This section describes the custom component dialog box and explains how to use and manage custom components.
Topics Custom component dialog box (p. 100) Customizing the dialog box (p. 102) Using a custom component (p. 106) Managing custom components (p. 106)
Performing actions on custom components (p. 108) Using Excel with custom components (p. 109) Using ASCII files with custom component (p. 109)
Custom component dialog box
Tekla Structures automatically creates a dialog box when you define a custom component. By default the dialog box has a General tab for connections, details, and seams and a Position tab for parts.
If the mesh is defined in the custom component, other mesh properties, for example, longitudinal diameters, override the properties defined in the mesh catalog, so do not use Catalog name and other mesh properties at the same time.
Tekla Structures automatically creates tabs containing the parameters and distances you set to visible in the custom component editor. Tabs are named Parameter 1, Parameter 2, etc. Each tab can contain up to 25 fields. If you have more than 25 visible fields, Tekla Structures creates another tab.
A typical custom component dialog box looks like this:
For seams you can select whether to place a seam at the point you pick, or let Tekla Structures automatically place the seam.
This information relates only to details
Tekla Structures creates an input file with the extension .inp for each dialog box in the model folder. You can modify the input file. See Customizing the dialog box (p. 102).
Customizing the dialog box
To customize the dialog box that Tekla Structures creates for the custom component you need to modify the input file which defines the dialog box. The input file has the same name as the custom component and file extension inp. It is located in the model folder.
The input file is a text file that you can edit using any text editor, for example Notepad.
You can customize the dialog box by:
•
Changing the order of fields (p. 103)•
Changing the location of fields (p. 103)•
Renaming tabs (p. 104)•
Adding more tabs (p. 104)•
Adding pictures (p. 105)•
Preventing modifications (p. 105)To place the seam at the point you pick, select the Place to picked positions checkbox
To automatically place the seam, clear the Place to picked positions checkbox, and select one of the positioning options
If you modify the input file, then edit and save the custom component dialog box using the custom component editor, you will lose the changes you made to the input file.
This topic is for advanced users. Take care when modifying an input file.
Errors may cause the dialog box to disappear.
Changing the order of fields
To change the order of fields, in the input file, change the last number in the parameter definition, as shown below:
Changing the location of fields
To change the location of fields, in the input file, change the last number in the parameter definition. Enter three numbers to define the exact location of the field in the dialog box: the x coordinate, y coordinate, and length of field. The example below shows these values for the second field in the dialog box:
To use the modified custom component dialog box, save the input file, then close and restart Tekla Structures.
Change these numbers to change the order of fields (listed from to bottom of dialog box)
x = 374
Renaming tabs
To rename a tab, change the tab definition in the input file. You can rename any tab except the General tab. In the example below, you would change the text Parameters 1 to the new tab name (for example, Parts):
Adding more tabs
Each tab can contain 25 fields. If there are more than 25 visible fields, Tekla Structures creates another tab. You can also add tabs by modifying the input file.
To add a second tab, edit the input file as shown below. Remember to adjust the location of the fields, if necessary.
y = 25 length = 160
Remember to adjust the field location
Adding pictures
Add images to make your custom component easier to use. First create the image and save it as a bitmap file (file extension bmp) in the ..\Tekla
Structures\<version>\nt\bitmaps folder. To add the image to the custom component dialog box, edit the input file as shown below:
Preventing modifications
Once the dialog box is ready, you can make the input file read-only to prevent accidental modifications. If the input file is not read-only, and someone else updates the custom
component in the custom component editor, all your modifications to the input file will be lost.
To make the input file read-only:
1. In Windows Explorer, browse to find the input file.
The fourth tab is reserved for the General properties, so you cannot add your own parameter to it.
y = 100 x = 50 height = 75 width = 100
The first pixel in the top left corner of a bitmap must be the same color (gray) as the background of the dialog box.
3. Select the Read-only checkbox.
When an input file is read-only, and you try to update the custom component, Tekla Structures displays a warning message saying that the *.inp file is read-only and changes to it will not be saved. You have the following options:
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Click Cancel to return to the custom component editor.•
Click Continue to skip updating the *.inp file, but make all the other updates.Using a custom component
To use a custom component in a model:
1. Use the keystrokes Ctrl + F to open the Component catalog dialog box.
2. In the Search results list box, select Custom. Tekla Structures lists all custom components in the bottom pane.
3. Double-click a custom component in the list to open it’s properties dialog box.
4. Enter the properties you want to use and click Apply.
5. Tekla Structures prompts you to pick the parts or points and parts needed to create the component.
Managing custom components
Use the Component catalog to manage custom components. To open the Component catalog, use:
•
keystrokes Ctrl + F or•
the Find a component icon on a components toolbarExporting and importing
You can export custom components to a file, and then import the file into another model.
Exporting To export custom components to a file:
1. Select the custom components in the component catalog.
2. Right-click and select Export.... The Export components dialog box opens.
3. Enter a name for the file in the Selection field. By default, the file extension is .uel and the file is located in the current model folder.
Importing To import custom components from a file:
1. Right-click the list of custom components in the component catalog and select Import.... The Import components dialog box opens.
2. Browse to find the exported file (*.uel), click the file name and then click OK.
To automatically import all *.uel files from a folder when creating a new model, use the advanced option XS_UEL_IMPORT_FOLDER.
After importing custom components, you can check from the Log file how many To find all custom components, select Custom in the Search result list box
All custom components have the Number -1
To view the properties of a custom component, double-click its name
If the custom component contains sketched cross sections, you need to export and import both the sketches and the component.
See also Performing actions on custom components (p. 108)
Protecting custom components with passwords
You can protect custom components with passwords. Password protection allows you to share components while protecting your work.
To specify a password for a custom component:
Usage 1. Select the custom component you wish to protect and right-click.
2. To open the Custom component editor, select Edit Custom Component on the pop-up menu.
3. In the Custom component editor, click the Display variables icon to display the Variables dialog box.
4. In the Variables dialog box, add a new parameter by clicking the Add button.
5. In the Name column, enter Password.
6. In the Formula column, enter the desired password.
Result
After you have added this parameter, every time you try to edit this custom component Tekla Structures asks for the password. Tekla Structures informs you about an incorrect password. If you enter an incorrect password, you cannot use the custom component editor to modify the component.
Example
Performing actions on custom components
Information regarding custom components is stored in the ComponentCatalog.txt file, located in the model folder. If the properties of the file are set to read-only, the following actions are not possible:
•
adding to favorites•
adding to search results•
changing picture•
deleting the custom component•
editing keywords•
importing the custom component•
removing from search resultsIn these cases Tekla Structures displays a warning dialog box and the action is cancelled.
To change the properties of the file:
1. In Windows Explorer, browse to find the file.
2. Right-click the file and select Properties.... 3. Clear the Read-only checkbox.
Using Excel with custom components
You can link Excel spreadsheets to custom components, for example, to check connections.
For custom components, you need to add the property Use external design to the custom component dialog box.
1. Select the component, then right-click and select Edit custom component.
2. In the custom component editor, click to open the Variables dialog box.
3. Click Add and enter the following information:
4. Save the component and close the custom component editor. The custom component dialog box now contains the Use external design property.
Spreadsheet
location The template spreadsheets are located in folder ..\Tekla
Structures\<version>\environments\common\exceldesign.
By default, Tekla Structures searches for the spreadsheet in the following order:
•
From the model folder: ..\<model>\exceldesign\.•
From folder defined with advanced option XS_EXTERNAL_EXCEL_DESIGN_PATH Spreadsheetname The name of the file must be component_*component name*.xls. For example component_custom1.xls for a custom component named custom1.
For more information on the required Excel files, file locations and how to perform the connection check with Excel, see Using Excel in connection design (p. 57).
Using ASCII files with custom component
You can use ASCII format files to get the default values from cold rolled files for custom components, for example.
The format for reading files is following:
•
fVF(filename, key value of row, column number)•
Key value for row is a unique text value (for example, HEA300).•
Column value is an index (integer) starting from 1.•
Function returns value as text.•
User will define the correct type for parameter in editor.Example For example, in the custom component editor, add function fVF("Overlap.dat", "MET-202Z25", 4) in the Variables dialog box.
The function gets the default value for bolt diameter 16.0 for profile MET-202Z25, from the Overlap.dat file.
File search order Tekla Structures searches for the files as system files in the following order:
•
model•
..\TeklaStructuresModels\<model>\CustomComponentDialogFiles\•
project (set with advanced option XS_PROJECT)•
firm (set with advanced option XS_FIRM)•
system (set with advanced option XS_SYSTEM)Tips on working with custom components
These tips will help you to efficiently create, save, and share parametric and non-parametric custom components:
General Use library profiles when possible. So you do not have to copy user-defined profiles when you copy the component to other locations.
Use short, logical names. Use the description field to describe the component and explain what it does.
Store custom components together. It makes them easy to find and export. Consider creating a component model. Use this model to create and test custom components.
Provide essential information. If you distribute your component to other users, remember to list the profiles it works with.
Remember to copy user-defined profile cross sections with your custom component.
Creating non-parametric components
Use the simplest part you can. For example, if all you need is a rectangular shape, use a rectangular plate, not a contour plate. Rectangular plates only have 2 handles, so you only need to create a few bindings or magnetic planes to manipulate them. Contour plates require more because they have 4 chamfers and handles, when you set the advanced option
XS_DRAW_CHAMFERS_HANDLES to CHAMFERS or HANDLES. Key value of row
Column number
Only model parts as accurately as you need. If the only part information required is a part mark on the GA drawing and a quantity on the materials list, create a simple bar or plate. If, later, you need to include it in a detailed view, simply re-model the part more accurately.
Creating intelligent (parametric) components
Plan to use magnetic planes to bind objects together. This makes intelligent components simpler, and easier to use, because it reduces the number of dimensions and parameters the user must enter. Model as many parts on the same plane as you can, and then use offsets to position them accurately.
Model embeds as custom parts and include them in components.
Create simple components for specific situations. It is faster and easier to model simple components. They are also much easier to use. Avoid creating a ’super’ component to use in every possible situation.