Uda List Side Pane

Tekla Structures
Not version-specific
Tekla Structures
UDA
uda list
uda side pane
uda list side pane
user defined attributes
Environment
Not environment-specific

1. Purpose and description

The UDA List is a testing, localization and development tool that shows all User Defined Attributes and values, including those written directly by the API, attributes within components and those written to mutli-level assemblies. It also allows purging of UDA's as UDAs created by tools via the API are written directly to the model database and are not included in objects.inp.

2. Installation

To install the application:

  1. Make sure Tekla Structures is closed.
  2. Run the installation package. Download from the Tekla Warehouse.
  3. Reopen Tekla Structures once installation is complete and you will see:

     

    Image
    SidePaneIcons.png
  4. A new "UDA List" icon will appear on the main user interface side pane.
  5. To open the tool, click the new icon.

3. Interface

Image
InterfaceIcons.png

3.1 Main Interface

  1. Use this button to refresh the UDA data for selected item. This is needed when you change the objects user define attributes though Tekla Structures property interface and need to see the  updated changes in the UDa List. If you change the UDA values through this extension, this function is automatic.
  2. Use this button to remove the selected UDA(s) only
  3. Use this button to add a new UDA.
  4. Use this button to clear all UDAs stored to the currently selected object.
  5. Copies selected UDA(s) to memory.
  6. Pastes UDA(s) stored in memory to current selected object.
  7. Use this button to delete all UDAs from all selected objects

3.2 Copying Uda's Workflow

  1. Select UDA row(s) from table you want to copy, select "Copy UDA" button to copy to memory. 
  2. Next select part you want to copy to in the model.
  3. Click the "Paste UDA" button.

3.3 Wizard

3.3.1 Create New UDA

When you press the "+" button to create a new uda it launches the wizard as shown below to guide you through the process of setting up a new uda definition to the model database.

Wizard Page 1: Choose UDA Type

 

 

Image
ExistingUDA_wiz1.png
  • These values in the drop down list are read from the model directly.
  • If you change the objects.inp and add UDA definitions you will have to re-open the model to get these to be available.
  • Select from the drop down list the UDA you want to add to the selected object.
  • When choosing existing, you will skip to Wizard Page 4 next where you can define the value to store.

Wizard Page 4: Value Selection

  • Pick the value you want to store in model to selected object.
  • You can navigate back to previous page if you need to change settings.
  • Click Add to end the wizard and store the value to the model.
Image
ExistingUDA_wiz4.png
 

3.3.2 New UDA

Wizard Page 1: Choose UDA Type

 

Image
NewUDA_wiz1.png
  • Adding a new UDA through this interface will add it directly to the model environment.
  • This does not create or modify any object.inp files.
  • Only other extensions reading directly from the model environment to get the User Properties through the API will have access to these specific UDAs.
  • Note: Only if you choose Number as Type will get an extra wizard page to define options for a drop down list, other wise you will select value next.
 

Wizard Page 2: New UDA Definition

 
Image
NewUDA_wiz2.png
  1. Name: the actual name the data will be stored under
  2. Label: The label you wish to see in Tekla Structures interfaces
  3. Type: The specific kind of UDA to store. Use text for strings, Number for integer options, and Distance for length type values.
  4. Affects Numbering: Check the box to have this uda affect the numbering process
  5. Unique: Check the box to keep the value from being copied when you copy objects in the model
  6. Visibility: Change this setting as desired for accesibility in Tekla Structures interfaces (Note: this setting will not affect this extension's ability to read/write the UDA values)

Wizard Page 3: Options definition (Only for Number Type)

  • These items define what the user will see in drop down list for this named UDA values
  • All items are strings
Image
NewUDA_wiz3.png
  1. Move item up in list.
  2. Move item down in list.
  3. Remove item from list.
  4. Add new item to list.

Wizard Page 4: Value Selection

  • Pick the value you want to store in model to selected object.
  • The type of control used to select the value depends on the uda type chosen on Wizard Page 2.
  • You can navigate back to previous page if you need to change settings.
  • Click Add to end the wizard and store the value to the model.
Image
NewUDA_wiz4.png

 

 

 

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