Troubleshoot Create a profile from a DWG file

Tekla Structures
Not version-specific
Tekla Structures
DWG
profile
profile catalog
catalog
DWG cross section
cross section
Environment
Not environment-specific

Visible objects

When you view the DWG file, ensure that only the lines of the profile shape that you want to convert to a profile are visible. Additional objects, such as text, dimensions, XREF objects, or leader lines, must not be visible.

  • To prevent additional objects from being visible, we recommend that you delete the additional objects.
  • You can also turn off the layers that contain the additional objects. However, when the profile is scaled up before the import process, most of the objects will no longer be aligned the same way as in the original DWG file.

Profile integrity

Profiles are defined by outlines: outer shape is the overall profile and any internal shapes are holes in the profile. For the profile to be imported correctly, there cannot be any internal lines that do not represent a hole.

Remove additional lines

This example shows an ornamental handrail. The four internal shapes will be created correctly, but the lines above and below them that provide additional details about the shape will not work. These additional lines must be removed.

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Simplify shapes

Ensure that your profile only includes basic objects that make up the profile shape. The profile can include lines, arcs, and circles. Other shapes, such as splines, polylines, and regions, are not imported to Tekla Structures correctly. If your profile includes these shapes, the shapes must be exploded.

When arcs are imported, Tekla Structures converts the arcs to segmented curves. If there are too many facets along the curve, the profile might be distorted when it is imported. To reduce the number of facets along the curve, we recommend that you remove complex arcs and draw simple lines to indicate the curve instead.

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Trace over the arc using the line tool, then delete the arc.

Close the shapes

Each outline must close completely, with no gaps, overlaps, or other inconsistencies. Use the trim and extend tools to close the shapes.

 

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Especially with third-party DWG files, it might be more efficient to clean up one section of the profile, then copy or mirror it to similar or symmetrical areas.

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You can use the Region function in AutoCAD to test the integrity of the profile. If all the lines form a closed shape, AutoCAD creates a region. If the shape is not closed, the region is not created. After testing, explode the region. Regions are cannot be imported into Tekla Structures.

When converting a DWG file to a profile, the shape is limited to 10 closed outlines or regions: the overall profile shape plus nine openings. If your profile has more than 10 regions, you can join them together using small gaps to make several outlines into one larger shape.

 

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Scale

Tekla Structures works in metric, so when you import a DWG file that is being converted to a profile, the metric conversion must be taken into account. The DWG file must be scaled up by 25.4 for it to measure correctly in a Tekla Structures model.

For more information, see Drawing Export Scale Factor for DWG/DXF.

Import the profile to Tekla Structures

  1. On the File menu, select Catalogs > Define profiles > Define Cross Section Using DWG file to convert the DWG file to a profile.
  2. On the Parameters tab, set up the properties for the profile.
    Option Explanation
    Input file The path and the name of the DWG file to be imported
    Section name The name of the cross section in the catalog
    Profile name The name of the profile in the catalog that you will use when selecting this shape
    Save to

    The location of the profile catalog. Select one of the following options:

    • Model directory: The current model folder.
    • Global directory: The system folder.
    • Do not save: Does not save the profile. This option is intended for testing.
    Min distance between points The minimum distance between the corner points of the cross section. To produce simpler drawings of complicated cross sections, increase this value.
    Center point offset X, Center point offset Y

    Adjusts the location of the reference line of the profile relative to the cross section. By default, the handles are at the center of the profile with the position values set to Middle.

    Do not change these values without importing a test profile. Often the regular profile position settings adjust the orientation correctly.

    Weight / m3 (kg/m3) Adds the weight per unit length to the Analysis tab of the profile property. This option does not affect the calculated weight of the part. This value uses metric units. We recommend that you leave this option blank.
  3. Do not change the default values on the Profile attributes tab.

    The Profile attributes tab is used to define information about the profile that is shown on the General tab in the profile catalog. We recommend that you do not change the default values unless you are sure of the values. If the values on this tab conflict with the actual shape, the import might not work correctly.

  4. Click Apply.
  5. On the File menu, select Catalogs > Define profiles > Define Cross Section Using DWG file.
  6. Pick two points to model the profile.

The profile is automatically added to your profile catalog. The profile might not be visible in the profile catalog until you close the model and open it again.

Troubleshooting

If the profile is not shown in the profile catalog, or the profile is not converted as expected, you might need to edit the DWG file and import the profile again. You might need to repeat this process several times before the profile is converted as expected.

Possible problems:

  • Too many arcs - Trace over the arcs using the line tool, then delete the arcs to reduce the number of facets.
  • Radii that are too small - Very small curves might not be converted correctly. Replace small curves with straight line segments.
  • Lines on top of lines - Remove additional lines.
  • Gaps or overlapping intersections - Use the trim and extend tools to close the shapes.

If you cannot determine the cause of the problem or how to resolve it, contact Tekla Structures support and send a copy of the DWG file.

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