This section explains how to customize Tekla Structures. It covers the following subjects:
Adding properties (p. 98) Interpreting objects.inp (p. 101) Customizing message files (p. 102)
Changing the language of the user interface (p. 103) Customizing parametric profiles (p. 104)
Save defaults (p. 105)
Creating AutoDrawings wizard files (p. 106) Unfolding parameters (p. 107)
Using flat bars (p. 108) Using market sizes (p. 109)
Adding properties
Many dialog boxes contain user-defined attributes for various objects, including beams, columns, bolts and drawings, in Tekla Structures. You can use the
..\environments\country_independent\inp\objects.inp file to define your own attributes for these objects.
Tekla Structures displays these fields when you click User defined attributes or the User attributes tab in the relevant dialog box. You can then use these values in reports and drawings.
When you upgrade Tekla Structures, the user-defined attributes that you have added in the objects.inp file in the previous version of Tekla Structures are automatically copied to version 14.0 or later.
The objects.inp file reads attributes in order from the folders listed in the table below starting with the model folder:
See Project and firm folders (p. 96).
Folder Defined by variable Model
Project XS_PROJECT
Firm XS_FIRM
The files are merged so that if there are user-defined attributes in any of the files, they are displayed in the user interface. Tekla Structures merges the files in a way that eliminates duplicate attributes.
If Tekla Structures encounters the same attribute name in different objects.inp files, the attribute from the first read objects.inp file will be used.
Changing user-defined fields
You can customize existing User fields shown in dialog boxes. You can also add more user-defined fields. See also User-user-defined fields in templates (p. 100).
Example You want to change the name of the user-defined attribute User Field 1 in the Column dialog box, which by default looks like this:
Steps 1. Open the objects.inp file using a standard text editor.
2. Find the section:
/******************************************************/
/* Part attributes */
/******************************************************/
3. Each attribute is listed on a new line and starts with the word attribute. Find the line:
attribute("USER_FIELD_1", "j_user_field_1", string, "%s", no, none,
"0.0", "0.0") 4. Change the line to read:
attribute("MY_INFO_1", "My Info 1", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0",
"0.0")
You should only edit the user-defined fields in the objects.inp file.
Do not change other standard field names or values.
5. Save the objects.inp file.
6. Close Tekla Structures and restart the program for the changes to take effect. The Column properties dialog box will now look like this:
User-defined fields in templates
This section explains how to use user-defined attributes with Template Editor version 2.2.
For more information on how to use user-defined attributes in Template Editor version 3.3, see User-defined attributes in templates (p. 426).
If you change the name of a user-defined field, or create a new user-defined field, you need to modify the legend_text.fields located in the ..nt\bin\ folder, before you can select the field from a list in the Template Editor. You can also use user-defined fields without modifying the legend_text.fields, if you just type the field name correctly. For the example shown in Changing user-defined fields (p. 99), change legend_text.fields as follows:
Example TITLE3 CHARACTER LEFT 40 MY_INFO_1 CHARACTER LEFT 40 USER_FIELD_2 CHARACTER LEFT 40 USER_FIELD_3 CHARACTER LEFT 40
Attribute names must be unique. The maximum number of characters in a name is 19.
This change affects dialog boxes of all parts, not only columns.
Effect on numbering
You can set whether the user-defined attribute affects numbering or not. See Numbering settings. This is useful when you have members that are identical in all respects, apart from their user-defined attributes.
Consider attribute
If you want Tekla Structures to consider the user-defined attribute when numbering, use the option yes in objects.inp, see Interpreting objects.inp (p. 101). In this case, Tekla Structures assigns different marks to parts that are identical, but have different user-defined attributes.
You must also change the entry for the field in the Part attributes section of the objects.inp file for the user-defined value to be considered when numbering.
Ignore attribute If you want Tekla Structures to ignore the user-defined attribute when numbering, use the option no in objects.inp. In this case, Tekla Structures assigns the same mark to parts that are identical, but have different user-defined attributes.
Interpreting objects.inp
The main components of objects.inp are shown below. See also Fields in objects.inp (p. 102).
Make sure Tekla Structures does not already use the attribute name you use. Consider using a prefix that ensures the name is unique, for example, your initials, or an abbreviation of your company name.
Do not use spaces or reserved characters in attribute names.
Only user-defined attributes of parts affect numbering. User-defined attributes of other objects, such as phases, projects, drawings, etc. do not affect numbering.
attribute or unique_attibute Attribute name
Prompt
Affects numbering Default value Type of values
The text you enter in the prompt section of the attribute is exactly what Tekla Structures displays in dialog boxes. Some default attributes have prompts like j_comment, meaning that the prompt comes from the joints.ail message file. For more information, read Messages (p. 89).
To include an attribute in a report or template, add the name of the attribute to your layout in the Template Editor. When you run a report or create a drawing, Tekla Structures displays the current value of the attribute.
Fields in objects.inp
The objects.inp file contains the following field names:
Customizing message files
You can customize message files in Tekla Structures.
Field Description
attribute Regular attribute, which is copied with other part properties.
unique_attribute Non-copyable attribute. The value of the attribute is never copied to another part. For example part checking status attributes are usually non-copyable.
attribute_name Attribute name, used to find the attribute value label_text Text Tekla Structures displays in the dialog box value_type integer, float for numbers
string for text option for lists
date for date with small calendar
date_time_min for date and time [12:00] with small calendar
date_time_sec for date and time [12:00:00]
with small calendar
field_format Definition of the field format in the dialog box.
Uses C program terminology:
•
"%s" for strings•
"%d" for numbers consider_in_numbering
See Effect on numbering (p. 101)
check_switch none, check_max, check_min, check_maxmin
attribute_value_ma x
The maximum possible value for the attribute
attribute_value_mi n
The maximum possible value for the attribute
1. Open by_number.ail using a standard text editor.
See below for an extract of theby_number.ail file:
Changing the language of the user interface
You can change the language of theTekla Structures user interface.
Preconditions The languages between which you can switch are the languages you have chosen when installing Tekla Structures.
Usage 1. Click Tools > Change Language...
2. Select the language in the Language list box.
3. Click OK.
4. Restart Tekla Structures for the change to take effect.
by_number.ail
string by_number_msg_no_675 { entry = ("chs", "(NS)");
entry = ("enu", "(N/S)"); };
string by_number_msg_no_676 { entry = ("chs", "(FS)");
See also Languages and environments
Customizing parametric profiles
The file profitab.inp defines the names that you can use for parametric profiles in Tekla Structures. You can customize this file to add more parametric profile names.
See also The profile catalog (p. 117).
Example You want to use parametric plate profiles with a different name, PLTE.
1. Open the profitab.inp file in a standard text editor.
2. Add the line:
PLTE ! PL ! +2 ! ! 1 ! 2 ! ! ! 3. Save profitab.inp to the current model folder and close the file.
See also Project and firm folders (p. 96).
Interpreting profitab.inp
The first block in this file is the column titles. It also contains an explanation of possible values.
The language you in which you install Tekla Structures will be the default language of the user interface.
Title Description
Prefix Prefix Tekla Structures uses for the parametric profile. See also Appendix A, Parametric Profiles.
Type The parametric profile type, e.g. I profile.
SO Sort order.
The available options are:
•
-1: Decreasing sorting order•
+1: Increasing sorting order•
0: No sorting order•
2: Name increasing, value decreasing•
-2: Name decreasing, value increasing For example, if your input is PLT200*10 or PLT10*200 and you select 2, the result in the output (such as a report) for both cases is PLT200*10. If you select -2, the result for both cases is PLT10*200.Z Unit of measure used when inputting data
Save defaults
You may find it useful to create a set of standard files for a new project, or to set up Tekla Structures to suit the way you work. You can copy these standard files to the project or firm folders for future use. See Project and firm folders (p. 96).
Many dialog boxes Tekla Structures displays when you are modeling contain properties for objects (beams, columns, modeling tools, etc.). Typically they have a Standard option in the Load list box. By default Tekla Structures uses the settings in the Standard file when applying commands.
Use Tools > Defaults > Save Defaults to save a set of Standard files in the current model folder. Tekla Structures creates the following files:
MI Minimum number of parameters you can use in
the Select profile dialog box.
For example, a rectangular hollow section has sub-types: h*t, h*b*t, h1*b1-h2*b2*t.
You define SHS with a minimum of two and a maximum of two parameters. When you use the Prefix option in the Select profile dialog box, you will only have the option h*t. Using the same example, SHS300*200*5 will not be available either.
MA Maximum number of parameters you can use in
the Select profile dialog box. See MI above for example.
G3-NAME Only used for user-defined parametric profiles.
Used by Tekla Structures to find the generation component.
Z3-NAME Only used for user-defined parametric profiles.
Identifies the modeling tool name.
Title Description
Numbering and coefficient information from the Options dialog box.
Creating standard files
You can also create standard files not listed above. Simply change the properties of a file, then save it as standard (use lower case). Tekla Structures saves standard files to the current model folder. See System folder (p. 96) for more on using standard files. See also Project and firm folders (p. 96).
Customizing other files
Tekla Structures also stores a number of files, all of which contain object properties, in the current model folder. Tekla Structures creates these files when you click Save or Save as in dialog boxes.
Example You change the standard column properties to create a new type of column you call custom1.
When you click Save as, Tekla Structures creates the file custom1.clm in the current model folder.
Creating AutoDrawings wizard files
You can create your own AutoDrawings wizard files using any standard text editor. Use the existing wizard files as examples to construct your own.
A typical AutoDrawings wizard file includes several sets of drawing requests containing drawing, attribute and part settings to apply to selected objects, as well as a selection filter. The order of sets is important, as Tekla Structures only creates one drawing for each object.
Example The AutoDrawings wizard file creates an assembly drawing for an object that fulfills the selection filter criteria in one set. Tekla Structures will not create another assembly drawing for that object, even if it matches the criteria of the selection filter in later sets in the same wizard file.
Interpreting a wizard file
Wizard files consist of the following entries. Note the use of parentheses.
set_drawing_type(assembly)
This line defines the type of drawing the wizard creates. The drawing type appears in parentheses. The options are:
See Appendix D, File extensions (p. 415), for a full list of files Tekla Structures creates in this way.
Option Creates
single workshop drawings
assembly assembly drawings
set_drawing_attributes(column)
This line tells Tekla Structures which drawing properties to use when creating the drawings. The name of the saved drawing properties appears in parentheses.
set_filter(column_filter)
This line tells Tekla Structures which selection filter to use to select the parts from which to create drawings.The filter name appears in parentheses. See also Selection filter.
create_drawings()
Tekla Structures starts creating the drawings. This line should always appear immediately after the lines set_drawing_type, set_drawing_attributes and set_filter.
See also Using drawing wizards
AutoDrawings Wizard log (p. 113)
Unfolding parameters
The unfolding parameters define the location of the neutral axis when a profile is unfolded. The neutral axis is a line which runs along the length of a profile where stress and strain are equal to zero.
Tekla Structures uses these parameters to create NC files and to display unfolded profiles in single-part drawings. Set these parameters in the conversion file,
unfold_corner_ratios.inp, located in the system folder.
Here is an example of a simple conversion file:
1 HE300A S235JR 0 180 1 0 90 .7 1 HE300A S235JR 0 180 2 0 1000 .7 2 PL* S235JR 0 200 1 0 90 .6
The parameters must be in a certain order in the conversion file:
1. Type
•
1 is for polybeams•
2 is for plates modelled as polybeams (profile e.g. PLT) 2. Profile (you can use wildcards, too)3. Material (you can use wildcards, too) 4. Rotation/thickness min
•
for polybeams: the minimum angle when the profile is rotated around its longitudinal axis•
for plates: the minimum thickness of plate 5. Rotation/thickness max•
for polybeams: the maximum angle when the profile is rotated around its longitudinal axis•
for plates: the maximum thickness of platemulti_single_with_layout workshop multi-drawings with layout
multi_assembly assembly multi-drawings
multi_assembly_with_layout assembly multi-drawings with layout
cast_unit cast-unit drawings
Option Creates
6. Flag
•
1 is for sharp folds•
2 is for curved bends 7. Angle/radius min•
the minimum angle of sharp folds•
the minimum radius of curved bends 8. Angle/radius max•
the maximum angle of sharp folds•
the maximum radius of curved bends 9. Ratio•
defines how much the profile stretches or shrinks when unfolded. Ratio = (1 - the relative location of the neutral axis). If only the inner surface of the profile shrinks, the ratio is 1. If only the outer surface of the profile stretches, the ratio is 0. By default, the ratio is 0.5 for length calculation and 0.0 for bending radius calculation.Tekla Structures applies the unfolding ratio if the profile properties are within the range indicated by the minimum and maximum values.
Using flat bars
When you have completed the model, you can have Tekla Structures show plates as the equivalent flat bars for manufacturing. Tekla Structures displays the plates as flat bars in reports and drawings.
To show plates as flat bars:
1. Set the variable XS_USE_FLAT_DESIGNATION=TRUE.
2. Indicate the prefix you want to use for flat bars using the variable XS_FLAT_PREFIX. For example, set XS_FLAT_PREFIX=FLAT.
3. Define materials, thickness, and width of available flat bars in the fltprops.inp file.
See Defining flat bar sizes with fltprops.inp (p. 109).
4. By default, Tekla Structures only compares plate width with the available flat bar dimensions.
•
To include plate length, set the variable XS_CHECK_FLAT_LENGTH_ALSO=TRUE.•
To define the rotation angle, set the work plane by the first three points of the polybeam. Set the rotation angle in the Rotation field in the Beam properties dialog box.
To prevent Tekla Structures displaying the profile in metric units in the US Imperial version, add the flat bar prefix to the profitab.inp file as a parametric profile.
•
To define the tolerance between the actual and standard stiffener width, set the variable XS_STANDARD_STIFFENER_WIDTH_TOLERANCE.Defining flat bar sizes with fltprops.inp
Use the fltprops.inp file to define flat bar length, width, and material. The file is located in the ..\environments\your_environment\profil folder. You can open it using any standard text editor. You can also copy it to model, project, or firm folders. If Tekla Structures cannot find the fltprops.inp file, it searches for the file fltprops (without .inp extension). See also Folder search order (p. 94).
The first row in the file contains flat bar material definitions (enclosed in quotes " ") followed by plate thicknesses. If you do not define a material, you can use all materials for all flat bars.
The following rows define the widths of available flat bars.
Units are millimeters.
Using the fltprops.inp file above, Tekla Structures displays the following plates as flat bars:
Connections Some connections use the fltprops.inp file to convert plates to flat bars after creating the connection:
40, 41, 42, 47, 71, 78, 101, 102, 105, 106, 111, 123, 130, 132, 161, 162, 163, 164.
Settings The following variables affect flat bar lists:
•
XS_USE_FLAT_DESIGNATIONMarket size is used in custom components to select a suitable plate dimension (usually plate thickness) from the available market sizes. For example, a plate’s thickness should match the web of a beam.
5x40, 5x45, 6x50, 6x55 All materials
8x60, 8x65, 10x70, 10x75 S235
10x100, 10x110, 15x200, 15x220 S275J0
To use market sizes, you must define a custom component using a custom component editor.
1. In the Variables dialog box, add the function =fMarketSize(material, thickness, extrastep) for a parameter.
2. Define the available material sizes in the marketsize.dat file. See Defining market sizes with marketsize.dat (p. 110) for instructions.
Defining market sizes with marketsize.dat
Use the marketsize.dat file to define available thicknesses (or any other dimension) for each material grade. The file is located in the
..\environments\your_environment\profil folder. You can open it using any standard text editor.
A material grade element must begin each row followed by a comma-separated list of available plate thicknesses. These units are described in millimeters.
Example
If the following row is in the marketsizes.dat file:
S235JR,6,9,12,16,19,22
then the available market size plate thicknesses for S235JR plates are 6, 9, 12, 16 and 22 mm.
So the function =fMarketSize("S235JR",10,0) would return 12, and
=fMarketSize("S235JR",10,1) would return 16 (one size up).
You can also use the function without entering any size up:
=fMarketSize("SS400",7) which is the equivalent of =fMarketSize("SS400",7,0)