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  5. Improvements in interoperability

Improvements in interoperability

Tekla Structures
2018i
Tekla Structures

Improvements in interoperability

Tekla Structures 2018i introduces the new Trimble internal file format TrimBIM, which makes reference models faster to open. There are also some improvements in point clouds.

Improvements in point clouds

  • When attaching a point cloud, you can now select to show the point cloud inside the work area only ( Show inside work area only ). If you change the work area, you can update the point cloud box to the changed work area by first hiding the point cloud and then setting it visible again.

  • Attaching a point cloud model when potree conversion is needed is on average 60% faster than earlier.

For more information about the point clouds, see Point clouds.

Improvements in drawing DWG export

  • The DWG export is now faster when you have a lot of object filters in the rules.

  • The DWG export now has a correct hatch origin for part software hatches that have a non-zero angle.

  • The DWG export now sets EXTMIN and EXTMAX to the exported file if the snapshot mode is used.

  • You can now use UDAs in the plot file name.

Improvements in IFC

  • IFC import: Tekla Structures now contains IFC plug-in version 5.23.

  • IFC2x3: The latest modification time stamp of a part is now saved to IfcOwnerHistory. The owner history timestamp of an entity is according to the last modification time of the object rounded to the nearest hour.

  • IFC export: In the PDMS link, the polybeams are now rotated correctly.

  • IFC export: Load bearings are now handled correctly in the export and reports.

  • IFC export: The bolt location and the orientation of the mapped bolts in a bolt group is now correct in the IFC export.

  • IFC object conversion: The IFC object conversion of the curved beams has been improved.

  • IFC object conversion: The new faceted B-REP conversion now uses the old (earlier than Tekla Structures 2018) method as a fallback to produce results also in more difficult B-REP conversion cases.

  • IFC4: IFC4 now supports added material. The following entities were added: IfcFeatureElementAddition and IfcProjectionElement. Works in Design transfer view only.

  • IFC4: The IFC entity ifcMechanicalFastener is now supported for couplers in IFC4 export.

  • IFC4: Beams that have cambering are now exported with the deformated shape.

  • IFC4: You can now use IfcSurfaceCurveSweptAreaSolid to present helix geometry. Works in Design transfer view only.

Reference model internal data management

TrimBIM ( .trb ) is a new file format that is used internally for reference model management with Tekla Structures.

Reference models of different formats, such as IFC, IFC4, IFCzip, IFCxml, tcZIP, DXF, DWG, DGN, XML, LandXML, STP, IGS, SKP and PDF, are converted by the TrimBimConverter to TrimBIM at insert. The .trb file is saved in the current model folder.

The cache folder located in the folder specified by the advanced option XS_​REFERENCE_​CACHE still exists. The reference cache is created when the reference model is set visible, which happens automatically at insert and update.

For more information about reference models, see Reference models and compatible formats and Import a reference model

Reference models in drawings

  • Previously, opening the drawing reference objects list could take a lot of time if the reference models were not yet loaded on your computer. Now the list opens fast. If the reference model is set visible from the drawing reference object list, only that particular reference model is loaded but not the other reference models.

  • Unused reference model data is cleaned from the drawing when the drawing is saved. This may make drawing database files remarkable smaller, especially when IFC reference models are used.

For more information about reference models in drawings, see Reference models in drawings.

NC files

  • Duplicate bolts on a part (bolts in the same location as another bolt) are now ignored in NC DSTV export. The tolerated distance for bolts to be considered duplicates can be adjusted with the XS_BOLT_DUPLICATE_TOLERANCE advanced option.

LandXML

  • Tekla Structures now contains the LandXML plug-in version 1.18.

SketchUp

  • SketchUp plug-in 1.57 is now in use.

Cadmatic .3dd files and Web Viewer .xml in reference model import

  • Cadmatic .3dd file format has been removed from the supported reference model types from Tekla Structures 2018i onwards. Interoperability with Cadmatic can be done with IFC files.

  • Web Viewer .xml file format is no longer supported in reference model import. You can still publish models as web pages.

For more information about compatible formats and software, see Compatible formats and Compatible software.

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