BIM Tags

Command: BimTag

Overview: In this lesson, you will learn how to create and annotate BIM tags. You can use one of three options to produce BIM tags in a drawing.

BimTags are tags that correspond to building entities in their associative 3D BIM model. They are created as multileader entities: a block containing a series of attributes. The Tag property of such attributes refers to a BIM entity property, (wall, column, window, etc.). As well as default BIM properties, a BimTag attribute any of the properties in the Properties panel (General properties, Mass quantities, Parameter values, and IFC properties). Use the BimProperties command to add user-defined properties and classification system codes in a BimTag.

Source files

The following source files are used to create BimTags in a generated BIM section drawing:

• _SectionTag.dwg: contains the tag blocks and multileader styles.
• _TagTypeToStyle.xml: links a BIM entity type to a multileader style.

Both files sit in the folder:
C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V19x64\en_US\Support\Bim\Sections

Note: when assigning tags, BricsCAD needs to access the 3D model. For this reason it may take several seconds to place the first tag, if the 3D model is not currently opened, especially in large models. If you want to avoid this waiting time, consider having the 3D model open while placing tags.

Assign BIM tags manually

The BimTag Manual command allows you to select the BIM element that you wish to create a BIM tag for.

For more information about this command, visit the Command Reference article BimTag.

Manually create a BIM tag

1. Open the section drawing for which you wish to create BIM tags.
   Note: For more information about generating section drawings, please read the BIM article Generating Drawings first.

2. With no selection select Tag Assign BIM tags manually from the Quad or enter BIMTAG followed by m into the commandline to choose the manual option.

   

   You are prompted: Pick point on a sectioned BIM element [Auto/Current mleader style/change Tag type]:

3. Select a point on a line of a BIM element to generate a tag for it. The tag will appear. If the point selected is shared between multiple BIM entities, you can use the CTRL key to cycle through the different possible tags.

   

   You are prompted: Place the tag [Next element]:

4. Move your cursor in order to adjust the position of the tag and left-click to place it.

   You are prompted: Pick point on a sectioned BIM element [Auto/Current mleader style/change Tag type]:

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all of the entities you wish to be tagged. If you do not require more tags, press the ESC or ENTER key to complete the command. If you want all elements to be tagged, you can use the BimTag Select all entities command which we will explore next.

The same steps above can be used to tag a floor slab or a roof.

Assign BIM tags automatically

If you want all BIM elements in a section drawing to be tagged it is easiest to use the BimTag Select all entities command. This command automatically assigns BIM tags to all BIM entities inside a viewport. If the model is altered or new elements are added, the BIM tags can be updated and new tags added.

For more information about this command, visit the Command Reference article BimTag.

Automatically create BIM tags

1. Open the section drawing on which you wish to create BIM tags.

2. Select a viewport containing the section which you will add BIM tags to.

   

3. Select Tag Assign BIM tags automatically from the Quad or enter BIMTAG into the commandline. The BIM tags have now automatically been generated for each of the BIM entities in the viewport.

   

   You are prompted: Select BIM section viewport [Manual]:

4. If you wish to automatically create BIM tags in another viewport on the sheet, select the viewport and these will be generated. If you do not require any further BIM tags, press Esc to complete the command.

Create the source data for a BIM entity type

By default the source data for the following BIM entity types already exist; Annotation, Beam, Column, Curtain Wall, Door, Plies, Railing, Ramp, Roof, Room, Slab, Stair, Wall, and Window.

Available BIM entity types are listed in the Classify As Bim Element dialog box. To open this dialog box, choose the Other command option of the BimClassify command.

Create the tag block and multileader style

To create the source data for a Bim Member entity type:

1. Type Supportfolder in the commandline and press Enter.

2. Once the folder has opened, navigate to the .../Bim/Sections folder and open the _SectionTag.dwg file.

3. Launch the ExpBlocks command.
   The Drawing Explorer / Blocks dialog box will display.

4. Select the _AnnotationTag block (or any other existing block that you want to use as a template).

5. Right-click and choose Copy from the context menu.

6. Right-click and choose Paste from the context menu.

7. Click Copy, but keep both on the Copy/Paste dialog box.

8. Rename the copied block to _MemberTag.

9. Select Multileader Styles in the Drawing Explorer dialog box.

10. Click the New () tool button.

    The New Multileader Style dialog box will display:

    

11. In the Name field type '_MemberTypeStyle'.

12. Select a source style in the Base new Multileader Style on the list.

13. Click the Create button.

14. Optional Edit the Leader properties.

15. Click the Content tab.

16. Under Block options, click the Source Block list button and select _MemberTag from the list.

17. Close the Drawing Explorer dialog box

18. Save _SectionTag.dwg

Link the entity type to its multileader style

1. Type Supportfolder in the command line, then go to .../Bim/Sections folder and open _TagTypeToStyle.xml.
   Use an ASCII text editor, e.g. Notepad.
2. Add the following right before </TagTypeToStyle>:

   <tag type="BIM_MEMBER">
   <style 
   name="_MemberTypeStyle" 
   autoPlacement="true"
   autoRotation="true"
   offset="1"
   />
   </tag>

3. Save the file.

Note that this style has three options:

• autoPlacement = "true" will make sure tags are automatically generated when using the automatic BIMTAG option. If this option is set to false, then this tag type will not be generated automatically (you can still generate these tags manually).
• autoRotation = "true" will rotate the tag along the main axis of the tagged entity. If set to false, the tag will be placed horizontally.
• offset will offset the tags perpendicular to the main axis of the tagged entity.

Customize tag blocks

The content of a Bim Tag block consists of:

• Layout entities Linework, fixed texts, etc.
• Attributes Bim entity properties.

Customize tag blocks for the current drawing only

1. In the section drawing for which you wish to customize the BIM Tags, type MLEADERSTYLE in the command line. The drawing explorer will open in the Multileader Styles tab.

   

   Each BIM tag is a multileader. The multileader style depends on the type of BIM element being tagged. All the multileader styles in the drawing are listed in the drawing explorer.

2. Select _WallTypeStyle from the list to see a preview of what the tag will look like. You can change the tag style from here.
3. Change the Leader Type from Straight to None. Now there will be no line connecting the tag to the wall element.

   

4. In the content tab, the Source block is called _WallTag. Remember this and now close the drawing explorer.

   

5. In the command line type BEDIT and select _WallTag from the list. Click okay.

6. Select the 'WallType' text and Tag value of the properties panel

7. Replace WallType with Composition and press ENTER (see the next procedure for the syntax of other property types). Now the attribute text will display Composition.

   

8. Hover over this attribute and select Copy from the Quad. Select a base point to paste the copied attribute below the current one.

   

9. Repeat steps 5 - 7 to change the new attribute Tag value (Quantity/Thickness).

10. Delete the rectangle.

    

11. Select the Save Block icon from the Block Editor tab of the ribbon.
    Your section viewport will now display.

    

12. Highlight the viewport and select Tag Assign BIM tags automatically from the Quad.

    You are prompted: Tags already have been assigned to the section. Choose an update option [Update existing/update existing and add New/Regenerate all] <Regenerate all>:

13. Click hit the ENTER key to accept the default option of Regenerate all. The wall tags will be regenerated with the new style.

    

Edit the source data to customize BIM Tags for all section drawings

1. With any drawing open, type Supportfolder in the command line followed. Hit Enter.

2. Once open navigate to the .../Bim/Sections folder and open the _SectionTag.dwg file.

3. Launch the BEdit command.

4. Select the tag block you want to edit, then click the OK button.

5. Add attributes using the following syntax, in the Tag field, in the properties panel:

   Property type	Syntax	Examples
   BIM	<property name>	name room bounding
   Parameters	parameters/<parametername>	parameters/w parameters/framethickness
   General	general/<property name>	general/layer general/linetype scale
   Mass	mass/<property name> mass/<property name>:<child>	mass/surface area mass/ucs elevation:minimum
   Geometry	geometry/<property name> geometry/<property name>:<child>	geometry/position geometry/ucs elevation:maximum
   Quantity	quantity/<property name>	quantity/length quantity/net footprint area
   IFC	<ifc property set>/<ifc property>	wall common/load bearing door window glazing type/glass layers
   User Defined	<property set label>/<property label>	exterior walls/price
   Classification system	<classification system label>/ <classification code label>	omniclass/omniclass classification code

   
   Note: To know which properties are available for a specific BIM entity type, select such entity in the model, then open the Properties panel.

   In the image below the properties of a BIM Wall entity are listed.
   Click the + button to expand a property type node.

   

6. For each new attribute do the following:

   • Copy an existing attribute or create a new attribute (AttDef command).
   • Select the new attribute.
     Note Do not double click the attribute. The Edit Attribute Definition dialog box does not accept spaces in the Tag field.
   • In the Properties panel, type the property reference in the Tag field (see the syntax in the above table).
   • Optional Define the Text properties (Text Style, Justify, Height, …) in the Properties Panel.
   • Optional Add linework and fixed text.

7. On the Block Edit toolbar: click the Save icon to conclude the BEdit command.

Definitions in the tag block	Resulting tag
_WallTag block	Wall tag in a plan section
WindowTag block	Window tag in a plan section

Assign composition tags

Composition tags allow you to tag a wall or a slab element in order to specify its composition. These BIM tags are a list of the ply materials which make up the element.

For more information about this command, visit the Command Reference article BimTag.

Create composition tags

1. Open the section drawing for which you wish to create composition tags.

2. Select Tag Assign composition tags from the Quad.

   
   
   or type BIMTAG in the commandline, then do one of the following:
   • type M +Enter for the manual option; then T + Enter for Change Tag type, followed by O +Enter for the composition option.
   • Click the options in the command line.
   • Click the options in the Prompt Menu
     
     
3. You are prompted: Pick point on a sectioned BIM element [Auto/Current mleader style/change Tag type]:
   Select a point on a BIM element to generate a tag for it. The tag will appear. If the point selected is shared between multiple BIM entities, you can use the CTRL key to cycle through the different possible composition tags.
   

   

   You are prompted: Place the tag [Next element]:

4. To adjust the position of the tag, move your cursor and left click to place it.
   You are prompted: Pick point on a sectioned BIM element [Auto/Current mleader style/change Tag type]:

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all of the entities you wish to be tagged. If you do not require any more tags, press the Esc or Enter to complete the command.