4.8 Selection Sets

Available with the Following Subscriptions: All Subscriptions
Available for the Following Roles: All Roles

The Selection Sets feature gives users the ability to re-organize BIM Elements into user defined groups called "Sets". Sets will appear in the tree like any other BIM Element and can be expanded to view children, shown/hidden, sequenced using Milestones and so forth. Selection Sets are meant to be created by users to build a tree that is more convenient to use for site logistics purposes than what appears upon import of the model(s). Some use cases could be:

• Grouping BIM Elements based on construction phasing instead of by floor, e.g. horizontal builds. 
• Creating sub-groups for a large numbers of BIM Elements under a single parent.
• Grouping BIM Elements that are a result of model split.
• Creating usable sets from a model tree that imported as a flat tree like some FBX models. A Flat tree is a tree where all elements live under a single top level parent, with no intermediate sub-levels.

Watch the video below or follow along the steps in the next section to learn how to use Selection Sets.

Each BIM Element can only be placed in one Set and only with other BIM Elements from the same parent BIM Model, e.g. elements from your structural model and architectural model cannot be placed in the same set. Selection Sets are maintained upon revising BIM Models for any BIM Elements that are common to both previous and latest revision.

Creating a Set/Adding to a Set

Setting the "Set" property of a BIM Element is how a Set is created, and how additional BIM Elements are added to existing Sets.

1. To create a Set, select multiple BIM Elements, this can be done from the tree or from the 3D editor (1). See the Tip below on using selection traps to quickly multiselect in 3D.
2. Right click and select Edit BIM Element to launch the Edit BIM Element Side sheet (3).
   
   
   
3. From the Properties tab (1), click the Sets dropdown, you can either select an existing (2) set to add the selection to the Set or start typing a name of a new set to create it (3). Click Done.
   
   
   
   
4. Sets are visible in the tree, to view a Set click the Group by dropdown (1) above the tree and choose Sets (2). The tree will refresh and under the individual BIM Models will be listed the Set you've created (3) and an "Undefined" Set (4). The Undefined Set contains all other BIM Elements under the parent BIM Model that have not yet been placed in a user defined Set. Expand these Sets by clicking ">" (5) to expand the Set and to see the individual BIM Elements.
   
   

💡Tip: Using a selection trap is the most efficient way to select a large number of BIM Elements. You can use selection traps (AKA Lasso Select) by holding Ctrl + click and drag mouse to capture items in 3D (holding Shift as well creates a deselection trap to reduce your selection if needed). Consider switching to Orthographic view from Scenario Settings (bottom left, gear icon) before using selection traps.