Beam Marks

Back to top

Purpose and description

This updated version of  Beam Marks allows the user to define multiple sets of beam marks. Each beam mark set can add an associative note to one of  nine possible locations along the length of a beam using presaved part filters and associative note settings. Intended to semi-automate the application of end forces to steel beams.
Back to top

System requirements

Environments: US Imperial, US Metric
Languages: English
Back to top

Installing Beam Marks

To install the application:

1. Close Tekla Structures (if running)
2. Download TSEP Installer from Tekla Warehouse
3. Install TSEP Installer
4. Start Tekla Structures
5. Open an existing drawing
6. A new thumbnail under US Extensions grouping in the Applications and components side pane will appear.

Back to top

Using Beam Marks

The example below is for adding end forces to steel beams. However, the content in the associative notes can be whatever the user wishes it to be.  

Model Setup:

1. Enter end force user-defined attributes to the steel beam End Conditions tab in the model. Properties that will be read are shown below.
2. Set up associative note Content settings that you wish to use. The leader line type information is ignored here in the settings. Mark information can be template marks which are commonly used by customers for steel beam marks.

Setting up the application:

1. Launch Beam Marks from the icon/thumbnail.

2. Select Add New Positioning Setting (item 1 above).   

1. Specify the Position on the beam axis where you wish to place the mark.
2. Enter values in the Horizontal Offset and Vertical Offset fields. These represent offsets relative to the beam local axis. Positive horizontal values point towards the middle of the beam. Positive vertical values point away from the beam axis.
3. Provide a name for the Mark Positioning Setting and select Save. This creates a file in the model's attributes subfolder with a xbmkp file extension. The user can place these saved settings in their company FIRM folder if they wish.

3. Add a Beam Mark Set (item 3 below) by clicking the + button (item 2 above). Additional sets can be added to place more than one mark at each run.

4. Select the desired drawing view filter in the first column. This filter will be applied in addition to what you select or not select in the model. For example if you fence select all objects on a drawing but you also set a selection filter, only the selected objects that pass that filter will receive the mark.
5. Select the desired associative note settings in the second column.
6. Select the desired Mark Position settingsin the third column. 
7. Name and Save an attribute file (item 4 above). This is given a file extension of *.p_BeamMarks. The user can place these default settings in their company FIRM folder if they wish.

Create marks by view

1.  Open tool.
2.  Load and set properties in dialog.
3.  Select Create.
4.  Pick any point within the view extrema.

Create marks by selection

1.  Open tool.
2.  Load and set properties in dialog.
3.  Select Create.
4.  Select beams in view. User can select objects in addition to using a Filter (see step 4 in 'Setting up the application').

Delete marks

1.  Select associative notes and delete like other associative notes.

Updating marks

Once a mark is placed on a location of the beam, it must be removed to replace it at a different location. But if edits need to be done to the mark content, the user can simply edit the associative note properties.

Examples

Back to top

Additional information

• There is a bug with associative notes where if the note is dragged using the SHIFT key, then when changes occur in the model, the marks erratically move around. This behavior occurs because the marks are placed in this same fashion as if they were moved by dragging them holding the SHIFT key. Contact Tekla to find out the status of fixing this bug.
• Sometimes the beam marks do not work when drawing object-level settings are applied. Users might have to temporarily turn off those settings, apply the marks, then reapply the object-level settings.
• Speed – on a large floor plan, it may take a few minutes to place all these marks in the drawing since they must be placed, then moved into place.
• Two settings files are saved to the model's attribute file with file extensions of xbmkp and p_BeamMarks.

Back to top