Settings related to exporting various types of models through the Export CAD dialog box are listed below. FEM export settings are also described. All of the tabs and settings are not available for all export types. The export types are listed next to the settings, so that you can see which export type the setting belongs to. The Export CAD dialog box opens when you click File menu -->
Export --> CAD . Conversion tab
Option Description Export type Profile conversion file
Material conversion file
Twin profile conversion file
Set the conversion files you want to use.
Conversion files map Tekla Structures profile and material names with names used in other software.
All
Parameters tab
Option Description Export type Output file The file name of the
exported file. You can also browse for the file.
All
Type Select the export format. All
Origin X, Y, Z Set the origin
coordinates to place the exported model in a specific location.
PML, SDNF, XML
Split members Splits a part in the Tekla Structures model into several elements in the STAAD or DSTV model.
FEM
Combine segmented
members (MicroSAS) Gives you the option tocombine multiple parts FEM (MicroSAS)
Option Description Export type
to form one part in the exported model.
For example, if you have divided a beam into several elements and select the Yes option, Tekla Structures
combines the elements so that they form one beam in the exported model. With the option No every element of the beam in the model forms individual beams.
PML tab
Option Description Export type Units (for PML only) Select the units for the
export model. PML
Export cut parts Controls whether cuts are included in the export. Yes exports part cuts.
When you use PML, enter the Tekla
Structures profile names in the conversion file. This makes the other software consider parts as beams and columns, not as plates, and reduces the export file size.
PML
SDNF tab
Option Description Export type SDNF version number Select the SDNF version
to be used in the export. With StruCAD, use SDNF version 2.0.
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Option Description Export type Apply cuts and fittings Select Yes (default)
applies cuts and fittings in the export.
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Position number type The SDNF file contains identifiers, which can be included in a part’s user- defined attributes, or as position numbers. You have the following options:
• Part position The identifier becomes the part’s position number. Do not use the Part
Pos_No fields with
this option. • Assembly position The identifier becomes the assembly’s position number. • Universal ID The identifier becomes a user- defined attribute for the part.
To make user-defined attributes visible, you need to add them to the objects.inp file.
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Consider offsets To ignore the offset records during export, select No, and to take them into account, select Yes.
This setting does not affect the actual start and end point
information, only the offset. Tekla Structures writes the start and end
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Option Description Export type
points based on the actual solid object, not on the reference line.
PDMS phase offset PDMS phase offset defines phase offset for exported parts. For example, if the first phase in Tekla Structures model is 1 and you enter 10 for phase offset, Tekla Structures parts in another software get the phase from 11 and up.
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Engineering firm Enter the name of the
engineering company. SDNFSDNF(PDMS)
PDMS Client Enter the name of the
client. SDNFSDNF(PDMS)
PDMS Structure ID Enter a unique
identification number for the exported model.
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Project ID Enter a unique
identification number for the exported project.
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Revision number Enter an optional revision number. Tekla Structures takes the revision number from the user-defined attributes
(REVISION_NUMBER) of the model. If this field is blank, Tekla Structures uses a revision number from the CAD export dialog box (Revision
Number).
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Issue code Tekla Structures writes an issue code in the header section of the output file. For PDMS,
SDNF
SDNF(PDMS) PDMS
Option Description Export type
this value should always be "Tekla Structures".
Design code Define the design code to be used in structural design. SDNF SDNF(PDMS) PDMS XML tab
Option Description Export type Units Specify unit conversions
(MM, M, IN, FT). For example, for a Tekla Structures model created using
millimeters, select IN to convert all part
dimensions to inches in the output file.
XML
XML structure ID Unique identification number for the exported model. You must always enter the identification ID. Tekla Structures uses this value to identify the model if you re-export it.
XML
XML structure name Unique name of the
exported model. XML
Staad tab
Option Description Export type Profile table Select the profile type. FEM (STAAD) Parametric shapes
when possible Use to define how TeklaStructures exports the profiles PL, P, D, PD, SPD to Staad.
Yes exports the profiles
as parametric shapes so that STAAD can identify them correctly.
No exports all profiles as
standard STAAD shapes.
FEM (STAAD)
DSTV tab
Option Description Export type Version Select the DSTV version
to export. FEM (DSTV)
Element reference
with Select CROSS-SECTIONto export a static model or MEMBER_LOCATION to export a CAD model.
FEM (DSTV)