Tekla Structures v17 Basic Training Manual Steel PDF

Basic Training
Steel
Tekla Structures 17.0

2011 Steel Basic Training
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation
Copyright© 1992-2011 Tekla Corporation. All rights reserved.
This Software Manual has been developed for use with the referenced Software. Use of the
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other provisions, the License Agreement sets certain warranties for the Software and this
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Software, and determines whether you are an authorized user of the Software. Please refer to
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full extent permitted by law.
Tekla, Xcity, Xengineer, Xpipe, Xpower, Xsteel, and Xstreet are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Tekla Corporation in the European Union, the United States, and/or other
countries. Other product and company names mentioned in this Manual are or may be
trademarks of their respective owners. By referring to a third-party product or brand, Tekla
does not intend to suggest an affiliation with or endorsement by such third party and disclaims
any such affiliation or endorsement, except where otherwise expressly stated.
Elements of the software described in this Manual may be the subject of pending patent
applications in the European Union and/or other countries.
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation i
Contents
Introduction to Tekla Structures Basic Training .................................... 1
Things you need to know .......................................................................... 1

Release Notes ...................................................................................................................... 1
Localization Notes ................................................................................................................ 1
Help Files .............................................................................................................................. 2
Things you will learn .................................................................................. 3

Basic Modeling 1 .................................................................................................................. 3
System Components ............................................................................................................ 3
Basic Modeling 2 .................................................................................................................. 3
Interactive Detailing .............................................................................................................. 4
Numbering and Reports ....................................................................................................... 4
Principles of Drawings.......................................................................................................... 4
Assembly and Single Part Drawings ................................................................................... 4
Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering .................................................................................. 5
General Arrangement Drawings .......................................................................................... 5
Drawing Management .......................................................................................................... 5
How to use this training material.............................................................. 6
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation iii
Introduction to Tekla Structures
Basic Training
This training course will demonstrate how to create a 3D model of a building, and
produce drawings and reports from the model with Tekla Structures. The training is
divided into lessons, each of which covers a certain task of the design process and
introduces the commands and functions required to complete that particular task.
Things you need to know

Release Notes
Each version (including Service Releases) comes with a document that outlines most
of the changes that are included within that release. This document comes in both
PDF format (located for example in TeklaStructures/17.0 folder) and as part of the
Programs Online Help. It contains information about the general changes, additions,
and improvements made to the program. It is important that you read the Release
Notes before incorporating a new Tekla Structures version into your organization.
Localization Notes
Each version (but not Service Releases) also includes a document that describes what
specifics have been made to the US environments. This document comes in PDF
format and is located, for example, in the TeklaStructures/17.0/environments/usimp
folder. This document contains valuable information about the US environment
changes for that version. For example, it lists which new files have been added to the
usimp environment, what they are for, and how to use them. In addition, it describes
changes to existing files, such as catalogs, that have been made. Plus, if a file has
been removed or renamed, this document explains what has taken place. It is
important that you read the Localization Notes before incorporating a new Tekla
Structures version into your organization.
Steel: Introduction
Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation 1
Help Files
Program Help
Included with each version of Tekla Structures is a Help file which can be accessed
by using the F1 key or by going to Help > Tekla Structures Help from inside the
program. Many topics can be found using the Index tab. Another effective way to
find the information you are seeking is to use the Search tab. If the search you
perform results in too many topics, try using “quotes” to narrow your search down.
For example, if you do a search for object representation, the number of found topics
is 51. But doing a search for “object representation”, the number of found topics is
28.
Another important tip is, once you find

the subject you are seeking, use the next
page arrow to check if information
related to this subject is present.
Did You Know? Many of the dialog boxes inside of Tekla Structures have been
mapped to the section of the help file that relates to them. For example, if the F1 key
is pushed while the Beam Properties dialog box is opened and the active window,
then the Tekla Structures Help file will open to that cooresponding section.
System Component Help
System Components included with Tekla Structures also contain a help file. This help
file can be accessed when a system component dialog is opened by using the F1 key
or by clicking the Help button located in the top right corner.
US Custom Components
Custom Components that are created by the Tekla Inc office and included with the
US environments also contain their own help file. This help file can be accessed
when a custom component dialog is opened by using the F1 key or by clicking the
Help button located in the top right corner.
Many help topics may be lacking in examples or may not be up to date with
regards to recent development. Please notify us when you encounter such an
occurance so we can notify our documentation team.
Steel: Introduction
2 Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation
Things you will learn
Basic Modeling 1
This lesson introduces the basic modeling functions of Tekla Structures.
You will learn how to:
start a new structural 3D model
create grids
create views
create concrete and steel parts
use CAD principles like absolute and relative reference points
use polar tracking
manipulate members within the model (copy, move, mirror)
System Components
This lesson introduces the basics of creating connections in Tekla Structures.
create connections
work with connection parameters
save the parameters for later use
clash check the model
Basic Modeling 2
In this lesson, we will recap the basic functions introduced in lesson 1, and you will learn
some more about the basic functions.
adjust member attributes
use coordinate locks
input construction points
work in true planes (sloped, skewed)
define select filters
work with phases
set up job specific information
Steel: Introduction
Interactive Detailing
This lesson introduces how to interactively create unique or customized connections between
parts.
explode system connections and modify connection objects (parts, welds, bolts, cuts)
add system components to previously exploded connections
create unique connection objects interactively
define and apply custom components
Numbering and Reports

This lesson covers how to handle part marking within Tekla Structures.
You will learn:
numbering basics
how to customize the numbering system
numbering in phases
how to create reports
Principles of Drawings
This lesson introduces the basics of how to create and handle drawings in Tekla Structures.
You will learn:
the integration between the drawings and the model
the drawing types available in Tekla Structures
the basics of the drawing list
the various levels of editing drawings
Assembly and Single Part Drawings

The next step is to learn how to create fabrication drawings for the items that were created in
the model.
You will learn:
how to create individual drawings
how to use selection filters to create groups of drawings of members with similar
attributes
how to create drawings automatically using the Master Drawing Catalog
editing drawings manually
handling drawing after changes are made to the model
Steel: Introduction
Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering
This lesson introduces multi-drawings and explains the principles of multi-numbering.
create multi-drawings
collect multiple assembly or single-part drawings to one multi-drawing sheet
apply multi-numbering to multi-drawings
update and modify multi-drawings
General Arrangement Drawings

This lesson covers how to create erection plans, details and section views.
create anchor bolt plans
create erection plans of individual views
create general arrangements of multiple views on one sheet
modify drawings properties
modify view properties
modify object properties
create drawing objects
Drawing Management
This lesson covers more advanced aspects of handling drawings.
control revisions
edit drawings more effectively using classifiers and cloning
customize drawing borders by adding logos
make and use basic drawing templates
plot drawings
export drawings in other file formats
share your model electronically
Steel: Introduction
How to use this training material
Each lesson starts with a short introduction to its contents. All lessons are comprised mainly
of step-by-step instructions, which are complemented by background and additional
information. Pictures of the dialog boxes and of the model help you to visualize the
instructions and show the desired result.
The necessary background data is given either by the teacher (in the class room) or through
paths to the Tekla Structures online help topics. These paths help you find the related
information quickly and easily which will assist you in getting the most from this course.
Note that with the assistance of online help you will learn to use Tekla Structures as
efficiently as possible from the very beginning.
The aim of this training material is to teach you best practices, the most efficient way to use
Tekla Structures. However, the aim is also to introduce alternative methods to carry out tasks.
This means that repeated tasks are occasionally carried out with using different procedures
than those presented earlier in the lessons.
Icons are also used to highlight certain information:
A warning triangle highlights a note that is worth remembering. Or it may serve

to point out a potential problem to be avoided.
Stop signs are severe warnings. Ignoring the text accompanying these may
cause something to fail or cause a process to produce unexpected results.
Tips are shown with a light bulb icon. They provide additional information that
may help speed up your learning or help you produce better or quicker results.
Technical information is denoted by gear wheels. You can choose to ignore this
info until you are more confident with the system, or you can pay attention to it
if you are curious.
The aim of this training material is to teach you the best practices, and the most efficient way
to use Tekla Structures. However, the aim is also to introduce alternative methods to carry out
tasks. This means that repeated tasks are occasionally carried out with using different
procedures than those presented earlier in the lessons.
Steel: Introduction
Basic Modeling 1

2011 Steel Steel
Contents
1 Basic Modeling .................................................................................. 1

1.1 Start Tekla Structures................................................................................... 2
1.2 Create a New Model – BasicModel1 ........................................................... 3
1.3 Create Grids ................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Create Plane Views along Gridlines .......................................................... 10
1.5 Create Foundations .................................................................................... 16
1.6 Create Columns.......................................................................................... 23
1.7 Silos ............................................................................................................ 25
1.8 Create Beams ............................................................................................. 28
1.9 Create Bracing............................................................................................ 43
1.10 Add Infill Beams .......................................................................................... 48
1.11 Add Horizontal Bracing .............................................................................. 50
Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation 1-i
1 Basic Modeling
In this lesson
In this lesson we will go through the basic functions of Tekla Structures: how to create a new
structural 3D model, grids, grid views and structural members in the model. When you have
completed this lesson the model will look as shown below.

Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation 1-1
1.1 Start Tekla Structures
Start Tekla Structures
To start Tekla Structures, click the Windows Start button. Navigate through All Programs >
Tekla Structures 17.0 > Tekla Structures 17.0.
Alternatively, you could double-click on the desktop icon Tekla Structures 17.0.
The login dialog box will open. This login allows you to select the environment you want to
work in – typically US Imperial or US Metric, depending on your installation. You will also
be able to select your role. The roles options in Tekla Structures are to tailor the program to
fit your needs and to help you find the settings you need easier and faster.
For this training, we will be working in the US Imperial environment and using the Steel
Detailing Role. Make sure these are selected, and click OK.

1-2 Copyright © 2011 Tekla Corporation
The modeling interface is now opened as shown below. At first, most of the menu options
and icons are gray indicating that they are inactive. When you open an existing model or
create a new model, the icons and available menu options will become active.
You can open or create models from the Learn Tekla Structures dialog box, or you can use the
File menu or toolbar buttons.
1.2 Create a New Model – BasicModel1

To start a new model, you first need to create an empty model database with a unique name.
In this lesson, use the name BasicModel1 followed by your name.
Start a new model
1. Select Create a new model from the Learn Tekla Structures dialog box or select
File > New… from the pull-down menu or CTRL+N or click the New model icon in the
Standard toolbar to open the New model dialog box.
2. At the lower center of the New Model dialog box, Tekla Structures suggests the name
New Model for the model. The full path of the model folder is shown in the top field.
3. Name the model BasicModel-yourname. (Adding your own name to the model name
helps to identify your model on a network, especially during the training class)

You can use model templates as a basis when creating new models. Model
templates consist of predefined settings. The “SteelDetailingTemplate”, for
example, cleans up the modeling environment by removing filters and options
meant for other disciplines. To get all of the steel detailing components
included with Tekla Structures, you must select the SteelDetailingTemplate
model template.
When using a model template, all projects are started in Single-user mode. The
model can later be opened in Multi-user mode if desired. The Multi-User
facility in Tekla allows multiple users in one model. This is particularly useful
when a number of detailers are working on one contract.
4. Click the OK button to create the new model.

The menus and icons become activated, and the model name appears in the title bar of the
Tekla Structures window.
Every model must have a unique name. Tekla Structures does not allow
duplicate model names within the same location. Do not use special marks ( / \
; : | ) in model names.
You can only have one model open at a time. If you already have a model
open, Tekla Structures prompts you to save that model.

Tekla Structures automatically creates a grid and a 3D view according to the saved standard
view properties. The 3D view is shown in the Views dialog box. Named views are shown on
the left, and currently visible views are on the right. To make the 3D view visible, highlight it
and use the arrow button to move it to the Visible views side, or double-click on it.
The default 3D view and grid are shown below.
Lines show the projections of the grids that are visible on the view plane. Tekla Structures
indicates the work area of a view using a white, dashed line cube.
For more information, see:
Help: Modeling > Setting up the Workspace

Save the model
To save the model: Select File > Save from the pull-down menu or CTRL+S or click the
Save icon in the Standard toolbar.
Remember to save your model often, and always save when opening a new
model or exiting Tekla Structures model.
Tekla Structures also includes an auto save feature that backs up and saves your work
automatically at set intervals. These intervals are set in the Autosave properties dialog box
obtained from the Tools > Options > Options… pull-down menu.
After you make any desired changes, remember to click the Save button.
For more information on saving and auto saving, see:
Help: System > Using Tekla Structures effectively > Autosave
Most commands for Tekla Structures are found both in menus (main or pop-up) and in
toolbars (icons). In this training manual, we will mainly use the pop-up menu to activate
commands.
There are several ways to execute commands in Tekla Structures:

Icons
Commands in main pull-down menu
Commands in pop-up menu
By default all commands are found in the pull-down menus and most of them
in the icons. A pop-up menu appears when you click the right mouse button
(right-click). If you have an object selected, the commands on the pop-up menu
relate to that object.
For more information on Tekla Structures screen layout and toolbars, see:
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Interface overview

1.3 Create Grids
Properties dialog box
In order to create or modify the grid, you need a basic understanding of how to use a property
dialog box. All entities in Tekla Structures such as grids, views, beams, connections, even
points and welds have properties. You can see and modify the properties of an object by
double-clicking on the object in the model.
Double-click on the grid, and the grid properties dialog box will open. Note the buttons along
the bottom of the box. These are typical for most property dialog boxes in Tekla Structures.
In this case you will have the option to Create a new grid, Modify an existing grid, or Get the
properties of an existing grid (by highlighting the grid and clicking the Get button). You can
also Close the dialog box.
Note the buttons along the top of the dialog box. These are typical for most property dialog
boxes in Tekla Structures.
You have the option to Save the settings as they stand, select different saved settings from the
pull down menu and Load them, or save changed settings with a new Save As name typed in
to the field to the right of the Save as button.
To create the appropriate grid for BasicModel1 as shown below, you can delete the existing
grid and create a new one from the Modeling >Create Grid… pull-down menu, or you can
modify the existing grid.
Plan

Elevation
To modify the existing grid:

Modify the existing grid
1. Double-click on a gridline. This opens the Grid properties dialog box.
2. Complete the Grid dialog box by filling in the X, Y and Z coordinates, and the labels for
the gridlines as shown.

There are a number of ways you can type fractions in Tekla Structures including
fractional inches (7"5/8), Decimal inches (7.5 for 7½"), Feet and inches (7'5"5/8
or 7'5.625) or even decimal feet (7.5' for 7'-6"). The program will convert
whatever you type into a format that it can use. You don't have to type the inch
symbol when you mean inches. It will always assume this by default.
Do not use spaces except to separate dimensions or values. Tekla views a

space as an indicator of a new value.
3. Click Modify to apply the new grid values.

4. In the Save as field, enter the grid file name, GRID-BASICMODEL1, and click the Save
as button to save the grid values for later use.
5. Click Close to close the dialog box.
You can make grids and grid lines act magnetically so that the objects on the
grid lines follow if you move the grid line. To bind objects to grid lines, select
the magnetic grid plane checkbox.
For more information on grids and dialog box buttons, see:

Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Interface overview > Dialog boxes > Common
buttons
The numeric units used in the Grid dialog box (as well as in other modeling
dialog boxes) can be controlled from the Units and decimals... dialog box
obtained from the Tools > Options > Options pull-down menu, Units and
decimals topic.

When the grid was modified, the work area of the view, shown with the dashed line cube, was
not updated.
Fit work area
To fit the work area according to the modified grid:
1. Click in the view to activate it. The border will turn red
when the view is active.
2. Right-click and select Fit Work Area to Entire Model
from the pop-up menu.
The view should now look as shown:
To hide the work area cube, select the view then hold down the CTRL+SHIFT
keys, right-click, and then select Redraw View
1.4 Create Plane Views along Gridlines

We will now create Elevation and Plan views along the gridlines created in the previous
section.
A view is a representation of a model from a specific location. Each view is displayed in its
own window inside the main Tekla Structures window. Each view has a view plane on which
the grids are visible.
For more information, see: Help: Modeling > Setting up the Workspace > Views

Create Plan view
To create a plan view
1. Open the view properties dialog box by double-clicking anywhere in the 3d view. These
are the properties of the 3d view.
2. Note the Name 3d, the Angle of view is 3d and the view will be looking Up 50’-0 and
Down 3’-0 into virtual reality from the location where the view was cut at the 0'-0" level.
3. From the pull down menu at the top of the view properties dialog box, select Plan View
and click Load.
4. In the name field after the text PLAN AT EL., type the elevation of the view you wish to
create, in this case 0’-0. Note the setting for the angle of view is now Plane instead of 3d,
and the view is going to look Up and Down into virtual reality 3’-0” from the location of
the cut in the model, so you don’t see the steel in the floor above or below.

5. Click Apply so these settings, or attributes, will be used for the next view created. It is
important to click the apply button, or you will create a view with the “old” applied
settings which in this case were 3d. The name, angle and up and down depth of the view
would still be set as 3d, and the new view created would be considered a copy view.
Create Basic Views
6. Click on the Create basic view of model icon.

7. The following dialog box will open. The default elevation is 0”. Once a
different elevation has been input, that elevation becomes the default.
This is typical of most property dialog boxes in Tekla Structures.
8. Enter the elevation to cut the view you applied setting, in this case 0’-0”.
9. Click Create.
You should now have a plan view cut at elevation 0’0”. You can double-click in the view and
modify the name of the view, the type of cut, (Plan or 3d) and the distance the view will
display up and down, but you can never modify or change where the view was cut.
Create elevation view
1. Open the view properties dialog box if it isn't already open.
2. Select Elevation View from the pull down menu at the top of the dialog box and click
Load.
3. In the Name field after the text ELEVATION ON GRID, type the name of the grid line for
which you wish to cut an elevation view.
4. Click Apply so these settings, or attributes, will be used for the next view created.

Create view by two points
1. Click on the Create view using two points icon.

2. In the plan view you created at elevation 0, click on the intersection of grid lines A and 1.
As you move the cursor, you will see arrows pointing the direction the cut will face.
3. Click on the intersection of grid lines A and 7.

4. You have now created on elevation view for grid line A. Click OK to close the Views
dialog box.
Now that you know how to create views manually, we will learn how to create views
automatically based on a grid system.
Tekla Structures offers a tool to quickly create views for each elevation and grid line as
specified in the grid properties and name these views with the markers you specified. Note
that these views will always be cut looking north and west.
Before we proceed to create views using this tool, we need to delete all existing views, except
the 3d. To do this, go to View > View List, select the view to be deleted and click the Delete
button.
Create grid views
1. Select a gridline to highlight the grid.
2. Right-click and select Create View > Along Grid Lines from the pop-up menu.
3. This opens the Creation of views along grid lines dialog box shown here.

4. Click Create in the Creation of views along grid lines dialog box and the views will
automatically be created.
5. Note the view properties. These are the same settings you selected from the pull down
menu at the top of the dialog box when you created each view. To view these settings,
you can click on the Show button, and the view properties dialog box will open.
6. Click OK to close the Creation of views along grid lines dialog box.
Note that if the grid properties were incorrect in some way, for example a
missing label, the views you create using this method could be named wrong or
cut at the wrong elevations.
The Views dialog box appears presenting all the created views. All invisible (closed) named
views are listed on the left and all visible views on the right (see image).
For more information on view properties, see:

Help: Modeling > Modeling Settings > View and representation settings > View properties
Display or hide views
To display or hide views:

Clicking the Open named view list icon will open the Views dialog box (which is
already open).
1. Select the view(s) you want to display or hide.
2. Use the arrows to move view(s) from left to right (visible) or vice versa (invisible).
Do not keep too many views open at the same time. Nine is the maximum
number of open views. You can open or close named views by clicking the
Open named view list icon. Delete unnecessary views from the view list.
To switch between views, press "Ctrl+Tab" on your keyboard.

Rotate the model
You can rotate the model in a 3D view using the default center of rotation, or you can set a
new center of rotation. The center of rotation is displayed with the symbol below.
1. To rotate the model, hold down the "Ctrl" key, then click and hold down the middle
mouse button while moving the mouse to rotate the model.
2. To reset the center of rotation, press the "V" key on your keyboard.
3. In the view click where you want the center of rotation to be.
Change between 3D / Plane
You can switch a view from Plane

(2D) to 3D by using the keyboard.
The keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+P" is
how you do this, which can be very
useful when working on your
model.

1.5 Create Foundations
We will now create foundations in the model.
To create footings for columns:
You may need to open your concrete toolbar by going to Tools > Toolbars >
Concrete. Additional toolbars when opened are saved in the open state and
will be visible in all future models.
Create Pad Footing
1. Close all open views except the 3d view and Plan @ EL. 0", then click OK to close the
Views dialog box.
2. From the Window pull-down menu select Tile vertically to make the views fill the work
area. You can also double-click on the view border to make it fill the work area.
3. Double-click on the Create pad footing icon. This opens the Pad footing properties
dialog box.
4. The dialog box for Pad footing properties should appear as shown.
(Change any attributes that may appear differently).
5. On the Position tab, change the Top and Bottom levels as shown.

6. Click Apply.
7. In the 3d view, pick the grid intersection B-1 to create the footing.
8. Create the rest of the 70*70 footings at the other intersections of gridline B by picking
each position.
Top and bottom levels are the literal levels for the top and bottom of the
footings. Because of this, you do not necessarily have to place them at a
specific elevation, just the proper grid location.
Help: Modeling > Modeling settings > Part position settings > Position on the work
plane
Help: Modeling > Modeling settings > Part position settings > Position Depth
Help: Modeling > Creating and Modifying Structures > Creating and modifying parts >
Changing the profile of a part
You can undo (and redo) previous commands one by one since the last save by
clicking the icons or typing "Ctrl + Z" (Undo) and "Ctrl + Y" (Redo).
Footings along grid line A
While still in the Create pad footing command,

1. Complete the Pad footing properties dialog box for a 60*60 footing as shown.
2. Click OK.
If you don't click the OK button, the dialog box will remain open. You can also
close a dialog box by clicking the Cancel button or X in the top right corner of
that dialog box. Clicking Apply will apply the settings but keep the dialog box
open. Only use Apply if you want to keep the box open. You don't have to
click Apply and OK every time.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Interface overview > Dialog boxes

3. Create the footings at intersections along gridline A by picking each position.
4. Right-click and select Interrupt to end the command.
Commands will stay active until you interrupt them.

To end commands, right-click and select Interrupt from the pop-up menu, or
press the "Esc" key.
To restart the last command used, press "Enter".
Foundations for silos – parametric profiles

We will create two identical circular foundations for the silos. At first, one foundation will be
created at the coordinate (14’-9”, 14'-9”) and the other foundation will be created as a copy of
the first one.
Tekla Structures contains standard (library), parametric, and user-defined profiles. For the
foundation, we will use parametric profiles.
Changing the profile of a part > Standard profiles
Changing the profile of a part > Parametric profiles
Create silo footing
1. Double-click on the Create pad footing icon.

2. In the Profile click the Select button. This takes you to the section profile catalog.
3. Then find the Round Shapes profile category and then the 'D' parametric shape

4. Complete the Select Profile properties dialog box as shown below.
5. Click OK.
6. Go to the Position tab and change the top and bottom levels of the footing as shown.
You can select the profile for a part from the Select profile dialog box that
opens next to the Profile field in the part properties dialog box.
You can also enter a profile name in the Profile field in the part properties
dialog box.

7. You should still be in the Create pad footing command. (You will see the prompt "Pick
Position" in the status bar located in the lower left corner of the main Tekla Structures
window.)
Locate the Silo Footing
8. If you do not see the prompt "Pick Position" in the status bar, click once on the Create
pad footing icon. This starts the command with the last applied settings.
9. Press the "A" key on the keyboard. The Enter a numeric location dialog box will
automatically open with a $ in the field. Enter 14-9, 14-9 after the $ to define the position
for the footing.
The "R" key will open up the Enter a numeric location dialog box with an
“@” symbol in the field. This is known as a Relative Snap. (The coordinates
you enter will be relative to the last point you clicked.
The "A" key is known as an Absolute Snap. (Absolute Snaps are relative to
the origin of the model)
Help: System > Reserved Shortcuts
10. Click OK, or press the "Enter" key, and the silo footing is created.
11. Right-click and select Interrupt to end the command. You can also exit any command by
using the “Esc” key.

Snap and Select Icons
In order to work in the model it is important to understand the functionality of the snap and
select icons. To open toolbars you can click on the Window pull down menu and select
Toolbars.
Below are the select icons. These icons allow you to select all parts or specific parts of the
model by dragging a box around the entire model.
From left to right the select icons are as follows: all, connections, objects, surfaces, points,
grid, grid lines, welds, cuts, views, bolt groups, single bolts, reinforcing bar, loads, planes,
and distances.
The next 4 icons allow you to select connections and assemblies as a whole or as individual
entities.
Pull-down options are offered by Tekla Structures to allow you to select types of members
such as beams or columns. The last icon allows you to further narrow your selection by
specifying more detailed information about an object.
For more information on using the select filter see:
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Filtering objects > Filtering Objects using a selection
filter
The snap icons function similarly to other computer aided drawing applications. These snap
icons are hierarchal from left to right. The two end icons designate if you want to snap only to
work points (used mostly for modeling) or all points on corners and edges of objects.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Snapping to positions

Copy the footing
1. Click the footing once to select it.
If you are working in semi transparent mode (CTRL+2) instead of fully

rendered mode (CTRL+4), then you will have to select the edges of items rather
than the surfaces.
When you have a part highlighted in the model, a mini toolbar will appear next
to the mouse pointer and will fade when you move the mouse further away or
change the selection. You can use the toolbar to quickly view or change
properties of the object(s) selected.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Linear… from the pop-up menu.
3. This opens the Copy - Linear dialog box shown here.
4. Complete the dialog box as shown and click Copy then OK.
For more information on copy go to
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Copying and moving objects

Now the footings should look as

shown:
1.6 Create Columns

Create Column Tool
We will first create two of the columns and then use the Copy command to create the other
columns.
To create the first two columns:
1. Double-click on the Create column icon.
2. Complete the Column properties dialog box as shown.
(for both the Attributes and Position tabs)
3. Click OK.
4. Note that the bottom of the column is -10-1/2" below zero (0"). This takes into account
for the grout that will be added later (1-1/2") as we want the end point of the column to
be at the underside of the base plate when we apply the base plate macro.

5. Pick the intersection of gridlines A-1 (p1) to
create one column, and then pick grid B-1
(p2) to create the second column. Look in 3d
view from time to time to check for correct
placement.
6. Right-click and select Interrupt to end the
command.
Copy columns
1. Select the columns that you just created by dragging a window across them in a right to
left direction. The crossing command functions similar to other computer drawing
applications.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Linear… from the pop-up menu.
3. This opens the Copy - Linear dialog box shown here.
4. Complete the dialog box and click Copy then OK. Columns should copy.

6. Now all the columns appear in the model.
You can select multiple parts in the model by holding down the "Ctrl" key
when selecting objects in the model individually.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Selecting Objects
At this time if you desired the base plates and anchor bolts could be added to the
model so that Anchor Bolt Plans could be created. See chapter 2.2 for adding
base plate components.
1.7 Silos
We will now model the silos.
Create silos

2. Complete the Column properties dialog box as shown (for both the Attributes and
Position tabs).
We are changing the prefix for both part and assembly so that the Silos will not
take the same number type of the rest of our columns (i.e. C1, C2). Instead, we
have used DND (Do Not Detail).

3. To select the profile – Click the Select… button on the right and go to TUBE profiles in
the catalog.
4. Click OK.

5. To select aluminum as the grade required, click the Select…. button next to the Material
option
6. Click OK.
7. Hovering your cross hairs over the top edge of the circular base will automatically
highlight the snap point at the center because the Points and Grid Intersections snap is
activated.

Now the silos appear in the model.
The visibility of objects in views depends on the work area, view depth, view
setup, and view filter. You can also temporarily hide parts in a view by using
the Hide tool (on the pop-up menu).
In the pictures hereafter, all the model objects created may not always be
visible.
Help: Modeling > Examining the Model > Showing and hiding objects
1.8 Create Beams

Create steel beams
We will first create the beams at the 12'-7”1/2 level and then copy them (using the select
filter) to the two upper levels.
1. Open the PLAN AT EL. 12-7”1/2 view.
2. Press the "Ctrl+4" hotkey to change the object representation to Rendered.
In rendered views, use the shortcuts Ctrl+1...5 and Shift+1...5 to set the desired
representation for parts in the model or components which we will create later.
3. Double-click on the Create beam icon.

4. Complete the Beam properties dialog box as shown.
5. Click OK.
6. Pick the intersection of gridlines A-4 and then B-4 as shown below, and notice how the
beam automatically appears at the correct level in the 3D view simultaneously
Note that it is very important to input beams from left to right and bottom to
top. Tekla Structures will consider the first end input in the model as the left
end.
Notice that as you drag the icon to the second point of the beam, a dimension
displays to indicate the part’s current length. The same dimension will appear
again if you click and highlight a part in the model.

7. Continue adding beams along gridlines 5, 6 and 7. Input beam between columns on grid
lines A and B.
Filter beams
1. Choose the select filter option Steel Beam filter from the drop down list.
A select filter provides you control over selecting different types of objects
using both standard and user-defined filters.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Filtering objects > Filtering objects
using a selection filter
2. By dragging the mouse (right to left), select an area in the model as shown below. Notice
this only highlights the beams.

Copy beams
1. Open the ELEVATION ON GRID 7 view, right-click and select Copy from the pop-up
menu.
2. Select a base point at the intersection of Grid A & 12'7"1/2. This is where you want to
'pick up' the items you are copying.
3. Select a destination point at the intersection of GRID A & 24'-0 as shown above.
4. Next select a destination point at the intersection of GRID A & 44'-0 as shown above.

5. A message may appear stating objects are outside the work area. If so, click Do Not
Expand as shown below.
The Objects outside the work area warning displays because we are working in
a view (ELEVATION ON GRID 7) that has a depth of only 3’-0 in each
direction, while the parts we are copying are far beyond that. In some instances,
we would want to use Expand, but in this situation it would alter our elevation
view.
7. Change the select filter option back to standard (as shown below) and click in a view, so
you will be able to select objects other than beams.
In the 3d view, this portion of the model should look like this.

Beams around silos
Next we will create beams at elevation 44’-0.
1. Open the PLAN AT EL. 44’-0.
2. Use the "Ctrl+P" hotkey to change this view to 3d.
3. Press the "Ctrl+4" hotkey to change the object representation to Rendered.
Hide silos
4. Select both Silos (select one then hold the "Ctrl" key down while selecting the other) and
right-click to open up the pop-up menu. While holding the "Shift" key down, select the
Hide option as shown below.
5. Finally, use the "Ctrl+P" hotkey to change this view back to plan.
You can also hide objects without holding down the "Shift" key. When you
select the Hide option without the "Shift" key down, the object will not
become completely hidden. They will change to Reference Lines.
Create grid beams
Here we will put in grid line beams at the roof level, but using a different snapping tool that
automatically snap the length of the grid line between bays.
1. Select the Snap to Line button on your snaps toolbar
2. Click the Create beam icon.

3. If you hover over a grid line, you can see an illuminated line appear with an arrow
indicating direction. Make sure the arrows are pointing in the proper direction, i.e. bottom
to top and left to right, and create the missing beams at the gridline intersections shown in
the figure below.
Create the rest of the beams

Next we will create beams in locations where no gridlines intersect. The snapping tools help
you pick points to create objects precisely where you need them without having to know the
coordinates or layout additional lines or points.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Snapping to positions
If you double-click on an existing beam in the model and click Apply in the
Beam Properties dialog box, those settings become active. Then only a single-
click on the Create Beam icon is required to add beams with those settings to
your model.

Create beam A
1. Make sure only the Snap to reference lines / points (F4) icon of the two main snap
switches on the right is pressed down.
2. Make sure the Snap to mid points icon is pressed down.
3. Pick a midpoint of the beam between A-2 and A-3 (p1) and then the midpoint of the
beam between B-2 and B-3 (p2) as shown below.
Create beam B
We will pick the start position of beam B by using the gridline intersection A-1 as a
temporary reference point and tracking along gridline 1 in the direction of intersection B-1 for
29’-6”.
We will then pick the second position of beam B using the temporary snap switch
Perpendicular.
Make sure the Snap to points and grid intersections icon is also pressed down.

Pick the first position of beam B
1. Hold down the "Ctrl" key first and then click gridline intersection A-1 (p1). This will be a
temporary reference point. A green cross will be placed there.
2. Then move the cursor (do not pick!!) to the gridline intersection B-1 (p2).
3. While the cursor is resting at B-1 (p2), push “A” on the keyboard and a numeric locator
dialog box will open. Type 29-6” for the numeric location or in this case, the distance. (If
you just start typing after picking a reference point the Enter a numeric location dialog
box will open automatically.)
4. Click OK or "Enter" and the cursor snaps to the correct position (which is 29’-6” from A-
1 in the direction of B-1) as shown below.

Pick second position of beam B
5. Right-click and select Perpendicular, or let the snap grab perpendicular to select a point
for the other end of the beam.
6. Pick the second position on beam A (p2) as shown below.
7. Right-click and select Interrupt.
Create beam C
8. Click once on the beam icon to get back in the beam command. Pick the intersection of
beam B and gridline 2 (p1) and then the intersection of gridlines B-2 (p2) as shown here.
Make sure the Snap to intersection points snap is set.

Create beam D
We will first create one of the beams that frame around the silo, and then by using the Copy
Special > Rotate command create the other three.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Copying and moving objects > Rotating Objects
1. Hold down the "Ctrl" key and pick gridline intersection A-1 (p1) to set a temporary
reference point. A green cross will be placed there. See below.
2. Then move the cursor (do not pick!!) to the gridline intersection B-1 (p2).
3. While the cursor is resting at B-1, type 13’-0 for the numeric location or in this case
distance. (The Enter a numeric location dialog box will open automatically.)
4. Click OK or "Enter", the cursor will snap to the
correct position 13'-0 away from (p1) as shown
on the following page.
5. Move the cursor to the intersection of A1 again.
6. Hold the CTRL Key again and click this point.
7. Track the cursor once again to the right, but do not click.

8. Once a snap point is highlighted, input the value 13’-0 and click OK. The beam will now
appear.
Copy rotate the beam

1. Select the beam that you just created.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Rotate… from the pop-up menu.
3. This opens the Copy Special - Rotate dialog box.

4. In the 3D view pick the center point of the silo as the point to define the rotation.
5. The origin for X0, Y0 and Z0 values will appear in the dialog box.
6. Complete the other fields in the dialog.

7. Click Copy and then OK.
This portion of the model should look like this.

Copy translate the beam to the other silo
1. Select the beams shown highlighted in the picture below (press the "Ctrl" key to add parts
to the selection).
2. Right-click and select Copy from the pop-up menu.
3. Select a base point or "pick-up" point.
4. Select a new point or a "put-down" point.

6. Now click in the 3D view to select the view. A red box will appear around the edge of the
view. Right-click in the view now and select 'Redraw View'. The model should now look
as shown.

1.9 Create Bracing
Next we will input the vertical bracing members using the Create beam tool.
Open the ELEVATION ON GRID A view if it is not already visible.
Create braces

2. From the drop down menu at the top of the dialog box, select Vertical_hss_brace and
click Load.
3. Click OK.

4. In the ELEVATION ON GRID A view create the first brace by first picking the bottom of
the column near gridline intersection A-2 and then the midpoint of column A-3 as shown.
Make sure you pick the midpoint of the column and not the midpoint between the 12'-7½"
level and the 24'-0" level.
Create the second brace

1. Create the next brace by picking the top position of column A-2 and then midpoint of
column A-3 as shown below.

We will now adjust this bracing member so that the lower end of the brace is offset 6 inches
from the bottom of the column. To do this, we will use handles to move the part end.
Use handle to move brace end
Help: Modeling > Creating and Modifying Structures > Part position > Moving a part
using handles
1. Select the first brace to display the handles.
2. Pick the yellow handle (Tekla Structures highlights the handle).
Holding down the Alt key while dragging a box across the handle allows for
easier selection of that handle or allows selection of multiple handles at that
location
3. Right-click and select Move Special > Linear… to move the handle 6 inches upwards.

4. This opens the Move - Linear dialog box shown here.
5. Complete the dZ field and click Move, then OK.

Repeat the procedure to move the second brace’s top handle 12 inches downwards.
7. Pick the brace (Tekla Structures then highlights the handle).
8. Complete the dZ field and click Move, then OK.

Remember that this handle may be yellow or magenta in color depending upon
whether it is the Start Point (yellow) or the End Point (magenta) of the item.

Copy mirror braces
1. Select both braces as shown here by clicking each one individually while holding down
the CTRL key.
2. Right-click and select Copy Special > Mirror…

3. This opens the Copy - mirror dialog box.
4. In the view, pick two points on grid 3 to define the mirror line. The X0, Y0 and Angle
fields automatically change based on these 2 points.
The points that you click to define the mirror represent the baseline of the
mirror or the 'line of symmetry' in plan. Try to imagine what the image would
look like when reflected in a mirror that is placed on the line drawn between the
two points you clicked in the model.
5. Click Copy and then OK.

Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Copying and moving objects > Mirroring an object
1.10 Add Infill Beams

Next we will input some infill beams using the Create beam tool.
Open the Plan on 12'-7½" view if it is not already visible.
Create stair landing beam

2. Load the Beam properties.
3. Click the Select… button to launch the
section catalog.

All available sections are listed here with parameters that are correct to the
very latest editions of industry organization manuals Simply locate and select
the section you would like to use.
4. Select W18X40 from the catalog.
5. Click OK on the Select Profile and the Beam Properties dialogs boxes.
6. Hold down the CTRL key and click the mouse at the intersection of grid line A5.
7. Activate the ‘Near’ snap, and slowly drag the cursor up column line 5. Notice that there
is an automatic snap in 1’-0 increments as you drag.
8. When the dimension reads 7’-0, Click to place the start point for the beam.
The increments that the automatic snap uses are dependent on your zoom level.
The further out, the larger the increment. The further in, the smaller the
increment.

9. Use the perpendicular snap to connect the beam to the beam on grid line 6.
We will now add some horizontal bracing sections too.
1.11 Add Horizontal Bracing

Add Points on Line
1. First, we will use the Add Points on Line (Divided Line Points) tool to establish the
midpoint between two points we select. Double-click the icon shown in the left margin.
Points Tools allow us to quickly and easily establish points in the model
without having to measure and calculate distances.
2. Check that the No. of Points in the points tool is set to

1. This will place one point half way between the two
points you click in the model. If this was set to 2 then it
would add two points equally spaced between the points
you click effectively dividing the length into 3 equal
spaces.
3. Click OK
4. Click the points as shown using the Endpoint snap.
Notice that a tiny cross appears halfway between both
points.

5. Now add two W16X50 beams as shown below. Tip: Add the beams from left to right and
use the perpendicular snap to ensure they are horizontal in the model.
Horizontal Bracing
6. Finally add the horizontal bracing.

7. Use the Create Beam tool again and select and load the properties for a Horizontal
Brace.
8. Change the section profile to match the one shown above.

9. Click OK and add the bracing going from left to right as shown below.
Move Bracing
10. Now move these braces down to within the depth of the floor beams.
11. Highlight both braces by holding down the CTRL key while clicking the members.
12. Release the CTRL key and right-click the mouse.

13. Select Move Special - Linear and enter -9" (the negative value moves the bracing beams
down)
14. Finally, check that the braces are in the correct position in the 3D view.
Move beam using offset

1. Double-click on the highlighted beam to open the properties dialog.

2. Go to the Position tab.
3. Adjust the dialog box as shown and click Modify. Notice that the beam has now moved
down 3" while the start and end points have remained in their original position.
It really makes very little difference whether you locate beams using offsets or
by simply moving them into position. Sometimes there may be speed
advantages to be gained by modeling one way rather than another.
Now we have modeled all the steel members in BasicModel1. The model should appear as in
the picture below.
At this point we have added all the members into the model. In a real contract,
we could now run the Advanced Bill by going to Drawings & Reports > Create
Report… > Advanced Bill, then clicking Create from All.
We will deal with Reports and Numbering in much more depth later in this
manual.

System Components

Contents
2 Creating System Components ......................................................... 1

2.1 About System Components ......................................................................... 1
Check clashing of steel structures ......................................................... 2
2.2 Column Base Plates ..................................................................................... 3
2.3 Beam to Beam Web ..................................................................................... 8
Shear Plates ........................................................................................... 8
Checking Connections ........................................................................... 9
2.4 Beam to Column Web ................................................................................ 10
Clip angle .............................................................................................. 10
Two-sided Clip angles .......................................................................... 11
2.5 Beam to Column Flange ............................................................................ 12
End plate ............................................................................................... 12
2.6 Vertical Bracing Connections..................................................................... 12
Tube Gusset ......................................................................................... 12
Modifying Connections ......................................................................... 14
2.7 Bracing Connections .................................................................................. 17
Wrap Plate ............................................................................................ 17
2.8 Re-Check Entire Model Clashing .............................................................. 22
Steel: System Components

Copyright © 2011 Tekla 2-i
2 Creating System Components
In this lesson
This lesson introduces the basics of creating system connections in Tekla Structures.
Create connections
Work with connection properties
Save the properties for later use
2.1 About System Components

You can model connections quickly with the Tekla Structures system components.
The greatest benefits of using system components are:
The connection properties can be saved with a particular name so that they can be used
later. These properties can then be used for all projects.
When you modify an object’s profile in the model, all of the connections to the object are
automatically modified at the same time.
If you highlight an object and select options such as edit, copy, or mirror, all connections
into the object are automatically included. The connections that are copied or mirrored
are exactly the same as the originals. The same applies to plates and bolts.
With AutoDefaults you can create rules defining when to use different connection
properties. (Covered in the advanced course)
All available system components are located in the component catalog, which can be opened
using Ctrl+F or by clicking the binocular icon on the detailing toolbar.
When applying a connection that you are unfamiliar with, accept the default properties and
create the connection. Then look to see what needs to be modified. This is usually quicker
than trying to set the values for the connection before seeing what the connection actually
creates.
Help: Detailing > Getting started > Using components > Creating components
Help: Detailing > Getting started > Basics of components > Component concepts
Help: Detailing > Getting started > Basics of components > Selection order
Help: Detailing > Getting started > Basics of components > Up direction

Copyright © 2011 Tekla 2-1
Check clashing of steel structures
In Chapter 1 we created a model of a small industrial structure. To complete the model we
will need to connect the parts. Before creating the connections, all of the members in the
model usually collide with other members.
By using the Clash check command, we can check which parts in the model collide. We will
run a clash check now and again after the connections have been applied.
Help: Modeling > Checking the Model > Detecting clashes
Check clashing
1. Select several parts in the model by dragging an area select around a portion of the
model, for example the column on gridlines B and 7 and the beams framing into it.
2. Right-click and select Clash check.
Tekla Structures displays the clashing objects in the Clash Check Manager dialog box. You
can see that all of the selected parts in the model collide.
3. Select any clashing parts from the list, and Tekla Structures highlights them in the model.
Right-click on an item in the list, select Zoom to objects and the model view
will zoom to the selected parts.

2-2 Copyright © 2011 Tekla
2.2 Column Base Plates
The first system connections that we will add are the column base plates.
First, we will create a base plate using the default values. We will then modify the properties
of the base plate and finally create the rest of the base plates with the new properties.
Open Component Catalog
Create base plate to one column

1. Open the component catalog by clicking on the binocular icon or by typing Ctrl+F.
2. To see pictures of the connection, make sure the Thumbnails icon is active, see below.
Both the Details view option and Descriptions option, will provide indication
on which components are Recommended by Tekla for the US Environment.
3. Type "base" into the upper field, and click on the Search button. In the Component
Catalog, double-click on the U.S. Base plate (1047) icon.
You could also type in the component number you would like to use or have
several numbers separated by spaces to show different available connections at
the same time.

The following dialog appears:
In the component dialog box, parts colored yellow are parts that will be added
by the component, while blue indicates parts that Tekla Structures expects to
be already in the model.
4. Click OK to accept the default values.

5. Pick any column.
6. When prompted, pick the bottom endpoint of the column as the position and the base
plate will be created.

7. Use the shortcut Ctrl+2 to make the parts displayed in shaded wire frame.
You can see that the anchor bolts were created as Anchor J-rods.
Edit Base Plate

We will change the base plate size by modifying the connection properties.
1. Double-click on the green connection symbol, and the Base plate dialog box will reopen.
2. Select the Parts tab page in the dialog box.
3. Edit the values in the fields shown highlighted in the next figure.
4. Click Modify.
Notice that the base plate size has changed.

Edit Anchor Rods
Next we will change the anchor rod spacing and type.
1. Select the Bolts tab in the dialog box.
2. Edit the values in the tabs & fields shown highlighted in the next figures.
Note the layout for the fields for No. of rows and Spacing between rows, as
this carries throughout different Tekla Structures components for setting up
bolt groups. Number of rows for base plates is 2 in each direction by default,
so we can leave these fields blank.
3. Click Modify to make each change take effect.
Tips for editing components:
It is a good idea to click modify at least after each tab is filled out or
after filling in each field if you are not sure how the component will
react. This way, if there is an error, you do not have to hunt back
through your changes to find the problem.
Give the component only the minimal information it needs to get the
results you want. Putting in the base plate size and edge distance is all
the information we need. Adding spacing information only increases
the chance for error later. If one value should change, we would need
to change them all. If we had entered the anchor rod spacing, we
should have left the edge distance fields clear.
Note that the picture indicating the anchor rod on the right has Create and Anc.
Rod Assy. fields. Remember that just because a part is set to be created does
not automatically make it a part of the anchor rod assembly.
The settings on the bolt tab affect anchor spacing and base plate hole size but do
not affect anchor rod diameter.
4. Click Apply or OK to accept the properties for use later.

Create remaining base plates
1. Press the Enter key to start the base plate command again.
To repeat the last command, do one of the following:

Click Edit > Repeat last command
Press Enter
2. Create the rest of the base plates by picking each column and then the position for the
base plate.
At this point in a real contract, you would be able to run the Anchor Bolt
Drawing and send it out for approval or over to the site, so they can start
pouring the bases. For training purposes, however, we will skip this step until
later.
2.3 Beam to Beam Web
Shear Plates
We will use the Shear plate simple (146) connection to make the beam to beam web
connections. The shear plate will be welded to the primary beam web and bolted to the
secondary beam web. We will use the connection when the secondary beam is perpendicular
to the main member or at a skewed angle to the main member.
Create one shear plate connection
1. Open the component dialog (Ctrl+F or binocular icon), find the Shear plate simple (146)
connection, and double-click on its icon.
The following dialog appears:
2. Pick the beam on gridline 1 as the main part of the

connection.
3. Pick the beam perpendicular to the main part to be the
secondary part, and the connection will be created.

Checking Connections
To make it easier to check the connection you created, you can create views from different
sides of a selected connection. In the view the work area is closely fitted around the
connection.
Create connection basic views
To create component basic views:
1. Select the connection symbol.
2. Right-click and select Create view > Default Views of Component, and four basic views
(front, top end and perspective) appear.
3. Keep the Component front view open and close the other component basic views.
Check bolt dimensions
We will now check the bolt location distances and bolt edge distances between bolts and the
shear plate.
Tekla will automatically change the color of the component cone from green to
yellow if an edge distance issue is detected. Edge distance rules are set up
under the Tools > Options > Components dialog box. (The default edge
distance is 1.2 times the bolt diameter)
Help: Modeling > Checking the model > Measuring objects
1. Click Tools > Measure > Bolt spacing.

2. Set your selection to Objects in Components.
3. Pick the bolt group.
4. Pick the shear plate, and the temporary dimensions are shown in the view.
The dimensions created are from the part picked (in our example, the shear
plate) to the bolt group. So to measure to the beam, pick the beam in step 3
above.
Now we will accept the created connection with the default properties.

Create the rest of the shear plates
With the connection’s applied properties, create shear plate connections to all the other beam
to beam conditions.
Notice how Tekla automatically detects the depth of the supported beam and applies the
correct number of bolts to the connection automatically.
2.4 Beam to Column Web

We will use the Clip angle (141) connection to make the beam to column web connections.
For the double sided beam to column web connections, we will use the Two sided Clip angle
(143) connection. That connection uses only one bolt group to go through all three parts.
We will then make the wall brace to column connections with Tube gusset (20). This
connection uses a gusset plate to connect the beam to the column. Connection plates welded
to the end of the braces will be bolted to the gusset plate.
Clip angle
We will now use the Clip angle (141) connection to make all single beam to column web
connections using the default connection properties.
Create clip angles

1. In the component catalog, find the Clip angle (141)
connection.
2. Make a clip angle connection at every beam to
column web condition where there is only one
secondary beam coming to the column web. The
column is the main part in the connection, so when
prompted, pick the column as the main part and the
beam as the secondary part.

Two-sided Clip angles
Create the two sided clip angle connection to all double sided beam
to column web conditions to connect beams to both sides of the
column web:
Create two-sided clip angles
1. Find the Two sided clip angle (143) connection.
2. When prompted, pick the column as the main part.
3. Pick a beam on one side, and then the beam on the other side as
the secondary parts.
4. Click the middle mouse button to complete the connection.
When there are multiple secondaries you need to click the middle mouse button
to complete the selection.
Help: Detailing > Getting started > Basics of components > Selection order
5. Double-click on the connection cone to open the Two Sided Clip Angle properties dialog
box. Then set the Safety Connections property on the Parts tab as shown below.

6. Click Modify when complete, and notice that the angles on one side drop down to allow
for safe erection practices.
7. Click Apply then save the connection settings for future use by typing a name in the Save
As field and click the Save As button.
8. Apply the Two sided clip angle (143) to all two sided beam to column webs framing
conditions.
2.5 Beam to Column Flange

We will now create End plate (144) connections for all the beam to column flange conditions
by using the default properties.
End plate
Create end plates

1. Find the End plate (144) connection.
2. Create connections at all the beam to column flange framing conditions.
2.6 Vertical Bracing Connections

Tube Gusset
We will connect all the wall braces to columns using Tube gusset (20) connections, and then
modify their properties all at once.

Create tube gusset to intersection of braces
1. Find the Tube gusset (20) connection.
2. Pick the column on grid intersection A-3 as the main
part.
3. Pick two adjoining braces, one by one, as secondaries.
4. Click the middle mouse button to create the connection.
5. While still in the active command, repeat for the other
side of the same column.
Now we can see that the connection created has two gusset
plates each one with two braces.
We could also have created a single gusset plate going through the column by
creating one connection with the 4 braces.
Create the rest of the tube gussets

While still in the command, create the connections to the other ends of the braces by doing the
following:
1. Pick the main member (column at bottom, beam at top).
2. Pick the brace.
3. Click the middle mouse button to create the connection.
Check one tube gusset connection

1. Create Default Views of Component of the tube gusset connection on the center of the X
brace.
2. Open the Component front views to make sure there is clearance from the gusset plates
to the column web.
To see the column web in the connection front view, you can change the view
type in the view properties dialog to rendered.

Snap to Geometry Lines / Points
3. Activate the Snap to Geometry Lines / Points select switch. This allows you to snap to
all edges of parts rather than just the work points on parts.
Measure horizontal distance
4. Select the Measure horizontal distance icon, and check the clearance to the corner of
the plate.
We will now increase the clearance.
Modifying Connections
We will modify the connection by adding a clearance between the gusset plates and the
column. We will also change the number of bolt rows.
Edit the number of bolt rows

1. On the Bracebolts1 and Bracebolts2 tab pages, edit the number of horizontal and
vertical bolt rows and the distance to the first bolt as shown in the next 2 figures.

2. Click Modify and then Apply.
The Bracebolts1 tab affects the first picked brace, Bracebolts2 tab the second
pick and Bracebolts3 picks 3-9.
This pulls the brace plates outside the column flanges, but now we can see that the plate does
not have a square outside edge because of the difference in the angle of the upper and lower
braces.
3. On the Gusset tab, type the value in the field defining the gusset plate width.
4. Click Modify.
Add clearance between the gusset plate and the beam

While these settings work well to pull the connection plates away from the column, if we used
the same settings for the ends at the beam the setback is still too small.

1. On the Picture tab, type the value in the field defining the clearance between the gusset
plate and the column.
2. Click Modify.
While we will not see changes to the brace connection where it frames to the column, this
setting will affect the brace to beam connections.
Now we will also modify the other tube gusset connections with the new properties we
applied.
Modify all the tube gusset connections at once
We can easily modify only connections of the same type shown in the connection dialog by
selecting Ignore other types in the connection dialog box.
1. Check that Ignore other types is selected in the connection dialog box.
Help: Detailing>Getting Started>Using Components>Modifying components
2. Select all the connections in the model by using the Select component select switch
shown below and dragging a window around the whole model.
3. Click Modify.
We will now save the edited properties for later use.
By saving the properties with a descriptive name you can easily use them later.
You can also get AutoDefaults to automatically use the saved properties in
desired cases by setting up AutoDefaults rules.

Save the properties
1. Type Wall bracings in the Save as field in the dialog box.
2. Click the Save as button.
2.7 Bracing Connections

Wrap Plate
Create wrap plate connection
1. Find the Wraparound Gusset Cross (60) connection.
2. Double-click the connection to open up the parameters. Notice
how the numbers are added to help us select the members in the
correct order.
3. Click OK and add the connection to the bracing where it meets grid B5 to see what it
looks like.

We can then find and select only the options we want to alter rather than searching through
the entire component parameters.
Adjust Wrap Plate size
We can see that the wrap plate looks small, so we will add bolt rows and shorten our bracing
member in order to give the wrap plate a better shape.
1. Open the system component and go to the Gusset conn 1 tab. Set the bolts as shown.
2. Do the same on the Gusset conn 2 tab

3. Finally, shorten the brace to adequately clear the column corner by adjusting the setback
on the Brace bolts 1 tab.
4. Click Modify.

Now add the connection to the other ends of the WT bracings. Only three picks are needed
per connection, since the column is not present.
The end result should look like the image.

Check clashing
Now we will examine the connection a little more
closely to check that it is absolutely correct.
Select Objects In Components
1. Make sure the Select Objects In Components

symbol is pressed down.
2. Select all the objects at the wrap plate connection by
dragging a box around them.
3. Right-click and select Clash Check.
To quickly locate and view colliding parts in the model, select a lines containing an Assembly
ID number. Tekla Structures highlights the parts in the model.
Notice that the bolts and beams are highlighted.
The bolts from the wrap plate to the beam along grid line 6 are highlighting because
they are flagging a potential clearance or access issue. Upon inspection you will
notice that this is probably acceptable enough to allow access in the field, so you can
ignore this clash.
The bolts from the wrap plate to the other beam
are clashing because we added a system
component to each side of the connection, and
each system component added its own set of bolts
in that location. You will notice in the graphic
below that the bolts in this location have 2 nuts.

Explode connection
We will now explode and modify the system component to resolve this problem.
Exploding connections has some benefits and some drawbacks. When you
explode a connection you remove the link from that connection to the system
component that defined it. This effectively freezes the objects in that
connection. They will not change when you modify the system component, so it
can prevent you from accidentally changing settings. This also means that if you
have a number of exploded system components, you would need to change each
and every one individually rather than editing the system component and having
it automatically modify all the similar connections in the model.
1. Select the component symbol and right-click the mouse.
2. Choose Explode Component.

3. You will need to do this twice to remove both component symbols.
Edit bolt parts
1. Select and delete one set of bolts
You will now notice that the bolts remaining don't go through all the members. To correct this
we must use the Bolt Parts Command.

2. Select the bolts then right-click.
3. Choose Bolt Parts.
4. Choose the beam first, then one angle, then the other as shown below
5. Make sure you select the angles and not the wrap plate.
6. Click the middle mouse button to end the command, and the bolts should now go all the
way through each member.
2.8 Re-Check Entire Model Clashing

1. Select all of the parts by dragging an area select around the whole model.
2. Right-click and select Clash check.
You can locate specific clashes in the model by selecting lines in the clash
check manager. Tekla will highlight the items in the model that are causing that
particular clash. Note that one member may cause and report several different
clashes with other members and these will all show up on the manager.
Different settings on the Select Filters toolbar will allow you to locate different types of
clashes. For instance you can restrict the clash check to only look for clashes between
members or main members and secondary parts or main members secondary parts and bolts
too.

Basic Modeling 2

Contents
3 Basic Modeling 2 ............................................................................... 1

3.1 Open and Save an Existing Model .............................................................. 2
3.2 Set Coordinates & Grid for New Building .................................................... 3
Create grid .............................................................................................. 3
Create plane views along gridlines ........................................................ 6
3.3 Create Foundations ...................................................................................... 7
Change the phase for the second building............................................ 7
Pad footings ............................................................................................ 8
Copy the footings .................................................................................... 9
3.4 Create Steel Framing ................................................................................. 11
Steel columns ....................................................................................... 11
Floor beams .......................................................................................... 12
Steel rafter ............................................................................................ 13
Work points for floor and roof joists ..................................................... 14
Copy the column line 1 frame and the points ...................................... 16
Model Floor Steel.................................................................................. 17
Set Sloping Work Plane for Roof Joists............................................... 18
True plan view ...................................................................................... 19
Create roof joists................................................................................... 19
Horizontal Eaves Bracing ..................................................................... 21
Crane Beam Support Stubs ................................................................. 22
Check that all part properties are consistent ....................................... 23
3.5 Define Your Own Select Filters.................................................................. 24
3.6 Model View settings & Filters ..................................................................... 26
3.7 Setting Up Job Specific Information .......................................................... 31
Project properties.................................................................................. 32
Check preferences ............................................................................... 32

3-i
3 Basic Modeling 2
In this lesson
In this lesson, we will cover some preliminary tasks that you need to do before starting to
model in a real project. We will create a new model and recap the basic functions introduced
in lesson 1. After that, you will learn some more about the basic functions.
We will revise how to:
Open and save or backup models
Input grids
Create beams and columns
Copy and move items
Adjust attributes of members
Input construction points
Work in true planes (sloped, skewed)
Use phases

3.1 Open and Save an Existing Model
Start a base model .
Open Model
1. Click the Open icon.

2. Navigate to the TeklaStructuresModels\Training\Steel folder.
3. Select the existing model, BasicModel-yourname, and click OK.

4. From the File pull-down menu select Save as…
5. Enter “BasicModel2 – firstname lastname"
6. Click the OK button and the model will be created.

3.2 Set Coordinates & Grid for New Building
Create grid
We will now create a grid for the model.
The grid is created according to the work plane, the current local coordinate system, of the
model. So before creating the grid we will temporarily position the work plane to new global
coordinates.
The red coordinate arrow symbol indicates the work plane, which is the current
local coordinate system of the model. Most of the commands dependent on the
coordinate system use the work plane coordinates.
Lay out skew for new grid

First, we must create a reference for our new skewed grid system. There are several ways you
could accomplish this, but we will use a construction line.
1. Open the PLAN AT EL. 0’-0” view.
2. Select Modeling > Add Construction Line.
3. Hold CTRL & click the intersection at grid lines B & 1.
4. Track the cursor in increments until you reach 3’-6, then click.
5. Next, click to the perpendicular point on grid line 2 to create the construction line.

We will now rotate the construction line to the desired skew for the new building.
6. Highlight the construction line, then right-click and select Move Special > Rotate.
7. Select the rotation point on grid line 1 and see how the origin in the dialog box changes to
reflect the point selected.
8. Next, type in 15 for the angle of rotation and this will remain around the Z axis.
9. Click Move.
10. Right-click > Interrupt

Set work plane to new skew
Now we can set our work plane to the new skew.
1. Select View > Set Work Plane > Using Two Points.
2. Pick the intersection of the construction line and grid line 1 to set the new origin.
3. Pick a point along the construction line to indicate a new positive X direction.

You can use the command Set work plane > Using one point to set the work
plane exactly to the desired position. This command keeps the work plane
parallel to the current work plane but moves it to a new position using a single
picked point.
Create the grid

1. On the menu, select Modeling > Create grid.
2. Edit the grid, in the Grid properties dialog box, according to the figure below
(coordinates and text).
3. Click Create.
4. Enter BASIC_MODEL_2 in the save as field, and click the Save as button to save the
grid values.
The values for the grid size are saved, but to recreate the grid in the proper
position you would still need to first set the skewed coordinate again.
Alternately, you could create a grid parallel to the default coordinates and
rotate it into position later.

Fit work area
1. Click anywhere in the background.
2. Right-click and select Fit Work Area to Entire Model.
The view should now look like the one below.
Create plane views along gridlines

We will now create Elevation and Plan views along the skewed gridlines.
1. Select the grid.
2. Right-click and select Create view > Along Grid Lines from the pop-up menu.
3. In the view name prefix, add ‘BLDG 2’ to set these views apart from the ones we already
have.
4. Click the Show… button on each view plane to open the View properties dialog box,
and set the view properties the way you want and click OK.
5. Click Create in the Creation of Views Along Grid Lines dialog box.

3.3 Create Foundations
First, we will create pad footings on gridline 1 and then copy them to the other gridlines.
To be able to manage the objects from the two models after we have combined them we will
first transfer the model 2 parts to a different phase.
Help: Modeling > Advanced Modeling > Phases
Change the phase for the second building

Check objects by phases
1. Click Tools > Phase Manager… to open the Phase manager dialog box. By default
only Phase 1 appears in the dialog box.
2. Select Phase 1.
3. Click Objects by phases.
All the parts in the model become highlighted, indicating that they belong to Phase 1.
Add a new phase – Model2
4. Click on the Add button to add a new phase.
5. Edit the name of the new phase to Building 2.
6. Also edit the name of the Phase 1 to Building 1.

7. Make sure ‘Building 2’ is highlighted.
8. See that all of the parts are still highlighted in the Building 2 phase.
9. Click Set current.
10. Now all of the parts we create will be in Phase number 2.
Pad footings
We will now create foundations on gridline 1.
Create 8’-6 x 8’-6 footing
1. Double-click on the Create pad footing icon.

2. Enter the pad footing information in the dialog box for a 102"*102" (8'-6 x 8'-6") footing
as shown.
3. Set the top and bottom levels at -1’-0 and -3’-0 respectively, as shown.

4. Click Apply.
5. Pick grid intersections C-1 and F-1.
Notice that because our coordinates are set at the skew of the new building, the
parts automatically come in rotated to that same skew. There is no need to set
the rotation a second time for the part.
Create 6’-10 x 6’-10 footing
While still in the command:

6. Enter the pad footing information in the dialog box for a 82"*82" (6'-10 x 6'-10") footing.
7. Click Apply.
8. Pick grid intersections D-1 and E-1.
The footings should now look like those shown below:
Copy the footings

We will now copy the footings to other gridlines.
1. Select the footings. Use the CTRL key to select multiple items.
2. Right-click and select Copy special > Linear on the pop-up menu.
3. Pick two adjacent points along grid line C to define the translation vector (19'-8" in the x-
direction).

4. Type in the number of copies (6).
5. Click Copy.
If you had at any point reset the coordinates to the global default, the X/Y
coordinates would reflect the value required to move diagonally to that plane.
Adjust the footing at B1

The footings at gridlines B1 and C1 collide, so we will adjust the size and position of the
footing on B1 to support both columns.
1. Delete the newly created footing at grid C1.
2. Double-click on the footing on B1 to bring up its properties.
3. Change the profile to a 70X106 (5’-10 x 8’-10)
4. Go to the Position tab and change the Vertical position to 1’-6.
5. Click Modify.

3.4 Create Steel Framing
First, we will create four columns on gridline 1 and add floor beams and a sloping beam or
rafter between them.
After that we will create the construction points needed to create roof joists. We will copy-
translate the completed portal frame and points.
Utilizing a sloping work plane and view planes, we will model roof joists.
Finally, we will create vertical eaves bracing on gridlines C and F.
Steel columns
Create external columns
We will first create two W30X108 columns on gridline 1 at C1 and F1.

2. Load the COLUMN properties.
3. Complete the Column properties (profile and levels) for the column at grid intersection
C1 using prefix and start numbers previously saved. The columns on grid line C should
have a bottom elevation of 0’-10”1/2 and a top elevation of 66’-3.
4. Click Apply.
5. Pick grid intersection C-1 to create the column.
6. Complete the Column properties for the column at grid F1. The columns on grid line F
should have a bottom elevation of 0’-
10”1/2 and a top elevation of 59’-8.
7. Click Apply.
8. Pick the grid intersection F-1 to create
the second column.

Create floor support columns
We will now create 2 W18X97 columns to support the floor steel at grids D1 and E1.
9. Set the profile and top elevation properties as shown below.
10. Click Apply.

11. Pick the grid intersections at D1 and E1 to create the columns.
Floor beams
Create floor beams
Next, we will create the floor beams on column line 1. These beams will be adjusted down 2-
1/2” to allow for joist bearing.
1. Open BLDG 2 PLAN AT EL. 23’-6” view.
3. Load the BEAM properties.
4. Enter W24X76 for the beam profile.
5. Change the Position / At depth to: Behind with 2"1/2 offset and Apply.
6. Place the beams along column line 1,

working from bottom to top.

Steel rafter
Now we will create a W30X99 rafter between the two outside columns that we created.
Create rafter
2. Load the RAFTER properties.
3. Enter W30X99 for the rafter profile and click Apply.
4. In the BLDG 2 ELEVATION ON GRID 1 view pick grid C and 66’-3” and then F and
59’-8”.
You may need to expand the 3D view at this point if your rafters are not
visible. To do this double-click in open space in the 3D view, then change the
dialog as shown below.

Work points for floor and roof joists
After inputting the steel along 1 line, we will layout points for modeling the floor infill beams
and the roof joists. These points can be placed in either a plan view at the steel elevation or
an elevation view along this column line.
Equal spaced workpoints for floor beams
First, the floor beam spacing.

1. Double-click on the Add points on line icon.
2. Type 4 and click Apply.

3. Select the grid intersection of C1, then D1 to create five equal spaces (4 points).
4. Repeat at the bay between grid intersections E1 and F1.
5. Back in the Divided Line Points dialog box, change the number of points to 5 and click
OK.
6. Pick the grid intersections D1, then E1 to create 6 equal spaces (5 points) in that bay.
7. Right-click > Interrupt.
We can now use the grid intersections C and 66’-3” and F and 59’-8” to create the work
points for the first and last roof joists. To make sure the points are in the correct position, we
will work in the BLDG 2 ELEVATION ON GRID 1 view.

First and last joist work points
1. Double-click on the Add point along extension of two picked points icon.
2. Type -2-0”, click OK. (We use a negative value to make the extension point work back
towards the first point clicked.)
3. Pick grid intersection C and 66’-3” and then F and 59’-8”.
4. Repeat, picking the points in the reverse order.
Create extension point adds or subtracts a point along a line that you specify
by clicking two points in the model. The points that are clicked by you in the
model define the direction vector; the value you enter defines the distance from
the second selected point. A positive or negative value defines the direction
along the defined vector. A positive value means the extension point to be
added will further away from the first point clicked, negative means back
towards the first point clicked.
Divide the working points in 12 segments
Using the Add points on line command, divide the space between the two work points that
you just created into twelve equal spaces (11 points).
5. Double-click to open the Divided line points dialog box.
6. Type 11 and click OK.

7. Select the two work points created previously.
Copy the column line 1 frame and the points
We will now copy the columns, the rafter and the points to gridlines 2-7.
Copy the members
1. Select the columns, the rafter, beams and the points.
2. Right-click and select Copy special > Linear.

3. Pick two points to show the translation vector (19’-8” in x direction).
4. Type the number of copies (6).
5. Click Copy.

Model Floor Steel
The next step is to model the rest of the floor steel at the 23’-6 level in the first bay.
Set properties for the floor beams

3. Enter W24X76 for the beam profile and click Apply.
4. In the BLDG 2 PLAN AT EL. 23’-6” view, place the beams along column line C through
F, working from left to right at each location.
Next, we will model the infill joists in each bay.
5. In the beam properties dialog box, load the JOIST properties.
6. Enter 18K for the joist profile and click Apply.
7. Pick the joist work point near grid intersection C1 at the command Pick first position.
8. At the command: Pick second point, pick the work point near grid intersection C2.
9. Right-click > Interrupt
10. Highlight the joist and Right-click > Copy.
11. Pick the endpoint of the joist, then the next work point to set the new copied location.
12. Repeat up to column line F.

Set Sloping Work Plane for Roof Joists
The next step is to model the joists on the sloped roof. To place the parts in the correct plane
we will first change the work plane (which currently is the local coordinate system of the
model) to the roof slope.
Help: Modeling > Setting up the Workspace > Work area > Defining the work area
Help: Modeling > Setting up the Workspace > Work plane > Shifting the work plane
Set work plane to the roof slope
To set the work plane to the roof slope:

1. Pick the Set Work using three points icon.
2. Pick the end of the beam near the top of column at grid C1 as the origin.
3. Pick the end of another beam near the top of a column along grid C to define the positive
x direction.
4. Pick the top of the F1 column to define the positive y direction.
The work plane is now positioned to the top plane of the rafter.
The Set work plane to part top plane command sets the work plane parallel
to the part plane (front, top, back, bottom) on the center line of the part.
Joist Orientation without adjusted work plane Joist orientation with adjusted work plane

True plan view
We will now make a true plan view of the roof by creating a view perpendicular to the work
plane. We can also use the true plan view in drawings.
Working in a true plan view makes it easier to model sloped objects since the
grids are also shown in the true plan.
The part positioning, copying, etc, however, always comply with the work
plane coordinate system no matter in which view you perform the commands.
Create true plan view

1. Pick View > View Properties…
2. Load the Plan View pre-defined settings and complete the properties as shown below,
click OK.
3. Select View > Create View of Model > On Work Plane.

The new view is created. The grid is also shown in the true plan view plane. Notice that
because you are now looking directly at the sloping roof, your columns may look a little odd
because they are effectively skewed in this view.
You can also turn on the grid in the work plane in your 3D view by selecting
‘work plane’ on your Snapping toolbar. This grid displays as a dark red color.
Create roof joists

We will now create the roof joists by using the Create beam tool.
Create joists

2. Load the Joist properties.
3. Select a 12K profile for the joists.
4. Change the Position / At depth to: Behind with -2"1/2 offset and Apply.

5. Pick the joist work point near grid intersection F-1 at the command Pick first position.
6. At the command: Pick second point, pick the work point near grid intersection F-2.
7. Check the elevation view on grid 1 to ensure that the roof joist is oriented and positioned
correctly.
8. Create the rest of the joists in the bay between gridlines 1 and 2 by using the Copy
special > Linear command. (12 copies along the slope).
9. Finally, highlight all the beams and joists on both levels and create the rest of the steel by
using the Copy special > Linear command (5 copies down the building).
Set the work plane back to Building 2
Now we must switch the work plane back to the second building in a flat plane to carry on
modeling outside of the roof plane. There are a few ways we could do this but we will use
one of the existing view planes and match the work plane to it.

1. Open the BLDG 2 PLAN AT EL. 0’-0
2. Select View > Set Work plane > Parallel to View Plane
3. Select the open model view.
The work plane is now set square to the skewed building.
Horizontal Eaves Bracing

Working along grid line C we will create vertical bracing using the Create beam tool.
Create brace
1. Open the PLAN AT ELEV 66'-3 view.
3. Load the Horizontal_HSS_Brace properties.
4. Enter HSS8X4X1/4 as the profile.
5. Click Apply.
6. Create one brace using the column top positions at C-1 and C-2.
7. Open the Plan at 59'-8 level and place a brace along the column top positions at F-1 and
F-2.
8. Move each brace down -4’-0 in the Z plane.

Copy the brace along grids C and F
1. Select the brace and use Copy special > Linear… to copy the brace five times at 19’-8”
intervals along gridline C and F.
Crane Beam Support Stubs

Next we will add crane girders to the framing.
Create Stubs
3. Enter W18X40 for the profile size.
4. In the BLDG 2 ELEVATION ON GRID 1 view,
pick the grid intersection C and 50’-10.
5. Move the cursor to snap in the y direction
(activate the Snap to nearest points option).
6. When the autosnap feature reaches 3’-0 click to
create the beam.
Practice the use of Polar Tracking in order to fully maximize your modeling
speed. Remember relative and absolute snaps can also help you to locate items
or points in your model.
Copy girders
1. Use the Copy special > mirror command to copy the girders from gridline C to
gridline F.
2. Copy the girders that you created to the other columns on gridline C.
Set the work plane back to Global origin
Now we must switch the work plane back to the global origin.
3. Select View > Set Work plane > Parallel to XY(Z) Plane…
4. Select Plane: XY and set the depth coordinate to 0 and click Change.
The work plane is now set back to the global origin.

Take some time now to complete the connections on this model using whatever you deem
appropriate. You will find many useful connections in the component catalog for connecting
the rafters, crane beams and eaves braces to the columns, and there are several joist to beam
set ups too. Don't forget to add the column base plates too.

Perform a clash check on your model as you work and once again on the entire structure after
you are complete.
Check that all part properties are consistent

The Model 1 parts were created without paying attention to part properties and they may not
be consistent with the Model 2 parts (color, name, numbering series, and material).
This is important because it will simplify how our automatic drawing output can be handled.
For instance: When we created Basic Model 1, we didn't really pay attention to the Name
field in the Part Properties dialog box. The program uses this field to help produce better
drawings. Items that are named as COLUMN for example will have drawings produced with
more column oriented dimensioning rules. Items named as JOIST can be easily omitted from
the fabrication drawing production system as these will not be necessary.
Part properties can also control how numbering prefixes can be handled. So to avoid columns
and beams all receiving the same prefix we must be disciplined about defining part properties.
Use Select Filters
To check and modify this we must learn the use of Select Filters.
1. Select the Beam Filter on toolbar.
2. Now drag a box over the entire model.

3. Everything that should be defined as a BEAM in the Name field of the part properties
dialog box should now be highlighted.
Notice that only items that were named BEAM are highlighted. The sloping beams were
named as RAFTER, and the eaves braces were named as HORIZONTAL HSS BRACE
Using the predefined attributes that were set up by Tekla ensures that not only
will the name field be consistent but the grades and numbering series fields will
also be correct.

Check other parts properties
By following the procedure above check and change the properties for:
Beams
Now complete the remainder in a similar manner:

Columns
Horizontal bracing
Vertical bracing
Silos
Pad Footings
Joists
3.5 Define Your Own Select Filters

To make the selecting of parts easier in the future we will now define select filters for each
part type. We will use the names of the part as filtering criteria.
For steel beams and columns, we will use the materials as additional filtering criteria to be
able to filter them separately.
As we will be primarily involved in producing Steel drawings that do not include things like
joists, we may like to filter out all the other items in our model. To do this we can create a
select filter that excludes us from selecting any item that has a material grade that does not
match the rest of the main steel.
Typical wide flange shape material in Tekla Structures is A992.
Help: Basics of Tekla Structures > Filtering objects > Filtering objects using a selection
filter

Define select filter for all concrete items
1. Click on the Selection filter icon to open the Selection filter dialog box.
2. Change the row below to include the grades shown here.
3. Enter the name A992 in the Save as field and click Save as.
4. You can now select the new filter on the drop-down list.
5. Then drag a box over your entire model to select only the A992 members.

You can change the condition field to 'Does not equal' if you wanted to select
everything except the A992 material. Be careful when you do this, you may
accidentally miss out on parts you wanted to include.
By using the Select from model… option, select filters can be defined for various items
including:
Slabs
Horizontal bracing
Vertical bracing
Silos
Rafters
Joists.
Create your own select filters to use both for modeling and for automating
drawing creation with the help of wizards.
Note that by expanding the save menu using the button on the upper right you have the option
to save the same settings as View, Drawing, and Object Representation filters. For the
purpose of this manual, however, we will address each separately.
Save the model

Finally, save the model.
3.6 Model View settings & Filters

Not only can we use and create selection filters to aid in modeling and drawing creation, but
we can modify the model views to include or exclude certain object types or even create view
filters to show only the specific objects we want to see.
First we will adjust display settings.
Help: Modeling > Examining the Model> Showing and hiding objects
Modify Display Properties
1. In a model view, such as your 3d view, double-click in the view background to bring up
the View Properties dialog box.
2. Click on the Display button.

The Display dialog box has two columns of checkboxes, one for loose parts in the model, and
one for parts that are inside components. Using these checkboxes, you can turn on and off
objects depending on their hierarchy.
3. Uncheck the box for Bolts under the In components column.
4. Make sure the view is highlighted that you want to change, and click Modify.
Notice how the bolts disappear from the component because we have turned them off in the
display properties for this view.

Turning certain objects off can help speed up view regeneration, especially once
your models get larger and more complex.
There are also drop-down boxes on the right under Representation. These drop-downs allow
you to set the definition for your objects. You can choose to show parts Exact, which looks
better visually, or for speed you can set them for Fast.
5. With your Display dialog still up, check on Bolts under In components again.
6. Select Fast from the drop down menu under Representation.
7. Click Modify.
Notice that our bolts are now shown as black reference lines, instead of displaying as actual
bolts.
You can set other objects to Fast as well, such as Parts. When parts are set to
Fast you will not see cuts and fittings that have been applied, for example
copes. They are still there, and your drawings will be correct. It is just a visual
setting.
You can set your bolts back to Exact before continuing, and close the Display properties
dialog box.

Using Visible Object Group
Besides turning on and off objects based on their hierarchy, you can also filter for specific
objects or groups of objects using a view filter that is similar to the selection filters we used
earlier.
Help: Modeling > Examining the model > Showing and hiding objects > Object Groups
1. If it is not currently open, double-click in the view background to bring up the View
Properties dialog box.
Under Visible Object Group, there is a drop-down menu for predefined view filters.
2. Select Steel Column from the drop-down menu and click Modify.
When we do this you can see that all parts that do not meet the criteria in the Steel Column
filter are removed from the view. This can greatly aid in creating drawings when used like
the selection filter.

Define view filter for Phase 1 steel
3. Click on the Object Group button in your View Properties dialog box.
You should see the settings that are activated for the Steel Column filter we just used. You
can use similar fields to build your own view filter just like we did for the selection filter
earlier.
4. Select standard from the drop down menu at the top of the dialog box, and the fields
should all clear back to default. You can now build your own.
5. Pick one of the part rows and change it to match below.
6. Click Modify.
Using the view filters, you can show parts of a certain phase, material grade, size, or even
filter for specific part or assembly position numbers if you need to find them.

To see the whole model again, you must turn off the filter row by un-checking the box or by
loading a different setting, such as standard and clicking Modify.
3.7 Setting Up Job Specific Information

Now that we are almost ready to commence making drawings, now would be a good time to
set up many preferences and job specific properties that you may want to show on the output.
Note that you can set up this information at any time, but the most logical time to do this is
right at the start of the contract.
Project properties
Preferences
Tekla Structures contains a powerful tool to help productivity with regard to setting up
information that may be repeated over several contracts. All this information can be entered
once then stored in a "Firm or Project Folder" so that the next time you start a new model on a
particular project or for a particular client you already have the settings required.
For more information on Firm and Project Folders, please consult the Help Files
or the Tekla Extranet

Project properties
Project properties are common to all drawings and can be used to fill in typical information in
the title blocks.
Set up project properties
1. Open the Project properties dialog box by selecting File > Project Properties…
2. Note that default information has been added in the dialog box to show you what fields
will apply when used on templates. Replace the defaults with project information.
3. Press OK.
Check preferences
Before starting the modeling, we will check that preferences are set up correctly.
Help: System > Using Tekla Structures effectively > General > Options
Check that your preferences are set up correctly before you start modeling. If
you change settings on the Preferences tab, Tekla Structures only applies the
new settings to connections you subsequently create. Connections you created
prior to changing the preferences are not affected.

Check preferences
1. Open Tools > Options > Options…
2. For Components, check the values are as below, and click OK.
The bolt edge distance factor does not actually affect connections created by
Tekla; it only sets the value for the bolt edge distance warning in the bottom
left.
3. Under Orientation marks, you can set north direction by degrees from global X as
shown on the next page

Interactive Steel Detailing

Contents
4 Interactive Steel Detailing................................................................. 1

4.1 Create Gusset Plate with Stiffeners Interactively........................................ 1
Explode gusset plate connection ................................................................. 2
Reshape the gusset plate ............................................................................ 3
Add stiffeners ................................................................................................ 4
4.2 Create an Unusual or Unique Connection .................................................. 7
Create plate and fitting for the beam ........................................................... 7
Create a plate for the column .................................................................... 11
Adjust Contour Plate .................................................................................. 14
Create welds ............................................................................................... 15
Create bolt group........................................................................................ 16
4.3 Create a Custom Component .................................................................... 19
Define the Custom Component ................................................................. 19
Apply the Custom Component ................................................................... 22
Steel: Interactive Steel Detailing

4-i
4 Interactive Steel Detailing
In this lesson
Tekla Structures system components cover a great variety of the components used in most
projects. However, you may come across situations where it's not possible to make the
necessary connections in your model using the system components.
In this chapter we will take advantage of the Tekla Structures tube gusset connection by using
it as a base for a customized connection. We will explode the system component, modify the
ungrouped objects and then add objects to the connection using a system component detail.
We will also create a whole new connection (i.e. all connection objects: parts, welds, bolts
and cuts) interactively from scratch without using any system components.
We will learn how to:
Adapt a System Component to our specific needs
Combine one System Component with another to create a complex connection
Create a Custom Component interactively
Apply the created component around the model
4.1 Create Gusset Plate with Stiffeners

Interactively
In Tekla Structures there is not a gusset plate system component available in which you can
get the stiffeners included in the connection. You can, however, create the stiffeners
separately by using a system component detail.
We will explode an existing tube gusset connection, modify the gusset plate shape and then
create stiffeners in the connection using a system component detail.
Near the bottom end of the column at grid A-2 is a Tube Gusset (20) connection.
In the figure on the left, we see the connection before the stiffeners have been added. In the
figure on the right, we see how the connection will look after the stiffeners have been added.

4-1
Create 3D view of component
1. Select the component symbol.
2. Right-click and select Create view > 3D View of Component.
3. Adjust the size of the window as needed.
Explode gusset plate connection

Inside of the system connection we are not able to reshape the gusset plate the way it is shown
in the figure on the previous page.
In situations where the connection parameters do not contain a particular option, we must edit
the parts outside of the connection.
In order to modify connection objects outside the connection, we need to explode the
connection to ungroup the objects in the connection. Modifications when done outside of the
connection dialog box without first exploding the connection will result in the changes being
overwritten if the connection were to get updated.
Before exploding the connection you should take advantage of the connection to
get as close to the desired result as possible since editing connection macros is
faster and easier than editing objects outside the connection.
Explode connection
To explode the connection:
1. Select gusset plate’s connection symbol.
2. Right-click and select Explode Component.
All connection objects (even if they are set to "not visible" in the view properties) will
become visible. Now all of these objects have lost intelligence and association to the
connection dialog box.
After exploding the connection, the objects that were in the connection are no
longer connection objects.
They will be presented in the model as objects (main parts) both in wire frame
and in shaded wire frame.

4-2 Interactive Steel Detailing
Reshape the gusset plate
We will now reshape the gusset plate as shown in the figure below by editing the polygon
plate using the Modify Polygon Shape command.
The system component added the gusset plate using the 'Contour Plate'
command that we have not actually learned yet. The contour plate features
special editable corners that can be adjusted easily. This exercise highlights
how to edit a component that has been added by the system. This is the quickest
way to work when 3D modeling. Add the system component closest to your
needs, and then edit it as necessary.
Create a construction line
We will first create a temporary construction line to

help to locate the bottom right corner of the gusset
plate.
We want to work in plane view, not 3d, while making
cuts.
1. Open the ELEVATION ON GRID A view and
zoom in to the brace connection on column line 2.
2. Ctrl + 2 to lighten up the pieces.
3. Click the Add construction line icon.
4. While holding down Ctrl, pick the top left corner
of the gusset plate as a reference point.
5. Track the mouse down along the face of the
column until it reaches 10”, then click to place
the first point of the construction line.
6. Next right-click and select Perpendicular to turn
on just that snap.
7. Pick a perpendicular snap at the column flange
edge and the construction line is created.
Instead of recreating the polygon plate we will now
reshape the existing plate by using the Detailing >
Modify Polygon Shape command.
Help: Modeling > Detailing Structures > Fine-tuning part shape > Modifying the shape
of a polygon

4-3
Edit polygon shape
1. Make sure the plate is highlighted. You will see 3 magenta boxes and one yellow.
2. Select Detailing > Modify Polygon Shape and follow the instructions on the command
line.
3. Pick the gusset plate corner (1), see the figure below.
4. Pick the intersection of the gusset plate edge and the construction line (2).
5. Snap to the perpendicular point on the gusset plate edge and pick point (3). (Make sure
you pick the plate edge and not the gridline).
6. Pick the gusset plate top left corner (4).
7. Pick the bottom corner-right on the yellow box (5) as the corner to be removed. The plate
is now reshaped.
The construction line is no longer needed, and you can delete it.
The same result may be accomplished by using the cut command.
Add stiffeners
We will now add stiffeners to our connection using the Multiple Stiffeners
(1064) detail. When we open the detail’s dialog box we can see which
options are available to us for creating the stiffeners. In this case we are
interested in setting the stiffener spacing.
Create stiffeners using macro
1. Open the component catalog (Ctrl+F), and find the Multiple stiffeners
(1064) component. Double-click on the component icon.

2. Edit the fields shown highlighted on each of the tab pages shown below, and click Apply.
3. Pick the column.

4. Pick the midpoint of the gusset plate, and the stiffeners are created.

4-5
You can see the final result in the figures below.
We could now explode the stiffener detail, but since we have not edited the connection
objects except for the detail, we can also just leave it.
If you need to remove a part from a system component but cannot find an
option in any of the drop down fields to do so, you can just enter a zero
thickness for that parts ’t’ value. This will effectively remove the item from the
component and the connection in the model.
Next, modify the connections at the top of the vertical bracing using the knowledge learned so
that the connections look like this.

4.2 Create an Unusual or Unique Connection
Sometimes you may need to create all the objects for a connection interactively. As an
example we will now create plates, a polygon cut, a fitting, a bolt group and welds
interactively in order to create the unusual looking connection shown below.
Create plate and fitting for the beam

Create default views of component views and delete the connection
At grid intersection A1 at level 44-0 (the top of the roof beams on Basic Model 1)
1. Select the existing end plate connection, right-click and select Create view > Default
views of component.
2. Delete the existing connection.
Create end plate for the beam
We will now use the beam command to create the end plate for the beam.

4-7
3. Start the beam command (double click beam icon), and Apply the properties for the end
plate shown in the dialog box below.
It is possible to create plates by using either the beam or the contour plate
command.
In the Component front view:

4. Right click in the view, select Properties, and set view depths to 0". This will keep
distant items from showing in the view you are working in.

5. Hold down the Ctrl key, and pick the intersection of the beam lower flange and the
column flange to set the “From” location coordinates.
6. Zoom in and track upwards until the cursor autosnaps to ¼”, then click. The cursor picks
to the desired start position (which equals ¼” from point 1 in the direction of point 2).
7. To pick the end position, hold down the Ctrl

key, and pick the intersection of the top
beam flange and the toe of the column
flange. Then zoom in, and drag down to
autosnap to ¼”.
The plate then appears.
Move the plate into position

Now move the plate into position by working in the Component Front View.
1. Highlight the plate, right click and select the Move command.
2. Select the left edge then the right edge of the plate. This will allow a gap for the column
plate across the flange toes.

4-9
Fit the end of a beam
We will use the Fitting command to trim the end of the beam at the end plate.
The Fitting tool will trim the end of the beam on a plane perpendicular to the view plane,
which is defined by picking two points on a line.
Help: Modeling > Detailing Structures > Fine-tuning part shape > Fittings
1. Go to your Component Top view.
2. Click on the Create fitting icon.
3. Select the beam as the part to be fitted.
4. Pick the points on the end plate corners to set the cut line for the fitting.
Tekla Structures displays the fitting in the model using a fitting symbol.

Create a plate for the column
We will now use the Create contour plate command to create a plate for the column. We will
use the Component end view for ease of picking points to place the plate. We will then move
the plate to the correct depth.
Help: Modeling > Creating and Modifying Structures > Steel parts > Creating a contour
plate
Create plate for column
1. Start the Create contour plate command.
2. Apply the properties for the plate as shown below:

4-11
In the Component end view:
3. Move the cursor over the top left corner of the end plate, and hold down the CTRL key
before clicking.
4. After you have clicked the left top corner of the end plate, release the CTRL key
5. Then move the cursor to the outside of the column flange and using the perpendicular
snap, click the first point of the plate.
6. Move the cursor to the opposite flange of the column, and use the perpendicular snap to
define the next point of the plate.
7. Now move the mouse over the bottom right corner of the plate, and hold down the CTRL
key before clicking.
8. After you have clicked the right bottom corner of the end plate, release the CTRL key.
9. Then use the perpendicular snap to the edge of the flange to define the third point on the
plate.
10. Finally, use the perpendicular snap to the outside of the opposite flange to complete the
plate.
11. Click the middle mouse button to end point selection.

The plate is created in the view plane of the Component end view and visible in all views.
Move the plate

1. In the Component top view, select the column connection plate, right-click and select
Move.
2. Move the plate in the x direction (and only x) so that it is next to the end plate.

4-13
Adjust Contour Plate
While the column connection plate is now in the correct position, there isn't enough room
down the column flange toes to place a weld. We will now adjust the plate by moving the
contour plate chamfer boxes in order to provide this.
Move Contour Plate Chamfers
1. Select the contour plate.
2. Select one of the boxes.
3. Select Move special – Linear, and move the chamfer ¼" in the Y axis only.
4. The vertical edge will look sloped until the bottom chamfer is modified too.
5. Repeat the process for each chamfer (-1/4" for other end 2 boxes).

Create welds
Next we will weld the end plate to the beam and the column connection plate to the column.
This will also add the plates to the beam and column assemblies.
Help: Modeling > Detailing Structures > Welds
Weld column plate to the beam
1. Double-click on the Create weld icon.

2. Edit the Weld properties dialog as shown below, and click OK.
3. Select the beam as the part to weld to (the primary part for workshop welds).
4. Select the end plate as the part to be welded (the secondary part for workshop welds).
It is very important to enter the welding order correctly. Tekla Structures uses
the welding order to determine the primary and secondary parts of the assembly.
This affects the position of the parts in the drawings.
Inquire assembly
You can check assemblies using the command Inquire Assembly.
1. Pick the beam (or any part of the assembly).
2. Right-click and select Inquire > Assembly.
The main part of the assembly will appear red and other parts will appear yellow.
To select the entire assembly: press the Alt key while clicking a part in the
assembly.

4-15
If your weld was not automatically placed in the desired position, you can
manually affect the location by setting the desired position for the weld in the
Weld properties dialog box.
You can also use Polygon Welds to joint two parts. Polygon Welds require
you to define the exact position of the weld by picking the points you want the
weld to traverse. This type of weld is more advanced and time consuming to
detail than a basic weld.
Weld connection plate to the column

By using the applied weld properties, weld the connection plate to the column.
Create bolt group

Next we will create a bolt group to connect the beam to the column. We will use the bolts to
bolt the beam’s end plate to the column’s connection plate.
For information on bolt group dimensions see:
Help: Modeling > Detailing Structures > Bolts > Creating a bolt group

Create bolts
1. Double-click on the Create bolts icon.

2. Define the bolt group properties as shown in the picture, and select Apply.
3. Pick the column connection plate as the part to bolt to.

4. Pick the end plate as the part to be bolted.
5. Click the middle mouse button to finish selecting parts.
6. Pick the end plate top point as the first point (this will be the bolt group origin).
7. Pick the end plate bottom point as the second point (this will indicate the bolt group's x
direction).
For best results, try to keep the work points of your bolt group in between the
parts you are trying to bolt – for instance, between two plates the work points
should be on the shear plane. If you were bolting through a larger area such as
though an HSS member, the work points should be on centerline of the part.

4-17
The bolt group has now been created, and the final connection looks like the figures below.

4.3 Create a Custom Component
Now that we have made this one connection, we may have
to use it in similar scenarios around the model. Obviously,
we want to avoid having to remake it each time. So we can
save it as a custom component then apply it to other
locations.
In this part of the exercise we will:
Define the Custom Component
Replace an existing connection with our newly
created custom component
Notice that the connection we made currently does not
have a green cone (The Component Symbol).
Define the Custom Component

Open the 3D View in order to show the view similar to the image above.
A Custom Component can be a Connection, a Detail, a Seam, or a Part. For the

purpose of Basic Training we will only deal with the Connection which is
defined as two or more members coming together. The advanced training
course deals with the other types of custom components in much more detail.
Create the custom component

1. Go to the Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component menu.
2. Complete the details as shown above. If the Name field is already in use, the Next button
will not highlight.
3. Click Next.

4-19
4. Hold down the CTRL key and select each component that was added in turn.
Beam End Plate
The Cut between the Beam End and the Beam End Plate
Column Toe Plate
Weld from Beam End Plate to Beam
Weld from Column Toe Plate to Column
Bolts

5. Click Next.
6. Now select the Column as it will be the main part of the connection.
7. Click Next.
8. Then select the Beam.

9. The Finish Button will now highlight. Click Finish.

4-21
10. The green Component Symbol will now appear. We have now saved the parts of the
connection in the Custom section of the Component Catalog and can use it to create
similar connections elsewhere around the model.
We can even make this custom component 'intelligent' so that it will detect
variances in column or beam sizes, sloped or skewed scenarios and can add the
facility to vary all of the parameters concerned (bolt size, plate size and
thickness, distance to the first hole, bolt gage, weld sizes etc). All parameters
are user definable. This is taught in the Advanced Training Course.
Apply the Custom Component

Replace an existing connection
1. Now go to the connection at grid B2 on the 44'-0" level.
2. Highlight the component symbol, and then delete it.

3. Open the Component Catalog.
4. Select Custom from the drop down list.
5. Find Toe Plate, and highlight its icon by clicking once.

6. You will now be asked to pick the main part then the secondary part. These will
correspond exactly with what we just defined when we made the custom component.
Main part = column, secondary part = beam.
7. Now you should have exactly the same connection as the one you created at grid A-1.
We can copy this connection around the model or apply this connection in the
same manner we would apply any system component, but until we add
parametric intelligence to the component it will only be correct for exactly
similar scenarios. In this case it will only be correct where a W24X55 beam
connects to the flange toes of a W16X50 column.
Adding intelligence to this custom component is covered on the extranet and
during our Advanced Training Class.

4-23
Create an Icon for the Custom Component
1. Create a 3D view of the Custom Component you just created.
2. With that view active, hit the F12 key to take a snapshot of the view.
3. Go to the snapshot folder located in your model folder, and open up the png file in
Microsoft Paint.
4. Save the image as a 24-bit bitmap file. (for example Toe_plate.bmp)
5. Back inside the Tekla Structures model, open up the Component Catalog, find your
custom component Toe Plate and right-click on the default icon.
6. Select the Change Picture option.
7. Browse to the bitmap file, select it and click OK.
The bitmap image will now be visible in the Component Catalog.

Numbering and Reports

Contents
5 Numbering and Reports ................................................................... 1

5.1 Numbering Basics ........................................................................................ 1
Defining numbers to be used for parts ........................................................ 1
Running the numbering ................................................................................ 1
How marks are assigned in numbering ....................................................... 2
Numbering settings ...................................................................................... 2
5.2 Number the Model ........................................................................................ 2
5.3 Check the Numbering and Create Reports ................................................. 4
5.4 Numbering Settings ...................................................................................... 8
Initial Numbering........................................................................................... 8
Before Creating Drawings ............................................................................ 9
After Creating Drawings ............................................................................... 9
After Issuing Drawings for Fab .................................................................. 10
5.5 Change Numbering Series......................................................................... 11
Steel: Numbering and Reports

5 Numbering and Reports
In this lesson
This lesson introduces the principles of numbering the model in Tekla Structures.
You will learn:
The options available for numbering your model
How marks are assigned in numbering
How to check part marks
To use report templates
5.1 Numbering Basics

Defining numbers to be used for parts
Numbering series are used to divide part, assembly and cast unit numbers into groups.
For example, you can allocate separate numbering series to different part types (BEAM,
COLUMN, BRACING, etc.) or according to which floor the part is located in (1st floor, 2nd
floor, etc.).
You can name the numbering series to which a part, an assembly, or a cast unit belongs using
the part properties dialog box. The numbering series name consists of a prefix and a starting
number.
Part Position and Assembly Position numbers are material specific

and apply only to steel by default. Concrete members have part
prefix "Concrete", and the starting number is 1. They have a Cast
Unit Position number instead of an Assembly Position number. See
more in Help: Modeling > Numbering the Model > Defining
numbering series > Assigning a numbering series to a part.
Running the numbering

When you initiate the numbering process, Tekla Structures assigns marks to parts, assemblies
and cast units.
The numbering function is run by selecting Drawings & Reports > Numbering > Number
Modified Objects or Drawings & Reports > Numbering > Number Series of Selected Objects.
The Series of Selected Objects option will check all part series which are selected in the
model. For example, if a column with the Numbering Series Assembly prefix of “C” is
selected in the model when Number Series of Selected Objects is run, it will compare all parts
with the Assembly prefix of “C”.

The Modified option checks all the new and modified parts since the last numbering. If this is
the first time a numbering is performed, it will include all objects, because all objects are new.
Help: Modeling > Numbering the Model > Numbering objects
How marks are assigned in numbering

In numbering, parts with the same Part prefix and Start number will be compared with each
other. All identical parts within such a group will be given the same number. The prefix and
start number together define what numbers the part will be given, e.g. if the prefix is C and
the starting number is 1 (steel columns in our model), the numbering result will be C1, C2,
C3, etc.
Help: Modeling > Numbering the Model > What affects numbering
The Assembly Position is used when that particular part becomes the main part of the
assembly.
For instance, a beam may be made up of a shaft of steel, angle clips at each end and perhaps a
shear tab somewhere along its length. Each individual part will have its own Part Position.
Item Part Position Assembly Position
Shaft of Steel B2 B2
Angle Clips a44 A12
Shear Tab p9 P16
When we make the assembly drawing, the entire assembly gets marked as 'One Beam Mkd
B2' because the shaft of steel was defined as the 'Main Part of the Assembly'. If the assembly
drawing came out marked as 'One Plate Mkd P16' yet it shows the entire assembly, then we
can tell that the main part of the assembly has been defined incorrectly.
Numbering settings
Numbering is carried out according to the settings in the Drawings & Reports > Numbering
> Numbering settings dialog box. In the Numbering setup dialog you can define how new
or modified parts are handled in numbering. For example, you decide whether a profile name
affects the part number and define the degree of tolerance in comparing the parts in
numbering.
Help: Modeling > Modeling Settings > Numbering settings > General numbering
settings
5.2 Number the Model

Until now, we have not looked at how any items in the model are numbered. Trying to create
a drawing at this stage would display a warning stating that the numbering is not up to date. If
trying to create a report, there would be no numbers assigned to the items in the model for the
report to display.
We will use Inquire object to see the current state of the numbering of parts, and then we will
number the model.

Inquire a part
1. Select Tools > Inquire > Object… or click on the Inquire Object icon.
2. Select any steel column.
The Inquire object dialog box opens. The Part position and Assembly position marks are
shown as w0 and C0. This indicates that the part and assembly have not been numbered yet.
Tekla Structures uses numbers to identify parts, assemblies and cast

units when producing drawings and reports. You must make sure
Tekla Structures numbers the model parts before you create
drawings or reports.
Run initial numbering

1. Select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Settings from the pull-down menu
and Load the 1_Initial_Numbering settings. Click OK.
2. Next, select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects from the
pull-down menu.
Now all the parts, assemblies and cast units in our model have up-to-date position numbers.

5.3 Check the Numbering and Create Reports
We will now check the marks assigned to parts, assemblies and cast units.
Inquire part
1. Select Tools > Inquire > Object.
2. Select any column.
The Inquire object dialog box opens. Now the steel columns have Part position and Assembly
position numbers, and the concrete columns have cast unit numbers (the position numbers
may differ in your model).
The numbering is now up-to-date and we can create reports. We will next create an assembly
part list of the whole model.
Help: Templates and Reports > Reports > Creating a report
You can create reports already at an early stage of the project to

check the model and get pre-bill of material lists at quotation stage,
cut lists, bolt lists, weld lists etc.
Create assembly part list
1. Click on the Reports icon (CTRL+B) to display the Report dialog box.

2. Select Assembly_list_BOM report template from the list.
3. On the Options tab, check the options as shown below.
4. Click Create from all to run a report of the entire model.

The report is now automatically displayed in a dialog. Also, the text file is created in the
model folder.
5. Check the numbering range of the assemblies and parts.

We will create this report again and give the report a specific name in order to keep the
information on the stage of the project.
To keep the report files you have created, give them a specific name. If you try
to create a report with the existing name, Tekla Structures asks before it
overwrites the existing report.
Naming a report
1. In the Report dialog box, edit the report file name to read: Assembly_list_BOM_ABM.xsr
(Or you can type Assembly List - <today's date> and change it next time you run the report)
2. Click Create from all.

3. The report is now displayed in a dialog box.
4. Select File > Open model folder to see that the actual text file was created in the model
folder.
Tekla Structures also stores a full numbering history in the file: Numbering.history.
The file contains the following model numbering details:
User who carried out the numbering and the date
Numbering Full / Modified / Selected
Numbering settings used
A list of defined numbering series
Information on the parts, assemblies and cast units numbered

Study the numbering history log
1. Select Tools > Display Log File > Numbering history
This displays the numbering history in a dialog box.
For more information on the log file, see
Help: Modeling > Numbering the Model > Viewing the numbering history
When you select a list entry that contains the ID numbers of the
parts or the assembly, Tekla Structures highlights them in the
model.

5.4 Numbering Settings
From Version 13 onwards, Tekla has set up and provided a selection of common numbering
setups.
1_Initial Numbering
2_Before Creating Drawings
3_After Creating Drawings
4_After_Issuing_Drawings_for_Fab
Each of these has the numbering properties set up specifically for that part in a contract. To
view these, go to Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Numbering Settings.
Initial Numbering
This setting would be chosen right at the start of the modeling process and would allow the
user to quickly check that members that are supposed to be similar are getting the same
number. It consistently allows numbers to change every time a numbering of the model is
performed in order to fill any gaps that may appear due to items being deleted from the
model.
You can see that Renumber All is checked. This causes Tekla Structures to ignore the current
number on an item and possibly give it a new number based loosely on the order it was added
to the model.
During the modeling process Tekla Structures consistently keeps track of

what items are similar to what other items and numbers the model
accordingly. Consequently, when items change, the numbers must revise
so that no different items have the same number and that the amount of
different numbers is minimized by consolidating similar items wherever
possible into the same number.
Also, during the modeling process, items that previously had a number assigned may have
been deleted, leaving a gap in the numbering. There may be a B1, a B2, a B3 then a B5 in
your model meaning the B4 was deleted at some point. Initial numbering will automatically
fill those gaps so that the first time you issue your drawings or reports there will be no gaps in
the numbering system.

Before Creating Drawings
This setting differs from Initial Numbering by forbidding Tekla Structures to renumber
everything in the model. It tries to retain the current numbers on parts that already have
numbers, but it does try to fill any gaps in numbers by re-using deleted numbers that are no
longer in use.
A typical scenario for this setting would be when modeling and checking is complete and we
are ready to start creating drawings. (The exception to this would be the Anchor Plan which
typically doesn't show column marks anyway.)
Note that if this setting is used, the particular number that was assigned to one
particular member, which has since been deleted or changed to be similar to
another member, could now be assigned to a completely different member.
After Creating Drawings

The third default setting is used when approval changes or revisions arrive after drawings
have been created.
The system is allowed to re-use old numbers in order to minimize the gaps in the numbers.
This may be particularly important if you are using multi-sheets (Large sheets with a number
of items detailed on one sheet) where you would like to avoid having blank spaces on your
sheets.

After Issuing Drawings for Fab
The forth default setting is used when approval changes or revisions arrive after drawings
have been issued to the shop for fabrication.
If drawings are issued to the shop for fabrication during the approval process, this setting will
attempt to keep the numbers constant. This would stop a particular mark that was assigned to
something at the approval stage from changing to something completely different at the
fabrication stage.
The Keep number if possible setting allows unique members in the model to retain their
numbers after a change, unless that change makes them similar to another member, in which
case that unique member will assume the number of the already present, similar member.
For multiple members in the model, if they are all changed at once, they may retain their
number, but if one is changed and a numbering is performed, it may take a new number, then
when the others are changed, they may become similar to the first member that was changed
and will assume its (new) number.
Take New Number
A further option available in the New and Modified section allows Tekla Structures to take a
new number regardless.
This may be useful for revisions after fabrication and erection has commenced as it will not
interfere with any drawings or numbers that have been previously issued. This may make
handling revisions slightly easier.
Changing the numbering settings in the middle of the project can be

dangerous. In a case where you absolutely need to change the
settings in the middle of the project, make sure you understand how
the changes will affect the part marks.
Always carry out a full numbering on the model after you have
changed the numbering settings.

5.5 Change Numbering Series
By defining a numbering series (numbering prefixes and start numbers), we can group parts,
assemblies and cast units the way we want. This way we can allocate parts in a certain area of
a building to a particular numbering series.
We will now change the numbering series of the items in phase 1 to start with 1000 and the
items in phase 2 to start with 2000.
1. Set Initial Numbering.
Number Modified Objects
2. Number the Model using the Number Modified Objects tool.
Define a Selection Filter

3. Define a Select Filter to highlight only Phase 1 objects.
4. Switch on the select filter.
5. Now drag a box over the entire model.

6. Open the Beam Properties dialog box (Modeling > Properties > Steel Parts > Beam).
7. Uncheck all the modify switches, and revise the numbering series.
If you fail to uncheck all the modify switches you will change every single
highlighted item to match the properties shown in the current dialog box. This
can be undone, but if it isn't caught in time it can have potentially catastrophic
consequences.
8. Click Modify.
9. Repeat the process for the Phase 2 items.
Number Modified Objects
1. Perform Number Modified Objects.

2. Check the Numbering Log (Tools > Display Log File > Numbering History).
The numbering log should show that items have changed to assume 1000 series or 2000 series
numbers.
Be careful to allow a good safety margin of available marks when using this
type of phased numbering system. If you have more than 1000 different
members in phase 1 then the 1001st member must take the number 2000. This
will overlap with the first member in phase 2 and cause confusion.

Principles of Drawings

Contents
6 Principles of Drawings...................................................................... 1
6.1 Integration between Drawings and the Model............................................. 1
Tekla Structures model ................................................................................ 2
Drawings ....................................................................................................... 2
Changes in the model members.................................................................. 2
6.2 Drawing Types .............................................................................................. 3
6.3 Drawing List .................................................................................................. 3
Opening and closing drawings..................................................................... 3
Drawing list contents .................................................................................... 5
Drawing status flags ..................................................................................... 6
6.4 Drawing Levels ............................................................................................. 7
Modify drawing properties ............................................................................ 8
Modify view properties ................................................................................. 8
Modify object properties ............................................................................... 9
Drawing Objects ......................................................................................... 10
Steel: Principles of Drawings

6 Principles of Drawings
In this lesson
This chapter introduces the principles of working with drawings in Tekla Structures. We will
first explain the integration between drawings and the model.
Then we will:
Introduce the drawing types available in Tekla Structures
Introduce the drawing list
Introduce the various levels of editing the drawings
Study the drawing objects and layout
6.1 Integration between Drawings and the Model

Tekla Structures stores all the important project information in one place, i.e. the model.
Drawings and other printouts such as reports, CNC data files etc. are output produced directly
from the model.

Tekla Structures model
The model contains all the important project information:
Part geometrical and structural information
Part marking
Part properties
Bolts
Assembly information
User defined attributes
All the modifications must be done directly in the model. The model is always modified in the
Tekla Structures Model Editor.
Drawings
The drawings are current views of the members contained in the model with added definitions
for:
the sheet size to be used
the way titles and tables are placed on the sheets
what is dimensioned and how
which marks are displayed
how the item is oriented on the sheet
You can create drawings at any stage of a project.
Some of the drawing commands are located in the Model Editor, and some are in the Drawing
Editor. You will find all the commands for creating and managing drawings in the Model
Editor. To view and edit drawings, you will use the Drawing Editor.
Help: Drawing > Introduction to Drawings
Changes in the model members

Changes in the model members can result in the drawings no longer being up-to-date. The
following are examples of changes that affect the drawings:
A part's profile or geometry changes
Parts have been added or deleted
The number of identical parts has changed
Tekla Structures indicates updates in the related drawings and the drawing list the next time
you number the model. Numbering does not have to be up-to-date to create or open general
arrangement drawings.

6.2 Drawing Types
(G) General Arrangement (GA) drawings, also known as Erection plans or E-sheets, can
contain several views, which can include the whole model or any part of it. With the GA
drawings you can create erection, foundation and other plans, as well as details from
views in the model.
(W) Single-part drawings are workshop drawings of individual steel parts. Drawings can be
produced for any steel part in the model. The single-part drawings can contain holes but
welded parts cannot be included. This drawing type is available in Steel Detailing
module.
(A) Assembly drawings are typically workshop drawings where details of an assembly
consisting of steel parts are presented for fabrication. In most cases, an assembly consists
of single steel parts that are either bolted or welded to the main steel part. This drawing
type is available in Steel Detailing module.
(C) Cast unit drawings are formwork or reinforcement drawings of reinforced concrete
structures such as foundations. This drawing type is available in the Precast Concrete
Detailing module.
(M) Multi-drawings are workshop drawings which gather together several single-part or
assembly drawings on one sheet. This drawing type is available in Steel Detailing
module.
6.3 Drawing List

We will briefly cover the Tekla Structures drawing list.
You can use the drawing list to:
Select and open your drawings for viewing and editing in the Drawing Editor
Update, clone and delete drawings
Display and filter drawings shown in the list
Choose drawings to select parts in the model, or show only the drawings of the
selected parts in the list (not available for GA drawings)
Lock, freeze and issue drawings
Add revisions to drawings
Modify properties of several drawings at a time
The drawing list also displays the creation and modification dates of the drawings, drawing
size and type, etc.
Opening and closing drawings

You can only have one drawing open at a time. If you already have a drawing open and
changes have been made, Tekla Structures prompts you to save that drawing before opening
the next one.
Open drawing list and a GA drawing
To open the drawing list and a drawing in Tekla Structures:

1. Select Drawing & Reports > Drawing List… from the menu, or click the Open drawing
list icon on the Standard toolbar. CTRL+L from Model Editor and CTRL+O from the
Drawing Editor.

2. In the drawing list, select a previously created drawing.
3. Click Open, or double-click on the drawing to open it in the Drawing Editor.
See also Help: Drawing > Finding and opening drawings.
When selecting drawings in the drawing list, the activated buttons at the bottom of the
Drawings dialog box are Open, Update, Clone, Delete and Cancel. The table below describes
their functionality.
Button Description
Open Opens the selected drawing in the Drawing Editor. You can only select one
drawing from the list at a time. If the Open button is grayed, you have more than
one drawing selected.
You can also double-click a drawing on the list to open it. See also Opening
drawings.
Update Updates frozen drawings, and recreates unfrozen drawings. Locked drawings are
not updated.
Clone… Clones the selected drawing for a similar part.
Delete Deletes selected drawings. You cannot delete locked drawings.
Cancel Closes the dialog box.
Close a drawing
To close the drawing in the Drawing Editor:

1. Select Drawing File > Close (Back to Model) from the menu, or click the in the upper
right corner of the drawing window.
If you have made changes to the drawing, Tekla Structures asks:
This dialog DOES NOT appear if you have not made changes to the drawing.
2. Select Yes to keep the changes that you have made to the drawing, or close the drawing
without saving by clicking No. Check the box to Freeze the drawing upon saving.
Freezing
When the model changes, Tekla Structures will update the parts and drawing
objects in frozen drawings but will not overwrite any elements added manually,
such as extra marks or dimensions.
See Help: Drawing > Working with drawings > Freezing drawings.

Drawing list contents
All of your existing drawings are shown in the drawing list. The example below shows a
portion of the header line information that is available in the drawing list.
See also
Help: Drawing > Finding and opening drawings > What is displayed in the drawing list.
You can sort the order of the drawings by clicking the desired header line button
in the drawing list.
You can adjust the column widths of the drawing list, and Tekla Structures will
keep the changes.
The table below explains the header line items of the drawing list.
Item Explanation
Flags
Flags are characters ( , , , , , etc.) at the beginning of
each row. They, along with the Changes column, indicate the drawing
status.
Dates The creation and modification dates of the drawing.
Revision The revision number or mark of the drawing.
Size Paper size, which is shown automatically.
Type The drawing types are identified by the following letters:

W for single-part drawings.
A for assembly drawings.
C for cast-unit drawings.
G for general arrangement drawings.
M for multi-drawings.
Mark The drawing mark is the number of the part from which the drawing was
created. You cannot change drawing marks.
Name You can add a drawing title using the Name field in the drawing
properties dialog box.
Title 1, Title 2, Add extra drawing title fields to the drawing properties dialog box.
Title 3
User-defined Include up to 20 user-defined attributes in drawing lists.

attributes

Drawing status flags
The status of drawings is represented by flags, which are shown on the left hand side of the
drawing list in the Up to date column.
For more information about drawing status flags, see Help: Drawing > Finding and opening
drawings > Drawing status flags.
Flag Changes Text Description
Parts modified The parts in the drawing have changed, e.g. parts have been
added or deleted, or part properties have changed.
Quantity increased The actual drawing is up to date, but the number of

Quantity decreased identical parts has changed.
Original parts deleted The part from which the drawing was originally created has
been deleted.
All parts deleted All the parts related to the drawing have been deleted.
The drawing is locked.
The drawing is frozen.
Linked drawing A linked drawing has been modified.

changed
Copied view changed A copied drawing has been modified.

Drawing updated A frozen drawing has been updated.
Original parts deleted, A drawing flagged has been updated, and there are still
others exist other parts relevant to the drawing in the model.
Cloned The drawing is a cloned drawing.
The drawing has been issued. For example, you might re-
issue drawings that have been sent to site.
Issued drawing The issued drawing has been edited or otherwise changed.
changed
Lock ( ) and Issue ( ) flags can be manually added to the selected drawings. The
flag appears automatically on issued GA drawings that have been modified.
Lock GA and other drawings from being accidentally deleted or changed.

Use the buttons on the right hand side of the drawing list to change the status of a drawing.
Alternatively, select the drawing in the list, right-click to open the pop-up menu and change
the drawing status.
Issue a drawing
Tekla Structures saves the issue date, which can then be used in reports and drawings, in the
model database when the issue drawing function is used. To issue a drawing:
1. Select the drawing in the drawing list.
2. Click the Issue - On button, and the flag will appear.
3. Open the drawing to view the drawing title.
4. Check that the issue date is shown correctly in the drawing title.
6.4 Drawing Levels

You can edit drawings in the Drawing Editor on three levels:
Drawing properties
View properties
Object properties
For more information about the drawing properties and different drawing levels, see the
following help files:
Help: Drawing > Introduction to drawings > Basic principles of drawings > Three levels
of modifying drawings
Help: Drawing > Drawing Settings

Modify drawing properties
The highest level at which you can change the drawing properties affects all of the objects in
the drawing. These properties can be accessed through the Drawing properties dialog box for
each drawing type.
1. Select Drawing & Reports > Drawing Settings > drawing type... on the menu bar, or
double-click on the drawing to open the drawing properties dialog box.
The General arrangement drawing properties dialog box is shown below.
Whenever possible, you should modify drawings by changing the

drawing properties. These modifications also remain when the
drawing is recreated due to a model change.
Modify view properties

The second level is to edit the view level, where you modify the selected drawing's view. It is
important to remember that changes at this level take precedence over the drawing level
settings.
2. In the drawing interface, double-click on the border surrounding the drawing view to
open the View properties dialog box.

The View properties dialog from an assembly drawing view is shown below.
Modify object properties

The third and lowest level is to edit at the object level, where you change individual objects in
the drawing.
Individual object settings can be accessed by double-clicking on the object. The properties
dialog for a part mark is shown below.

Drawing Objects
In Tekla Structures, the term drawing object refers to lines, rectangles, arcs, circles, poly-
lines, polygons, clouds, symbols, text, DWG/DXF files, marks and dimensions.
Always work downwards in the drawing hierarchy. Get your drawing as close
as possible to what you want by first attempting this at the entire drawing level.
Then modify anything else that needs adjusted at the view level, and finally, if
any further cleanup is necessary (and this should be minimal), you can do this at
the individual object level. Once you have edited something at one level,
changing something else at the level above may negate the changes you have
just made.
If you find you are adjusting many items at the individual view level, please
contact Tekla Technical Support. They will generally be able to suggest a
method to minimize any extensive drawing editing.

Assembly and Single
Part Drawings

Contents
7 Assembly and Single Part Drawings............................................... 1

7.1 Assembly and Single-part drawings ............................................................ 1
7.2 Create Drawings ........................................................................................... 2
Create Assembly Drawings of selected parts ............................................. 2
Create Single-Part Drawings ....................................................................... 4
7.3 Creating Drawings from Groups of Similar Members ................................. 5
7.4 Creating All Drawings Automatically............................................................ 7
Rule sets (Wizards) ...................................................................................... 8
7.5 Edit Drawings Manually.............................................................................. 10
7.6 Alterations ................................................................................................... 13
Change the model ...................................................................................... 14
Update the Drawings .................................................................................. 15
Steel: Assembly and Single Part Drawings

7 Assembly and Single Part
Drawings
In this lesson
We will introduce the creation of assembly and single-part drawings in Tekla Structures.
We will first create single-part and assembly drawings by using predefined drawing settings.
Then, we will use wizards to automate the process.
We will then edit the drawing properties. We will also demonstrate how updating effects the
drawings.
Revision control of all drawing types is presented in Principles of working with drawings.
Create assembly drawings individually
Create drawings of groups with common attributes
Create drawings automatically
Handle drawings after changes are made in the model
7.1 Assembly and Single-part drawings

Single-part drawings are workshop drawings of each of the individual steel parts in the model.
Assembly drawings are workshop drawings in which details of an assembly consisting of the
steel parts are presented for fabrication.
All of the views in single-part or assembly drawings are current views of the members as they
are in the model.
When the model contains any identical members, the drawing is a view of one of these
members. The drawing, however, contains information about the quantity of all of the
identical members. If the "host" member of the drawing is modified or deleted, it will get a
new position mark at the next numbering. Tekla Structures will then automatically assign the
original drawing to another member with the original position mark.
Tekla Structures integrates the drawings and reports with the model. This means that, for
example, dimensions and marks in the drawings are always correct. Because the information
in the drawings and reports comes directly from the model, you cannot delete any of the parts
or bolts from the drawings. You can, however, filter out parts and bolts in the drawings, or
make them invisible.
You can create drawings and reports at any stage of the project. If you change the model,
Tekla Structures updates the related drawings the next time you perform numbering.
For more information, see Help: Drawing > Introduction to drawings

7.2 Create Drawings
Once you have numbered the model, you can create assembly and single-part drawings from
the model. We will begin by creating these drawings one by one, then we will create drawings
in groups and then we will use the Rule Sets or Wizards.
There are many different settings available within the program to control how the drawings
created will look. For instance: You may want column drawings to be dimensioned differently
from Beam drawings and your Brace drawings may also be different. You can create an
unlimited number of these drawing creation "profiles".
All saved drawing settings are available in a central location called the Master Drawing
Catalog.
Create Assembly Drawings of selected parts

We will now use the Column_with_BOM (Bill of Materials) settings to create an assembly
drawing of one of the columns.
Open Master Drawing Catalog
1. Go to Drawings & Reports > Create Drawings to open the Master Drawing Catalog.
2. Select the column at Grid A3.
3. Select Assembly Drawings from the drop down list at the top of the Master Drawing
Catalog.

4. Select Column_with_BOM (A) from the listed drawing styles.
5. Click Create drawings.
6. Open the Drawing List, and then open the column drawing to view it.
The drawing list can also be opened from the Drawings & Reports menu or
from a button in the toolbar of the Master Drawing Catalog.
7. Select any other item in the model, a beam for example, and run the drawing by
following the same process.

Create Single-Part Drawings
We can also break out the individual parts of these assemblies and create individual drawings
of these items.
1. Bring up properties for creating single parts in the Master Drawing Catalog by selecting
Single-part drawings from the drop-down menu.
Verify selection settings
2. Make sure you have "Select Objects in Components" selected in your Selecting
toolbar.
3. Highlight the column base plate in the model.
4. In the Master Drawing Catalog, select
Plate_with_BOM (W), and then click Create
drawings. When you open the drawing list, notice
that the drawing type is now “W” instead of “A”
denoting that this is a single-part drawing.
5. Double click on the item on the drawing list to

open the drawing.
6. Of course, it wouldn't make any sense to select
each individual item and run each drawing one at
a time. We can further automate this process by
selecting groups of items. For example, we set
the Column Drawing properties then run all the
column drawings at once. Then, switch to Beam
Properties, and run all the Beams drawings at the
same time.

7.3 Creating Drawings from Groups of Similar
Members
Create all the beam drawings
1. Now we will use the selection filters to group similar items. This restricts selection of
items in the model by any property. For example, if we select the Beam Filter from the
drop down menu, only items that are named BEAM will be selected when we drag our
mouse over the entire model.
2. Now drag a box over the entire model, and notice that only the beams will be highlighted.
3. Go to the Master Drawing Catalog, and under Assembly drawings, select

Beam_with_BOM (A).
4. Click Create drawings.

5. Notice that all beam drawings will now be created.
Create all the column drawings

Now do the same for all the columns.
1. Select the Column Filter in the model.
2. Drag a box over the entire model.
3. Notice that only the columns are highlighted.

4. Run the assembly drawings for these.

Repeat the process for other items such as braces, channels, angles etc.
7.4 Creating All Drawings Automatically

You will notice that it takes some time to either select each item individually or in groups and
set up each item's drawing properties, and there is also the chance that you may miss
something important. For this reason, Tekla Structures has included an automatic process
known as Rule sets or Wizards to do all this work for you.
The Rule sets simply automate the process we have just covered in a step-by-step fashion. It
sets the Beam drawing properties and the Beam Select filter. Then, it finds all the beams in
the model and runs the drawings. Then, it sets the Column properties and the Column filter,
finds all the columns in the model and runs those drawings. The process is repeated again and
again for braces, channels, rafters, purlins, hips, and etc. If it doesn't find a setting for
something in the model, it will still run the drawing with the 'standard' settings and will warn
you with a message in the title column of the drawing list.
For more information on Rule sets, see:
Help: Drawing > Creating drawings > Master Drawing Catalog
Rule sets cannot be used to create General Arrangement (GA)

drawings or cast unit (CU) drawings of concrete structures.
Remember that drawings are never recreated by the program, if the

drawing already exists and there have been no changes in the
model. To force recreation of drawings, users must delete the
existing drawing, or use a new sheet number.

Rule sets (Wizards)
For each member type in the model, Rule sets automatically perform the following steps:
1. Define the drawing type to be created (single, assembly)
2. Select the predefined drawing properties to be used
3. With the given select filter, select the parts from which to create drawings
4. Create drawings
When using Rule sets, you can choose whether the wizard creates drawings from all parts of
the model, or just from selected parts.
By creating rules that match the select filters and drawing

properties in the project, you can automatically create all single and
assembly drawings of the parts using suitable predefined properties.
Preconditions of using Rule sets:

Numbering of the model must be up to date
The appropriate wizard file must exist
Saved drawing properties listed in the rule file must exist
The saved select filters listed in the wizard file must exist
Model members which will be selected by the select filter
must exist
For this part of the exercise, we will use Rule sets to create the remaining drawings in the
model that have not been created already.
1. In the Master Drawing Catalog, select Rule sets (wizards) from the drop-down menu.
Rule sets are also listed under their respective drawing types –
assembly rules under ‘Assembly drawings’ and single-part rules
under ‘Single-part drawings’. They are shown with a large red
letter designating the drawing type.
2. Select Assembly Drawings with BOM (A), and then right-click Create drawings for all
parts.
It may take a few moments to complete depending on how many drawings were created
already.

3. Sort the drawing list by name, and search for any items that have the title "NO
ASSOCIATED DRAWING SETTING USED BY WIZARD"
4. Highlight these items in the list, and click the 'Select Parts' button to show them in the
model. You can then analyze and recreate these drawings manually with the drawing
settings of your choice, or the Rule set can be modified so that these items are included in
the future.
5. You can also open a few drawings and inspect or check them.
You can view the next drawing on the list by clicking Next or using
the shortcut Ctrl + Page Down.
Using the procedure outlined above, you could create single-part drawings from any other
selected steel parts in the model (columns, braces, angles, etc.).
It is advisable to create all the single and assembly drawings with

the wizard.
Tekla Structures displays a Cancel dialog box during the creation
of drawings. Click OK in the dialog box to stop creating the
drawings.

7.5 Edit Drawings Manually
It is easy to manually add, delete and edit drawing objects (i.e. dimensions, lines, text,
symbols, graphics and marks) in Tekla Structures drawings.
Most drawing objects (both automatically and manually created) are

associative and automatically update if the model changes. However, some
manually created drawing objects such as lines, polygons and circles are not
yet associative.
We will now edit one HSS BRACE drawing manually to include the same editing that we
defined for the vertical brace_V drawing properties (the bolt distance dimensions, the
rectangular part mark frame, and single-part views).
Include Single Part Views (Entire Drawing Level)
1. Open the first HSS BRACE drawing in the drawing list.
2. Double-click in open space on the drawing to open the Assembly Drawing Properties
dialog box.
3. Click the Layout button.

4. Now select the 'Other' tab, and change the 'Include single-parts' option to Yes. Single-
Part Details can assume the attributes of the current drawing or can be set with their own
attributes in order to improve how the drawing looks automatically. In this example, we
will set the single part views to have the USPlate attributes.
5. Click Modify.

6. Once the drawing refreshes it may look something like shown below. Notice that the
single plates are detailed out separately like a more traditional hand drawn drawing.
Change the Scale of the Section Views (View Level)
7. Select the Section A-A view border. Double Click it.
8. In the view properties dialog box, change the scale.
9. Click Modify.

Add bolt distance dimensions (Individual object level)
1. Repeat for Section B-B.
Create Y-dimension
2. Click on the Create Y dimension icon.

3. Pick the corners of the plate to be dimensioned.
4. Move the cursor to where you want the dimension to appear and click the middle mouse
button.
The associative symbols indicate which drawing objects are associated to

the model and will be updated if the model is changed.
Click SHIFT+A in the keyboard to display/hide the associative symbols.
To move a dimension: select it and drag it to the desired position.
Add the dimension to the other end in the same way.

Change the frame of part marks (Individual object level)
1. Double-click one of the part marks to open the Part mark properties dialog box.
2. On the General tab, change the Frame around mark to rectangular, and tick only this
check box.
3. Select all the part marks in the drawing. (You can use the Select part mark select switch.)
4. Click Modify.
Now all the part marks in the drawing have
rectangular frames.
Remember you can modify all the settings in a drawing at the drawing
properties or view properties level.

5. Close the drawing, click the check box to Freeze the drawing and click Yes in the
confirmation dialog box to freeze your drawing.
When you close a drawing that has been changed, Tekla Structures prompts you
to save the drawing.
Whenever you have manually edited the drawing you may want to select
Disable automatic updating (Freeze). This way you will systematically freeze
edited drawings and only them.
The geometry of the model always updates, but this switch is used to stop the
drawing intelligence and prevents the drawings from being updated. For
example, parts are updated, but dimensions, associative notes, text, marks,
views, additional drawing objects are not.
A snowflake icon appears in the drawing list to show that this drawing is frozen.
Now, this one brace drawing has roughly the same editing as all the other brace drawings. The
difference is that part of this brace drawing editing was done manually.
If we wanted the rest of the brace drawings to have the same editing, we could repeat the
manual editing to them one by one. However, changing the drawing properties is a better
solution because this method is more automatic and much quicker.
In order to automate the creation of drawings as much as possible, you should

try finding adequate predefined drawing properties to create the drawings
with instead of editing them manually.
Whenever there is a need to edit the drawings, you should first check if the
result can be achieved by changing the drawing properties.
As long as you can manage to create complete drawings by using predefined
drawing properties, the creation and updating of the drawings will be more
automatic.
7.6 Alterations
We will now modify our model by changing the size of the plate in all gusset plate
connections. Changes in the model will result in some of the drawings no longer being up-to-
date. To be able to open the drawings, you will need to run numbering and update them.
We will study how updating affects the edited drawings.
Updating will:
Switch the flag on a frozen drawing to . This indicates that the drawing has been
updated (also manual editing, such as extra marks or dimensions).
Regenerate any drawings with the flag that are unfrozen, with the originally used
drawing properties. The updating deletes all the manual editing (added dimensions, texts
etc.).
Update the quantities on a drawing with the flag.

Change the model
Change gusset plate bolt spacing
1. Select the connection where the braces cross the column in the model – Shown below.
2. Double-click on the connection cone to open the connection properties for editing.
3. Check that Ignore other types is selected in the connection dialog box.
4. On the Picture tab page, edit the extra width of the knife plate as shown below.
5. Click Modify.
Now the model has changed and some of the drawings are no longer up to date. To be able to
open the drawings you need to run numbering and update them.
It is not possible to open earlier revisions of the drawings. Due to the integration
between drawings and the model a drawing that is not up-to-date cannot be
opened.

Run numbering
1. Go to Drawings & Reports > Numbering > Numbering Settings.
2. Load 3_After_Creating_Drawings and click OK.
3. Select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects.
Update the Drawings

Once the numbering is carried out, the flags in the Drawing list show all those affected
drawings that need to be updated.
Help: Drawing > Finding and opening drawings > Drawing status flags
You can filter up-to-date drawings with Filter > Up to date button. To get non
up to date drawings listed press Display > Invert button after Filter > Up to
date.
Update unedited brace drawings

The unedited brace drawings were created with only the predefined drawing attributes. They
will be complete right after updating since they are simply recreated using their own
attributes.
To update drawings:
1. Select all the unedited affected HSS BRACE drawings from the list.
2. Click Update.
3. Open the unedited drawing to see that it is ok.
Update edited brace drawing
We will next update the manually edited brace drawing.
1. Select the edited HSS BRACE drawing from the list.
2. Press the Off button under Freeze in the Drawing List.
3. Click Update.
4. Open the drawing and notice that the dimensions that we added were automatically
updated because the associative symbols were located on the corners of the knife plate.

Associative symbol
If you had left the drawing frozen, the view would have updated but the
dimensions would not have. This is good for keeping track of minor changes
but then will require manual updating of all dimensions.
5. There will also be magenta clouds shown around all the changes that were made. These
are for your information only and will not print on the drawings. You can add clouds that
do print manually using the Draw cloud tool.
6. You can also remove all the magenta clouds by clicking on the remove symbols buttons.
Remember to add a revision to drawings that have been updated or changed

after you have released drawings for the contract. As we will see later, it may
be a good idea to do this before updating the drawings.
Another way to avoid repetitive editing is to use cloning for similar items. This
allows user to copy the dimension and editing from one item onto a similar
item.
Further information on this is available in the help files or on the Tekla Extranet

Multi-Drawings and
Multi-Numbering

Contents
8 Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering ............................................. 1

8.1 Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering in General ........................................ 2
Multi-Drawing properties .............................................................................. 4
Options for creating multi-drawings ............................................................. 4
Multi-numbering setup.................................................................................. 5
8.2 Creating Multi-drawings ............................................................................... 6
Create Multi-Drawings Manually .................................................................. 6
Create Multi-Drawings Automatically ........................................................ 10
8.3 Updating and Revisions ............................................................................. 12
Updating multi-drawings............................................................................. 13
Revision control .......................................................................................... 14
Steel: Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering

8 Multi-Drawings and Multi-
Numbering
In this lesson
Multi-Drawings are defined as drawings that contain a number of individual items collected
together onto one large sheet. Those items may all have something in common or may be
completely random.
Multi-Drawings emulate the more traditional output of the pencil and paper draftsman of long
ago when it was more practical to draw many items on one sheet. Nowadays, with computers
being as fast as they are and printers and copier paper being as inexpensive as they are it is
actually quicker and easier to produce details on individual sheets rather than take the extra
step and collect these details onto large and cumbersome multi sheets.
Detailing time can be saved considerably if multi-sheets are no longer required.
Multi-Numbering refers to the system of applying marks to items in such a way that the item
can be tracked to the multi-sheet it appears upon. Tekla offers countless multi-numbering
capabilities so there is sure to be one system that will suit your requirements
We will learn about the creation and use of multi-drawings and explain the principles of
multi-numbering. We will also handle the updating of multi-drawings and revision control.
Create multi drawings manually, controlling which items go on which sheet
Create multi drawings automatically by allowing the system to decide placement
Customize numbering setups to create simple or complex multi-numbering
Handle revision on multi-drawings

8.1 Multi-Drawings and Multi-Numbering in General
Multi-drawings are used to gather assembly and/or single-part drawings onto a single sheet,
below are some examples:
You want all the assemblies on same size drawing sheet. Some assemblies might need a
larger (D or 24x36) sheet, but others might require less space (B or 17x11). When using
multi-drawings you can link as many assemblies as will fit on one larger sheet.
Assembly or single-part drawings can also be linked to a multi-drawing with or without a

layout. If they are linked with a layout, each assembly can have its own separate Bill of
Material.

You want all of the single part drawings of plates with the same thickness gathered onto
one sheet.
If you need to have the sheet number included as part of the assembly and/or part mark,
you can use multi-numbering. The only way to achieve this is to add the assembly and/or
single-part drawings to a multi-drawing.

Multi-Drawing properties
Name: can be used to define the content of the drawing. The name field will be shown on the
drawing list. For multi-numbering the Name: field will correspond as the multi-drawing
number, and depending on the multi-number setup, it will be added to assembly and/or part
mark e.g. Name: 1 - Assembly mark 1B1. To get information on common drawing properties
see:
Help: Drawing > Drawing properties
Options for creating multi-drawings

You can link or copy assembly/single-part drawing views with or without layout to the multi-
drawing. The difference between link and copy is that with copy the connection to the original
drawing is broken, whereas with link the connection to update information from the original is
kept.
1. You can create empty multi-drawings and then link or copy assembly or single-part
drawings interactively. This option is a little bit laborious, but you can optimize the use
of paper.
2. You can create multi-drawings automatically from selected assembly or single-part
drawings. Just select all the assembly drawings you want to link to multi-sheets in the
drawings list, and Tekla Structures will link as many assembly/single-part drawings to
one sheet as will fit and then create another multi-drawing and continue the linking
procedure. This is an easy way of creating gather sheets.
3. It is also possible with one command to create assembly or single-part drawings and then
multi-drawings from these drawings. This option isn't recommended because you can't
use specific settings for different types of drawings.
For more information, see:
Help: Drawing > Creating drawings > Create drawings using menu, toolbar, or pop-up
commands > Create multidrawings

Multi-numbering setup
Setting up any type of multi-numbering involves making changes to the 'INI
files'. The INI files contain most of the default settings in Tekla Structures,
and users can potentially cause considerable problems by editing these files.
Always make a copy of any INI file before changing any setting.
Tekla recommends using the Tools > Options > Advanced Options menu
function to change these settings so that the default settings remain
consistent.
Further information is available in the help files, on the extranet and by
attending an advanced training course.
In a case where your fabricator wants multi-numbers for assemblies and/or parts, those
drawings need to be linked to multi-drawings. Multi-numbers are assigned according to the
following Advance Options settings.
The following lines in the Tools > Options > Advance Options > Numbering affect numbering:
XS_MODEL_PREFIX_INFLUENCES_MULTI_NUMBERING_FOR=
XS_USE_MULTI_NUMBERING_FOR=
XS_USE_NUMERIC_MULTI_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_USE_MODEL_PREFIX_IN_MULTI_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_USE_ASSEMBLY_NUMBER_FOR=
XS_SWITCH_MULTI_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_VALID_CHARS_FOR_ASSEMBLY_MULTI_NUMBERS=
XS_VALID_CHARS_FOR_PART_MULTI_NUMBERS=
XS_MIN_NUMBER_OF_ASSEMBLY_MULTI_CHARACTERS=
XS_MIN_NUMBER_OF_PART_MULTI_CHARACTERS=
XS_ALLOW_DRAWING_TO_MANY_MULTI_DRAWINGS=
XS_SWITCH_POS_NUMBERS_FOR=
XS_PART_MULTI_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING=
XS_ASSEMBLY_MULTI_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING=
Using these variables we can get following types of multi-numbers:

E.g. assemblies:
A1, B1, C1, …
1A, 1B, 1C, …
1B1, 1B2, 1B3, 1C1, 1C2, …
1B1, 2B1, 3B1, 1C1, 2C1, …
1BA, 1BB, 1BC, 1CA, 1CB, …
AB1, BB1, CB1, AC1, BC1, CC1, …
E.g. parts:
a1, b1, c1, …
1a, 1b, 1c, …
1a1, 1a2, 1a3, 1p1, 1p2, …
1a1, 2a1, 3a1, 1p1, 2p1, …
1aa, 1ab, 1ac, 1pa, 1pb, …
aa1, ab1, ac1, pa1, pb1, pc1, …
If you work for many fabricators, you may need to define different
numbering setups for each in multiple INI files. See the help files for further
information.
Help: System > Files and Folders > Initialization files
Don't change the numbering setup after linking assembly or single-part

drawings to multi-drawings. This will cause the loss of all drawings which
have a multi-number assigned.

8.2 Creating Multi-drawings
All the necessary editing should be done in the assembly or single-part drawings. The multi-
drawing is just intended for use as a gathering sheet.
We will create multi-drawings using methods 1 and 2 described under Options for creating
multi-drawings. To prepare for making multi-drawings, re-create assembly drawings
described in earlier chapters but use the settings that do not include the BOM, since it will be
included on the multi-drawing.
If you need multi-numbers you may need to edit the INI file and restart Tekla Structures.
Also, if you want multi-numbers applied to secondary parts, you need to remember to include
the single-part views in the assembly drawings.
Create Multi-Drawings Manually

Create empty multi drawing
1. Set multi-drawing properties (Drawing & Reports > Drawing Settings > Multi-
drawing…).
2. Load Multi-Drawings setting from the top of the dialog.
3. Click OK.
4. Create an empty multi-drawing (Drawing & Reports > Create Multi-drawing > Empty
Drawing).
You should be able to see that there is new drawing on the list M, [1], Title 1.
If you know you are going to be creating multi-drawings for any contract
right from the outset, you are advised to use one of the "USWizard" settings
to make the original drawings then linking these views with the layout onto
the multi sheets. This ensures that all similarly scaled items are maintained at
a similar scale on the multi-sheet.

Link assembly drawings to multi-drawings
1. Open the multi-drawing.
2. Highlight the first 4 beam assembly drawings.
3. Hold the cursor over the highlighted drawings, right-click and select Link Drawing
Views.
In the multi-drawing, you will see the 4 drawings being linked to the multi-drawing, one on
top of the other. If you are using multi-numbering, you can see the assembly marks changing
on the drawing list according to your numbering setup e.g.1B1, 1B2 etc. Otherwise, the
numbers will remain the same.

Arrange Drawing Views on multi-drawing
1. To arrange assemblies on the multi-drawing, right click and select Arrange Drawing
Views.
2. To arrange the assemblies interactively:

Select outer blue border around an assembly
Left pick the border
Drag the assembly to the desired location
Your multi-drawing may look something like the one shown below

Add more assemblies to multi-drawing
3. Highlight the next four assemblies on the drawing list and repeat the linking procedure.
4. After linking, re-arrange the assemblies on the sheet.
Remove the extra assemblies from the multi-drawing

It seems that we can't fit all the drawings on one sheet. The Bill of Material (top right hand
corner) will be expanded and interfere with the beam view when the drawing is re-opened.
We need to remove some assemblies from the sheet. As long as the drawing has been open
all the time, you can unlink the assemblies by using undo. If you have already closed and
re-opened the drawing you can still delete the assembly from the multi-drawing, but there
may be implications if you have used multi-numbering. See below for further information on
this.
1. Click the Undo button until the automatic and interactive arranging has been undone.
2. Click Undo twice to undo the linking of one assembly. Multi-numbering is undone at the
same time.

Re-open drawing
After you have arranged a suitable number of assemblies on the sheet, you should close and
then re-open the drawing.
1. Highlight drawing on the drawing list and click Open.
2. Click the Save button.
The bill of material is always updated when the drawing is opened.
Once you close and save the drawing, the undo log is cleared, and the multi-
number is set for those parts. The only way to get rid of the multi-number
afterwards is to clear the numbering from selected parts (Drawings &
Reports > Numbering > Clear Numbers and choose one of the options).
The assembly view title e.g. 1 ~ BEAM ~Marked 1B1 can be changed in the
Tools > Options > Advanced Options > Drawing Properties:
XS_ASSEMBLY_DRAWING_VIEW_TITLE
Take a look at the Tekla Structures help file for more information.
Create Multi-Drawings Automatically

Create multi-drawing for the column drawings
1. Open the drawing list.
2. Select all the column drawings.
3. Right-click on the highlighted drawings and select: Create Drawings > Multi-drawing >
Selected drawing with Layout.

4. Notice that the assembly numbers on the columns will change as they are added to the
multi-drawings.
5. You should be able to see that Tekla Structures creates a new multi-drawing and then
starts linking the assembly drawings to it. Once the first sheet is full, it creates a new
multi-drawing and starts the linking procedure again until all of the selected assemblies
are linked to multi-drawings.
Tekla Structures will try to place as many drawings on a multi-drawing as

possible, but often, particularly with complex column drawings, this may
only be one drawing. For this reason it is sometimes better to manually link
the drawings, giving you more control over what assemblies are shown on
multi-drawings.
Create multi-drawings out of the bracing drawings

Highlight all the Brace drawings in the drawing list.
1. Right-click at the top of selected drawings and select: Create Drawings > Multi-
drawings > Selected drawing with Layout.

Create multi-drawings out of the single part plate drawings
First, set multi-drawing properties for part drawing gather sheets.
1. Click on Drawings & Reports > Drawing Settings > Multi-Drawings.
2. Load Gather_Sheets.
3. Click OK.
4. Highlight the Plate drawings in the drawing list.
5. Right-click at the top of the selected drawings and select: Create Drawings > Multi-
drawing > Selected drawings with Layout.
The multi-number is assigned only once, so if you assigned the multi-number

during the linking of assembly drawings, then the number should not be
changed again.
8.3 Updating and Revisions

For the most part updating and revision control is similar to that done in other drawings, so
for more information take a look:
Help: Drawing > Working with drawings > Revising drawings
But because of the linking procedure and multi-numbers, there are a few issues that need a
closer look.

Updating multi-drawings
Changes to an assembly drawing are not automatically updated in the multi-drawing. Any
saved modification to an assembly drawing requires the multi-drawing to be updated. This
also means that if something changes in the model, which requires an assembly drawing to be
updated, then it will also require the multi-drawing to be updated.
In the case where an assembly or single-part mark changes so that a new drawing is cloned or
needs to be created, the new drawing also needs to be linked to a multi-drawing.
If multi-numbering is used, modifications that affect numbering might also require re-linking
of the assembly drawing. For example, if clip angles change so that they get a completely new
number the assembly drawing needs to be deleted from multi-drawing. The assembly drawing
must then be re-linked to the multi-drawing for the new clip angles to get multi-number.
Modifying an assembly drawing
1. Add a typical weld mark to an assembly drawing:
2. Close and save the drawing.

Update multi-drawing
You should see that there is " " flag and a change message in front of the multi-drawing.
This means that assembly or single-part drawings that have been linked to the multi-drawings
have been changed. You now need to update the multi-drawing.
3. Highlight the drawing and click Update.
4. Open the multi-drawing, and you should now see the weld mark in the multi-drawing.

Revision control
Create revision
If you are sending multi-drawings to your
clients, then obviously you will need to add
a revision mark to the multi-drawing. To
add a revision mark:
1. Highlight the drawing on the list.
2. Click the Revision… button.
3. Add a revision mark, date and text to
the dialog.
4. Click Create.
You can see that drawing was marked on the list as having revision 1.
5. Open the drawing. You should see that the revision has also been added to you revision
block.
Several drawings can share the same revision mark, date, and
information. To attach the same revision information to several
drawings simultaneously, select multiple drawings from the
drawing list.
You can choose whether Tekla Structures shows the revision

numbers or the revision marks in the drawing list. By default,
revision numbers are shown. For more information, see the
following links:
Help: System > Files and Folders > Initialization files

General Arrangement
Drawings

Contents
9 General Arrangement Drawings ...................................................... 1

9.1 Creating General Arrangement Drawings ................................................... 1
Create an Anchor Bolt Plan ......................................................................... 2
Create a Single View GA Drawing............................................................... 5
Create a Multiple View GA Drawing ............................................................ 7
9.2 Modifying GA Drawings.............................................................................. 10
Modify drawing properties .......................................................................... 11
Modify view properties ............................................................................... 11
Modify object properties ............................................................................. 13
9.3 Drawing Objects ......................................................................................... 13
Create Drawing Objects ............................................................................. 13
Steel: General Arrangement Drawings

9 General Arrangement
Drawings
In this lesson
We will introduce the creation of general arrangement drawings in Tekla Structures.
We will first create an example drawing from the BasicModel2 model.
We will also introduce the various levels of editing the drawings and study the drawing
objects and layout
Make 3D Views, Plans, Elevations and Sections
Use Filters
Add drawing objects
9.1 Creating General Arrangement Drawings

We will now introduce general arrangement (GA) drawings and create an example drawing of
the BasicModel2 model.
Tekla Structures can be used to create general arrangement (GA) drawings which are also
known as Erection plans or E-Sheets.
GA drawings can contain several views, which can include the whole model or any part of it.
With the GA drawings you can create erection, foundation and other plans, as well as details
from views in the model.
You can create general arrangement drawings from one or several named model view(s) with
the following options:
Create one drawing for each selected view
Add all selected views to one drawing
Create an empty drawing
You can create an empty drawing and add named model views to the drawing in the Drawing
Editor. The views must exist but they do not necessarily have to be open.
You cannot modify the appearance, such as the viewing angle, of

model views in the Drawing Editor. Therefore, check and modify
the appearance of model views in the Model Editor before creating
GA drawings. For example, check that the plan views are really 2D
views, and rotate the rendered 3D views the way you want them to
be shown in the drawing.

In the example below, we will create a general arrangement drawing from BasicModel2 by
including several named model views in the drawing.
You do not need to number the model or update numbering to

create or open general arrangement drawings.
Create an Anchor Bolt Plan

The anchor bolt plan would typically be created as soon as the bases were modelled in order
to speed the construction process along, but as we are just starting to learn about creating
drawings in Tekla Structures, we will handle this now.
To create an Anchor Plan:
1. Open your PLAN AT EL. 0” view.
In this model, you have 2 plan views at El. 0’-0”, one for the first
building and one for the second. We will be using the first
building’s view because it is ‘square’ to the overall building
footprint.
You don't need to have the view open in order to make the General
Arrangement Drawing, but it does let you check that the result will be close to
what you are expecting.
2. Select the view and right-click > Fit Work Area to Entire Model.
The work area directly reflects what will be included on your GA

drawing. If the work area is fit to the entire model, your drawing
will show the same. If the work area is reduced to only a portion of
the model, then you will get a partial GA plan.

3. Go to Drawing & Reports > Create Drawings to open the Master Drawing Catalog.
At this point we could just select the drawing type and create the drawing, but in this instance,
we first want to change the scale for the drawing.
4. Choose Anchor Plan (G), and click Create drawings.
5. Select PLAN AT EL. 0”.
6. Click on Drawing properties.
7. Now click on the View button, and change the scale to 1/96.

8. Go to the Anchor bolt plan tab, and set the scale for the enlarged views to 48.
Anchor bolt plans provide enlarged views over the column

locations to easier dimension the spread of the anchors.
9. Click OK in the General – View Properties dialog box.

10. Click OK in the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box.
11. Now check the Open drawing box, and click Create.
Your output may differ from what is shown above depending on how the view looked on the
model when you created the drawing. Remember you can alter the drawing output
automatically by adjusting the scale or other parameters to get exactly what you want to see.

Create a Single View GA Drawing
1. Open the Plan at 24'-0" Level View.
(You may need to right click > Fit Work Area to Entire Model.)
2. In the Master Drawing Catalog, select Plan (G), and click Create drawings.
3. Highlight the Plan at El. 24'-0", and click on Drawing properties…

4. Click View.
5. Change the scale to 96.
6. Click OK, then OK again at the General arrangement drawing properties Dialog Box.
7. Check the Open Drawing box, and click Create

Create a Multiple View GA Drawing
We will now repeat almost exactly the same process in order to make more erection plans and
details.
To create a GA drawing that contains selected views, e.g. 3d, ELEVATION ON GRID 4 and
ELEVATION ON GRID A, from Building 1.
1. Run numbering Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects to make
sure your part marks are up to date.
2. In the Master Drawing Catalog select standard (G) and click Create drawings.
3. Select the 3d, ELEVATION ON GRID 4 and ELEVATION ON GRID A views in the Create
General Arrangement Drawing dialog box. Then select the option All selected views to
one drawing.
You can select multiple views (or toggle the selection) in the dialog
box above by holding down the Ctrl key and picking each view
separately.
GA drawing views are automatically labeled with the current view
name.
With the One drawing per view option you can select all the plan
views in the dialog box and create separate drawings with
predefined drawing properties all at once.

Define drawing properties
To define the properties of the GA drawing:
1. Click the Drawing properties... button to open the General arrangement drawing
properties dialog box.
2. Give the drawing a distinctive name in the Title 1 field, e.g. STEEL FRAME.
3. Click the View... button to open the General arrangement drawing properties dialog
box.
4. On the Attributes tab, change the drawing scale to something suitable and click OK to
apply the scale and close the dialog box.

5. Now click the Filter button and complete the filter rows as shown.
6. Click OK.
7. In the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box save the selected drawing
properties with a unique file name, e.g. Steel_Frame, by typing the file name and then
clicking the Save as button.
Drawing property files Steel_Frame.gd and Steel_Frame.gd.more are created in

the ..\BasicModel2-yourname\attributes folder.
8. Click OK to apply the selected GA drawing settings and to close the General
arrangement drawing properties dialog box.
For more information on drawing properties, see Help: Drawing > Modifying automatic
drawing settings > Drawing properties.
Create and open the GA drawing

To create and open the GA drawing:
1. Select the Open drawing checkbox in the Create general arrangement drawing dialog
box to have Tekla Structures automatically open the drawing.
2. Click Create.

3. Check that the created GA drawing is as shown below.
All of the views in the GA drawing will be created according to the

same GA drawing properties you applied. If some views need
different properties, you have to modify the view properties
afterwards in the Drawing Editor.
You can first define the GA drawing properties by selecting

Drawing & Reports > Drawing Settings > General arrangement
drawing... from the menu, and then load and apply the desired
properties. After that, open the Create general arrangement
drawing dialog box to create the GA drawing with the selected
views.
9.2 Modifying GA Drawings

You can edit drawings in the Drawing Editor on three levels:
Drawing properties
View properties
Object properties
For more information about the drawing properties and different drawing levels, see the
following help files:
Help: Drawing > Introduction to drawings > Basic principles of drawings > Three levels
of editing drawings
Help: Drawing > Modifying automatic drawing settings > Drawing properties

Modify drawing properties
At the highest level, you can change the drawing properties which affect all of the objects in
the drawing.
Modify part's color on drawing level
To change the GA drawing properties, e.g. the color of parts, in the Drawing Editor:
1. Open the drawing and press the 'B' key to toggle the drawing between all black lines,
colored lines and grayscale.
2. Select Drawing File > Drawing Properties... on the menu or double-click on the drawing
to open the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box.
3. Click the Part... button to open the General - part properties dialog box.
4. Select the Appearance tab.
5. Change the Color of Visible lines, e.g., to green. Check and see that the checkbox is
marked with a tick.
6. Click Modify and OK.
Whenever possible, you should modify drawings by changing the

drawing properties. These modifications also remain when the
drawing is recreated due to a model change.
Modify view properties

The second level is to edit the view level, where you modify the selected drawing's view.
Modify properties of selected view
To hide the dashed hidden lines of parts in the 3d view of the G [3] drawing:
1. Double-click on the border around the 3d drawing view to open the View properties
dialog box.

Hide hidden/center lines of parts – change representation
2. Click the Part… button to open the View part properties dialog box.
3. Select the Content tab.
4. Click the On/Off button to clear the checkboxes.
5. Change the settings shown below. Notice as you make the change the checkbox for that
option becomes checked again.

Change part mark content
7. Click the Part mark… button to open the View part mark properties dialog box.
On the General tab set the Visibility in view to none and Parts out of view plane to Not
visible.
The 3d View will now look
much cleaner.

Modify object properties
The third and lowest level is to edit at the object level, where you change individual objects in
the drawing.
Modify frame and leader line of a single part mark
To change the properties of a single part mark:
1. In the GRID A view, double-click on the part mark of one of the HSS profile diagonal
braces to open the Part Mark Properties dialog box.
2. On the General tab, change the frame and leader line types as shown below.
9.3 Drawing Objects

In Tekla Structures, the term drawing object refers to lines, rectangles, arcs, circles, poly-
lines, polygons, clouds, symbols, text, DWG/DXF files, marks and dimensions.
There are three ways to add dimensions to GA drawings: manually, semi-automatically, and
automatically (parts and gridlines).
In addition, you may want to include additional drawing objects for temporary and/or
revision-related information, e.g. clouds and text.
For more information, see Help: Drawing > Editing drawings.
Create Drawing Objects

In the G [3] drawing, we will manually dimension the location of the diagonal bracing
connection and add a cloud and a note text to the connection.
Create manual dimensions
To add manual Y-dimensions to the diagonal bracing connection (on gridline 3) in the
ELEVATION ON GRID A view:
1. Set the snap settings on the Drawings: Snap settings toolbar as shown below.

2. Click the Add vertical dimension icon on the Drawing Objects toolbar.
3. Snap, first, to the midpoint of the connection created between the four diagonal braces,
and then to the intersection of GRID 3 and GRID +0. Move the cursor to the left side of
GRID 3 to select the location of the dimension line. End the command with the middle
mouse button.
4. Snap again to the center point of the connection and then to the intersection of GRID 3
and GRID 44'-0, select the dimension line location and click the middle mouse button.
5. Select both dimensions (by holding down the Ctrl key), right-click and select Combine
dimension lines on the pop-up menu. The separate dimension lines are now combined to
one dimension line. Select the dimension line and move it to the correct location by
dragging with the mouse.

You should now have the vertical location of the diagonal brace connection shown in the
GRID A view.
Semi-automatic dimensions
A special dimensioning type is available in Tekla Structures for semi-automatic general
arrangement dimensioning. It contains several dimensioning options:
Which points and parts Tekla Structures dimensions
How the dimensions are combined
Whether the reference line or center line of the part is used as a dimension point
The primary steps are as follows:
1. Open a general arrangement drawing.
2. Click Dimensioning > GA Dimensioning Settings
3. Set the properties.
4. Click Apply.
5. Select the objects you want to dimension.
6. Create dimensions using the commands in the Create menu: Dimensioning > Add GA
Drawing Dimensions > Along Grid lines, Along part X-Axis, Along Part Y-Axis, or
Along Part X and Y Axis

Automatic dimensions
You can automatically add dimensions to grids or parts, or both, using the General –
dimensioning properties dialog box.
To open the General – dimensioning properties dialog box, navigate to General
arrangement drawing properties in the Drawing File > Drawing Properties menu or
double-click in the drawing background and click the Dimensioning… button.
The grid tab, allows you to turn on grid line and/or overall dimensions as well as how they are
placed, i.e. left, right, above, below, and etc.
The parts tab allows you to define the maximum leader line length, maximum number of
outside dimensions and the object groups to be dimensioned.
For a more in depth discussion, see Help: Drawing > Editing Drawings > Dimensions >
Semi-Automatic dimensioning of general arrangement drawings

Create a cloud
To add a cloud and a note text to the GRID A view:
1. Click the Snap to any position icon on the Drawings: Snap settings toolbar.
2. Click the Draw cloud icon on the Drawing Objects toolbar.
3. Pick points for the cloud position around the diagonal bracing connection on gridline 3.
End the selection with the middle mouse button. The dashed anchors with the questions
marks indicate that the points that were select were not associated to a particular object.
These do not print on the drawing and to make them not visible you can press Shift + A.
Create a text note for the cloud

1. Select Annotating > Properties > Text to open the Text properties dialog box.
2. Select the standard settings from the option menu and click Load.
3. Change the text properties and frame as shown below and click OK.
4. Click the Add text with leader line icon in the Drawing Objects toolbar.

5. First, pick an edge of the cloud as the origin of the leader line and then another point to
place the text. You may have to turn on some of your snaps.
The ELEVATION ON GRID A view should now look like the figure shown below:
6. Select Drawing File > Close (Back to Model) and click Yes in the dialog box when
asked to save.
Change grid visibility of many GA drawings
If you had made more than one drawing you can simultaneously change the drawing
properties, e.g. grid visibility, of more than one GA drawing:
When making changes to multiple drawings from the drawing list,

all drawings must be closed.
1. Open the drawing list in the Model Editor.

2. Select two GA drawings in the drawing list by holding down the Ctrl key.
3. Right-click to open the pop-up menu.
4. Select Properties... or press Alt+Enter as a keyboard shortcut to open the General
arrangement drawing properties dialog box.
5. Click the Grid... button to open the General - grid properties dialog box.

6. Click the On/Off button to clear the checkboxes.
7. Change the grid visibility to Not visible.
Because we clicked OK, if we do not reset any GA drawing

properties before creating another, the new drawing will also have
no grid shown.
9. Click OK to close the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box.

10. Open the modified drawings one at a time to see that the changes were carried out
correctly.

Drawing Management

Contents
10 Drawing Management ....................................................................... 1

10.1 Controlling Drawing Revisions ..................................................................... 1
Revising General Arrangement Drawings ................................................... 3
Create revision marks in drawings .............................................................. 4
Handling Revisions to Assembly Drawings ................................................. 5
Show revision information in a report .......................................................... 8
10.2 Creating Object Level Settings .................................................................... 9
Modify a drawing using Object level settings .............................................. 9
10.3 Cloning Drawings ....................................................................................... 13
10.4 Adding a logo to a drawing template ......................................................... 15
10.5 Creating Basic Templates .......................................................................... 17
10.6 Adding Templates to Layouts .................................................................... 21
10.7 Plotting Drawings........................................................................................ 24
Exporting Drawings to Other Programs..................................................... 26
Making PDF Files ....................................................................................... 26
10.8 Sharing Your Entire Model ......................................................................... 27
Exporting a Tekla BIMsight model ............................................................. 27
Exporting a Web Viewer Model: ................................................................ 29
Steel: Drawing Management

10 Drawing Management
In this lesson
In this chapter we will learn further drawing editing and customization tools. Tekla Structures
contains a vast array of facilities that allow the user to effectively handle changes to a contract
after the drawings have been issued. There are also a collection of tools that allow complete
customization of how the drawings look. These topics are covered in more depth during
advanced training, but we can introduce them here and learn some basic functionality.
We will introduce:
How to control and handle revisions to previously issued general arrangement
drawings
How to handle revisions to assembly drawings
The drawing classifier
Cloning, as an effective way to minimize repetitive editing
How to add a logo to a default template
How to make a template and add it to a drawing layout
How to plot drawings
10.1 Controlling Drawing Revisions

Now we will cover the revision handling features of Tekla Structures.
When the model changes:
You have to update or revise drawings
Attach revision information to the drawings
Tekla Structures displays the revision information alongside the revision number or the mark
in the drawing list and in the revision table within the drawings. The revision table also shows
the revision date. You can create a list of revisions in a report.
For more information about drawing revisions and creating reports, see the following links:

Make changes to the model
1. Modify the model by changing the profile of the columns on gridline A-7 and B-7 from
W16X50 to W16X67.
Number the model
2. Select Drawing & Reports > Numbering > Number Modified Objects.
4. Open the Plan drawing that was created earlier.

Notice how the columns changed automatically and were updated on
the drawing. They are also shown with a magenta cloud. This doesn't
print out and is only there to show the detailer that something has
changed.
Also, note that the beam is highlighted above too. This is because it
may have been the same as the other beams on grids 5 and 6 before
we changed the column depth causing these beams to get slightly
shorter.

Revising General Arrangement Drawings
Create revision mark
To add a revision mark to a drawing:
1. Select the drawing to revise, right-click, and select Revision… to open the Revision
Handling (CTRL+R) dialog box. You can also click on the Revision button to the right.
2. Enter the revision mark, revision date, and description text of the revision in the dialog
box as shown below, and click Create.
3. Once the revision is created, a revision number is automatically assigned to the drawing.
The revision number is shown in the dialog box.
4. Check that the revision number is shown in the drawing list.
5. Open the drawing to check that the drawing title and revision table display the revision
information correctly.

Several drawings can share the same revision mark, date, and
information. To attach the same revision information to several
drawings simultaneously, select multiple drawings from the
drawing list.
You can choose whether Tekla Structures shows the revision

numbers or the revision marks in the drawing list. By default,
revision numbers are shown. For more information, see the
following links:
Help: Drawing > Getting started with drawings > Revising
drawings
Help: System > Files and folders > Initialization files
Modify revision information

To modify the revision information of an existing revision mark:
1. Right click on the drawing in the drawing list and select Revision… The Revision
Handling (CTRL+R) dialog box will open and allow you to modify or delete any
revision marks.
When you delete a revision, Tekla Structures automatically adjusts

the remaining revision numbers for that drawing.
Create revision marks in drawings

We will create revision marks in the drawings to help locate the changes made to the model.
For more information about creating revision marks in drawings, see Help: Drawing >
Editing drawings > Editing drawings reference > Add Revision Mark
Define revision mark appearance
To create a revision mark in the drawing:
2. Select Annotating > Properties > Revision mark… from the menu to open the Revision
mark properties dialog box.
3. Select the revision number 1 in the drop-down box next to the Mark field to obtain the
corresponding revision information.

4. On the Appearance tab, select the Arrow type as shown below, change the Frame color
of the revision mark to red and click OK.
5. Create revision mark in GA drawing.

6. Select Annotating > Add Revision mark > Arrow on left
from the menu and pick a point to place the mark. For
example, pick close to the column and its part mark on
gridline 7.
7. Double-click on the revision mark to obtain its properties.
Check that the contents of the revision mark is correct, and
its appearance corresponds to the properties set in step6.
Handling Revisions to Assembly Drawings

You will notice that once the columns changed in the model and the numbering was
performed that a selection of drawings started to show various flags.

Add a revision mark to the drawings
The program automatically detects what has changed in the model and cross-references that to
the drawing list.
1. Click the Up to date column in order to sort the drawing list and bring all the changed
items together as shown below.
2. Select each one of the changed drawings and add a revision to the drawing.
3. Add the revision information

Note that a '1' appears in the revision column in the drawing list.
4. Now update the revised drawings.
Now the system will remake the drawings so that they will match what is now in the model.
Always add the revision before updating the drawing to make sure that you
catch every drawing that is altered. The modified flag will disappear after you
open and save the drawing.

Show revision information in a report
The report Drawing_Revision_list shows the revision dates and revision information of
drawings. For more information about reports see Lesson 8 Numbering and Reports.
Show revision information in report
To create a report containing the revision information:

1. Click on the Reports (Ctrl+B) icon on the Standard toolbar to open the Report dialog
box.
2. Select the Drawing_Revision_list from the report list.
3. Click the Create from all button.

4. Check that the revisions are shown correctly in the report Drawing_Revision_list.xsr
(Tekla Structures creates the report in the model folder).
See the picture below as an example of the Drawing_Revision_list report.

10.2 Creating Object Level Settings
There are always situations where you might like to customize how one item looks on your
drawings without affecting everything else. A typical example of this would be where joists
are shown on roof plans. Joists are usually outsourced by the detailing or fabrication
company, so they don't need to be fully detailed on the plans. They are normally shown with a
phantom line.
To do this in Tekla, users have a number of options, but the most obvious would be to
highlight each joist on the drawing and change its Part representation to a phantom line. This
is very time consuming and will be overwritten if the drawing has to be remade. It also means
that this work would have to be repeated again on the next contract.
A better way is to group those items and then apply a rule (Detailed object level settings) to
how you would like these to be handled, then to tell the program exactly how you would like
to handle these items. This means that even if the drawing is recreated, the settings will be
remembered and the drawing will modify automatically. You can also take these rules to
subsequent contracts or store them in your company-wide Firm Folder so that the rule only
has to be created once.
Detailed object level settings were formerly called Drawing Classifiers.
Modify a drawing using Object level settings

Create the drawing
1. Use the tools you learned in Chapter 9 to create a plan drawing for the Building 2 roof,
using the standard settings for the GA drawing.
Create your own drawing settings. Double click in the drawing background to
bring up the properties, type a name in the top right and click Save as.

Notice that all the parts shown are represented in their actual shapes; nothing has been
converted to solid lines for plans. First, we will change the way joists are displayed.
Create and use Detailed Object Level settings by following a simple 4 step process.
Group the items you want to handle differently using a filter (joists)
Define the settings that you want to apply to those groups on the sheet
Create Object level settings
Refresh the drawing
Group the items
1. In the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box, click on the Filter button.
2. Click Add row.

3. Click in the Value column and enter JOIST* in the field.
4. Save the filter as joistfilter by entering the name in the Save as box and left clicking on
Save as. Exit by clicking Cancel. DO NOT click Modify, Apply, or OK.
Adding the asterisk to the term acts like a wildcard allowing everything that has
a profile name that begins with JOIST to be grouped.
There is already a filter named ‘joist’ that works the same way for the out-of-
the-box plans, so you can always check for existing filters before making a new
one.

If you click on the expand button you can also choose to save this not only as a
drawing filter but at the other filter options listed below. This way you do not
have to re-create the same filter to be used with the various filter options in
Tekla. Simply check the boxes for the other filter types you want created and
when you hit Save as they will be saved in their respective locations.
Define the settings

1. Click the Part button on the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box.
2. We want to change the appearance of the joists to be Symbol and give them a different
color and line type. In the General - Part Properties dialog box, make the changes as
shown in the Content and Appearance tabs. DO NOT click Modify, Apply, or OK.

3. Enter JoistPart in the Save as value field and click Save as. Again, DO NOT click
Modify, Apply, or OK.
4. Click Cancel to close each dialog box, except the General arrangement drawing
properties box.
Create the Object level settings
1. In the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box, click Edit Settings.
2. Click Add Row.

3. The first column in the new row is the Model object or Drawing filter. Select joistfilter
from the list (if not already shown).
4. The second column is the Drawing object type. This will remain as Part.
5. The third column is Settings used. These are the settings we saved in the Part properties
dialog box.
6. Click OK in the Object level settings for general arrangement drawing dialog box.
7. Click Modify in the General arrangement drawing properties dialog box. The drawing
should now update, changing the joists to be light blue phantom lines.

For more information about Object level settings see: Help > Drawing > Modify automatic
drawing settings > Drawing properties > Creating object level settings
10.3 Cloning Drawings

Another way to minimize the amount of cleanup required on drawings is to use cloning.
Cloning is exactly as its name suggests where a master drawing is set up, and similar
drawings are cloned from it. This is particularly useful when you have repetitive
dimensioning required on a number of similar items.
1. Delete all the HSS Brace Drawings in Phase 1 (1000 series) except for one.
2. Open one of the HSS Brace Drawings similar to the one shown below.
3. Add some dimensions and a note to one end.

4. Close and Save the drawing.
5. Make sure you have the drawing you just edited highlighted in the drawing list.
6. Now click the Clone button.

7. A new dialog box will open, asking what items you want to clone from the master
drawing.
8. Now highlight the items in the model that you want to have clone drawings made from.

9. Then click Clone Selected.
10. Notice that the drawing list now shows the new cloned drawings.
11. And if you open one of these, the editing made already will be shown.
10.4 Adding a logo to a drawing template

Most users will probably want to customize their standard drawing templates to show their
company information and logo automatically. This is covered in detail during the advanced
training course, and there is further help on the subject available to users on the extranet.
However, this chapter outlines a simple method of quickly and easily adding information to
the standard drawing templates.
In this example, we will add the Tekla logo to the drawing, but users can add any DWG/DXF
or image file of their choice.

Drawing borders consist of a set of rules called Layouts that are made up of a
collection of Templates which call information from the model and the
program.Templates can be textual (for reports) or graphical (for drawings).
For example, the Bill of Materials on a drawing is a template. The Title Block
is another template. The drawing border is created by adding and locating each
of these templates in a Layout
Help > Introduction to Templates > What are templates? > Graphical Templates
Open the template to be modified
We will open the template being used for General Arrangement drawings and add a logo to
the Style 1 area.
1. From the Model Editor, select Drawings & Reports > Template Editor... From the
Drawing Editor, select Tools > Template Editor…
2. In the Template Editor, select File > Open and select the TypeGM_TitleBlocks.tpl file.
3. Click OK.
There are several different styles available to use, and these can be set up in File > Project
Properties in the Model Editor. We will deal with Style 1 which is at the top of the list.
4. Zoom in to the area where FabName -1 is shown.

5. Select Insert > Picture...
6. Locate the file you want to use then pick a point to place it within the row.
Extra text can be added at this point too if necessary.

Help > Working with Template Objects > 5.4 Adding Text

Save the new Template
7. Select File > Save to resave the modified template.
8. Close the Template Editor.
Check the new Settings are applied
Now go back to the GA Drawing and re-open it. The new logo should be shown.
There are many more functions available to help users create and edit
drawing borders and drawings. The basic training course covers only how to
create and basically edit drawings. The advanced training course covers
topics such as creating drawing wizards, detailed object level settings and
how to create and edit drawing templates and layouts in detail.
10.5 Creating Basic Templates

There are a number of templates already supplied with Tekla, but you can also create any
template to show any information you like. In this example, we are going to create a very
simple template to show a 'for approval' or 'for construction' stamp on the drawing.
Using a template for this type of process makes the stamp appear on every
drawing automatically, saving time by avoiding having to open every single
drawing and insert a block or add some text many times over.
1. Start by opening the template editor in the Model Editor by going to Drawings &
Reports > Template Editor.
2. Then go to File > New in order to create a new template.

3. Select Graphical Template.
Graphical Templates are templates that apply to drawings. Textual Templates

are for reports and material exporting functions for MIS or CNC programs.
4. The next step is to define a row where we will add our content information.
5. From the Insert menu, choose Component > Row.
You will be asked for the content type. The content type determines the type of values that
you will be able to bring in from the model. For instance, an Assembly content type allows
attributes that are pertinent to assemblies to be shown. A cast unit content type allows certain
concrete cast unit attributes to be shown.

6. Choose Drawing.
This allows us to show the date the drawing was last plotted underneath the stamp.
7. Now from the Insert menu choose Text.
8. Type”APPROVED BY:” in the text field and then locate it in the middle of the
component row.
You can change the font, the font size or the color of the text at this stage if you
wish.

Next we will add the date beneath the stamp.
9. Insert another text field using exactly the same process titled 'DATE:'
10. You can also add a line by using the Insert > Line command or a box around the stamp
by using the Insert > Rectangle tool.
11. Select Options > Grid > Snap to move the lines after they are drawn.
Now we will insert a value field that will automatically update with the initials of the
approver whenever it is updated.
12. Select Insert > Value Field and click the point just above the left edge of the underline
shown below.
A list of available attributes that can be taken automatically from the model will now appear.
13. Scroll down and expand USERDEFINED, then [DR_Workflow] then choose
DR_APPROVED_BY from the list.

14. Now add the DR_APPROVAL_DATE to the Date field
You can also change the text size and color for value fields.
15. Finally, save the template to the model folder.
16. Give the template a name and click OK
Your template is now available to be added to a drawing.

For more information about Templates see: Help > Introduction to Templates
10.6 Adding Templates to Layouts

Now that we have defined the template, we need to tell the program what drawings we want
the template to appear on and where on those drawings we would like it to show. We do this
by defining layouts.
Layouts are what the program uses to make the physical attributes of the drawings, how it
looks, what physical size the sheet is and what templates are shown on the sheet. A drawing is
made up of layout information and templates.
1. To define layouts select Drawings & Reports > Drawing Settings > Drawing Layout
from the menus.
The available list of layouts will appear. There are several layouts included as standard, and
these are generally sufficient for most normal usage scenarios, but users can add their own if
they wish.

We are going to add the stamp template to our GA Drgs in this exercise.
2. Select GA_Drgs from the list.
3. Click the Table Layout… button. This opens the available drawings that can be used for
General Arrangement drawings.
We can actually use any type of drawing layout for any category of drawing.
By organizing these into sections, we can allow the system some flexibility in
how it creates the drawings. For example, we can permit the program to use
11x17 layouts or 24x36 layouts when creating assembly drawings. This helps
the program achieve better results automatically.
As you can see we can have Anchor Bolt Layouts specific for those types of drawings or we
can have a 24x36 sheet set up for all other GA drawing types.
4. To define what templates appear on the 24x36 drawing type, highlight it and then click
Tables.

5. Then find stamp in the Available tables list and click the arrow pointing right to move it
across to the column on the right and to make it visible on the drawing.
Now we must tell the program where we want the template to be located. This is done by
referencing a point somewhere on the drawing and referencing a point on the template we
have made.
6. We define the reference points by first of all finding the bottom center of the drawing
frame. Then we find the bottom center of the stamp template making the template appear
centered on the bottom of the drawing. Clicking both corner boxes, as shown above, acts
to center the templates between the two corners. Had just one box in the corner been
selected then the template would appear at that corner of the drawing instead.
7. The 3" value in the 'y' box adjusts the template up 3" vertically on the drawing from its
bottom center anchor point.
8. Checking the Transparent box allows the drawing items to overwrite the template or
encroach upon the template without being hidden behind it.

9. Finally, click Update, Apply, and then OK at each of the dialog boxes until you are back
in the model.
10. Then re-open one of your GA drawings. The name and date will fill in as soon as they are
entered into the User-Defined Attributes for the drawing.
For more information about Layouts see Help > Drawing >Modifying automatic drawing
settings> Drawing Layout
10.7 Plotting Drawings

Tekla Structures plots drawings both to selected print devices and to files. Single drawings
can be plotted from the Drawing Editor. Single or multiple drawings, when selected in the
drawing list, can be plotted from the Model Editor.
Plot a single drawing
To plot a single drawing from the

Drawing Editor:
1. Open the drawing in the Drawing
Editor.
2. Select File > Print > Print
Drawings to open the Print
drawings dialog box, or click the
Print drawings icon (Shift+P) on
the Drawing Tools toolbar.
3. Select the print device (plotter) to
be used and click Print.
For more information about available
plot options, see Help: Drawing >
Working with drawings> Printing
drawings

Plot multiple drawings
To plot multiple drawings from the Model Editor:
2. Select at least two drawings in the drawing list.
3. Click on the Print drawings icon (Shift+P) on the General toolbar.
4. Select the print device to be used and click Print.
If you select several print devices, Tekla Structures sends each

drawing to the device with the smallest paper size, on which the
drawing will fit.
For more information about printing to print devices, see Help: Drawing > Working with
drawings > Printing drawings
Exporting Drawing as Other Formats
You can convert Tekla Structures drawings to many commonly used industry drawing
formats like DXF, DWG, PLT or even PDF. Before you can do this you must install the
printer or print driver in Windows then add the relevant printer to your Printers catalog in
Tekla Structures.
For more information on adding printers see: Help > Drawing > Working with drawings>
Printing Drawings> Setting up printer instances
Plot a drawing as a file
Plotting drawings as a file allows you to send drawings electronically for remote printing. To
plot the drawing to a file:
1. Open the drawing list in the Model Editor.
2. Select the drawing or drawings in the list.
3. Select File > Print > Print Drawings (Shift+P)
4. Select the type of output you would like and click the Browse button to specify the
location the plot files are to go on your computer or type .\PlotFiles to have the program
create a folder in your model folder labeled PlotFiles.
5. For Plotting to a file be sure to check the box for Print to file.
6. The Include revision mark to file name option allows users to differentiate between a
file printed before revisions and the same file re-printed after a revision was made. It
simply appends the revision mark to the name of the file it creates and saves on the
computer.

Exporting Drawings to Other Programs
You can also send drawings to other users in DXF or DWG format, so they can be opened and
edited by clients or colleagues who don't have Tekla Structures.
1. Select the drawings in your drawing list to be

exported to DXF or DWG.
2. Go to File > Export…> Drawings… to open the
Export drawings dialog box.
3. Select DWG as the file Type.
4. Type .\drawings in the Name field. This defines the
..\BasicModel2-firstnamelastname\drawings folder
as the destination folder of the plot files.
5. Click Export to plot the drawing to DWG.
6. Check that the drawings were successfully plotted to the ..\BasicModel2-
firstnamelastname\drawings folder. This folder should contain the saved *.dwg
drawings.
If you do not enter a file name for the destination plot file, or you have
chosen several drawings, Tekla Structures uses the drawing name(s) as file
name(s). If you do not enter a folder name, Tekla Structures creates the
file(s) in the current model folder.
You can also print a drawing to DWG using the Drawing Editor. Open the
selected drawing and follow the above steps, starting at step 3.
Tekla Structures does not distinguish between upper and lower case letters.
For example, a drawing named A.1 overwrites a drawing named a.1.
For more information about plotting to file, see:

Help: System>Import and export> Exporting drawings> Exporting drawings to
DWG/DXF
Help: Drawing > Working with drawings > Printing drawings> Printing to file
For more information about defining drawing plot file names and plot directories, see:
Help: Drawing > Working with Drawings> Printing drawings> Printing to file>
Customizing print file names
Making PDF Files

PDF Files are the open format employed by Adobe, and there is a free viewer available for
download on the internet called Adobe Acrobat Reader. There are also a number of free or
cheap PDF file maker programs that can be used in conjunction with Tekla Structures to
enable sharing of your drawings with clients who may not have a license of Tekla Structures.
Once you have chosen and installed a PDF making program, you can make and share PDF
files. Many of these programs behave like an imaginary printer attached to your computer and
instead of creating physical paper as the output they make PDF files that can be sent
electronically via email or written to storage media or even printed out locally or remotely.

10.8 Sharing Your Entire Model
It is also possible to share all sorts of information graphically with everyone involved in your
contract regardless of whether they have Tekla Structures or not. Users can create a
representation of the model in a format that can be viewed in Microsoft Internet Explorer
which is already installed on every machine that is running any form of Microsoft Windows
or in a free program called Tekla BIMsight.
Exporting a Tekla BIMsight model

1. Go to File>Publish to Tekla BIMsight…
2. Select Publish All from the dialog box that appears.

3. If you have Tekla BIMsight installed on your computer it will now open on your
computer. If you do not have a copy of Tekla BIMsight installed on your computer you
can download it at http://www.teklabimsight.com . The model can be rotated, zoomed,
and moved in a similar manner as if you would if you were running the full installation of
Tekla Structures.
This is a incredible way to quickly and easily share information about your
model. In addition you can import files from all other trades involved in the
project and use this tool for conflict management. The supported file types are
*.ifc, *.ifcXML, *.ifcZIP, *.dwg, *.dgn, and *.xml.

Exporting a Web Viewer Model:
1. Go to File > Publish as a Web Page.
2. Select Publish from the dialog box that appears.
3. Internet Explorer should now open on your computer. You may see a warning about an
ActiveX control that has to be allowed to run.

4. Click on the bar and choose Allow Blocked Content…
After a few moments the model will appear. The model can be rotated, zoomed, moved or
flown through in the same manner as if you would if you were running the full installation of
Tekla Structures.
Users can also mouse over items to highlight some extra information.
This is a terrific way to quickly and easily share information about your model.
Progress can be tracked visually. Requests for information can be handled
easily by highlighting affected items in the model in a different color prior to
exporting as a web page. All sorts of information can be shared among those
involved via this easy to use system.
It is possible to create custom reports that will change the tooltips displayed in
XML models.


Tekla Structures v17 Basic Training Manual Steel PDF

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Basic Training

Tekla Structures 17.0

Introduction to Tekla Structures Basic Training .................................... 1

Things you need to know .......................................................................... 1

Things you will learn .................................................................................. 3

How to use this training material.............................................................. 6

Things you need to know

Another important tip is, once you find

System Component Help

Numbering and Reports

Assembly and Single Part Drawings

General Arrangement Drawings

Icons are also used to highlight certain information:

A warning triangle highlights a note that is worth remembering. Or it may serve

Tekla Structures 17.0

1 Basic Modeling .................................................................................. 1

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

1.2 Create a New Model – BasicModel1

Start a new model

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

4. Click the OK button to create the new model.

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

The default 3D view and grid are shown below.

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

There are several ways to execute commands in Tekla Structures:

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

To modify the existing grid:

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Do not use spaces except to separate dimensions or values. Tekla views a

3. Click Modify to apply the new grid values.

5. Click Close to close the dialog box.

For more information on grids and dialog box buttons, see:

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

1.4 Create Plane Views along Gridlines

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Create Basic Views

6. Click on the Create basic view of model icon.

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

1. Click on the Create view using two points icon.

3. Click on the intersection of grid lines A and 7.

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

For more information on view properties, see:

Display or hide views

To display or hide views:

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

You can switch a view from Plane

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

To create footings for columns:

Create Pad Footing

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Footings along grid line A

While still in the Create pad footing command,

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Commands will stay active until you interrupt them.

Foundations for silos – parametric profiles

Create silo footing

1. Double-click on the Create pad footing icon.

Steel: Basic Modeling 1

Steel: Basic Modeling 1