Tekla - Advanced Functions

Tekla Structures
Steel Detailing
Advanced functions
Productversion 13.1
Januari 2008
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3 Tekla Structures 13.1 Advanced functions ........................................... 1
3.1 Tekla Structures models........................................................................... 1
3.2 Exchanging Tekla Structures models......................................................... 4
Zip a Tekla Structures model........................................................... 4
Tekla Structures models on a CD-rom ............................................. 8
Check database........................................................................... 10
Correct database ......................................................................... 11
DWG/DXF, text files and reference-objects..................................... 12
Layout files and templates ............................................................ 13
Catalogs...................................................................................... 14
Ini files ........................................................................................ 15
Overlap in the numbering.............................................................. 15
Sending models to the Construsoft Help desk................................. 16
Creating a Back Up ...................................................................... 17
3.3 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults........................................................... 19
AutoDefaults................................................................................ 20
AutoConnection: manually ............................................................ 24
AutoConnection: automatically ...................................................... 25
Merging defaults .......................................................................... 29
3.4 Classifier .............................................................................................. 30
Classifier principle........................................................................ 30
“Phase” properties........................................................................ 32
“Profile” properties........................................................................ 35
“Material” properties ..................................................................... 39
"Supplier" properties..................................................................... 43
Exercise ...................................................................................... 51
Classifier for assembly- and cast unit drawings............................... 54
3.5 Creating toolbars, own pull-down menu’s and shortkeys ........................... 58
Toolbars...................................................................................... 58
Creating new toolbars................................................................... 59
Creating ’own’ pull-down menu’s ................................................... 66
Using shortkeys in Tekla Structures ............................................... 69
Copying toolbars and shortkeys..................................................... 73
3.6 Dimensioning Reference side ................................................................. 75
TEKLA STRUCTURES Geavanceerde functies

3.7 Extend the contextmenu "Copy to" .......................................................... 81
TEKLA STRUCTURES Geavanceerde functies

3 Tekla Structures 13.1
Advanced functions
3.1 Tekla Structures models

It is important to store the Tekla Structures models in a well-organized way.
Especially when you have models from different Tekla Structures versions and
when you work for several customers.
Very often a model created in a particular version is opened in

another version, with all serious consequences.
Several versions If you are working with several versions (e.g. Tekla Structures 12.1 or Tekla
Structures 13.1), you have to use orderly structure. A possible folder structure
can be:
This will prevent that models are opened in versions which they are not meant
for.
Tekla Structures models 1

If the variable XS_RUNPATH is set in a way that the correct path name per
version is used in Tekla Structures, these kind of problems are eliminated, i.e.:
set XS_RUNPATH=C:\TeklaStructuresModels\13.1\
When you open a model in Tekla Structures now, always the correct path name is
entered:
Different versions When you work with different Tekla Structures versions en several customers, a
en several division like the picture below could be used:
customer
A unique variable per customer can be used where is referred to a line, i.e.:
set XS_RUNPATH=C:\TeklaStructuresModels\Customer 1\13.1\
When a model is opened, the correct customer and version is selected.
2 Tekla Structures models

Tekla Structures models 3
3.2 Exchanging Tekla Structures models
When exchanging Tekla Structures models between customers, some problems
may arise. This because apart from the Tekla Structures model, also additional
files have to send too. Which files are necessary, is explained in the paragraph
below.
Zip a Tekla Structures model

Because the size of a model can be quite big, it can be useful to zip the model
before sending. This has two big advantages: model will be compressed and you
can add the path in the zip-operation. The receiver just has to extract the file with
the option ‘Use Folder names’ enabled, and all files are stored on their exact
location.
The best way of zipping a model is to zip a complete folder. Right mouse click
on the model folder.
Model Modelname is located in C:\Tekla StructuresModels. The zipped file

Modelname.zip will also be stored in the folder C:\Tekla StructuresModels.
A more quick way is to use the ‘Zip and E-mail’ option.

4 Exchanging Tekla Structures models
Right mouse click on the model folder, then select ‘Zip and E-mail Model-
name.zip’:
Before you send the model, you can decrease the file size by deleting some
redundant files.
Step plan • Open the zipped file Modelname.zip.
• Select the files to be removed, go to Actions > Delete or press the
<Delete> button.
• When using the Actions > Delete option, enter the file extensions to
be removed, separated by a space character, possible redundant files
are: *.log, *.pdf, .*dwg, .*bak, *.history.
Exchanging Tekla Structures models 5

Furthermore, files can be removed from the zip file manually (use Shift/Ctrl for
selecting multiple files).

When extracting the zip file, all paths are taken along, so that the file structure
stays intact. Make sure that the option Use folder names is checked.

The “db1” file only
Sometimes, only the *.db1 file is send. To open this Tekla Structures model, you
first have to create a folder which name is identical to the name of the *.db1 file.
However, opening a drawing will be impossible, as the drawing files (*.dg) are
missing! When trying to open a drawing from the drawing list, an error will
appear:
Because none of the drawings in the drawing list can be opened, first you have to
delete the drawings in the list. After that, new drawings can be created. Note that
the new created drawing will be stored in the model folder, instead of the usual
‘drawing’-folder. This also counts for e.g. saved component- or view settings.
You have two create the sub folders attributes and drawings manually, if you
want to keep the initial structure intact!
Tekla Structures models on a CD-rom

A model that has been received on CD-rom and copied to the hard disk, always
has the ‘read only’ feature enabled. To be able to save the model, the read only
feature has to be unchecked first.
Step plan In the Windows Explorer, go to the model folder. Right mouse click the model-
folder.

A dialog box will appear:
Uncheck the Read only option. Then click <Apply> and <OK>. The following
dialog box appears:

Select the option Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files, than click
<OK>. The Read Only attribute is now removed from all files and the Tekla
Structures model can now be saved.
Check database
A third-party model has always to be checked for errors and if all profiles are
present in the model. This command is located in menu Tools > Check Data-
base.
The possible errors will be stored in the log file check_database.log in the model
folder and displayed on your screen, in the list, right click a line for the proper-
ties:

From this list, you can recognize which profiles are missing. These are indicated
as Illegal profiles in the list. You can add these profiles to the profile catalog. If
there are no errors in the model, the following message will be displayed in the
status bar:
"Database checked and OK"
Correct database
This command is equal to the Check database command, but has possibility to
recover errors. It can be necessary to repeat the Correct database command until
all errors are gone. Check the result with the Check database command.
This command does not add profiles to the catalog, this always
has to be done manually.

DWG/DXF, text files and reference-objects
Do not enter the path so that Tekla Structures can find the file at all times.
There is a maximum number of characters for a path name!
Step plan Store the file in the Tekla Structures model folder. As soon as this file is added to
the model (in the example: Reference model) remove the path:

remove the path
Layout files and templates

*.lay (layout) and *.tpl (templates) files belong together. If the *.lay files are
send with the model, make sure you also send the template files (stored in the
attributes folder). By default the *.lay files are stored in the Tekla Structures
system-folder.

Catalogs
Catalog Name
profdb.bin profile catalog
plotdev.bin plotter catalog
matdb.bin material catalog
screwdb.db bolts catalog
assdb.db bolt assembly catalog
These files are located in the model folder.

You can use the macro CS_save_catalogs to store these databases in the model
folder quickly. Run this macro once.
Step plan • Go to Tools > Macros, the following dialog box appears:
• Select the routine CS_save_databases and click <Run>

The macro starts and saves the plotter- (plotdev.bin), the material- (matdb.bin),
the bolts (screwbd.bin), the bolt assembly- (assdb.bin) and the profile database
(profdb.bin) in the model folder.

When the model is being zipped, the just saved databases are also being zipped.
Ini files
If settings are used which differ from the default ones, also include these file set-
tings in the zipped model file. You can also hand the changes that have been
made to the default ini file.
Overlap in the numbering

Sometimes, when numbering the model, the following message may appear:
This warning appears when there is a matter of overlapping numbering series: 2

different assemblies/ parts haven identical part- or assembly numbers. The user is
responsible that there are enough free numbers in the numbering series.
Hand made changes in start numbers result in overlaps in your model. Whether it
is about single parts or assemblies, an error message reports.

Example The model contains 6 different parts in a series with prefix P and start number 1
(P1 -> P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6) and there are 3 different parts in another series
with prefix P and start number 5 (P5 -> P5, P6, P7). The numbers P5 and P6 will
cause a conflict.
A warning will appear in Tekla Structures when an overlap in numbering is
found.
The overlapping series are stored in the numbering history (log file).
When a report like that appears, go to Tools > Display log file > Numbering
history log. The following dialog box appears:
Click an ID line in the log file, the corresponding profile in the model will high-
light.
Solve these problems immediately, this may save a lot of time

later!
Sending models to the Construsoft Help desk

When you send a model (or just a problem) to the Construsoft help desk, you
have to comply for some rules. Because of that, the help desk can analyze your
problem much faster and offer you a solution.
• In the e-mail, give a clear explanation about the problem and in
which version the problem occurs. Also possibly note who the one is
at the help desk you discussed with.
• Only send what is important in a model, so no huge models. Make us
of the command Copy from model

• Divide the “problem” in a phase so that there is no need for searching
by the help desk, use the Phasemanager
• Fit, if necessary, the work area to the intended parts
• Send the correct catalogs, when you have added some profiles, for
example, also send the file profdb.bin.
These e-mails can be treated much faster!
Always use the correct e-mail address:
Questions about E-mail address

Support [email protected]
Licences [email protected]
Custom components [email protected]
Creating a Back Up
Not only storing Tekla Structures model folders is important, also creating back-
ups of model folders and Tekla Structures settings is very important, such as:
• the folder in which the models are stored, i.e. TeklaStructuresMod-
els. Inhere are all models are stored or a sub folder, e.g. 13.1. Models
created in an older version are possible backed up already.
• the Europe folder in

disk:\TeklaStructures\version\environments
This folder includes the sub folders profil (contains among other things the
profile catalog profdb.bin) and ts (contains custom-made settings).

If multiple Europe folders are used for various customers, you
need to create back ups of these folders too.
• the (modified) ini files, in case you work for several customers

3.3 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults
AutoConnection and AutoDefaults will create the right connection or detail in a
specific situation.
What is a connection and what is a detail?
Detail 1 profile and one point
Connection 2 of more profiles
This means Tekla Structures recognizes which profile(s) are used and therefore
Tekla Structures utilize a certain component setting. Because of this, the user
does not have to select the component and the component setting.
However, two conditions have to be fulfilled:
• the AutoConnection must be defined
• the AutoDefaults must be defined
In the example below there is a connection between a column and a beam. If the
conditions are fulfilled, Tekla Structures creates the correct connection. If one of
the profile changes, the connection will be modified automatically according to
the AutoDefaults settings.
AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 19

AutoDefaults
AutoDefaults determines which component setting belongs to which profile.
This means that per profile type a setting can be defined, but it can also mean that
a component setting be linked to a certain size range. For example; all rectangu-
lar hollow sections with height 80mm, or all rectangular hollow sections with
size 80 - 100mm will use the same component setting.
How is it done? Open a model. Position a column HEA240. Open component
1004 (Base plate) and load setting AD. Now create the component in the model.
A neat base plate will be created.
Now change the column into a IPE300. Both the base plate as well as the bolt
pattern will change.
How to set this? Go to Set up > AutoDefaults...
20 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults

The AutoDefaults group called Construsoft will be shown. Multiple groups can
be defined. The number of groups is unlimited. Usually, 5 groups will be suffi-
cient. Creating, copying, moving and deleting groups can be done with the right
mouse button. Renaming a group can be done with F2.
Double-click the Construsoft group. All component pages will appear. Double-
click page 5, that is the page which contains the base plate component, than dou-
ble-click component 1004.

Several rule sets are defined. The name of a rule is meaningless, it’s only for
more clearness for the user.
Right mouse click on ‘UNP’, now select "Edit rule set" from the contextmenu.
The rule is displayed in the right side of the dialog box. In this example, the main
(primary) part must be an UNP profile. The size of the profile is irrelevant. So,
whether it is an UNP140 or UNP300, that does not matter. If the profile matches
the rule, Tekla Structures can enter the loop.
If you close the dialog box by pressing the cross-button, the changes made in the
dialog box will not be stored. After applying changes, always close the dialog
box with the <OK> button.
Click <OK> to close the dialog box. You will return to the previous dialog box,
AutoDefaults Setup.

Right-mouse-click on rule UNP80, select Edit Rule set from the contextmenu.
One rule is set: the primary profile must be an UNP80 profile. All UNP profile
sizes have this same rule, but for their accompanying sizes of course.
Now double-click UNP80. A new icon appears in the tree. This is the component
setting that is used for this rule.

Click right mouse on the component setting, a contextmenu appears. The option
Select connection parameters will open another dialog box where a component
setting can be selected. If Edit Connection parameters is selected, all possible
component settings are displayed. These settings can be edited also.
In this way you can attach an other component setting to this UNP80 rule.
A component setting is made for each UNP size. For example; if a UNP200 is
present in the model, Tekla Structures will operate as follows:
A UNP200profile matches the UNP-rule (Primary part=UNP*). So the loop will
be entered. Next, Tekla Structures comes to UNP80. A UNP200 profile does not
match the rule for the UNP80 profile (rule= prim.prof UNP80). Tekla Structures
will continue downwards to UNP100, UNP120, etc. until it comes to the
UNP200 profile, which rule matches the profile. Now Tekla Structures will enter
the loop and check which component setting is attached.
Exercise
Make that a tube column D<100 mm gets 2 bolts, tube column D100 - 200 needs
4 bolts and tube column D>200 needs 6 bolts.
First create 3 settings for base plate component1004. After that, define the Auto-
Defaults.
What if it also counts for seamless tubes? What to edit?
AutoConnection: manually
Position a HEA240 column and a IPE300 beam in the model, like described on
page 1. For component #144, load setting "AD" and apply the component to the
column-beam connection.
A decent connection will be created. When modifying the beam profile to a
IPE160 profile, the connection will change.
Also this feature is defined in AutoDefaults. Take a look at this setting.
In this way you can generate all connections in the model. When a modification
is needed. all connection will change automatically (if needed).
For more automate, another function is added: automatic AutoConnection

AutoConnection: automatically
For faster modelling also AutoConnection has to be defined. In AutoConnection
is defined which component has to be applied in which situation.
Six situations are defined (Tools > AutoConnection):
Just like in AutoDefaults, several groups can be created. Each group has 6
options.
The connection mentioned in the previous paragraph is of type Beam to Column
(flange). The setting looks like:
By pressing the right mouse button on a rule (Edit Rule set), you can see the con-
dition for that rule.

In the rule mentioned above, the slope angle of the connecting beam may not
vary more than -1 and +1 degree compared to the primary part (in this case the
column).
If the situation meets this rule, than component 144 will be used. See picture.
Method 1. First create the settings for the component to be used

2. Test this setting as described in AutoConnection: manually op pagina 24
3. Finally, define the AutoConnection
Extra information When you load component setting AD, all input fields will be empty. But the
option AutoDefaults Group is defined (tab General).

If this setting is applied, Tekla Structures will consult the definitions in AutoDe-
faults. But if you enter a single value in de component dialog box, that value will
taken. For example: if a plate thickness is set to 20mm, but in AutoDefaults that
thickness is set to 10mm, than the value of 20mm will be taken. Even if the con-
nected profiles are modified, the plate will retain the 20mm value. So, it is rec-
ommended that the AD-setting only is defined in the AutoDefaults group.
For correct functioning of the AC/AD, it is recommended to set the direction of
the component to auto.
Description
Profile name Name of the profile, like BEAM, COLUMN, BRACING.
Profile type Based on the number of the predefined cross section.

1
2
3
28
29
Description
Profile Names like IPE300, HE?140 en UNP*
Height The ‘h’ value in the profile catalog
Web thickness The ‘s’ value in the profile catalog
Flange thickness The ‘t’ in the profile catalog
Material Material of the profiles, set in the profiles’ properties
Flange width The ‘b’ value in the in the profile catalog
Several Force
rules

Rule sets can be copied. Remind that AutoDefaults will adapt the component
number.
Merging defaults
AutoDefaults are saved in file defaults.zxt. Several defaults.zxt files can be
merged. To do this:
• Create a folder named def1 and place the file defaults.zxt in this
folder.
• Rename the file to ‘defaults.txt.gz’. The can now be extracted with
Winzip.
• Extract the file to folder def1.
• The file defaults.zxt will appear in the folder.
• Do the same for the second defaults.zxt and create a folder named
def2.
• Open the defaults.txt in Wordpad. Merge the two defaults.txt in one
file. Remind that the names of the root are unique. See picture. The
text next to ROOT must be different!
• After merging, save the file and rename it to defaults.zxt
• Copy the file to the ‘attributes’ folder of your model, or to the folder
ts. Saving the file in the attributes folder first is the best option, in this
way you can test the file!

3.4 Classifier
Classifier principle
The classifier enables you to create different drawing styles.You can use the clas-
sifier to control the drawing properties for different types of model objects, for
example:
• Different phases in separate colors
• Different parts in separate colors
• Different material grades in separate colors
Except colors, you can also apply this to the position of part marks for each sepa-
rate profile, phase and material grade.
The picture below shows an example how to use the classifier. The phases appear
in separate colors. Also the position of the part marks differs for each phase.
phase 3
phase 2
phase 1
phase 4
The classifier works by using a specific naming convention for saved properties.
We create them in steps. Once created, you can use them, of course, again and
again. It enables you to create drawings containing a specific style every time!
30 Classifier
The classifier uses the following properties:
• general arrangement drawing properties
• view filter properties
• object properties, for example; part, part mark, bolt and bolt
mark
The classifier works by using a specific naming convention for saved properties
(see picture below).
The name of the object

properties must always
start with “filter_”!!
Make sure that the names that you use for the properties match
to each other!
On the basis of several examples we will explain how the classifier works.
Classifier 31
“Phase” properties
You now learn how to create a drawing in which different phases appear in dif-
ferent colors.
Define drawing properties

1. Go to > Properties > General arrangement drawing. Create a general
arrangement drawing property, enter the name “phase” in the text box and
click <Save as>.
Creating view filters

2. Create view filters to define the specific group of model objects, whose
appearance you want to define. In this example every phase appears in a cor-
responding color on a drawing. So for each phase we create a view filter, one
view filter for phase 1, one view filter for phase 2, etc.
3. Open any drawing and double-click on a view. Click on the button Filter. In
the dialog box View filter properties go to the tab Numbers and define the
setting so that phase 1 is filtered (see picture below). Enter the name phase 1
in the text box and click <Save as>.
4. Repeat the steps for all phases you want to define. In this example: phase 2,
phase 3 and phase 4. Click <Cancel> to close the dialog box!
Do not click <Apply>, as this will apply the current filter to the
entire drawing and the Classifier will not work! Just click
<Cancel>.
32 Classifier
Always use view filters when you use the Drawing Classifier.
The Drawing Classifier does not recognize select filters!
Creating drawing object property files

5. For each phase you can define the corresponding color who appears on a
drawing. In this example phase 1, 2, 3 and 4. Double-click on a view and
click on the button Part. Define the setting for phase 1. Enter the name
filter_phase_phase1 in the text box and click <Save as>. (see picture
below).
6. Repeat these steps for all phases you want to define. In this example:
filter_phase_phase2, filter_phase_phase3 and filter_phase_phase4. Click
<Cancel> to close the dialog box!
Classifier 33
7. For all phases a specific color is defined. Of course it is possible to define
part mark property files for each phase, or to change the appearance. Follow
the steps we used for defining the part colors for each phase.
8. So now you can define the appearance and position of part mark property
files for each phase. In this example phase 1, 2, 3 and 4. Double-click on a
view and click on the button Part mark. Define the setting for phase 1.
Enter the name filter_phase_phase1 in the text box and click <Save as>.
(see picture below).
9. Repeat the steps for all phases you want to define. In this example:
filter_phase_phase2, filter_phase_phase3 and filter_phase_phase4. Click
34 Classifier
Creating drawings
10. Go to > Properties > General arrangement drawing... Click the down
arrow in the Load text box and select the phase drawing properties you cre-
ated. Click <Load> (see picture below). Now create the general arrange-
ment drawing.
You will see that a drawing is created in which different phases appear in differ-
ent colors.
phase 3
phase 2
phase 1
phase 4
“Profile” properties
You now learn how to create a drawing in which different parts for each part
name appear in different colors. So all columns in a specific color, all beams in a
specific color.
Classifier 35
arrangement drawing property, enter the name “profile” in the text box and
click <Save as>.

appearance you want to define. In this example every type of profile appears
in a corresponding color on a drawing. So for each profile we create a view
filter, one view filter for columns, one view filter for beams, etc.
the dialog box View filter properties go to the tab Numbers, and in the fil-
ter string text box next to Filter by Assembly position enter “C*”. (for
beams B*). In the text box next to the <Save as> button, enter “column” and
click <Save as>. (see picture below)
36 Classifier
4. Repeat the steps for all profiles you want to define. In this example: beam,
bracing and tube. Click <Cancel> to close the dialog box!

5. For each profile you can define the corresponding color who appears on a
drawing. In this example column, beam, tube and bracing. Double-click on a
view and click on the button Part. Define the setting for columns. Enter the
name filter_profile_column in the text box and click <Save as>. (see pic-
ture below).
Classifier 37
6. Repeat the steps for all profiles you want to define. In this example:
filter_profile_tube, filter_profile_bracing and filter_profile_beam. Click
Creating drawings
arrow in the <Load> text box and select the profile drawing properties you
created. Click <Load> (see picture below). Now create the general arrange-
ment drawing.
You will see that a drawing is created in which different types of profiles
appear in different colors.
38 Classifier
“Material” properties
You now learn how to create a drawing in which different types of material
grades appear in different colors.

arrangement drawing property, enter the name “material” in the text box and
click <Save as>.

appearance you want to define. In this example every material grade appears
in a corresponding color on a drawing. So for each grade we create a view
filter.
Classifier 39
the dialog box View filter properties go to the tab Parts, and in the filter
string text box next to Part Material enter “C20-25”. In the text box next to
the <Save as> button, enter “C20-25” and click <Save as>. (see picture
below):
4. Repeat the steps for all material grades you want to define. In this example:
timber, S235JR. Click <Cancel> to close the dialog box!
40 Classifier
5. For each material grade you can define the corresponding color who appears
on a drawing. In this example C20-25, timber and S235JR. Double-click on
a view and click on the button Part. Define the setting for material grade
C20-25. Enter the name filter_material_C20-25 in the text box and click
<Save as>. (see picture below).
6. Repeat the steps for all material grades you want to define. In this example:
filter_material_timber and filter_material_S235JR. Click <Cancel> to
close the dialog box!
Classifier 41
Creating drawings
arrow in the <Load> text box and select the material drawing properties
you created. Click <Load> (see picture below). Now create the general
arrangement drawing.
You will see that a drawing is created in which different types of material
grades appear in different colors.
42 Classifier
"Supplier" properties
You now learn how to create a GA drawing in which user-defined attributes are
used. In this case the user-defined attributes Steel supplier.
All parts with the user-defined attribute Steel supplier appear on the drawing in
Orange, also the Hidden lines and the Own hidden lines will be displayed.
Besides, all marks are displayed.
The other parts will appear on the drawing in White. The Hidden lines, the Own
hidden lines and the marks will not be displayed:
Classifier 43
Open the model Supplier, you can download the model from the Construsoft
Xtranet.
This model contains parts in which the user-defined attributes on the tab
Supplier are set to, for example, Steel supplier or Glass supplier.

arrangement drawing property, enter the name “steelsupplier” in the text box
and click <Save as>.

First we have to find out in the model what we need to enter in the view filter in
the drawing:
2. The view filters define the specific group of model objects, whose appear-
ance you want to define. In this example all parts containing the user-
defined attribute Steel supplier appear on a drawing in a specific color.
3. Click Setup > Select filter... to open the dialog box Object group- select
filter
4. To find out easily what to enter for the filter properties, go to the column
Category and select Object
5. In the column Property select the option Supplier in the list box
6. In the column Condition select the option Equals
7. In the column Value select the option Select from model... to select the con-
cerning part in the model.
44 Classifier
8. Click on a steel part, in the column Value the digit 1 appears. You can filter
on this.
Classifier 45
the dialog box View filter properties go to the tab User attributes and
define the setting. Save this setting steel in <Save as> as follows:
10. Repeat the steps if necessary for the other suppliers you want to define.
Click <Cancel> to close the dialog box!
Do not click <Apply>, as this will apply the current filter to the
entire drawing and the Classifier will not work!
Always use view filters when you use the Drawing Classifier.
The Drawing Classifier does not recognize select filters!
46 Classifier
11. For user-defined attribute Steel supplier you can define the corresponding
color who appears on a drawing. Double-click on a view and click on the
button Part. Define the setting for steel. Enter the name
filter_steelsupplier_steel in the text box and click <Save as>. (see picture
below).
12. Repeat the steps for the user-defined attribute values you want to define. In
this example: filter_timbersupplier_timber and filter_glasssupplier_glass.
Classifier 47
13. You can also define the part marks. Double-click on a view and click on the
button Part marks. Define the setting for steel. Enter the name
filter_steelsupplier_steel in the text box and click <Save as>. (see picture
below).
14. Repeat the steps for other user-defined attribute values you want to define.
48 Classifier
Classifier 49
Creating drawings
arrow in the <Load> text box and select the Steelsupplier drawing proper-
ties you created. Click <Load> (see picture below). Now create the general
arrangement drawing.
You will see that all parts with the user-defined attribute Steel supplier
appear on the drawing in Orange, also the Hidden lines, the Own hidden
lines and the marks are displayed.
50 Classifier
Exercise
It may occur that an existing project needs some additions, for example an
awning. On a GA-drawing the following has to be set:
• Only for the awning, part marks have to be added, not for the
existing structure
• The parts of the existing structure are displayed as dotted lines,
the part lines of the awning are displayed as full lines.
For this exercise you can make use of model Hal_1. Create a GA drawing and
make use of a classifier setting:
Classifier 51
Step plan 1. Make sure the awning is in a unique phase in the model (e.g. phase2)
2. Open the phase manager
3. Select phase 2 and click <Objects by phase>, all parts who belong to the
awning will highlight in the model view
4. Click the icon Fit work area by parts in selected views or in the pull-down
menu go to View > Fit work area, The work area is now sized to the
awning:
Fitted work
area
5. In the GA drawing properties, adjust the setting “phase”

52 Classifier
6. Now create a GA drawing by making use of the setting “phase”
If necessary, you can resize the view in the drawing.
Classifier 53
Classifier for assembly- and cast unit drawings
You can use the Drawing Classifier not only for general arrangement drawings,
but also for assembly- and cast unit drawings.
You now learn how to create an assembly drawing in which several welded parts
appear in different colors. These parts also appear with different part marks.
On the basis of an examples we will explain how the classifier works

1. Go to > Properties > Assembly drawing. Create an assembly drawing
property, enter the name “beam” in the text box and click <Save as>.

2. In this example all different welded parts appear in a corresponding color on
the assembly drawing. So for each welded part we create a view filter. You
must create the filter for assembly drawings in the general arrangement
drawing filter!
54 Classifier
the dialog box View filter properties go to the tab Parts and define the set-
ting. In the text box next to the <Save as> button, enter stiffener and click
<Save as>, see picture below:
4. Repeat the steps for all welded parts you want to define. In this example:
cleat and haunch. Click <Cancel> to close the dialog box!
Classifier 55
5. For each welded part you can define the corresponding color on the assem-
bly drawing. In this example stiffener, cleat and haunch. Go to > Properties
> Assembly drawing... > Part. Define the setting for stiffener. Enter the
name filter_beam_stiffener in the text box and click <Save as>. (see picture
below).
6. Repeat the steps for all parts you want to define. In this example:
filter_beam_cleat and filter_beam_haunch. Click <Cancel> to close the
dialog box!
56 Classifier
Creating drawings
7. Go to > Properties > Assembly drawing... Click the down arrow in the
Load text box and select the beam drawing properties you created. Click
<Load> (see picture below). Now create the general arrangement drawing.
You will see that a drawing is created in which different welded parts appear
in different colors.
The Drawing Classifier can only be used for objects you can fil-
ter!
Classifier 57
3.5 Creating toolbars, own pull-down menu’s and
shortkeys
Toolbars
Several commands can be accessed through toolbar icons. This is the fastest way
of activating commands.
Some commands are not available in a default Tekla Structures toolbar. How-
ever, you can add commands to default toolbars, or you can create your own tool-
bars.
58 Creating toolbars, own pull-down menu’s and shortkeys

Creating new toolbars
Step plan • Go to Tools > Customize
• Click <New>
A new toolbar, named User Toolbar 5 will be added to lthe list.
Creating toolbars, own pull-down menu’s and shortkeys 59

• Select the name of the toolbar to change it.
The left column contains a list with all available Tekla Structures com-
mands.
With the Filer listbox, you can filter commands by groups.

Example • Select the option ‘Inquire’ from the Filter listbox to add the com-
mand Inquire assembly to a toolbar.
• The list will now contain commands from the Inquire group only.
Make sure a toolbar is selected where the new command should be
added to. Select command Inquire assembly and double click it or
press the right-arrow button. The command will now be added to the
selected toolbar.
Right-arrow button for adding a command to a toolbar.
Left-arrow button for removing a command from a toolbar.
In front of the toolbar, a ‘+’-character is displayed. This means that at least

one command is put in that toolbar. By pressing the + character, you can see
which command(s) are in the toolbar.
If multiple commands are added to a toolbar, you can reorder the commands
with the buttons opposite.
In front of each toolbar, an ‘eye’ is displayed. The appearance of this eye can
be with or without a cross. If the eye is not ‘crossed’, it means that the tool-
bar is visible in Tekla Structures. A ‘crossed-eye’ toolbar is invisible in
Tekla Structures. Toggle between visible and invisible state can be done by
checking/ unchecking the ‘Visible’ option.

Individual ’leaf through’ toolbars
It is possible to create leaf-through toolbars. In these toolbars, you can add fre-
quently used components for instance. Creating these toolbars basically works
the same as creating ‘normal’ toolbars, although there are some things to pay
attention to.
Step plan • Go to Tools > Customize and create a new toolbar. Name this toolbar
Macro 1.
• To create a ‘leaf through’ toolbar, two commands, Previous page and

Next page, must be added to the toolbar.
The easiest way of selecting these commands is to enter “prev” and/ or
“next” in the filter string in the dialog box. Note that these items are double
listed.

• Make sure you add ‘Previous page’ and ‘Next page’ (and not ‘Previ-
ous toolbar’ or ‘Next toolbar’)!
Wrong
Right

• You can now add the component toolbar buttons Create current
connection, Create User connestion, or a pagenumber Display
information about connections.
• Select the components which you want to add to the toolbar. The cre-
ation of the 2nd or 3rd toolbar is in the same way.
The toolbars’ names must be equal, only their running numbers

must vary.
The sytem folder contains, among other things, the files:

TS_FUD.reg (on behalf of the module Full Detailing)
TS_PCD.reg (on behalf of the module Precast Concrete Detailling)
TS_PRM.reg (on behalf of the module Project Management)
TS_RCD.reg (on behalf of the module Reinforced Concrete Detailing)
TS_SDE.reg (on behalf of the module Standard Design)
TS_STD.reg (on behalf of the module Steel Detailling)
TS_TID.reg (on behalf of the module Timber Detailling)
TS_VIE.reg (on behalf of the module Viewer)
• Doubleclick one of these files, depends on the module you have, a
number of schortcuts and toolbars will be added to the Windows
Registry. Also, 2 ‘leaf through’ toolbars are added (Macro 1 and 2),
containing a number of frequently used components. The content of
these toolbars may be edited to your own opinion.
If personal ‘leaf through’ toolbars are used, you can switch off the general
component toolbars to save screen space.

• The best way to switch off toolbars is by unchecking the ‘Visible’-
option for the selected toolbar in the Customize dialog box (Window
> Toolbars > Customize).
Now the standard componentpages are disabled. By checking the Visible

checkbox, the pages will be visible again.
To make the default component toolbars invisible permanently, set the Tekla
Structures variable
set XS_CREATE_STANDARD_JOINT_TOOLBARS.
The default toolbars can be made visible or hidden by checking or uncheck-
ing the toolbars in pulldown menu Window > Toolbars. If checked, the
toolbar is visible.

The user defined toolbars are not listed in the pulldown-menu. To hide or display
those toolbars, you always have to do that in the Customize dialog box by
checking/ unchecking the Visible-option.
Creating ’own’ pull-down menu’s

Tekla Structures offers the possiblilty to create your own pull-down menus. For
both the Model environment as the Drawing environment, one pull-down menu
can de added.
Pull-down menu in the Model Editor

Step plan • Go to Window > Toolbars > Customize or Tools > Customize.

• Select the tab Menu
• On the left side, select a command which you want to add to the new
pull-down menu
• Click the arrow button to add the command to the menu
• Repeat these steps untill all desired commands are added to the menu
• Close the dialog box
• Open and close a drawing, or restart Tekla Structures to have the
modifications carried through
Now, you will see a new menu is added to the environment. The menu is called
‘User’. Note: the name of this menu can not be changed.
It can be convenient to put a ‘deep’ command in an own pull-

down menu. (For example: Tools > Numbering > Full or File >
Catalog > Profile > Modify.
You can even add a command for opening the Customize-dialog box.

Pull-down menu in the Drawing Editor
To add a user pull-down menu in the drawing environment, a drawing has to be
opened.
Step plan • Go to Window > Toolbars > Customize or Tools > Customize.
• Select the tab Menu
• In the left column, select a command which has to be added to the

user pull-down menu
• Click the right-arrow button to add the command to the menu
• Repeat these steps until all desired commands are added
• Close the dialog box
• Note: the user pull-down menu is only visible after re-openeing a
drawing or resarting Tekla Structures.
The name of the pull-down menu is User. The name of this menu can not be
changed.
Using shortkeys in Tekla Structures
To access Tekla Structures commands more quickly, you can make use of short-
keys.
For example, for the Number objects > Full command, you can set the “n” char-
acter as shortkey.
Step plan • Go to Window > Toolbars > Customize or Tools > Customize
• In the left column of the dialog box, look up the Number objects >
Full command. (Use a filter for quick look up; in this case select
‘Tools’ from the Filter-listbox and enter the characters “num”. Only
commands which match these criteria will be shown in the list)
• Click the command Number objects > Full and press the “n” key.
• Reopen a model or restart Tekla Structures

• Go to Tools > Number objects > Full
• You will see that an “n” character is added to the Numbering com-
mand.
• When pressing the “n”-key, the Full numbering command is carried
out.

Model Editor
Command Command
a Customizing toolbars m Move > Translate
c Copy > Translate n Numbering > Full
e Open model folder o Ortho
f Phasemanager q Create clip plane
g Redraw all s Smart Select
h Rollover highlight t Xsnap
i Inquire assembly u Update all
k Inquire object v Pick rotation point
l Drawing list w Wizard
Command Command
1 Create single-part drawing 3 Create GA drawing
2 Create assembly drawing 4 Create cast unit drawing
Command Command
Enter Repeat last command Alt + p Print
Alt + Properties Ctrl + c Undo last polygon pick

Enter
Home Zoom original Space Finish polygon input

bar
Command Command
Ctrl + b Named views Ctrl + m Move
Ctrl + c Copy multi Ctrl + p 2D / 3D
Ctrl + f Find a component Ctrl + w Weld

Command Command
Ctrl + a Select all objects Shift + k Column properties
Shift + b Bolt Shift + l Beam properties
Shift + c Copy > With 3 Shift + m Move > With 3 points

points
Shift + f Fitting Shift + z Line cut
Shift + h Construction line
Drawing Editor
Command Command
a Customizing toolbars l Drawing list
b Black and white drawing m Move objects
c Copy objects many times o Ortho
e Open model folder s Smart Select
f Phasemanager t Xsnap
j Close drawing u Update all
o Inquire > Object z Zoom in
Command
Ctrl + b Open named view list
Alt + Enter Properties
Home Zoom original
Enter Repeat last command
Ctrl + Page Up Open previous drawing
Ctrl + Page Down Open next drawing
Shift + A Associative symbol

Copying toolbars and shortkeys
It is possible to copy the produced toolbars and shortkeys to another PC or from
Tekla Structures 12.1 to Tekla Structures 13.1 These setting are stored in the
Windows Registry.
To copy the settings, an export file of the registry has to be made:
1. Close Tekla Structures
2. In Windows, go to Start > Run
3. Enter regedit and click <OK>
4. Select the Tekla Structures version for which you want to export the toolbars
and shortkeys. For example, copying the toolbars and shortkeys from ver-
sion 12.1 to 13.1, select HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Tekla\Struc-
tures\12.1, see picture below:
Select
5. In the menu, go to File > Export

6. Enter a filename and a location for the registry file.
7. Close the Registry.
8. The file (extension *.reg) is stored on the specified location.
If you want to use the toolbars and shortkeys on another PC, then copy that reg-
file to that PC and double-click the file. Answer the question “Are you sure you
want to add the information....” with Yes.
If you want to export the toolbars and shortkeys to another Tekla Structures ver-
sion, e.g. from version 12.1 towards version 13.1, the following actions need to
be done:
1. Right click the exported registry file and select “Open with” from the con-
textmenu. Select Notepad.
2. Replace the line (using Ctrl+H on the keyboard, or go to Edit > Replace):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Tekla\Structures\12.1 through
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Tekla\Structures\13.1 and click the
<Replace all>-button

3. Close the file, with saving of course.
4. Double-click the file, answer the question (Are you sure you want to add this
information to the Registry) with Yes. The toolbars and shortkeys are now
imported in the new version.

3.6 Dimensioning Reference side
You can define a reference side to create dimensions (for example, you might
want Tekla Structures to dimension round bars to the middle of the profile rather
than the reference line).
The reference side of dimensions is controlled by the file dim_planes_table.txt.
This file is located in folder profil (..\environments\europe\profil).
In the file env_europe.ini in the folder (..\environments\europe) it is refered to
the variable
set
XS_PART_DIMENSION_PLANES_TABLE=%XS_DIR%\environments\europ
e\profil\dim_planes_table.txt
The file looks as follows:
A line starts with the profile type:

1: I sections (HEA, HEB, IPE etc.),
2: L sections: angle steel,
etc......
Dimensioning Reference side 75

The second option is the maximum size (the h in the profile catalog).
If this value is set to -1.0, than all profiles are taken.
In the example above:
All I-sections upto and including a height of 300:
FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE
and the bigger ones:
TRUE*, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE*, FALSE, FALSE
The value TRUE must occur at least once, as well in the

FLANGE as in the WEB part.
If the value TRUE* (with an asterisk) is used, it means that is
the preferred value (in case more than one TRUE-values are
set).
Examples Below an example of an IPE300. This dimension is dimensioned according to

line:
1, 300.0, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE
76 Dimensioning Reference side

Below an example of an IPE400. This dimension is dimensioned according to
line:
1, -1.0, TRUE*, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE*, FALSE, FALSE
Below an example of a L100/10. This dimension is dimensioned according to

line:
2, -1.0, FALSE, TRUE*, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE*, FALSE

Below an example of an UNP200. This dimension is dimensioned according to

line:
4, -1.0, FALSE, TRUE*, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE

Below an example of a D40. This profile is dimensioned according to line:
Below an example of a B101.6/6.3. This profile is dimensioned according to

line:
or according to line:
7, -1.0, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE

Below an example of a K100/10. This profile is dimensioned according to line:
8, -1.0, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE*, TRUE
or according to line:

3.7 Extend the contextmenu "Copy to"
It happens very often that you, as a Tekla Structures user, copy settings that you
have made by yourself from the model folder to the folder ts to make use of these
settings in all models. Copying these files can be done very easily.
When you select a file in the Windows explorer and you click the right mouse
button, a contextmenu appears. This menu contains the option: “Send To”.
You have the possibility to extend the option “Send To” with several locations. It
is very handy to add the location “ts” to the contextmenu “Send To”. In this way
you copy settings to the folder “ts” quick and easily. See the following picture:
Extend the contextmenu "Copy to" 81

Step plan 1. Start the Windows explorer and go to the file
C:\Documents and Settings > (your name) > Send To.
When you have opened this folder, you will find the existing locations
belonging to the contextmenu “Send To”.
When the folder SendTo not appears, in the Explorer, go to

Tools > Folder options... In the tab View, you toggle on a check
box for "Show hidden files and folders" in the Advanced set-
tings.
2. Open the folder “Send To” and go to File > New > Shortcut in the Windows
explorer in the pull-down menu. The following dialog box appears:
3. Click <Browse> and select the location that has to be added in the context-
menu “Send To” (drive:\TeklaStructures\version\environ-
ments\europe\firm\ts) and click <Next>. The following dialog box appears:
82 Extend the contextmenu "Copy to"

4. Type in a name and click <Finish>.
When you select a file in the Windows explorer and you click Right mouse but-
ton > “Send To”, the added location appears in the menu! So from now on you
can use this option to copy files from the model folder to the folder “ts”!
Extend the contextmenu "Copy to" 83

84 Extend the contextmenu "Copy to"

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Tekla Structures

TEKLA STRUCTURES Geavanceerde functies

TEKLA STRUCTURES Geavanceerde functies

3.1 Tekla Structures models

Very often a model created in a particular version is opened in

Tekla Structures models 1

2 Tekla Structures models

Zip a Tekla Structures model

Model Modelname is located in C:\Tekla StructuresModels. The zipped file

A more quick way is to use the ‘Zip and E-mail’ option.

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 5

6 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 7

Tekla Structures models on a CD-rom

8 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 9

10 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 11

There is a maximum number of characters for a path name!

12 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

Layout files and templates

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 13

These files are located in the model folder.

• Select the routine CS_save_databases and click <Run>

14 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

Overlap in the numbering

This warning appears when there is a matter of overlapping numbering series: 2

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 15

Solve these problems immediately, this may save a lot of time

Sending models to the Construsoft Help desk

16 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

Questions about E-mail address

• the Europe folder in

Exchanging Tekla Structures models 17

18 Exchanging Tekla Structures models

AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 19

How to set this? Go to Set up > AutoDefaults...

20 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults

AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 21

22 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults

AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 23

24 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults

AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 25

Method 1. First create the settings for the component to be used

26 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults

AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 27

28 AutoConnection and AutoDefaults

AutoConnection and AutoDefaults 29

The name of the object

Define drawing properties

Creating view filters

Creating drawing object property files

Creating view filters

Creating drawing object property files

Define drawing properties

Creating view filters

Define drawing properties

Creating view filters

5. In the GA drawing properties, adjust the setting “phase”

If necessary, you can resize the view in the drawing.