Brace Dimensions

Tekla Structures

Not version-specific

Tekla Structures

Dimensions

brace dimensions

work points

Environment

United States (Imperial)

United States (Metric)

1. Purpose and description

The Brace Dimensions automates the work-point dimensions for the brace. If there are bolt holes this application will also locate them.

2. System requirements

Environments: Default, US Imperial, US Metric
Languages: English

3. Installation

To install the application:

Make sure Tekla Structures is closed.
Install the 32 or 64 bit (x64) installation. Download from the Tekla Warehouse.
Open Tekla Structures
Before version 2016: A new toolbar icon which will launch the tool should now be visible when a drawing is opened.

For 2016 version and newer: a new thumbnail under Ungrouped items in the Applications and components side pane will appear.

4. Interface

Brace Dimensions uses the tool bar shown below to input the dimensions on an opened drawing. Select one or more braces at a time and then choose the desired dimensions to be inserted. If there is not a brace selected then the tool will promp you to select a brace. In this tool we use interactive tool tips. If you hover over icons numbered 1-4 and the ∞ symbol it will show an example snapshot of the dimensions that that icon will insert into the model.

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4.1 Numbered Dimensions

Below is a detailed explanation of what each dimension is supposed to do.

Dimensions the length of the brace and locates the ends of the brace and the work-points. If the brace has a bevel cut then this dimension will locate it to the center of the brace as shown below.

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Dimensions work-point to work-point. This places the dimension from the yellow handle to magenta handle as placed in the model.
Creates a bevel dimension that is placed along the reference line of the brace
Locates the bolt holes in relation to the work-point as well as from the centerline of the brace. By default the tool dimenions the bolt holes from the centerline of the brace. For holes in the angle and in the webs of WT's the tool uses the "Angle Filter" and "Tee Filter" defined in the Options so that they can be dimensioned from the backside of the angle and WT.

∞ Automatically places dimensions 1-4

4.2 Icons

Below is a description of the icons not numbered

The ‘Options’ button is available to customize the Filter Settings and Dimension Settings. See Section 5 The Options Menu below for a detailed explanation of each of these settings.

The ‘Delete all dimensions created by this tool’ removes the dimensions created by this tool.

The ‘Help and Documentation’ has 4 actions defined as follows:

Top Most – With this option checked it activated the “stay- on-top” feature.
About – This allows the user to quickly view which version of the tool that is being used.
Documentation – This launches the help file for the tool. The help file can also be launched by hitting F1 while the tool is open and active.
Log File – This tool stores a log file detailed what is working and what isn’t working. This can be used to help diagnose issues that may arise.

5. The Options Menu

The options menu is accessed by clicking the gear symbol icon and is divided into 2 parts:

Filter Settings
Dimension Settings

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5.1 Filter Settings

Angle Filter – The ‘Angle Filter’ identifies angles so that they can be dimensioned from the back of the angle instead of from the centerline of the brace. A default "Steel_Angle" selection filter is included in the install of this tool. If you find that the angles are not being dimensioned from the back of the angle then check to ensure that this filter is correctly indentifying your angles. Adjust filter if needed or load any other selection filter that has already been defined.

Tee Filter – The ‘Tee Filter’ identifies WT shapes so that they can be dimensioned from the back of the WT instead of from the centerline of the brace. If the WT brace has bolt holes in the flange then this tool will dimension them from the centerline. If the bolts are going into the web of the WT then this tool will locate them from the back of the WT. A default "Steel_Tee" selection filter is included in the install of this tool. If you find that the WT's are not being dimensioned from the back of the WT when the bolts are in the web then check to ensure that this filter is correctly indentifying your WT profiles. Adjust filter if needed or load any other selection filter that has already been defined.

5.2 Dimension Settings

Style 1 – This uses the saved dimension attribute settings for the dimension string place by Button 1.
Style 2 – This uses the saved dimension attribute settings for the dimension string place by Button 2.
Style 3 – This uses the saved dimension attribute settings for the dimension string place by Button 3.
Style 4 – This uses the saved dimension attribute settings for the dimension string place by Button 4.
Fixed – This tool uses predefined logic as to where to place the dimensions in relation to the brace. By unchecking this option the user chooses to use Tekla’s out-of-the-box dimension placing logic to place the dimensions. When place all the dimensions at one time it is recommended to leave this box checked. When place the dimensions one-by-one if this box is checked dimensions 1 and 2 will be inserted on top of each other since they don't know that the other dimension exists. In that scenario, unchecking this box will give better results.

5.3 BraceDimSettings.bdl

When the user makes any changes to any of the options a BraceDimSettings.bdl file will be created and stored in the attributes folder of the model folder. This file will then cause the tool to load in the customized settings each time the tool is launched.