Psets are exposed as External parameter sets (parameters driven by PLM attributes) in the tree. Qto are exposed as regular parameter sets; in that case a Knowledge rule is also created to make sure that PLM attributes are driven by the parameters.
    Note: When the property set is already exposed as a parameter set in the representation, the button is dimmed and no action is triggered if you click it.

Assign Object Types to Objects

You can assign an object type to an object.

  1. Click BIM Attributes .
  2. In the Type Not Defined by type box, click to search for a corresponding object type.
    The matching object types are displayed in the Search Results panel.
  3. Select a matching object type.
    The Type box is updated accordingly.
  4. Click the icons either to display more information about the object type or to perform specific actions:
    • : Opens the configuration table associated to the object type.
    • : Opens the documentation associated to the object type.
    • : Removes the object type you previously assigned to the object.
    • : Searches for other object types.

    The available icons depend on the object type you selected.