Support articles
Polygon cut does not show up in NC export
When a polygon cut is added to a bent plate, the cut may not be reflected on the part when it is exported as an NC file. This may be due to clearance requirements that CNC machines have for maximum accuracy of automated cuts, but the underlying reason is still under investigaion by our developers.
To allow the cut to be displayed in NC exports, it will need to be edited in the model by slightly moving it upwards (1/32” is the minimum distance allowed in Tekla) so that it does not rest precisely on the part face.
May 3, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Can I weld a rebar to my steel part to show it in Assembly drawings?
Rebar created using the Rebar options in the Concrete tab cannot be welded. They can, however, be added to a part by using the Add to part option.
Whether you can see it in drawings depends on the license that is being used, and on which the model was initiated. Primarily only Cast unit drawings can show rebar, and these drawing types are not available under all configurations. See the following table of Tekla configurations to find out what is available for each license. Rebar created using the Concrete tab options will not show up in Assembly drawings mainly because inside the drawing
May 3, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Tekla freezes after installing a new version
Tekla randomly freezes, crashes, and restarts. Sometimes it gives an error similar to the one below, but most times it suddenly restarts without showing any signs of failure.
The issue did (does) not happen with earlier versions of Tekla.
Newer versions of Tekla have a denser graphics performance so if the issue only happens with a new version, try enabling the High-performance card for Tekla Structures (Add Tekla to it). The image below shows this workflow using a specific interface, but the process will vary depending on your graphics card’s software.
For additional information on
May 3, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Properties do not show up on the side pane
When I double click on my object, the properties don't show up on the side pane. How can I bring them back?
With the disappearance of the Properties window since version 2018, all categories from the Side pane have the option to float away from the property pane to drag it around one or several screens if you have multiple displays. Likewise, they have the option to be attached back into the pane.
Because the floating window is a separate entity, it is possible for it to become visibly lost from your screen especially if using multiple monitors. This is a common windows occurrence.
May 2, 2019
by Tekla Support US
NC Files Header Option
Question:
We have just switched from V20 to V2017i. We cannot use the new format of the nc files that is created and have no way to change our software settings to accommodate this new file format. Is there any way to switch the phase to come before the drawing number like it was previously or do we need to enter the hundreds of beams manually and switch back to version 20 after these jobs are fabricated?
Answer:
You can arrange the order of the output by going to the Header options inside the NC Files properties and selecting the Phase identification under the Selected elements options.
May 1, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Change start number series
In Tekla Structures, numbering series refers to all numbering prefixes and start numbers used throughout a project. Numbering series can be used to allocate separate numbering to different phases, part types, or separate models from the same project if using a Primary license. Here, we will learn how to change a series' Start number for objects outside and inside of components. It is preferred that you plan your numbering series before starting a project, but this can also be changed after the model is complete.
Change series start number for Parts not created by components
In this example
April 29, 2019
by Tekla Support US
“Dashed” member representation in the model after creating a Polygon cut
Sometimes after creating a unique cut or connection on a solid part in a model, the part will become transparent with a dashed outline. This is known as a Solid error, and it occurs when cuts that are added to members fail.
Parts that have this representation are still accounted for in Tekla – they can be numbered and used in drawings and reports – but you cannot open and edit a drawing until the solid error has been corrected.
First, determine what is causing the Solid Error (i.e. a manual polygon cut, or a cut within a connection) to know what has to be edited or changed.
If the error
April 27, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Fixed drawing main view
In Tekla Structures, aside from using our drawing presets to determine view visibility you can set a direction in which a part's main view will always show in drawings by using one of its property’s UDAs in the model.
The Fixed drawing main view UDA controls the appearance of your drawings by allowing you to control and lock a defined orientation of part views from the model.
To know which orientation to choose from the drop down, you first need to look at the part and understand the direction of each of its faces.
The location of a part’s start and end handles determine its orientation
April 26, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Exclude Existing Material in USA Bill of Material
Question:
How can I exclude secondary material I mark as "Existing" from showing up in my Bill of Material for my assembly?
Answer:
If you have secondary parts marked as "Existing" in the model, you can exclude them from the BOM (Bill of material) by adding a rule that excludes items marked with that UDA.
The example I will use below is using the TypeA-Drg_BOM.tpl from the USA environment. If you open your assembly drawing that contains your assembly that has existing secondary parts, you can then double click on the BOM. By double-clicking on the BOM, you should be presented with an
April 23, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Installing/Uninstalling Tekla Structures Environments from Version 2019
What's new in 2019?
From Tekla Structures 2019 there has been a change to the environment folder structure and environment installers now contain .tsep installers. These changes are explained in Changes in Tekla Structures installation.
Installing Environments
From Tekla Structures 2019 Service Pack 1 when you install an environment you are given the choice whether to install TSEP files now or to let the TSEP files be installed next time you launch Tekla Structures. If you tick this box, all the TSEP files for this environment will be installed immediately.
If you do not tick this box
April 23, 2019
by Tekla Global Support
Drawing Number in Titleblock
Question:
We want to issue assembly drawings with a number setup like 1B1, 2B1, 3B1, etc... but we want the number of the drawing to be 1, 2, 3, etc... How do we accomplish this without using Multi Drawings?
Answer:
The easiest way to do this would be to use Multi Drawings to get the number setup but to not actually release the multi drawings. You would use them just to get the number schema you want (i.e. 1B1, 2B1, 3B1) but actually just issue assembly drawings.
Let's get started
The first thing is you want to number your model just as you always would. Meaning leave the prefix's and
April 17, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Copying fully detailed elements
Question: I have modelled and detailed a concrete beam. I'd like to copy the detailed elements across to another beam but it is at a different elevation and plane, is this possible?
Answer: Yes, you could use the Copy special > To another object command. You don't need to know the distance or level you are copying to, as it copies object to object. However, you have to select all the elements you want to copy seperately. An easier approach would be to completely detail the element and once you are happy with it, use the Select assemblies switch in conjunction with the Copy special >
April 17, 2019
by Trimble Solutions UK
Inserting logo into Drawing Template
Question: How do I insert a logo into a Drawing Template in Tekla Structures 2019?
Answer: The file structure has changed considerably in Tekla Structures 2019 compared to older versions. The following article explains how to set up your drawing template with your company logo in this version.
Solution
Save your logo
Save your company logo into the following location: C:\TeklaStructures\2019\Environments\UK\General\symbols
Edit the file location
Double click on any template in any drawing
Click on Edit template in Template Editortool in Tekla Structures that is used for creating and
April 17, 2019
by Trimble Solutions UK
Rotating a wall panel with openings
Question: When I rotate my wallplate that represents a structure such as a wall or roof panelIn Tekla Structures, a panel is created by picking two or more points.In cast-in-place concrete the term wall refers to a concept similar to panel. layout the openings I have in place for the windows disappear, what am I doing wrong?
Answer: It sounds as though all the points that define the openings weren't selected before rotating the wall layout. There are two ways in which we can rotate the wall and its openings, in the first example we will directly modify the wall layout using the line handle,
April 16, 2019
by Trimble Solutions UK
Using external or own organization Model Sharing license
Question:
How does Model Sharing decide, which model sharing license will be selected, when user signs in and if he is having model sharing license in two organizations: in his own organization as an employee and in another organization as an external user?
Answer:
Currently you cannot see which company's license is in use. But if user is an external user, then external company licenses are used first, and when they run out, then own organization licenses are used.
For example it doesn’t matter which company owns the model.
See alsoAdmin guideline to purchasing and managing Tekla Model
April 15, 2019
by Tekla Global Support
Manage a point cloud on a facade
1. Inserting the point cloud
From the side panel, Link the point cloud whose origin has previously been worked on on Trimble Realworks, with the option Location by: on Model origin
Note: point clouds move through the base point. It is not possible to move them like the reference models. It is sometimes necessary to use the automatically created Base Point option and readjust this Base Point by making a new connection, but not in this case.
2. Modifing the grid on direct modification
3. Creating views
The above points work together. Use dynamic modification to adjust mesh queues on mullions
April 8, 2019
by Trimble Solutions France
How to turn a Tekla member into "Existing"
Question - How do I make a current part in Tekla an existing part?
Answer - You can access a part's User-defined attributes (UDAs) by highlighting and clicking on the member to view its properties. In the Property Pane click on the More tab, and in the UDA dialog go to the Parameters tab and choose the Existing option from the drop-down menu next to the Existing Member section. Hit Modify. The existing part will change colors if using Standard Object Representation settings.
Note that this will only change the representation of parts in the model and, if needed, it can be shown on marks or
April 6, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Add Embed To Cast Unit
When you have your cast unit in your model, change your selection tool to Select Assemblies.
With 'Select Assemblies' activated, choose your desired embed and place it in the Cast Unit.
With 'Select Assemblies' still activated, select the embed and then right click on the embed. From the right click menu, navigate down to the assembly option and choose Add as Sub-Assembly.
Note the status bar on the bottom left: It wants you to select the assembly that you want to add the sub-assembly to.
The embed will now be part of the overall cast unit. To double check this, choose 'Select
April 4, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Create Deleted 3D view
Question:
I lost my 3d view, how do i get it back?
Answer:
If you happen to delete your 3d view you can easily create a new one.
Just navigate to the view tab > new view and then basic view.
Once basic view is selected a dialog box will appear, here you will need to place the coordinates for your floor level. If you modeled at 0 (zero) you can just hit "Create" otherwise enter the floor level (example 100') and hit create.
Once you do that, your new 3D view is created
April 4, 2019
by Tekla Support US
Convert SDS Model in Tekla
Question:
I need to take an SDS model and convert it to a native Tekla model, how can i do this?
Answer:
You will need to request an IFC from the SDS detailer. This IFC needs to be export as a Type EM11(IFC2X3, Coordination View 2.0) in order to prevent issues in the conversion process in Tekla.
Take the IFC received from the SDS detailer and add it as a reference model in Tekla. Then, use the Convert IFC Objects tool found under the Manage tab on the ribbon and convert the objects. For more information on this process see here.
April 3, 2019
by Tekla Support US