The XML files need to follow the structure where at the end is a closer file.
compactFile takes multiple arguments, or multiple instances of compactFile or both.

  ddsim --compactFile $DD4hep/examples/CLICSiD/compact/SiD_multiple_inputs.xml $DD4hep/examples/CLICSiD/compact/SiD_detectors_1.xml --compactFile $DD4hep/examples/CLICSiD/compact/SiD_detectors_2.xml $DD4hep/examples/CLICSiD/compact/SiD_close.xml --runType shell