Introduction Use AutoDefaults to automatically apply connections. With AutoDefaults you can create rules defining when to use different connection properties.
Topics AutoDefaults setup (p. 156) Connection properties files (p. 157) Defaults.zxt (p. 158)
Priority of rule sets (p. 158)
Editing connection properties (p. 158)
For more information on how to use AutoDefaults, see Using AutoDefaults.
We do not recommend that you edit the rules.zxt file using a text editor, but if you do so, check that you use the right syntax. The easiest way to unpack the zxt file is to change the file extension zxt to txt.gz and unpack the file using WinZip. Change the extension back to zxt when you have finished. You do not need to zip the file after editing it, Tekla Structures can also read the unzipped file.
AutoDefaults setup
With AutoDefaults you can create rules defining when to use different predefined connection properties. When you modify connections (for example changing the beam size), Tekla Structures automatically redefines the connection properties using AutoDefaults setup.
Use AutoDefaults to modify standard connection properties and save the modified properties for use in specific situations.
Tree structure To open the AutoDefaults setup dialog box, click Detailing > AutoConnection > AutoDefaults Settings.... The connection types used in various cases are shown in a tree structure:
Rule sets You define AutoDefaults rule sets in the same way as AutoConnection rule sets. See AutoConnection rule sets (p. 153).
Icon Type Description
Rule group The 1st level in the tree contains rule groups. The rule groups are user-defin-able. They help you to group rules according to different standards, projects, manufacturers, and models.
Connection page Connection
The next two levels show all the connec-tions available on the toolbars. They are predefined and you cannot change them.
Rule set Under each connection you can create rule sets to specify which connection properties to use when specific condi-tions within the model are met.
Connection properties file Every branch in the tree ends with connection properties file(s) (for example, standard.j144). You can save connection properties that you want to use again. See Saving connec-tion properties (p. 157).
associated with it (for example, sec_0-190.j141) to the firm or project folders to use in other models. See Defaults.zxt (p. 158).
Connection properties files
By default, each connection has a standard properties file which defines the standard properties for the connection (for example, standard.j144). You can save connection properties that you want to use again in separate properties files and give them a distinctive name.
Saving connection properties
To save connection properties for later use in similar conditions within the model, you can save them in a properties file:
1. Set the properties you want to save (for example, bolt, profile, material properties).
2. In the Save as field, enter a distinctive name for the connection properties. Enter the same name in the Connection code field and click Save as.
Tekla Structures creates the properties file in an Attributes subfolder in the current model folder. The filename consists of the name you entered in Save as and the extension .jXXX, where XXX is the connection number (for example, sec_0-190.j141).
Access to properties files
To view the list of properties files for a certain connection:
1. In the AutoDefaults Setup tree, select a properties file (for example, standard.j144).
2. Right-click the selected properties file. A pop-up menu appears.
3. Click Select connection parameters.... Tekla Structures displays the Attribute File List dialog box, containing the existing properties files for the connection.
When you save connection properties to use with AutoDefaults, it is a good idea to enter the same name in the Save as and Connection code fields on the General tab. This means you can easily check later which properties Tekla Structures used in specific situations. Tekla Structures does not automatically show the AutoDefault values in the connection properties fields.
Defaults.zxt
When you use AutoDefaults, Tekla Structures creates an Attributes sub-folder in the current model folder and saves the AutoDefaults setup in a zipped text file, defaults.zxt.
You can copy this file to the project or firm folders to make it available in other models. See also Project and firm folders (p. 96)). Each time you modify the AutoDefaults setup, you need to recopy this file to the firm, or project folders.
When you copy this file for use in other projects, remember to restart Tekla Structures to use the new setup.
Priority of rule sets
Tekla Structures processes AutoDefaults rule sets in the order in which they appear in the tree, so you can control the selection of properties. Usually, one framing condition, profile type, and orientation can have several property combinations, for example, a different profile height.
Example For example, if you have properties files and rules for maximum profile heights of 150, 160, 170 and 190 mm, and AutoDefaults is selecting properties for a height of 158 mm, three properties files are valid. AutoDefaults selects the first one to match (in this case, 160 mm). Where there is no match, you will need a default rule and properties file.You should set the default rule so that it does not define the profile height and is the last item in the branch. In this way the default rule will always be the last one to match and any properties file that matches the profile height will override it.
Editing connection properties
To edit connection properties in the AutoDefaults Setup tree:
1. Right-click a connection standard.j file (for example, standard.j144). A pop-up menu appears.
2. Select Edit connection parameters to open the connection dialog box.
3. Set the properties as you would when manually creating connections.
4. Type a descriptive name for these properties in the Save as text box and click Save as. Use a name that distinguishes these as AutoDefaults setup.
5. Click Cancel to close the dialog box and return to the AutoDefaults setup dialog box.
We do not recommend that you edit the defaults.zxt file using a text editor, but if you do so, check that you use the right syntax. The easiest way to unpack the .zxt file is to change the file extension zxt to txt.gz and unpack the file using WinZip. Change the extension back to zxt when you have finished. You do not need to repack the file after editing it, Tekla Structures can also read the unpacked file.
If you click OK to close the dialog box, you need to load the default prop-erties next time you use this connection. This ensures that AutoDefaults can modify the properties.
7. The Attribute File List opens. It contains the properties that have been set and saved in the connection dialog box.
8. You can now apply any of the properties that have been saved in a rule set.