Modify drawing table layouts through Layout dialog box

Tekla Structures
2018i
Tekla Structures

Modify drawing table layouts through Layout dialog box

In addition to adding tables or templates created in Template Editor in drawing table layouts, you can add key plans and DWG/DXF files, replace tables with new ones, and a change table locations.

Add key plans in a drawing table layout

A key plan or a key plan view is a small map in a drawing that indicates the location of an assembly, a cast unit, or a part in the model. The key plan contains the model grid and the assembly, cast unit, or part shown in the included drawing view.

Tekla Structures automatically includes the correct object in the key plan. You can use drawings that contain only one view of the correct scale as a key plan. Tekla Structures only uses the view from the original drawing. The view position, drawing size, and templates of the original drawing are not relevant to the key plan.

Below is an example of a key plan.



Before you can add a key plan in the drawing, you need to create a key plan drawing, adjust the drawing view scale, and ensure that all parts are visible.

  1. In the model, create a new XY view on the 0.0 plane, or on the level of the grid.
  2. Select the view, right-click and select Fit Work Area Fit work area.
  3. Double-click the model view and set the Up and Down depth of the view to include the desired part of the model in the View Properties dialog box, and click Modify.
  4. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > GA drawing.
  5. Define desired properties for the general arrangement drawing, and set the size to perhaps 100*75 in the General - Layout Properties dialog box.
  6. Give a name to the key plan GA drawing, for example, KEY_PLAN_1 , and click OK.
  7. Create a GA drawing of the view.
  8. Double-click the view boundary to open the View Properties dialog box, and set the desired view scale in the Scale box to 1:200, for example.

    Tekla Structures uses the scale of the key plan view in every drawing that uses the key plan view. You cannot change the key plan view scale in the drawing layout properties.

  9. Ensure that all parts are visible by doing one of the following:
    • Modify the X min , X max , Y min , and Y max values in the View Properties dialog box.

    • Select the view and drag the view boundary from the handles on the X and Y axes of the view.

  10. Modify other view properties in the View Properties dialog box, click Modify , and then save the drawing.

    All the changes you make in the properties affect the key plan. For example, if you set part and bolt marks to be visible, they will also be visible in the key plan, so you may want to hide them.

  11. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > Drawing layout .
  12. Select the drawing layout you want to modify and click Table layout....
  13. Select the table layout you want to modify and click Tables....
  14. From the Available tables list, double-click Keyplan.
  15. From Document manager , select the drawing that you want to use as a key plan drawing and click OK.
  16. From the Chosen tables list, select Keyplan and set the key plan properties.
  17. Click Update and OK.

Add a DWG/DXF file in a drawing table layout

You can add DWG and DXF files in table layouts. For example, you might have some details in a DWG or DXF file that you want to show in certain types of drawings and therefore add the file in the layout. You can also use a DWG/DXF file as a print boundary in your drawing.

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > Drawing layout .
  2. Select the layout you want to modify and click Table layout....
  3. Select the table layout you want to modify and click Tables....
  4. From the Available tables list, double-click DWG/DXF.
  5. Select the DWG/DXF file that you want to add.
  6. Click OK.
  7. From the Chosen tables list, click the selected DWG/DXF file and set the properties as required.

    For example, set the required scale and define the location for the DWG/DXF file in the drawing. Test the layout before using it to ensure, that the settings are as you wish.

  8. Click Update.
  9. Click OK.

Now you can create a drawing using the layout containing the DWG/DXF file. Check the drawing properties before creating a drawing to ensure that you are using the correct layout.

Set the location of tables in a drawing table layout

You can define the location of each individual table in a table layout by binding it to a reference object such as the drawing frame, or to another table. You can also define the horizontal and vertical distances of the table from the reference object.

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > Drawing layout .

  2. In the Layout dialog box, select a drawing layout and click Table layout....
  3. Select a table layout and click Tables....

  4. Select a table from the Chosen tables list.

    The name of the table is displayed in the Table box.

  5. In the Table area, select one of the table corners as its reference point by selecting the check box in that corner.

  6. In the Reference area, select the reference object from the list.

    The reference object can be another table included in the table layout, or the drawing frame.

  7. Select the reference point of the reference object by selecting the check box in the appropriate corner.

    You can also position a table to the midpoint of the drawing frame or table boundary by selecting two reference points, for example, the lower-left and lower-right corners. If you do not use the right combination of reference points for tables and binding objects, Tekla Structures may position drawing tables outside the drawing.

  8. In the Vector between corners boxes, define the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distance of the table from the reference object if you need some space between them.

    By default, Tekla Structures places tables side by side.

    There is a fixed distance value 5 mm used as a drawing frame margin. Thus, if you want to use a drawing frame margin with a drawing title that sticks to the frame corner, you need to change the Vector between corners values.

  9. In Scale , set the size of the table relative to its original size.

    Each table can have its own scale.

  10. If you want the table to be transparent, select the Transparent check box.

    A transparent table can overlap with another table, view or drawing object.

  11. Click Update.

  12. Repeat steps 2–11 for all the tables on the Chosen tables list.

  13. Click OK or Apply to save the table layout.

Examples

In the images below, the lower-right corner of the drawing title block ( Table ) is bound to the lower right corner of the drawing frame ( Reference ), and the Vector between corners is set to 0.0

In the example below, the value for x is -5.00 and the value for y is 5.00 . The lower-right corner of the title block is still bound to the lower right corner of the drawing frame.

Replace a table with another one in a drawing table layout

Be careful when you delete tables from table layouts because other tables may use the table as a reference object. Also, when you replace tables with new ones, the new ones do not automatically inherit the location and the properties of the deleted tables.

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > Drawing layout .
  2. In the Layout dialog box, select a drawing layout and click Table layout....
  3. Select a table layout and click Tables....
  4. Check if the table you are going to delete is used as a reference the table for another table in the layout. If it does, and you delete the table, you cannot see any tables at all in the layout.
  5. In the Available tables list, select the new table, and in the Chosen tables list, select the table you want to replace, and click the right arrow.

    This moves the new table to the Chosen tables list, and the new table inherits the location and other properties of the selected, old table.

  6. Select the new table, and check that the binding point of the new table and its location relative to the reference object are correct, and check also the transparency, scale and the distance from the reference object settings.
  7. Delete the old table by selecting it from the Chosen tables list and click the left arrow.
  8. Click Update and OK.
  9. Click Update and OK in the Table Layouts dialog box.
  10. Click OK in the Layout dialog box.
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