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Steel
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Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation i
Contents
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation iii
Introduction to Tekla Structures
Basic Training
This training course will demonstrate how to create a 3D model of a building, and
produce drawings and reports from the model with Tekla Structures. The training is
divided into lessons, each of which covers a certain task of the design process and
introduces the commands and functions required to complete that particular task.
Localization Notes
Each version (but not Service Releases) also includes a document that describes what
specifics have been made to the US environments. This document comes in PDF
format and is located, for example, in the TeklaStructures/17.0/environments/usimp
folder. This document contains valuable information about the US environment
changes for that version. For example, it lists which new files have been added to the
usimp environment, what they are for, and how to use them. In addition, it describes
changes to existing files, such as catalogs, that have been made. Plus, if a file has
been removed or renamed, this document explains what has taken place. It is
important that you read the Localization Notes before incorporating a new Tekla
Structures version into your organization.
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation 1
Help Files
Program Help
Included with each version of Tekla Structures is a Help file which can be accessed
by using the F1 key or by going to Help > Tekla Structures Help from inside the
program. Many topics can be found using the Index tab. Another effective way to
find the information you are seeking is to use the Search tab. If the search you
perform results in too many topics, try using “quotes” to narrow your search down.
For example, if you do a search for object representation, the number of found topics
is 51. But doing a search for “object representation”, the number of found topics is
28.
Did You Know? Many of the dialog boxes inside of Tekla Structures have been
mapped to the section of the help file that relates to them. For example, if the F1 key
is pushed while the Beam Properties dialog box is opened and the active window,
then the Tekla Structures Help file will open to that cooresponding section.
System Components included with Tekla Structures also contain a help file. This help
file can be accessed when a system component dialog is opened by using the F1 key
or by clicking the Help button located in the top right corner.
US Custom Components
Custom Components that are created by the Tekla Inc office and included with the
US environments also contain their own help file. This help file can be accessed
when a custom component dialog is opened by using the F1 key or by clicking the
Help button located in the top right corner.
Many help topics may be lacking in examples or may not be up to date with
regards to recent development. Please notify us when you encounter such an
occurance so we can notify our documentation team.
Steel: Introduction
2 Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation
Things you will learn
Basic Modeling 1
This lesson introduces the basic modeling functions of Tekla Structures.
You will learn how to:
start a new structural 3D model
create grids
create views
create concrete and steel parts
use CAD principles like absolute and relative reference points
use polar tracking
manipulate members within the model (copy, move, mirror)
System Components
This lesson introduces the basics of creating connections in Tekla Structures.
You will learn how to:
create connections
work with connection parameters
save the parameters for later use
clash check the model
Basic Modeling 2
In this lesson, we will recap the basic functions introduced in lesson 1, and you will learn
some more about the basic functions.
You will learn how to:
adjust member attributes
use coordinate locks
input construction points
work in true planes (sloped, skewed)
define select filters
work with phases
set up job specific information
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation 3
Interactive Detailing
This lesson introduces how to interactively create unique or customized connections between
parts.
You will learn how to:
explode system connections and modify connection objects (parts, welds, bolts, cuts)
add system components to previously exploded connections
create unique connection objects interactively
define and apply custom components
Principles of Drawings
This lesson introduces the basics of how to create and handle drawings in Tekla Structures.
You will learn:
the integration between the drawings and the model
the drawing types available in Tekla Structures
the basics of the drawing list
the various levels of editing drawings
Steel: Introduction
4 Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation
Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering
This lesson introduces multi-drawings and explains the principles of multi-numbering.
You will learn how to:
create multi-drawings
collect multiple assembly or single-part drawings to one multi-drawing sheet
apply multi-numbering to multi-drawings
update and modify multi-drawings
Drawing Management
This lesson covers more advanced aspects of handling drawings.
You will learn how to:
control revisions
edit drawings more effectively using classifiers and cloning
customize drawing borders by adding logos
make and use basic drawing templates
plot drawings
export drawings in other file formats
share your model electronically
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation 5
How to use this training material
Each lesson starts with a short introduction to its contents. All lessons are comprised mainly
of step-by-step instructions, which are complemented by background and additional
information. Pictures of the dialog boxes and of the model help you to visualize the
instructions and show the desired result.
The necessary background data is given either by the teacher (in the class room) or through
paths to the Tekla Structures online help topics. These paths help you find the related
information quickly and easily which will assist you in getting the most from this course.
Note that with the assistance of online help you will learn to use Tekla Structures as
efficiently as possible from the very beginning.
The aim of this training material is to teach you best practices, the most efficient way to use
Tekla Structures. However, the aim is also to introduce alternative methods to carry out tasks.
This means that repeated tasks are occasionally carried out with using different procedures
than those presented earlier in the lessons.
Stop signs are severe warnings. Ignoring the text accompanying these may
cause something to fail or cause a process to produce unexpected results.
Tips are shown with a light bulb icon. They provide additional information that
may help speed up your learning or help you produce better or quicker results.
Technical information is denoted by gear wheels. You can choose to ignore this
info until you are more confident with the system, or you can pay attention to it
if you are curious.
The aim of this training material is to teach you the best practices, and the most efficient way
to use Tekla Structures. However, the aim is also to introduce alternative methods to carry out
tasks. This means that repeated tasks are occasionally carried out with using different
procedures than those presented earlier in the lessons.
Steel: Introduction
6 Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation
Basic Modeling 1
In this lesson
In this lesson we will go through the basic functions of Tekla Structures: how to create a new
structural 3D model, grids, grid views and structural members in the model. When you have
completed this lesson the model will look as shown below.
Alternatively, you could double-click on the desktop icon Tekla Structures 17.0.
The login dialog box will open. This login allows you to select the environment you want to
work in – typically US Imperial or US Metric, depending on your installation. You will also
be able to select your role. The roles options in Tekla Structures are to tailor the program to
fit your needs and to help you find the settings you need easier and faster.
For this training, we will be working in the US Imperial environment and using the Steel
Detailing Role. Make sure these are selected, and click OK.
You can open or create models from the Learn Tekla Structures dialog box, or you can use the
File menu or toolbar buttons.
1. Select Create a new model from the Learn Tekla Structures dialog box or select
File > New… from the pull-down menu or CTRL+N or click the New model icon in the
Standard toolbar to open the New model dialog box.
2. At the lower center of the New Model dialog box, Tekla Structures suggests the name
New Model for the model. The full path of the model folder is shown in the top field.
3. Name the model BasicModel-yourname. (Adding your own name to the model name
helps to identify your model on a network, especially during the training class)
When using a model template, all projects are started in Single-user mode. The
model can later be opened in Multi-user mode if desired. The Multi-User
facility in Tekla allows multiple users in one model. This is particularly useful
when a number of detailers are working on one contract.
Every model must have a unique name. Tekla Structures does not allow
duplicate model names within the same location. Do not use special marks ( / \
; : | ) in model names.
You can only have one model open at a time. If you already have a model
open, Tekla Structures prompts you to save that model.
Lines show the projections of the grids that are visible on the view plane. Tekla Structures
indicates the work area of a view using a white, dashed line cube.
For more information, see:
Help: Modeling > Setting up the Workspace
To save the model: Select File > Save from the pull-down menu or CTRL+S or click the
Save icon in the Standard toolbar.
Remember to save your model often, and always save when opening a new
model or exiting Tekla Structures model.
Tekla Structures also includes an auto save feature that backs up and saves your work
automatically at set intervals. These intervals are set in the Autosave properties dialog box
obtained from the Tools > Options > Options… pull-down menu.
After you make any desired changes, remember to click the Save button.
For more information on saving and auto saving, see:
Help: System > Using Tekla Structures effectively > Autosave
Most commands for Tekla Structures are found both in menus (main or pop-up) and in
toolbars (icons). In this training manual, we will mainly use the pop-up menu to activate
commands.
For more information on Tekla Structures screen layout and toolbars, see:
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Interface overview
In this case you will have the option to Create a new grid, Modify an existing grid, or Get the
properties of an existing grid (by highlighting the grid and clicking the Get button). You can
also Close the dialog box.
Note the buttons along the top of the dialog box. These are typical for most property dialog
boxes in Tekla Structures.
You have the option to Save the settings as they stand, select different saved settings from the
pull down menu and Load them, or save changed settings with a new Save As name typed in
to the field to the right of the Save as button.
To create the appropriate grid for BasicModel1 as shown below, you can delete the existing
grid and create a new one from the Modeling >Create Grid… pull-down menu, or you can
modify the existing grid.
Plan
You can make grids and grid lines act magnetically so that the objects on the
grid lines follow if you move the grid line. To bind objects to grid lines, select
the magnetic grid plane checkbox.
The numeric units used in the Grid dialog box (as well as in other modeling
dialog boxes) can be controlled from the Units and decimals... dialog box
obtained from the Tools > Options > Options pull-down menu, Units and
decimals topic.
To hide the work area cube, select the view then hold down the CTRL+SHIFT
keys, right-click, and then select Redraw View
3. From the pull down menu at the top of the view properties dialog box, select Plan View
and click Load.
4. In the name field after the text PLAN AT EL., type the elevation of the view you wish to
create, in this case 0’-0. Note the setting for the angle of view is now Plane instead of 3d,
and the view is going to look Up and Down into virtual reality 3’-0” from the location of
the cut in the model, so you don’t see the steel in the floor above or below.
4. Click Apply so these settings, or attributes, will be used for the next view created.
Note that if the grid properties were incorrect in some way, for example a
missing label, the views you create using this method could be named wrong or
cut at the wrong elevations.
The Views dialog box appears presenting all the created views. All invisible (closed) named
views are listed on the left and all visible views on the right (see image).
Do not keep too many views open at the same time. Nine is the maximum
number of open views. You can open or close named views by clicking the
Open named view list icon. Delete unnecessary views from the view list.
To switch between views, press "Ctrl+Tab" on your keyboard.
1. To rotate the model, hold down the "Ctrl" key, then click and hold down the middle
mouse button while moving the mouse to rotate the model.
2. To reset the center of rotation, press the "V" key on your keyboard.
3. In the view click where you want the center of rotation to be.
Change between 3D / Plane
You may need to open your concrete toolbar by going to Tools > Toolbars >
Concrete. Additional toolbars when opened are saved in the open state and
will be visible in all future models.
1. Close all open views except the 3d view and Plan @ EL. 0", then click OK to close the
Views dialog box.
2. From the Window pull-down menu select Tile vertically to make the views fill the work
area. You can also double-click on the view border to make it fill the work area.
3. Double-click on the Create pad footing icon. This opens the Pad footing properties
dialog box.
4. The dialog box for Pad footing properties should appear as shown.
(Change any attributes that may appear differently).
5. On the Position tab, change the Top and Bottom levels as shown.
Top and bottom levels are the literal levels for the top and bottom of the
footings. Because of this, you do not necessarily have to place them at a
specific elevation, just the proper grid location.
Help: Modeling > Modeling settings > Part position settings > Position on the work
plane
Help: Modeling > Modeling settings > Part position settings > Position Depth
Help: Modeling > Creating and Modifying Structures > Creating and modifying parts >
Changing the profile of a part
You can undo (and redo) previous commands one by one since the last save by
clicking the icons or typing "Ctrl + Z" (Undo) and "Ctrl + Y" (Redo).
If you don't click the OK button, the dialog box will remain open. You can also
close a dialog box by clicking the Cancel button or X in the top right corner of
that dialog box. Clicking Apply will apply the settings but keep the dialog box
open. Only use Apply if you want to keep the box open. You don't have to
click Apply and OK every time.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Interface overview > Dialog boxes
3. Then find the Round Shapes profile category and then the 'D' parametric shape
5. Click OK.
6. Go to the Position tab and change the top and bottom levels of the footing as shown.
You can select the profile for a part from the Select profile dialog box that
opens next to the Profile field in the part properties dialog box.
You can also enter a profile name in the Profile field in the part properties
dialog box.
8. If you do not see the prompt "Pick Position" in the status bar, click once on the Create
pad footing icon. This starts the command with the last applied settings.
9. Press the "A" key on the keyboard. The Enter a numeric location dialog box will
automatically open with a $ in the field. Enter 14-9, 14-9 after the $ to define the position
for the footing.
The "R" key will open up the Enter a numeric location dialog box with an
“@” symbol in the field. This is known as a Relative Snap. (The coordinates
you enter will be relative to the last point you clicked.
The "A" key is known as an Absolute Snap. (Absolute Snaps are relative to
the origin of the model)
Help: System > Reserved Shortcuts
10. Click OK, or press the "Enter" key, and the silo footing is created.
11. Right-click and select Interrupt to end the command. You can also exit any command by
using the “Esc” key.
From left to right the select icons are as follows: all, connections, objects, surfaces, points,
grid, grid lines, welds, cuts, views, bolt groups, single bolts, reinforcing bar, loads, planes,
and distances.
The next 4 icons allow you to select connections and assemblies as a whole or as individual
entities.
Pull-down options are offered by Tekla Structures to allow you to select types of members
such as beams or columns. The last icon allows you to further narrow your selection by
specifying more detailed information about an object.
For more information on using the select filter see:
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Filtering objects > Filtering Objects using a selection
filter
The snap icons function similarly to other computer aided drawing applications. These snap
icons are hierarchal from left to right. The two end icons designate if you want to snap only to
work points (used mostly for modeling) or all points on corners and edges of objects.
When you have a part highlighted in the model, a mini toolbar will appear next
to the mouse pointer and will fade when you move the mouse further away or
change the selection. You can use the toolbar to quickly view or change
properties of the object(s) selected.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Linear… from the pop-up menu.
4. Complete the dialog box as shown and click Copy then OK.
For more information on copy go to
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Copying and moving objects
We will first create two of the columns and then use the Copy command to create the other
columns.
To create the first two columns:
1. Double-click on the Create column icon.
2. Complete the Column properties dialog box as shown.
(for both the Attributes and Position tabs)
3. Click OK.
4. Note that the bottom of the column is -10-1/2" below zero (0"). This takes into account
for the grout that will be added later (1-1/2") as we want the end point of the column to
be at the underside of the base plate when we apply the base plate macro.
Copy columns
1. Select the columns that you just created by dragging a window across them in a right to
left direction. The crossing command functions similar to other computer drawing
applications.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Linear… from the pop-up menu.
4. Complete the dialog box and click Copy then OK. Columns should copy.
You can select multiple parts in the model by holding down the "Ctrl" key
when selecting objects in the model individually.
At this time if you desired the base plates and anchor bolts could be added to the
model so that Anchor Bolt Plans could be created. See chapter 2.2 for adding
base plate components.
1.7 Silos
We will now model the silos.
Create silos
We are changing the prefix for both part and assembly so that the Silos will not
take the same number type of the rest of our columns (i.e. C1, C2). Instead, we
have used DND (Do Not Detail).
4. Click OK.
7. Hovering your cross hairs over the top edge of the circular base will automatically
highlight the snap point at the center because the Points and Grid Intersections snap is
activated.
The visibility of objects in views depends on the work area, view depth, view
setup, and view filter. You can also temporarily hide parts in a view by using
the Hide tool (on the pop-up menu).
In the pictures hereafter, all the model objects created may not always be
visible.
Help: Modeling > Examining the Model > Showing and hiding objects
We will first create the beams at the 12'-7”1/2 level and then copy them (using the select
filter) to the two upper levels.
1. Open the PLAN AT EL. 12-7”1/2 view.
2. Press the "Ctrl+4" hotkey to change the object representation to Rendered.
In rendered views, use the shortcuts Ctrl+1...5 and Shift+1...5 to set the desired
representation for parts in the model or components which we will create later.
5. Click OK.
6. Pick the intersection of gridlines A-4 and then B-4 as shown below, and notice how the
beam automatically appears at the correct level in the 3D view simultaneously
Note that it is very important to input beams from left to right and bottom to
top. Tekla Structures will consider the first end input in the model as the left
end.
Notice that as you drag the icon to the second point of the beam, a dimension
displays to indicate the part’s current length. The same dimension will appear
again if you click and highlight a part in the model.
Filter beams
1. Choose the select filter option Steel Beam filter from the drop down list.
A select filter provides you control over selecting different types of objects
using both standard and user-defined filters.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Filtering objects > Filtering objects
using a selection filter
2. By dragging the mouse (right to left), select an area in the model as shown below. Notice
this only highlights the beams.
2. Select a base point at the intersection of Grid A & 12'7"1/2. This is where you want to
'pick up' the items you are copying.
3. Select a destination point at the intersection of GRID A & 24'-0 as shown above.
4. Next select a destination point at the intersection of GRID A & 44'-0 as shown above.
The Objects outside the work area warning displays because we are working in
a view (ELEVATION ON GRID 7) that has a depth of only 3’-0 in each
direction, while the parts we are copying are far beyond that. In some instances,
we would want to use Expand, but in this situation it would alter our elevation
view.
7. Change the select filter option back to standard (as shown below) and click in a view, so
you will be able to select objects other than beams.
In the 3d view, this portion of the model should look like this.
You can also hide objects without holding down the "Shift" key. When you
select the Hide option without the "Shift" key down, the object will not
become completely hidden. They will change to Reference Lines.
Here we will put in grid line beams at the roof level, but using a different snapping tool that
automatically snap the length of the grid line between bays.
1. Select the Snap to Line button on your snaps toolbar
If you double-click on an existing beam in the model and click Apply in the
Beam Properties dialog box, those settings become active. Then only a single-
click on the Create Beam icon is required to add beams with those settings to
your model.
3. Pick a midpoint of the beam between A-2 and A-3 (p1) and then the midpoint of the
beam between B-2 and B-3 (p2) as shown below.
Create beam B
We will pick the start position of beam B by using the gridline intersection A-1 as a
temporary reference point and tracking along gridline 1 in the direction of intersection B-1 for
29’-6”.
We will then pick the second position of beam B using the temporary snap switch
Perpendicular.
Make sure the Snap to points and grid intersections icon is also pressed down.
3. While the cursor is resting at B-1 (p2), push “A” on the keyboard and a numeric locator
dialog box will open. Type 29-6” for the numeric location or in this case, the distance. (If
you just start typing after picking a reference point the Enter a numeric location dialog
box will open automatically.)
4. Click OK or "Enter" and the cursor snaps to the correct position (which is 29’-6” from A-
1 in the direction of B-1) as shown below.
Create beam C
8. Click once on the beam icon to get back in the beam command. Pick the intersection of
beam B and gridline 2 (p1) and then the intersection of gridlines B-2 (p2) as shown here.
Make sure the Snap to intersection points snap is set.
3. While the cursor is resting at B-1, type 13’-0 for the numeric location or in this case
distance. (The Enter a numeric location dialog box will open automatically.)
4. Click OK or "Enter", the cursor will snap to the
correct position 13'-0 away from (p1) as shown
on the following page.
5. Move the cursor to the intersection of A1 again.
6. Hold the CTRL Key again and click this point.
7. Track the cursor once again to the right, but do not click.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Rotate… from the pop-up menu.
5. The origin for X0, Y0 and Z0 values will appear in the dialog box.
Create braces
3. Click OK.
We will now adjust this bracing member so that the lower end of the brace is offset 6 inches
from the bottom of the column. To do this, we will use handles to move the part end.
Use handle to move brace end
Help: Modeling > Creating and Modifying Structures > Part position > Moving a part
using handles
1. Select the first brace to display the handles.
Holding down the Alt key while dragging a box across the handle allows for
easier selection of that handle or allows selection of multiple handles at that
location
3. Right-click and select Move Special > Linear… to move the handle 6 inches upwards.
Repeat the procedure to move the second brace’s top handle 12 inches downwards.
Remember that this handle may be yellow or magenta in color depending upon
whether it is the Start Point (yellow) or the End Point (magenta) of the item.
The points that you click to define the mirror represent the baseline of the
mirror or the 'line of symmetry' in plan. Try to imagine what the image would
look like when reflected in a mirror that is placed on the line drawn between the
two points you clicked in the model.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Copying and moving objects > Mirroring an object
5. Click OK on the Select Profile and the Beam Properties dialogs boxes.
6. Hold down the CTRL key and click the mouse at the intersection of grid line A5.
7. Activate the ‘Near’ snap, and slowly drag the cursor up column line 5. Notice that there
is an automatic snap in 1’-0 increments as you drag.
8. When the dimension reads 7’-0, Click to place the start point for the beam.
The increments that the automatic snap uses are dependent on your zoom level.
The further out, the larger the increment. The further in, the smaller the
increment.
1. First, we will use the Add Points on Line (Divided Line Points) tool to establish the
midpoint between two points we select. Double-click the icon shown in the left margin.
Points Tools allow us to quickly and easily establish points in the model
without having to measure and calculate distances.
3. Click OK
4. Click the points as shown using the Endpoint snap.
Notice that a tiny cross appears halfway between both
points.
Horizontal Bracing
Move Bracing
10. Now move these braces down to within the depth of the floor beams.
11. Highlight both braces by holding down the CTRL key while clicking the members.
12. Release the CTRL key and right-click the mouse.
14. Finally, check that the braces are in the correct position in the 3D view.
3. Adjust the dialog box as shown and click Modify. Notice that the beam has now moved
down 3" while the start and end points have remained in their original position.
It really makes very little difference whether you locate beams using offsets or
by simply moving them into position. Sometimes there may be speed
advantages to be gained by modeling one way rather than another.
Now we have modeled all the steel members in BasicModel1. The model should appear as in
the picture below.
At this point we have added all the members into the model. In a real contract,
we could now run the Advanced Bill by going to Drawings & Reports > Create
Report… > Advanced Bill, then clicking Create from All.
We will deal with Reports and Numbering in much more depth later in this
manual.
In this lesson
This lesson introduces the basics of creating system connections in Tekla Structures.
You will learn how to:
Create connections
Work with connection properties
Save the properties for later use
3. Select any clashing parts from the list, and Tekla Structures highlights them in the model.
Right-click on an item in the list, select Zoom to objects and the model view
will zoom to the selected parts.
First, we will create a base plate using the default values. We will then modify the properties
of the base plate and finally create the rest of the base plates with the new properties.
Both the Details view option and Descriptions option, will provide indication
on which components are Recommended by Tekla for the US Environment.
3. Type "base" into the upper field, and click on the Search button. In the Component
Catalog, double-click on the U.S. Base plate (1047) icon.
You could also type in the component number you would like to use or have
several numbers separated by spaces to show different available connections at
the same time.
In the component dialog box, parts colored yellow are parts that will be added
by the component, while blue indicates parts that Tekla Structures expects to
be already in the model.
4. Click Modify.
Notice that the base plate size has changed.
Note the layout for the fields for No. of rows and Spacing between rows, as
this carries throughout different Tekla Structures components for setting up
bolt groups. Number of rows for base plates is 2 in each direction by default,
so we can leave these fields blank.
It is a good idea to click modify at least after each tab is filled out or
after filling in each field if you are not sure how the component will
react. This way, if there is an error, you do not have to hunt back
through your changes to find the problem.
Give the component only the minimal information it needs to get the
results you want. Putting in the base plate size and edge distance is all
the information we need. Adding spacing information only increases
the chance for error later. If one value should change, we would need
to change them all. If we had entered the anchor rod spacing, we
should have left the edge distance fields clear.
Steel: System Components
2-6 Copyright © 2011 Tekla
Note that the picture indicating the anchor rod on the right has Create and Anc.
Rod Assy. fields. Remember that just because a part is set to be created does
not automatically make it a part of the anchor rod assembly.
The settings on the bolt tab affect anchor spacing and base plate hole size but do
not affect anchor rod diameter.
2. Create the rest of the base plates by picking each column and then the position for the
base plate.
At this point in a real contract, you would be able to run the Anchor Bolt
Drawing and send it out for approval or over to the site, so they can start
pouring the bases. For training purposes, however, we will skip this step until
later.
Steel: System Components
Copyright © 2011 Tekla 2-7
2.3 Beam to Beam Web
Shear Plates
We will use the Shear plate simple (146) connection to make the beam to beam web
connections. The shear plate will be welded to the primary beam web and bolted to the
secondary beam web. We will use the connection when the secondary beam is perpendicular
to the main member or at a skewed angle to the main member.
Create one shear plate connection
1. Open the component dialog (Ctrl+F or binocular icon), find the Shear plate simple (146)
connection, and double-click on its icon.
The following dialog appears:
Tekla will automatically change the color of the component cone from green to
yellow if an edge distance issue is detected. Edge distance rules are set up
under the Tools > Options > Components dialog box. (The default edge
distance is 1.2 times the bolt diameter)
The dimensions created are from the part picked (in our example, the shear
plate) to the bolt group. So to measure to the beam, pick the beam in step 3
above.
Now we will accept the created connection with the default properties.
For the double sided beam to column web connections, we will use the Two sided Clip angle
(143) connection. That connection uses only one bolt group to go through all three parts.
We will then make the wall brace to column connections with Tube gusset (20). This
connection uses a gusset plate to connect the beam to the column. Connection plates welded
to the end of the braces will be bolted to the gusset plate.
Clip angle
We will now use the Clip angle (141) connection to make all single beam to column web
connections using the default connection properties.
When there are multiple secondaries you need to click the middle mouse button
to complete the selection.
Help: Detailing > Getting started > Basics of components > Selection order
5. Double-click on the connection cone to open the Two Sided Clip Angle properties dialog
box. Then set the Safety Connections property on the Parts tab as shown below.
8. Apply the Two sided clip angle (143) to all two sided beam to column webs framing
conditions.
End plate
We could also have created a single gusset plate going through the column by
creating one connection with the 4 braces.
To see the column web in the connection front view, you can change the view
type in the view properties dialog to rendered.
3. Activate the Snap to Geometry Lines / Points select switch. This allows you to snap to
all edges of parts rather than just the work points on parts.
4. Select the Measure horizontal distance icon, and check the clearance to the corner of
the plate.
Modifying Connections
We will modify the connection by adding a clearance between the gusset plates and the
column. We will also change the number of bolt rows.
The Bracebolts1 tab affects the first picked brace, Bracebolts2 tab the second
pick and Bracebolts3 picks 3-9.
This pulls the brace plates outside the column flanges, but now we can see that the plate does
not have a square outside edge because of the difference in the angle of the upper and lower
braces.
3. On the Gusset tab, type the value in the field defining the gusset plate width.
4. Click Modify.
2. Click Modify.
While we will not see changes to the brace connection where it frames to the column, this
setting will affect the brace to beam connections.
Now we will also modify the other tube gusset connections with the new properties we
applied.
Modify all the tube gusset connections at once
We can easily modify only connections of the same type shown in the connection dialog by
selecting Ignore other types in the connection dialog box.
1. Check that Ignore other types is selected in the connection dialog box.
Help: Detailing>Getting Started>Using Components>Modifying components
2. Select all the connections in the model by using the Select component select switch
shown below and dragging a window around the whole model.
3. Click Modify.
We will now save the edited properties for later use.
By saving the properties with a descriptive name you can easily use them later.
You can also get AutoDefaults to automatically use the saved properties in
desired cases by setting up AutoDefaults rules.
3. Click OK and add the connection to the bracing where it meets grid B5 to see what it
looks like.
4. Click Modify.
Exploding connections has some benefits and some drawbacks. When you
explode a connection you remove the link from that connection to the system
component that defined it. This effectively freezes the objects in that
connection. They will not change when you modify the system component, so it
can prevent you from accidentally changing settings. This also means that if you
have a number of exploded system components, you would need to change each
and every one individually rather than editing the system component and having
it automatically modify all the similar connections in the model.
You will now notice that the bolts remaining don't go through all the members. To correct this
we must use the Bolt Parts Command.
4. Choose the beam first, then one angle, then the other as shown below
5. Make sure you select the angles and not the wrap plate.
6. Click the middle mouse button to end the command, and the bolts should now go all the
way through each member.
You can locate specific clashes in the model by selecting lines in the clash
check manager. Tekla will highlight the items in the model that are causing that
particular clash. Note that one member may cause and report several different
clashes with other members and these will all show up on the manager.
Different settings on the Select Filters toolbar will allow you to locate different types of
clashes. For instance you can restrict the clash check to only look for clashes between
members or main members and secondary parts or main members secondary parts and bolts
too.
In this lesson
In this lesson, we will cover some preliminary tasks that you need to do before starting to
model in a real project. We will create a new model and recap the basic functions introduced
in lesson 1. After that, you will learn some more about the basic functions.
We will revise how to:
Open and save or backup models
Input grids
Create beams and columns
Copy and move items
You will learn how to:
Adjust attributes of members
Input construction points
Work in true planes (sloped, skewed)
Use phases
Open Model
The red coordinate arrow symbol indicates the work plane, which is the current
local coordinate system of the model. Most of the commands dependent on the
coordinate system use the work plane coordinates.
5. Next, click to the perpendicular point on grid line 2 to create the construction line.
8. Next, type in 15 for the angle of rotation and this will remain around the Z axis.
9. Click Move.
3. Click Create.
4. Enter BASIC_MODEL_2 in the save as field, and click the Save as button to save the
grid values.
The values for the grid size are saved, but to recreate the grid in the proper
position you would still need to first set the skewed coordinate again.
Alternately, you could create a grid parallel to the default coordinates and
rotate it into position later.
To be able to manage the objects from the two models after we have combined them we will
first transfer the model 2 parts to a different phase.
Help: Modeling > Advanced Modeling > Phases
Pad footings
We will now create foundations on gridline 1.
Notice that because our coordinates are set at the skew of the new building, the
parts automatically come in rotated to that same skew. There is no need to set
the rotation a second time for the part.
If you had at any point reset the coordinates to the global default, the X/Y
coordinates would reflect the value required to move diagonally to that plane.
Steel columns
Create external columns
4. Click Apply.
5. Pick grid intersection C-1 to create the column.
6. Complete the Column properties for the column at grid F1. The columns on grid line F
should have a bottom elevation of 0’-
10”1/2 and a top elevation of 59’-8.
7. Click Apply.
8. Pick the grid intersection F-1 to create
the second column.
Floor beams
Create floor beams
Next, we will create the floor beams on column line 1. These beams will be adjusted down 2-
1/2” to allow for joist bearing.
1. Open BLDG 2 PLAN AT EL. 23’-6” view.
2. Double-click on the Create beam icon.
3. Load the BEAM properties.
4. Enter W24X76 for the beam profile.
5. Change the Position / At depth to: Behind with 2"1/2 offset and Apply.
You may need to expand the 3D view at this point if your rafters are not
visible. To do this double-click in open space in the 3D view, then change the
dialog as shown below.
We can now use the grid intersections C and 66’-3” and F and 59’-8” to create the work
points for the first and last roof joists. To make sure the points are in the correct position, we
will work in the BLDG 2 ELEVATION ON GRID 1 view.
1. Double-click on the Add point along extension of two picked points icon.
2. Type -2-0”, click OK. (We use a negative value to make the extension point work back
towards the first point clicked.)
3. Pick grid intersection C and 66’-3” and then F and 59’-8”.
4. Repeat, picking the points in the reverse order.
Create extension point adds or subtracts a point along a line that you specify
by clicking two points in the model. The points that are clicked by you in the
model define the direction vector; the value you enter defines the distance from
the second selected point. A positive or negative value defines the direction
along the defined vector. A positive value means the extension point to be
added will further away from the first point clicked, negative means back
towards the first point clicked.
Using the Add points on line command, divide the space between the two work points that
you just created into twelve equal spaces (11 points).
The Set work plane to part top plane command sets the work plane parallel
to the part plane (front, top, back, bottom) on the center line of the part.
Joist Orientation without adjusted work plane Joist orientation with adjusted work plane
Working in a true plan view makes it easier to model sloped objects since the
grids are also shown in the true plan.
The part positioning, copying, etc, however, always comply with the work
plane coordinate system no matter in which view you perform the commands.
You can also turn on the grid in the work plane in your 3D view by selecting
‘work plane’ on your Snapping toolbar. This grid displays as a dark red color.
Create joists
7. Check the elevation view on grid 1 to ensure that the roof joist is oriented and positioned
correctly.
8. Create the rest of the joists in the bay between gridlines 1 and 2 by using the Copy
special > Linear command. (12 copies along the slope).
9. Finally, highlight all the beams and joists on both levels and create the rest of the steel by
using the Copy special > Linear command (5 copies down the building).
Now we must switch the work plane back to the second building in a flat plane to carry on
modeling outside of the roof plane. There are a few ways we could do this but we will use
one of the existing view planes and match the work plane to it.
7. Open the Plan at 59'-8 level and place a brace along the column top positions at F-1 and
F-2.
Practice the use of Polar Tracking in order to fully maximize your modeling
speed. Remember relative and absolute snaps can also help you to locate items
or points in your model.
Copy girders
1. Use the Copy special > mirror command to copy the girders from gridline C to
gridline F.
2. Copy the girders that you created to the other columns on gridline C.
Now we must switch the work plane back to the global origin.
3. Select View > Set Work plane > Parallel to XY(Z) Plane…
4. Select Plane: XY and set the depth coordinate to 0 and click Change.
Notice that only items that were named BEAM are highlighted. The sloping beams were
named as RAFTER, and the eaves braces were named as HORIZONTAL HSS BRACE
Using the predefined attributes that were set up by Tekla ensures that not only
will the name field be consistent but the grades and numbering series fields will
also be correct.
1. Click on the Selection filter icon to open the Selection filter dialog box.
3. Enter the name A992 in the Save as field and click Save as.
4. You can now select the new filter on the drop-down list.
5. Then drag a box over your entire model to select only the A992 members.
By using the Select from model… option, select filters can be defined for various items
including:
Slabs
Horizontal bracing
Vertical bracing
Silos
Rafters
Joists.
Create your own select filters to use both for modeling and for automating
drawing creation with the help of wizards.
Note that by expanding the save menu using the button on the upper right you have the option
to save the same settings as View, Drawing, and Object Representation filters. For the
purpose of this manual, however, we will address each separately.
4. Make sure the view is highlighted that you want to change, and click Modify.
Notice how the bolts disappear from the component because we have turned them off in the
display properties for this view.
There are also drop-down boxes on the right under Representation. These drop-downs allow
you to set the definition for your objects. You can choose to show parts Exact, which looks
better visually, or for speed you can set them for Fast.
5. With your Display dialog still up, check on Bolts under In components again.
6. Select Fast from the drop down menu under Representation.
7. Click Modify.
Notice that our bolts are now shown as black reference lines, instead of displaying as actual
bolts.
You can set other objects to Fast as well, such as Parts. When parts are set to
Fast you will not see cuts and fittings that have been applied, for example
copes. They are still there, and your drawings will be correct. It is just a visual
setting.
You can set your bolts back to Exact before continuing, and close the Display properties
dialog box.
When we do this you can see that all parts that do not meet the criteria in the Steel Column
filter are removed from the view. This can greatly aid in creating drawings when used like
the selection filter.
4. Select standard from the drop down menu at the top of the dialog box, and the fields
should all clear back to default. You can now build your own.
5. Pick one of the part rows and change it to match below.
6. Click Modify.
Using the view filters, you can show parts of a certain phase, material grade, size, or even
filter for specific part or assembly position numbers if you need to find them.
For more information on Firm and Project Folders, please consult the Help Files
or the Tekla Extranet
3. Press OK.
Check preferences
Before starting the modeling, we will check that preferences are set up correctly.
Help: System > Using Tekla Structures effectively > General > Options
Check that your preferences are set up correctly before you start modeling. If
you change settings on the Preferences tab, Tekla Structures only applies the
new settings to connections you subsequently create. Connections you created
prior to changing the preferences are not affected.
The bolt edge distance factor does not actually affect connections created by
Tekla; it only sets the value for the bolt edge distance warning in the bottom
left.
3. Under Orientation marks, you can set north direction by degrees from global X as
shown on the next page
In this lesson
Tekla Structures system components cover a great variety of the components used in most
projects. However, you may come across situations where it's not possible to make the
necessary connections in your model using the system components.
In this chapter we will take advantage of the Tekla Structures tube gusset connection by using
it as a base for a customized connection. We will explode the system component, modify the
ungrouped objects and then add objects to the connection using a system component detail.
We will also create a whole new connection (i.e. all connection objects: parts, welds, bolts
and cuts) interactively from scratch without using any system components.
We will learn how to:
Adapt a System Component to our specific needs
Combine one System Component with another to create a complex connection
Create a Custom Component interactively
Apply the created component around the model
In the figure on the left, we see the connection before the stiffeners have been added. In the
figure on the right, we see how the connection will look after the stiffeners have been added.
Before exploding the connection you should take advantage of the connection to
get as close to the desired result as possible since editing connection macros is
faster and easier than editing objects outside the connection.
Explode connection
To explode the connection:
1. Select gusset plate’s connection symbol.
2. Right-click and select Explode Component.
All connection objects (even if they are set to "not visible" in the view properties) will
become visible. Now all of these objects have lost intelligence and association to the
connection dialog box.
After exploding the connection, the objects that were in the connection are no
longer connection objects.
They will be presented in the model as objects (main parts) both in wire frame
and in shaded wire frame.
The system component added the gusset plate using the 'Contour Plate'
command that we have not actually learned yet. The contour plate features
special editable corners that can be adjusted easily. This exercise highlights
how to edit a component that has been added by the system. This is the quickest
way to work when 3D modeling. Add the system component closest to your
needs, and then edit it as necessary.
1. Make sure the plate is highlighted. You will see 3 magenta boxes and one yellow.
2. Select Detailing > Modify Polygon Shape and follow the instructions on the command
line.
3. Pick the gusset plate corner (1), see the figure below.
4. Pick the intersection of the gusset plate edge and the construction line (2).
5. Snap to the perpendicular point on the gusset plate edge and pick point (3). (Make sure
you pick the plate edge and not the gridline).
6. Pick the gusset plate top left corner (4).
7. Pick the bottom corner-right on the yellow box (5) as the corner to be removed. The plate
is now reshaped.
The construction line is no longer needed, and you can delete it.
Add stiffeners
We will now add stiffeners to our connection using the Multiple Stiffeners
(1064) detail. When we open the detail’s dialog box we can see which
options are available to us for creating the stiffeners. In this case we are
interested in setting the stiffener spacing.
Create stiffeners using macro
1. Open the component catalog (Ctrl+F), and find the Multiple stiffeners
(1064) component. Double-click on the component icon.
We could now explode the stiffener detail, but since we have not edited the connection
objects except for the detail, we can also just leave it.
If you need to remove a part from a system component but cannot find an
option in any of the drop down fields to do so, you can just enter a zero
thickness for that parts ’t’ value. This will effectively remove the item from the
component and the connection in the model.
Next, modify the connections at the top of the vertical bracing using the knowledge learned so
that the connections look like this.
It is possible to create plates by using either the beam or the contour plate
command.
2. Select the left edge then the right edge of the plate. This will allow a gap for the column
plate across the flange toes.
We will use the Fitting command to trim the end of the beam at the end plate.
The Fitting tool will trim the end of the beam on a plane perpendicular to the view plane,
which is defined by picking two points on a line.
Help: Modeling > Detailing Structures > Fine-tuning part shape > Fittings
1. Go to your Component Top view.
2. Click on the Create fitting icon.
3. Select the beam as the part to be fitted.
4. Pick the points on the end plate corners to set the cut line for the fitting.
Tekla Structures displays the fitting in the model using a fitting symbol.
6. Move the cursor to the opposite flange of the column, and use the perpendicular snap to
define the next point of the plate.
7. Now move the mouse over the bottom right corner of the plate, and hold down the CTRL
key before clicking.
8. After you have clicked the right bottom corner of the end plate, release the CTRL key.
9. Then use the perpendicular snap to the edge of the flange to define the third point on the
plate.
10. Finally, use the perpendicular snap to the outside of the opposite flange to complete the
plate.
4. The vertical edge will look sloped until the bottom chamfer is modified too.
5. Repeat the process for each chamfer (-1/4" for other end 2 boxes).
3. Select the beam as the part to weld to (the primary part for workshop welds).
4. Select the end plate as the part to be welded (the secondary part for workshop welds).
It is very important to enter the welding order correctly. Tekla Structures uses
the welding order to determine the primary and secondary parts of the assembly.
This affects the position of the parts in the drawings.
Inquire assembly
You can check assemblies using the command Inquire Assembly.
1. Pick the beam (or any part of the assembly).
2. Right-click and select Inquire > Assembly.
The main part of the assembly will appear red and other parts will appear yellow.
To select the entire assembly: press the Alt key while clicking a part in the
assembly.
You can also use Polygon Welds to joint two parts. Polygon Welds require
you to define the exact position of the weld by picking the points you want the
weld to traverse. This type of weld is more advanced and time consuming to
detail than a basic weld.
For best results, try to keep the work points of your bolt group in between the
parts you are trying to bolt – for instance, between two plates the work points
should be on the shear plane. If you were bolting through a larger area such as
though an HSS member, the work points should be on centerline of the part.
2. Complete the details as shown above. If the Name field is already in use, the Next button
will not highlight.
3. Click Next.
6. Now select the Column as it will be the main part of the connection.
7. Click Next.
We can even make this custom component 'intelligent' so that it will detect
variances in column or beam sizes, sloped or skewed scenarios and can add the
facility to vary all of the parameters concerned (bolt size, plate size and
thickness, distance to the first hole, bolt gage, weld sizes etc). All parameters
are user definable. This is taught in the Advanced Training Course.
We can copy this connection around the model or apply this connection in the
same manner we would apply any system component, but until we add
parametric intelligence to the component it will only be correct for exactly
similar scenarios. In this case it will only be correct where a W24X55 beam
connects to the flange toes of a W16X50 column.
Adding intelligence to this custom component is covered on the extranet and
during our Advanced Training Class.
In this lesson
This lesson introduces the principles of numbering the model in Tekla Structures.
You will learn:
The options available for numbering your model
How marks are assigned in numbering
How to check part marks
To use report templates
Numbering settings
Numbering is carried out according to the settings in the Drawings & Reports > Numbering
> Numbering settings dialog box. In the Numbering setup dialog you can define how new
or modified parts are handled in numbering. For example, you decide whether a profile name
affects the part number and define the degree of tolerance in comparing the parts in
numbering.
Help: Modeling > Modeling Settings > Numbering settings > General numbering
settings
We will use Inquire object to see the current state of the numbering of parts, and then we will
number the model.
1. Select Tools > Inquire > Object… or click on the Inquire Object icon.
2. Select any steel column.
The Inquire object dialog box opens. The Part position and Assembly position marks are
shown as w0 and C0. This indicates that the part and assembly have not been numbered yet.
2. Next, select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects from the
pull-down menu.
Now all the parts, assemblies and cast units in our model have up-to-date position numbers.
The numbering is now up-to-date and we can create reports. We will next create an assembly
part list of the whole model.
Help: Templates and Reports > Reports > Creating a report
1. Click on the Reports icon (CTRL+B) to display the Report dialog box.
To keep the report files you have created, give them a specific name. If you try
to create a report with the existing name, Tekla Structures asks before it
overwrites the existing report.
Naming a report
1. In the Report dialog box, edit the report file name to read: Assembly_list_BOM_ABM.xsr
(Or you can type Assembly List - <today's date> and change it next time you run the report)
When you select a list entry that contains the ID numbers of the
parts or the assembly, Tekla Structures highlights them in the
model.
Initial Numbering
This setting would be chosen right at the start of the modeling process and would allow the
user to quickly check that members that are supposed to be similar are getting the same
number. It consistently allows numbers to change every time a numbering of the model is
performed in order to fill any gaps that may appear due to items being deleted from the
model.
You can see that Renumber All is checked. This causes Tekla Structures to ignore the current
number on an item and possibly give it a new number based loosely on the order it was added
to the model.
Also, during the modeling process, items that previously had a number assigned may have
been deleted, leaving a gap in the numbering. There may be a B1, a B2, a B3 then a B5 in
your model meaning the B4 was deleted at some point. Initial numbering will automatically
fill those gaps so that the first time you issue your drawings or reports there will be no gaps in
the numbering system.
A typical scenario for this setting would be when modeling and checking is complete and we
are ready to start creating drawings. (The exception to this would be the Anchor Plan which
typically doesn't show column marks anyway.)
Note that if this setting is used, the particular number that was assigned to one
particular member, which has since been deleted or changed to be similar to
another member, could now be assigned to a completely different member.
The system is allowed to re-use old numbers in order to minimize the gaps in the numbers.
This may be particularly important if you are using multi-sheets (Large sheets with a number
of items detailed on one sheet) where you would like to avoid having blank spaces on your
sheets.
If drawings are issued to the shop for fabrication during the approval process, this setting will
attempt to keep the numbers constant. This would stop a particular mark that was assigned to
something at the approval stage from changing to something completely different at the
fabrication stage.
The Keep number if possible setting allows unique members in the model to retain their
numbers after a change, unless that change makes them similar to another member, in which
case that unique member will assume the number of the already present, similar member.
For multiple members in the model, if they are all changed at once, they may retain their
number, but if one is changed and a numbering is performed, it may take a new number, then
when the others are changed, they may become similar to the first member that was changed
and will assume its (new) number.
Take New Number
A further option available in the New and Modified section allows Tekla Structures to take a
new number regardless.
This may be useful for revisions after fabrication and erection has commenced as it will not
interfere with any drawings or numbers that have been previously issued. This may make
handling revisions slightly easier.
If you fail to uncheck all the modify switches you will change every single
highlighted item to match the properties shown in the current dialog box. This
can be undone, but if it isn't caught in time it can have potentially catastrophic
consequences.
8. Click Modify.
9. Repeat the process for the Phase 2 items.
The numbering log should show that items have changed to assume 1000 series or 2000 series
numbers.
Be careful to allow a good safety margin of available marks when using this
type of phased numbering system. If you have more than 1000 different
members in phase 1 then the 1001st member must take the number 2000. This
will overlap with the first member in phase 2 and cause confusion.
6 Principles of Drawings...................................................................... 1
6.1 Integration between Drawings and the Model............................................. 1
Tekla Structures model ................................................................................ 2
Drawings ....................................................................................................... 2
Changes in the model members.................................................................. 2
6.2 Drawing Types .............................................................................................. 3
6.3 Drawing List .................................................................................................. 3
Opening and closing drawings..................................................................... 3
Drawing list contents .................................................................................... 5
Drawing status flags ..................................................................................... 6
6.4 Drawing Levels ............................................................................................. 7
Modify drawing properties ............................................................................ 8
Modify view properties ................................................................................. 8
Modify object properties ............................................................................... 9
Drawing Objects ......................................................................................... 10
In this lesson
This chapter introduces the principles of working with drawings in Tekla Structures. We will
first explain the integration between drawings and the model.
Then we will:
Introduce the drawing types available in Tekla Structures
Introduce the drawing list
Introduce the various levels of editing the drawings
Study the drawing objects and layout
Drawings
The drawings are current views of the members contained in the model with added definitions
for:
the sheet size to be used
the way titles and tables are placed on the sheets
what is dimensioned and how
which marks are displayed
how the item is oriented on the sheet
You can create drawings at any stage of a project.
Some of the drawing commands are located in the Model Editor, and some are in the Drawing
Editor. You will find all the commands for creating and managing drawings in the Model
Editor. To view and edit drawings, you will use the Drawing Editor.
Help: Drawing > Introduction to Drawings
Button Description
Open Opens the selected drawing in the Drawing Editor. You can only select one
drawing from the list at a time. If the Open button is grayed, you have more than
one drawing selected.
You can also double-click a drawing on the list to open it. See also Opening
drawings.
Update Updates frozen drawings, and recreates unfrozen drawings. Locked drawings are
not updated.
Close a drawing
This dialog DOES NOT appear if you have not made changes to the drawing.
2. Select Yes to keep the changes that you have made to the drawing, or close the drawing
without saving by clicking No. Check the box to Freeze the drawing upon saving.
Freezing
When the model changes, Tekla Structures will update the parts and drawing
objects in frozen drawings but will not overwrite any elements added manually,
such as extra marks or dimensions.
See Help: Drawing > Working with drawings > Freezing drawings.
See also
Help: Drawing > Finding and opening drawings > What is displayed in the drawing list.
You can sort the order of the drawings by clicking the desired header line button
in the drawing list.
You can adjust the column widths of the drawing list, and Tekla Structures will
keep the changes.
The table below explains the header line items of the drawing list.
Item Explanation
Flags
Flags are characters ( , , , , , etc.) at the beginning of
each row. They, along with the Changes column, indicate the drawing
status.
Mark The drawing mark is the number of the part from which the drawing was
created. You cannot change drawing marks.
Name You can add a drawing title using the Name field in the drawing
properties dialog box.
Title 1, Title 2, Add extra drawing title fields to the drawing properties dialog box.
Title 3
Parts modified The parts in the drawing have changed, e.g. parts have been
added or deleted, or part properties have changed.
Original parts deleted The part from which the drawing was originally created has
been deleted.
All parts deleted All the parts related to the drawing have been deleted.
The drawing has been issued. For example, you might re-
issue drawings that have been sent to site.
Issued drawing The issued drawing has been edited or otherwise changed.
changed
Lock ( ) and Issue ( ) flags can be manually added to the selected drawings. The
flag appears automatically on issued GA drawings that have been modified.
Issue a drawing
Tekla Structures saves the issue date, which can then be used in reports and drawings, in the
model database when the issue drawing function is used. To issue a drawing:
1. Select the drawing in the drawing list.
2. Click the Issue - On button, and the flag will appear.
3. Open the drawing to view the drawing title.
4. Check that the issue date is shown correctly in the drawing title.
Always work downwards in the drawing hierarchy. Get your drawing as close
as possible to what you want by first attempting this at the entire drawing level.
Then modify anything else that needs adjusted at the view level, and finally, if
any further cleanup is necessary (and this should be minimal), you can do this at
the individual object level. Once you have edited something at one level,
changing something else at the level above may negate the changes you have
just made.
If you find you are adjusting many items at the individual view level, please
contact Tekla Technical Support. They will generally be able to suggest a
method to minimize any extensive drawing editing.
1. Go to Drawings & Reports > Create Drawings to open the Master Drawing Catalog.
2. Select the column at Grid A3.
3. Select Assembly Drawings from the drop down list at the top of the Master Drawing
Catalog.
6. Open the Drawing List, and then open the column drawing to view it.
The drawing list can also be opened from the Drawings & Reports menu or
from a button in the toolbar of the Master Drawing Catalog.
7. Select any other item in the model, a beam for example, and run the drawing by
following the same process.
2. Make sure you have "Select Objects in Components" selected in your Selecting
toolbar.
3. Highlight the column base plate in the model.
4. In the Master Drawing Catalog, select
Plate_with_BOM (W), and then click Create
drawings. When you open the drawing list, notice
that the drawing type is now “W” instead of “A”
denoting that this is a single-part drawing.
2. Now drag a box over the entire model, and notice that only the beams will be highlighted.
For this part of the exercise, we will use Rule sets to create the remaining drawings in the
model that have not been created already.
1. In the Master Drawing Catalog, select Rule sets (wizards) from the drop-down menu.
Rule sets are also listed under their respective drawing types –
assembly rules under ‘Assembly drawings’ and single-part rules
under ‘Single-part drawings’. They are shown with a large red
letter designating the drawing type.
2. Select Assembly Drawings with BOM (A), and then right-click Create drawings for all
parts.
It may take a few moments to complete depending on how many drawings were created
already.
4. Highlight these items in the list, and click the 'Select Parts' button to show them in the
model. You can then analyze and recreate these drawings manually with the drawing
settings of your choice, or the Rule set can be modified so that these items are included in
the future.
5. You can also open a few drawings and inspect or check them.
You can view the next drawing on the list by clicking Next or using
the shortcut Ctrl + Page Down.
Using the procedure outlined above, you could create single-part drawings from any other
selected steel parts in the model (columns, braces, angles, etc.).
We will now edit one HSS BRACE drawing manually to include the same editing that we
defined for the vertical brace_V drawing properties (the bolt distance dimensions, the
rectangular part mark frame, and single-part views).
Include Single Part Views (Entire Drawing Level)
1. Open the first HSS BRACE drawing in the drawing list.
2. Double-click in open space on the drawing to open the Assembly Drawing Properties
dialog box.
5. Click Modify.
9. Click Modify.
Create Y-dimension
4. Click Modify.
Now all the part marks in the drawing have
rectangular frames.
Remember you can modify all the settings in a drawing at the drawing
properties or view properties level.
When you close a drawing that has been changed, Tekla Structures prompts you
to save the drawing.
Whenever you have manually edited the drawing you may want to select
Disable automatic updating (Freeze). This way you will systematically freeze
edited drawings and only them.
The geometry of the model always updates, but this switch is used to stop the
drawing intelligence and prevents the drawings from being updated. For
example, parts are updated, but dimensions, associative notes, text, marks,
views, additional drawing objects are not.
A snowflake icon appears in the drawing list to show that this drawing is frozen.
Now, this one brace drawing has roughly the same editing as all the other brace drawings. The
difference is that part of this brace drawing editing was done manually.
If we wanted the rest of the brace drawings to have the same editing, we could repeat the
manual editing to them one by one. However, changing the drawing properties is a better
solution because this method is more automatic and much quicker.
7.6 Alterations
We will now modify our model by changing the size of the plate in all gusset plate
connections. Changes in the model will result in some of the drawings no longer being up-to-
date. To be able to open the drawings, you will need to run numbering and update them.
We will study how updating affects the edited drawings.
Updating will:
Switch the flag on a frozen drawing to . This indicates that the drawing has been
updated (also manual editing, such as extra marks or dimensions).
Regenerate any drawings with the flag that are unfrozen, with the originally used
drawing properties. The updating deletes all the manual editing (added dimensions, texts
etc.).
Update the quantities on a drawing with the flag.
2. Double-click on the connection cone to open the connection properties for editing.
3. Check that Ignore other types is selected in the connection dialog box.
4. On the Picture tab page, edit the extra width of the knife plate as shown below.
5. Click Modify.
Now the model has changed and some of the drawings are no longer up to date. To be able to
open the drawings you need to run numbering and update them.
It is not possible to open earlier revisions of the drawings. Due to the integration
between drawings and the model a drawing that is not up-to-date cannot be
opened.
3. Select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects.
You can filter up-to-date drawings with Filter > Up to date button. To get non
up to date drawings listed press Display > Invert button after Filter > Up to
date.
If you had left the drawing frozen, the view would have updated but the
dimensions would not have. This is good for keeping track of minor changes
but then will require manual updating of all dimensions.
5. There will also be magenta clouds shown around all the changes that were made. These
are for your information only and will not print on the drawings. You can add clouds that
do print manually using the Draw cloud tool.
6. You can also remove all the magenta clouds by clicking on the remove symbols buttons.
Another way to avoid repetitive editing is to use cloning for similar items. This
allows user to copy the dimension and editing from one item onto a similar
item.
Further information on this is available in the help files or on the Tekla Extranet
In this lesson
Multi-Drawings are defined as drawings that contain a number of individual items collected
together onto one large sheet. Those items may all have something in common or may be
completely random.
Multi-Drawings emulate the more traditional output of the pencil and paper draftsman of long
ago when it was more practical to draw many items on one sheet. Nowadays, with computers
being as fast as they are and printers and copier paper being as inexpensive as they are it is
actually quicker and easier to produce details on individual sheets rather than take the extra
step and collect these details onto large and cumbersome multi sheets.
Detailing time can be saved considerably if multi-sheets are no longer required.
Multi-Numbering refers to the system of applying marks to items in such a way that the item
can be tracked to the multi-sheet it appears upon. Tekla offers countless multi-numbering
capabilities so there is sure to be one system that will suit your requirements
We will learn about the creation and use of multi-drawings and explain the principles of
multi-numbering. We will also handle the updating of multi-drawings and revision control.
We will learn how to:
Create multi drawings manually, controlling which items go on which sheet
Create multi drawings automatically by allowing the system to decide placement
Customize numbering setups to create simple or complex multi-numbering
Handle revision on multi-drawings
If you need to have the sheet number included as part of the assembly and/or part mark,
you can use multi-numbering. The only way to achieve this is to add the assembly and/or
single-part drawings to a multi-drawing.
Name: can be used to define the content of the drawing. The name field will be shown on the
drawing list. For multi-numbering the Name: field will correspond as the multi-drawing
number, and depending on the multi-number setup, it will be added to assembly and/or part
mark e.g. Name: 1 - Assembly mark 1B1. To get information on common drawing properties
see:
Help: Drawing > Drawing properties
In a case where your fabricator wants multi-numbers for assemblies and/or parts, those
drawings need to be linked to multi-drawings. Multi-numbers are assigned according to the
following Advance Options settings.
The following lines in the Tools > Options > Advance Options > Numbering affect numbering:
XS_MODEL_PREFIX_INFLUENCES_MULTI_NUMBERING_FOR=
XS_USE_MULTI_NUMBERING_FOR=
XS_USE_NUMERIC_MULTI_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_USE_MODEL_PREFIX_IN_MULTI_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_USE_ASSEMBLY_NUMBER_FOR=
XS_SWITCH_MULTI_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_VALID_CHARS_FOR_ASSEMBLY_MULTI_NUMBERS=
XS_VALID_CHARS_FOR_PART_MULTI_NUMBERS=
XS_MIN_NUMBER_OF_ASSEMBLY_MULTI_CHARACTERS=
XS_MIN_NUMBER_OF_PART_MULTI_CHARACTERS=
XS_ALLOW_DRAWING_TO_MANY_MULTI_DRAWINGS=
XS_SWITCH_POS_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_PART_MULTI_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING=
XS_ASSEMBLY_MULTI_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING=
E.g. parts:
a1, b1, c1, …
1a, 1b, 1c, …
1a1, 1a2, 1a3, 1p1, 1p2, …
1a1, 2a1, 3a1, 1p1, 2p1, …
1aa, 1ab, 1ac, 1pa, 1pb, …
aa1, ab1, ac1, pa1, pb1, pc1, …
If you work for many fabricators, you may need to define different
numbering setups for each in multiple INI files. See the help files for further
information.
Help: System > Files and Folders > Initialization files
You should be able to see that there is new drawing on the list M, [1], Title 1.
If you know you are going to be creating multi-drawings for any contract
right from the outset, you are advised to use one of the "USWizard" settings
to make the original drawings then linking these views with the layout onto
the multi sheets. This ensures that all similarly scaled items are maintained at
a similar scale on the multi-sheet.
3. Hold the cursor over the highlighted drawings, right-click and select Link Drawing
Views.
In the multi-drawing, you will see the 4 drawings being linked to the multi-drawing, one on
top of the other. If you are using multi-numbering, you can see the assembly marks changing
on the drawing list according to your numbering setup e.g.1B1, 1B2 etc. Otherwise, the
numbers will remain the same.
Once you close and save the drawing, the undo log is cleared, and the multi-
number is set for those parts. The only way to get rid of the multi-number
afterwards is to clear the numbering from selected parts (Drawings &
Reports > Numbering > Clear Numbers and choose one of the options).
The assembly view title e.g. 1 ~ BEAM ~Marked 1B1 can be changed in the
Tools > Options > Advanced Options > Drawing Properties:
XS_ASSEMBLY_DRAWING_VIEW_TITLE
Take a look at the Tekla Structures help file for more information.
You can see that drawing was marked on the list as having revision 1.
5. Open the drawing. You should see that the revision has also been added to you revision
block.
Several drawings can share the same revision mark, date, and
information. To attach the same revision information to several
drawings simultaneously, select multiple drawings from the
drawing list.
In this lesson
We will introduce the creation of general arrangement drawings in Tekla Structures.
We will first create an example drawing from the BasicModel2 model.
We will also introduce the various levels of editing the drawings and study the drawing
objects and layout
We will learn how to:
Make 3D Views, Plans, Elevations and Sections
Use Filters
Add drawing objects
In this model, you have 2 plan views at El. 0’-0”, one for the first
building and one for the second. We will be using the first
building’s view because it is ‘square’ to the overall building
footprint.
You don't need to have the view open in order to make the General
Arrangement Drawing, but it does let you check that the result will be close to
what you are expecting.
2. Select the view and right-click > Fit Work Area to Entire Model.
7. Now click on the View button, and change the scale to 1/96.
Your output may differ from what is shown above depending on how the view looked on the
model when you created the drawing. Remember you can alter the drawing output
automatically by adjusting the scale or other parameters to get exactly what you want to see.
2. In the Master Drawing Catalog, select Plan (G), and click Create drawings.
3. Highlight the Plan at El. 24'-0", and click on Drawing properties…
6. Click OK, then OK again at the General arrangement drawing properties Dialog Box.
7. Check the Open Drawing box, and click Create
1. Run numbering Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects to make
sure your part marks are up to date.
2. In the Master Drawing Catalog select standard (G) and click Create drawings.
3. Select the 3d, ELEVATION ON GRID 4 and ELEVATION ON GRID A views in the Create
General Arrangement Drawing dialog box. Then select the option All selected views to
one drawing.
You can select multiple views (or toggle the selection) in the dialog
box above by holding down the Ctrl key and picking each view
separately.
GA drawing views are automatically labeled with the current view
name.
With the One drawing per view option you can select all the plan
views in the dialog box and create separate drawings with
predefined drawing properties all at once.
3. Click the View... button to open the General arrangement drawing properties dialog
box.
4. On the Attributes tab, change the drawing scale to something suitable and click OK to
apply the scale and close the dialog box.
6. Click OK.
7. In the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box save the selected drawing
properties with a unique file name, e.g. Steel_Frame, by typing the file name and then
clicking the Save as button.
8. Click OK to apply the selected GA drawing settings and to close the General
arrangement drawing properties dialog box.
For more information on drawing properties, see Help: Drawing > Modifying automatic
drawing settings > Drawing properties.
2. Click Create.
On the General tab set the Visibility in view to none and Parts out of view plane to Not
visible.
8. Click Modify and OK.
The 3d View will now look
much cleaner.
4. Snap again to the center point of the connection and then to the intersection of GRID 3
and GRID 44'-0, select the dimension line location and click the middle mouse button.
5. Select both dimensions (by holding down the Ctrl key), right-click and select Combine
dimension lines on the pop-up menu. The separate dimension lines are now combined to
one dimension line. Select the dimension line and move it to the correct location by
dragging with the mouse.
Semi-automatic dimensions
A special dimensioning type is available in Tekla Structures for semi-automatic general
arrangement dimensioning. It contains several dimensioning options:
Which points and parts Tekla Structures dimensions
How the dimensions are combined
Whether the reference line or center line of the part is used as a dimension point
The primary steps are as follows:
1. Open a general arrangement drawing.
2. Click Dimensioning > GA Dimensioning Settings
3. Set the properties.
4. Click Apply.
5. Select the objects you want to dimension.
6. Create dimensions using the commands in the Create menu: Dimensioning > Add GA
Drawing Dimensions > Along Grid lines, Along part X-Axis, Along Part Y-Axis, or
Along Part X and Y Axis
The grid tab, allows you to turn on grid line and/or overall dimensions as well as how they are
placed, i.e. left, right, above, below, and etc.
The parts tab allows you to define the maximum leader line length, maximum number of
outside dimensions and the object groups to be dimensioned.
For a more in depth discussion, see Help: Drawing > Editing Drawings > Dimensions >
Semi-Automatic dimensioning of general arrangement drawings
3. Pick points for the cloud position around the diagonal bracing connection on gridline 3.
End the selection with the middle mouse button. The dashed anchors with the questions
marks indicate that the points that were select were not associated to a particular object.
These do not print on the drawing and to make them not visible you can press Shift + A.
4. Click the Add text with leader line icon in the Drawing Objects toolbar.
6. Select Drawing File > Close (Back to Model) and click Yes in the dialog box when
asked to save.
Change grid visibility of many GA drawings
If you had made more than one drawing you can simultaneously change the drawing
properties, e.g. grid visibility, of more than one GA drawing:
5. Click the Grid... button to open the General - grid properties dialog box.
In this lesson
In this chapter we will learn further drawing editing and customization tools. Tekla Structures
contains a vast array of facilities that allow the user to effectively handle changes to a contract
after the drawings have been issued. There are also a collection of tools that allow complete
customization of how the drawings look. These topics are covered in more depth during
advanced training, but we can introduce them here and learn some basic functionality.
We will introduce:
How to control and handle revisions to previously issued general arrangement
drawings
How to handle revisions to assembly drawings
The drawing classifier
Cloning, as an effective way to minimize repetitive editing
How to add a logo to a default template
How to make a template and add it to a drawing layout
How to plot drawings
2. Select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects.
3. Open the drawing list.
2. Enter the revision mark, revision date, and description text of the revision in the dialog
box as shown below, and click Create.
3. Once the revision is created, a revision number is automatically assigned to the drawing.
The revision number is shown in the dialog box.
4. Check that the revision number is shown in the drawing list.
5. Open the drawing to check that the drawing title and revision table display the revision
information correctly.
2. Select each one of the changed drawings and add a revision to the drawing.
Now the system will remake the drawings so that they will match what is now in the model.
Always add the revision before updating the drawing to make sure that you
catch every drawing that is altered. The modified flag will disappear after you
open and save the drawing.
Create your own drawing settings. Double click in the drawing background to
bring up the properties, type a name in the top right and click Save as.
Create and use Detailed Object Level settings by following a simple 4 step process.
Group the items you want to handle differently using a filter (joists)
Define the settings that you want to apply to those groups on the sheet
Create Object level settings
Refresh the drawing
Group the items
1. In the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box, click on the Filter button.
Adding the asterisk to the term acts like a wildcard allowing everything that has
a profile name that begins with JOIST to be grouped.
There is already a filter named ‘joist’ that works the same way for the out-of-
the-box plans, so you can always check for existing filters before making a new
one.
2. We want to change the appearance of the joists to be Symbol and give them a different
color and line type. In the General - Part Properties dialog box, make the changes as
shown in the Content and Appearance tabs. DO NOT click Modify, Apply, or OK.
4. Click Cancel to close each dialog box, except the General arrangement drawing
properties box.
Create the Object level settings
1. In the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box, click Edit Settings.
4. The second column is the Drawing object type. This will remain as Part.
5. The third column is Settings used. These are the settings we saved in the Part properties
dialog box.
6. Click OK in the Object level settings for general arrangement drawing dialog box.
7. Click Modify in the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box. The drawing
should now update, changing the joists to be light blue phantom lines.
10. Notice that the drawing list now shows the new cloned drawings.
11. And if you open one of these, the editing made already will be shown.
Help > Introduction to Templates > What are templates? > Graphical Templates
Open the template to be modified
We will open the template being used for General Arrangement drawings and add a logo to
the Style 1 area.
1. From the Model Editor, select Drawings & Reports > Template Editor... From the
Drawing Editor, select Tools > Template Editor…
2. In the Template Editor, select File > Open and select the TypeGM_TitleBlocks.tpl file.
3. Click OK.
There are several different styles available to use, and these can be set up in File > Project
Properties in the Model Editor. We will deal with Style 1 which is at the top of the list.
There are many more functions available to help users create and edit
drawing borders and drawings. The basic training course covers only how to
create and basically edit drawings. The advanced training course covers
topics such as creating drawing wizards, detailed object level settings and
how to create and edit drawing templates and layouts in detail.
Using a template for this type of process makes the stamp appear on every
drawing automatically, saving time by avoiding having to open every single
drawing and insert a block or add some text many times over.
1. Start by opening the template editor in the Model Editor by going to Drawings &
Reports > Template Editor.
2. Then go to File > New in order to create a new template.
4. The next step is to define a row where we will add our content information.
5. From the Insert menu, choose Component > Row.
You will be asked for the content type. The content type determines the type of values that
you will be able to bring in from the model. For instance, an Assembly content type allows
attributes that are pertinent to assemblies to be shown. A cast unit content type allows certain
concrete cast unit attributes to be shown.
This allows us to show the date the drawing was last plotted underneath the stamp.
7. Now from the Insert menu choose Text.
8. Type”APPROVED BY:” in the text field and then locate it in the middle of the
component row.
You can change the font, the font size or the color of the text at this stage if you
wish.
9. Insert another text field using exactly the same process titled 'DATE:'
10. You can also add a line by using the Insert > Line command or a box around the stamp
by using the Insert > Rectangle tool.
11. Select Options > Grid > Snap to move the lines after they are drawn.
Now we will insert a value field that will automatically update with the initials of the
approver whenever it is updated.
12. Select Insert > Value Field and click the point just above the left edge of the underline
shown below.
A list of available attributes that can be taken automatically from the model will now appear.
13. Scroll down and expand USERDEFINED, then [DR_Workflow] then choose
DR_APPROVED_BY from the list.
You can also change the text size and color for value fields.
15. Finally, save the template to the model folder.
3. Click the Table Layout… button. This opens the available drawings that can be used for
General Arrangement drawings.
We can actually use any type of drawing layout for any category of drawing.
By organizing these into sections, we can allow the system some flexibility in
how it creates the drawings. For example, we can permit the program to use
11x17 layouts or 24x36 layouts when creating assembly drawings. This helps
the program achieve better results automatically.
As you can see we can have Anchor Bolt Layouts specific for those types of drawings or we
can have a 24x36 sheet set up for all other GA drawing types.
4. To define what templates appear on the 24x36 drawing type, highlight it and then click
Tables.
Now we must tell the program where we want the template to be located. This is done by
referencing a point somewhere on the drawing and referencing a point on the template we
have made.
6. We define the reference points by first of all finding the bottom center of the drawing
frame. Then we find the bottom center of the stamp template making the template appear
centered on the bottom of the drawing. Clicking both corner boxes, as shown above, acts
to center the templates between the two corners. Had just one box in the corner been
selected then the template would appear at that corner of the drawing instead.
7. The 3" value in the 'y' box adjusts the template up 3" vertically on the drawing from its
bottom center anchor point.
8. Checking the Transparent box allows the drawing items to overwrite the template or
encroach upon the template without being hidden behind it.
For more information about Layouts see Help > Drawing >Modifying automatic drawing
settings> Drawing Layout
For more information about printing to print devices, see Help: Drawing > Working with
drawings > Printing drawings
Exporting Drawing as Other Formats
You can convert Tekla Structures drawings to many commonly used industry drawing
formats like DXF, DWG, PLT or even PDF. Before you can do this you must install the
printer or print driver in Windows then add the relevant printer to your Printers catalog in
Tekla Structures.
For more information on adding printers see: Help > Drawing > Working with drawings>
Printing Drawings> Setting up printer instances
Plot a drawing as a file
Plotting drawings as a file allows you to send drawings electronically for remote printing. To
plot the drawing to a file:
1. Open the drawing list in the Model Editor.
2. Select the drawing or drawings in the list.
3. Select File > Print > Print Drawings (Shift+P)
4. Select the type of output you would like and click the Browse button to specify the
location the plot files are to go on your computer or type .\PlotFiles to have the program
create a folder in your model folder labeled PlotFiles.
5. For Plotting to a file be sure to check the box for Print to file.
6. The Include revision mark to file name option allows users to differentiate between a
file printed before revisions and the same file re-printed after a revision was made. It
simply appends the revision mark to the name of the file it creates and saves on the
computer.
If you do not enter a file name for the destination plot file, or you have
chosen several drawings, Tekla Structures uses the drawing name(s) as file
name(s). If you do not enter a folder name, Tekla Structures creates the
file(s) in the current model folder.
You can also print a drawing to DWG using the Drawing Editor. Open the
selected drawing and follow the above steps, starting at step 3.
Tekla Structures does not distinguish between upper and lower case letters.
For example, a drawing named A.1 overwrites a drawing named a.1.
This is a incredible way to quickly and easily share information about your
model. In addition you can import files from all other trades involved in the
project and use this tool for conflict management. The supported file types are
*.ifc, *.ifcXML, *.ifcZIP, *.dwg, *.dgn, and *.xml.
3. Internet Explorer should now open on your computer. You may see a warning about an
ActiveX control that has to be allowed to run.
After a few moments the model will appear. The model can be rotated, zoomed, moved or
flown through in the same manner as if you would if you were running the full installation of
Tekla Structures.
Users can also mouse over items to highlight some extra information.
This is a terrific way to quickly and easily share information about your model.
Progress can be tracked visually. Requests for information can be handled
easily by highlighting affected items in the model in a different color prior to
exporting as a web page. All sorts of information can be shared among those
involved via this easy to use system.
It is possible to create custom reports that will change the tooltips displayed in
XML models.