Import Item: Explanations of different types of importing error messages

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures
2020
Tekla Structures
2019i
Tekla Structures
2019
Tekla Structures
2018i
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2018
Tekla Structures
2022
Tekla Structures
2023
Tekla Structures
SketchUp
Item
Environment
Not environment-specific

1. Introduction


The Import Item functionality was introduced in Tekla Structures version 20.0.


It allows Tekla Structures users to import files describing 3D geometries as native Tekla Structures objects. Different file formats are supported, such as SketchUp files, IFC, etc.

This document explains the log file entries to help the user troubleshoot the problems described. The log file can be accessed via File menu > > Logs > > Session history log. 

In some special cases the importing of these files fails, and the following error message is shown:

 

Image
jani_snap0155.png


For more details on the Import Item functionality, refer to the available help pages in Tekla User Assistance.

 

2. Description of error messages

2.1. More than two faces in one edge (non-manifold solids)

The error shown in the log file:

Info: IMPORTING FILE: ---Non-manifold solid.skp ---
Info: --- Importing issues: ---
Info: --- Import Geometry, path: C:\Import\Non-manifold solid.skp
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   442.00     0.00     0.00  -  Vertex2 =   442.00  -409.00     0.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   442.00  -409.00     0.00  -  Vertex2 =   442.00  -405.50     0.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   442.00  -405.50   359.00  -  Vertex2 =   442.00  -409.00   359.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   442.00     0.00   359.00  -  Vertex2 =   442.00  -405.50   359.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   442.00  -405.50     0.00  -  Vertex2 =   442.00     0.00     0.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   442.00  -409.00   359.00  -  Vertex2 =   442.00     0.00   359.00
Info: --- Import Geometry done, Brep storage GUID: f0a70209-2bca-491f-bb6f-c5b0bf888eb4 ---
Info: --- Importing result: ---
WARNING: Polymesh is properly imported but it is not a solid. Please check edges mentioned above.


This kind of problems occur for so called non-manifold solids.

A non-manifold solid is defined as having any arbitrary number of faces for each of the edges in the solid. It can be imported to Tekla Structures, but only as a non-solid.

Non-manifold cases are usually often occur when there are disjointed objects trying to form one single logic object.  Such an example is shown below. You can make a small puncture in any place on the surface of the object and try to add water inside it. If you had only one cube, the water would fill the whole object. However, in the example below, water fills just a part of the object.

 

 

Image
import_item_2.png

 



You can make a small hole in the top box or in the bottom box but in both cases you can add water just to one part of this object. 

The picture shows that there is one edge in the middle of the object that is shared by 4 faces (and exactly the same edge prevents filling the whole object with water). If you manage to create a slot in such an edge, you will get a manifold object (and two edges instead of one original).

The coordinates of the error message shown above indicate the location of such a ‘blocking’ place inside the object.

 

 

Image
import_item_3.png

 



The coordinates of the error message indicate the location of such a ‘blocking’ place inside the object.
You can try to locate this place with some external editor and (if possible) change the object somehow to create a 2-manifold object.  For example, as in the picture below:

 

 

Image
import_item_4.png

 


And now it is possible to import such an object to Tekla Structures as a solid:

 

 

Image
import_item_5.png



Alternatively to creating a small gap between the two cubes, the user could simply separate the objects so that they are not touching. Thus, Tekla Structures will understand that the each cube is its own logical object, and thus import them both.

2.2. Solid with missing faces

The error shown in the log file:

Info: IMPORTING FILE: ---MissingFace.skp ---
Info: --- Importing issues: ---
Info: --- Import Geometry, path: C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\MissingFace.skp
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   900.00     0.00   250.00  -  Vertex2 =   750.00     0.00   400.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   900.00     0.00     0.00  -  Vertex2 =   900.00     0.00   250.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =     0.00     0.00   400.00  -  Vertex2 =     0.00     0.00     0.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =   750.00     0.00   400.00  -  Vertex2 =     0.00     0.00   400.00
Info:    Edge missing other side face: Vertex1 =     0.00     0.00     0.00  -  Vertex2 =   900.00     0.00     0.00
Info: --- Import Geometry done, Brep storage GUID: 29875e66-b92a-4ffb-ae5c-d6eee032e921 ---
Info: --- Importing result: ---
WARNING: Polymesh is properly imported but it is not a solid. Please check edges mentioned above.


This warning message indicates that there are problems that can prevent creating a solid object inside a Tekla Structures model.

Such an error message shows that there are some kind of “holes” or “caves” inside an imported object. Strictly speaking it is just non-closed edges which usually means that some faces in the original object are missing.
As show in the picture below:

Image
MissingEdge_SkUp.png


Coordinates in the log message give more information about the location of the missing faces. Using this information, it will be easier to determine the location of the missing face and to add it, if not obvious by looking at the item in the model.

The item will import as a non-solid in Tekla Structures and it is shown like this: 

 

 

Image
MissingEdge_TS.png

2.3. Incorrectly oriented faces


The error shown in the log file:
WARNING: Solid created from polymesh has some incorrect oriented faces with following edge:
  1187.80   896.70   884.70  -   1187.80   896.70   899.30

Or
Importing issues: Solid faces have been inverted!

These are warning messages that do not prevent solid creation and do not require any action from the user. Drawing creation and detailing features should work properly on the imported item. “Incorrect oriented faces” means that the faces in one object are oriented in different ways. The following example clarifies this by a comparison to normal direction for different faces. For example, the following two pictures show the objects with the correctly oriented faces: normal direction for ALL faces oriented in one way – outside or inside the cube.

 

 

 

 

 

Image
import_item_8.png

 

 

 

Image
import_item_9.png

 



The following picture shows the example with “incorrectly oriented faces”: normal direction for some faces oriented inside the cube but for other faces – outside of it.

 

 

Image
import_item_10.png



Usually, the problem mentioned in the warning message (Polymesh has some incorrect oriented faces) does not prevent the solid creation, and it does not require any efforts from the user.

2.4.  Too narrow faces

The error shown in the log file:

 

 

Image
import_item_11.png


This is a warning message that does not prevent solid creation and does not require any actions from the user.

2.5. Missing edges

The error shown in the log file:
WARNING: Some edges in the solid might be missing
This might affect part detailing and drawing view creation


Sometimes, the importing of shapes succeeds and a new Shape is added to the Shape Catalog, usually as a solid. The warning highlights that in the model view, there are some missing edges, as shown below: 

 

 

Image
import_item_12.png


You must be careful in these cases, since some detailing operations (such as cutting) might give erroneous results. Similarly, some drawing features might not work correctly, such as for example creating section, detail and curved views. You should report these cases to the local support office.

2.6. Missing geometry

 

Model consisting of only lines, that don’t form any faces cause missing geometry errors:

 

Info: IMPORTING FILE: ---Only lines.skp ---
Info: --- Importing issues: ---
Info: --- Import Geometry, path: C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\Only lines.skp
ERROR: --- Tried to import file: C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\Only lines.skp
ERROR: --- Import Geometry failed! No valid Brep GUID ---
Info: BrepStorage reading for guid: "" failed
Info: Failed to import as FacetedBRep (C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\Only lines.skp)

missing geometry (C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\Only lines.skp)

--- Importing result: ---
ERROR: a polymesh cannot be created

Example of a SketchUp model consisting only from edge lines, i.e all faces are removed:

 

Image
OnlyLines.png

 

2.7. No message

Sometimes there are shapes that cannot be imported but have no error messages, as shown below:

Info: IMPORTING FILE: ---????? ??????????.skp ---
Info: --- Importing issues: ---
Info: --- Import Geometry, path: C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\????? ??????????.skp
ERROR: --- Tried to import file: C:\ReCIPe\SketchUp\Models\ItemErrorDocumentation\????? ??????????.skp
ERROR: --- Import Geometry failed! No valid Brep GUID ---
Info: BrepStorage reading for guid: "" failed
Info: --- Importing result: ---
ERROR: a polymesh cannot be created


One reason for this is that the file name contains some special characters. There is a limitation to the import functionality: special characters, for example Cyrillic, will only work if Tekla Structures is installed in a Russian Windows. Try re-naming the file appropriately, for example, with ANSI characters only.

Another reason may be a SketchUp model made in a newer version of SketchUp, which is not supported by older version of Tekla Structures:
IMPORTING FILE: ---SimpleItemTest.skp, External GUID  ---
--- Importing issues: ---
--- Importing result: ---

 

 

3. Further recommendations

If you are using SketchUp to create or edit solids, make sure (by enquiring entity/group/component) that the solid to be imported has a volume. This usually indicates that the shape is a watertight solid.

If a file fails to import as a solid or at all, you could try importing the file in a different format. You may have access to or may be able to save shapes in more than one supported format (e.g. IFC, DWG, etc). Since each different format uses a different importer, it might be worth trying out importing the files under different formats.

You should also use the latest Tekla Structures Service Release, since it may contain improvements in the Import Item functionality.

 

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