Introduction Use AutoConnection to automatically select and apply connections with predefined properties to selected parts. With AutoConnection, Tekla Structures automatically creates similar connections for similar framing conditions.
Topics AutoConnection setup (p. 152) AutoConnection rule groups (p. 153) AutoConnection rule sets (p. 153) Rules.zxt (p. 155)
AutoConnection setup
With AutoConnection you can define groups of rules which Tekla Structures automatically applies when you use AutoConnection to create connections in a model.
For example, you can create separate rules for different standards, projects, manufacturers, and even individual models. By using a rule group to select connections and connection properties, you can create connections automatically, without having to select each connection and define its properties individually.
Tree structure To access the AutoConnection Setup dialog box, click Detailing > AutoConnection > AutoConnection Settings.... The connection types used in various cases are shown in a tree structure:
Icon Type Description
Rule group The 1st level in the tree shows the rule groups. These are user-definable. They help you to group the rules according to different standards, projects, manufac- turers, and models.
Framing condition The 2nd level shows the different predefined framing conditions (connec- tion types). Tekla Structures creates them automatically and you cannot change them.
The framing conditions include the following: beam to beam web, beam to beam flange, beam to column web,
To apply a particular connection, the conditions within the model have to match all the rules in the branch containing the connection. If you do not want to apply a connection for certain rules sets, right-click the connection name and then select No connection from the pop-up menu.
Restrictions AutoConnection has the following restrictions:
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You can have a maximum of two secondary parts in the connection (for example, you cannot use complex gussets with several secondaries). AutoConnection uses profile height and ID number as the criteria for determining 1. secondary and 2. secondary parts.•
AutoDefaults only affects connection parts (clip angles, shear plates, end plates, …), bolts, and welds. AutoDefaults cannot change beam profiles or the connection number.See also For more information on rules, see AutoConnection rule groups (p. 153) and AutoConnection rule sets (p. 153).
For more information on how to use AutoConnection, see Using AutoConnection.
AutoConnection rule groups
Before using AutoConnection, you need to define rule groups, so that you can group the rules according to different standards, projects, manufacturers, etc. To create a new rule group: 1. Open your test model. Click Detailing > AutoConnection > AutoConnection Settings.... 2. Right-click an existing rule group, and select New rule group from the pop-up menu. 3. Double-click the group New and rename it. Give it a distinctive name.
When you create a new rule group, Tekla Structures automatically adds the framing conditions branches under it (beam to beam web, beam to beam flange etc.).
AutoConnection rule sets
Each framing condition can contain rule sets, which you can use to specify which connection to use for specific conditions within the model. You only need to create AutoConnection rule sets if you plan to use different connections to connect similar framing conditions.
Rule set Under each framing condition you can create rule sets to specify which connec- tion to use for specific conditions within the model.
Connection The connection to apply if the rule set criteria are met.
The order of the rules in the tree is important. Tekla Structures uses the first rule that matches the conditions within the model, so you should place the most limiting rule highest in the tree, and the most generic, lowest.
Icon Type Description
Give the rule group a name that reflects the group of connections that you want to create. For example, use the fabricator's name, the project name, or any name that will clearly identify the connection rules that you want to use for a specific model.
For example, you have beam to beam connections, some require clip angles, others need shear tabs. In this case, you need to set up rule sets to determine where each connection type should be used.
Creating a rule set
To add a new rule set under a framing condition:
1. Right-click the framing condition. A pop-up menu appears. 2. Select New rule set. A New entry appears in the tree. 3. Give the new rule set a descriptive name.
Creating a subrule set
1. Right-click an existing rule set. A pop-up menu appears.
2. Select Create additional rule sets. A New entry appears in the tree. 3. Give the new subrule set a descriptive name.
Creating a new rule set or subrule set only adds a rule set to the setup tree. You need to define its contents separately. See Editing a rule set.
Editing a rule set You can edit the contents of a rule set (for example, change the name or add rules to it): 1. Right-click the rule set. A pop-up menu appears.
2. Select Edit rule set... to open the AutoConnection Rules dialog box. 3. Select a rule from the Available rules list.
4. Click the right arrow button to move the selected rule into the list of rules in the rule set. 5. In the right pane under Rules in rule set, fill in the acceptable values for the rule. You can
either define an exact value, or minimum and maximum values.
6. The name you enter in the Rule set name field is shown in the setup tree.
You can change the priority of a rule set by right-clicking the rule set and selecting Move Up or
Move Down.
For more information on rules, see AutoConnection and AutoDefaults rules (p. 159). The order of the rules in the tree is important. Tekla Structures uses the first rule that matches the conditions within the model, so you should place the most limiting rule highest in the tree, and the most generic, lowest.
Rules.zxt
When you use AutoConnection, Tekla Structures creates an Attributes subfolder in the current model folder and saves the AutoConnection information in a zipped text file called rules.zxt.
You can copy this file to the project or firm folders to make it available for other models (see also Project and firm folders (p. 96)). Each time you modify AutoConnection setup you need to recopy this file to the firm and/or project folders.
When you copy this file for use in other projects, remember to restart Tekla Structures to use the new setup.
Changing a connection
To change the connection in a rule set, use the Connection Browser dialog box which lists all the Tekla Structures connections available in the connection toolbars.
To open the Connection Browser:
1. Right-click a connection in the AutoConnection Setup tree. A pop-up menu appears. 2. Select Select connection type... to open the Connection Browser dialog box. 3. Select a connection and click OK to update the tree.
Deleting an item Use the Delete rule set command in the pop-up menu to delete a rule set from the Setup tree. This also deletes its subrule sets.