BOM columns

By default, the BOM table contains the Number, Name and Quantity columns, Thumbnails, or the desired configuration, previously defined in a template .bom file stored in BOMTEMPLATE system variable.

Note: Thumbnails will be added automatically if the Add thumbnails to new tables option is checked.

Using the Configure option of the BMBOM command you can add more columns, such as Description, Density, Volume, Mass, Material, Thickness (for sheet metal parts), and Parameters (for parametric components).

You can add any built-in property of components, instances or block references to the BOM table. Custom evaluated columns are also supported, using the DataExtraction technology.

Grouping modes

BOM tables list unique components only; multiple inserts of the same components are grouped, according to the Grouping mode.

The following grouping modes are supported:
  • Auto (default mode)

    Multiple inserts of the same components are grouped together with respect to their parameters and added properties. It means that multiple inserts of the same parametric component are always grouped in separate BOM rows with respect to their parameters, regardless if those parameters are added to BOM as columns.

  • By components and columns

    In this mode, multiple inserts of the same components are grouped together with respect to added properties only. It means that multiple inserts of the same parametric component could be grouped in the same row even if their parameters are different, depending on what columns are added to BOM. However, instances of different components are always grouped in different rows. This mode is useful, if some parameters correspond to different states of components but not result in being different parts.

  • By columns only

    In this mode, inserts of components are grouped with respect to their properties added to the BOM, regardless if they are inserts of the same component. This mode is useful to get a summary table, such as a list of all physical materials or a list of all sizes of pipes.

Visible and invisible columns

You can make any column in the BOM table invisible. Invisible columns do not appear in the table in the document. However, you can still use these columns in formulas. Invisible columns are also displayed in the BOM Manager panel.

Aggregated columns

It is possible to set an aggregate function to almost every column in top- or bottom-level BOM tables. Aggregate functions group values of several rows in BOM (that differ only in those values) into one single value. Following aggregate functions are supported:
  • Sum: Sum the grouped values.
  • Average: Find the average value of grouped values.
  • Minimum: Find the minimal value of grouped values.
  • Maximum: Find the maximal value of grouped values.
  • Concatenate: Concatenate all unique values in the group in ascending order.
  • Concatenate with counts: Concatenate all unique values with their number of counts in the group.

For example, take the following BOM table:

Component Width Length Height Quantity
Beam 16 250 10 1
Beam 16 200 10 2
Beam 16 220 20 1
Beam 20 215 20 3
Beam 20 225 20 1

Apply an aggregate function to the Length column. The results are combined in the following table:

Component Width Height Length (sum) Length (average) Length (minimal) Length (maximal) Length (concatenate) Length (concatenate with counts)
Beam 16 10 650 216.6667 200 250 200; 250 2x200; 250
Beam 16 20 220 220 220 220 220 220
Beam 20 20 870 217.5 215 225 215; 225 3x215; 225
For Concatenated with counts columns, you can:
  • Adjust the position of the number of counts (in front or behind the value).
  • Add the delimiter between values.
  • Add the delimiter between values and their number of counts.
  • Define the postfix and/or prefix for the number of counts.

If an aggregated column is used in an evaluated column, the final values are used by default. However, it is possible to apply an aggregate function to an evaluated column. In this case, the results for such an evaluated column is first computed for all original values (before aggregation), and then the resulted values are aggregated.

Number column and column roles

A number column is a special column to enumerate rows. It assigns numbers automatically for all rows in the BOM table, without skips and independently of other tables. Rows are numbered starting from 1.

Following settings can be changed for the number column:
  • Prefix: A string that is added in front of any number. For example, you want all numbers to start with "A".
  • Suffix: A string that is added after the number. For example, you want to add "-1" to all numbers.
For a hierarchical BOM, the following settings are available:
  • Number type: Specifies the number format:
    • Full: Numbers are formatted as "1.2.3".
    • Short: Only numbers for the current level show. It is used together with the Level column, which shows the level of the current part in the assembly.
    • Continuous: All components are numbered continuously starting from 1, regardless of their level.
  • Delimiter: Specifies the symbol to separate numbers for different levels when the number type is set to Full.
In general, the number column is used as the source to annotate the drawing by the BMBALLOON command. However, any column in the table can be used as the source for the annotation balloons, by changing its role. The following column roles are available:
  • Number: The column contains numbers for annotations.
  • Name: The column contains part names for annotations.
  • Quantity: The column contains quantities of parts for annotations.
  • Regular: The column has no special role.

Only one column can have a Number, Name or Quantity role. If no column has one of these roles assigned, automatic annotations are not possible.

Column width

By default, the width of each column is set automatically, so its content fits without additional line breaks. However, it is possible to set a fixed column width.

To set the column width, perform one of the following:
  • Select the required column in the BOM manager panel, then type a value for the Width property in layout units.
  • Change the width of the required column in the associated table. BOM tables automatically keep the width of columns that have been changed manually.

To restore the automatic width mode, select the column in the BOM manager panel and select Auto in the drop-down list for the Width property.

Column format

You can format column values:
  1. Select the required column in the BOM manager panel.
  2. Choose the Format option in the context menu.
  3. Define the desired format in the Format dialog box.
Note: The available settings depend on the data type of the selected column. You can select multiple columns of the same type to format them equally.

Property sets

Because BOM tables use DataExtraction technology, you can list properties of mechanical components and entity properties, for example, block references in BOM tables.

Note: These properties are not always necessary. In large assemblies, these properties could negatively affect performance. This is because BricsCAD caches properties during BOM table creation.
Property sets are built-in sets of properties. You can choose the most optimal set of properties for your needs. The following property sets are supported:
  • Mechanical only(default property set): Only properties of mechanical components are listed.
  • All except coordinates: Lists all properties of components, except coordinate ones. Coordinate properties are typically used only for component instances.
  • All properties: Lists all possible properties of components and component instances.

You may change the property set for a BOM table in the BOM Manager panel or use BMBOM when you add a new table.