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1 Upgrade To This Version PDF
1 Upgrade To This Version PDF
March 2018
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New selection switches......................................................................................................... 48
Adding leg faces to rebar sets.............................................................................................. 49
Rebar set splitter improvements......................................................................................... 49
Grouping bars in rebar sets..................................................................................................49
Position numbers for bars in linearly tapered rebar sets.................................................50
Numbering reinforcement meshes..................................................................................... 50
Reinforcement improvements in drawings........................................................................ 50
New template and format string attributes....................................................................... 55
Other reinforcement improvements................................................................................... 55
1.9 Improvements in pour management............................................................56
Pour properties in property pane........................................................................................57
Filtering and reporting pour units....................................................................................... 57
Pour units in Organizer......................................................................................................... 57
Pour units in Task Manager.................................................................................................. 57
New template attributes for pour units..............................................................................58
Pour management in shared models................................................................................. 58
Rebar sets in pour units........................................................................................................58
1.10 New way to manage drawing content and other mark and note
improvements................................................................................................. 58
Drawing content manager - efficiently manage drawing content .................................. 59
Improved mark placement................................................................................................... 63
Improved way to select part marks..................................................................................... 66
New way to select model weld marks in drawings............................................................66
Add model weld marks in drawings.................................................................................... 66
Add associative notes to several model objects at one go...............................................67
Selection switch to select associative notes....................................................................... 68
Show/hide weld marks in hidden parts.............................................................................. 68
Align text in marks, notes and texts.................................................................................... 68
1.11 Customized dimension line arrows and other dimensioning
improvements................................................................................................. 69
Customize dimension line arrows....................................................................................... 69
New dimension arrow types.................................................................................................70
Change dimension arrow size.............................................................................................. 70
Rebar dimensions anchored to rebar ends........................................................................71
Pour object properties available in dimension tags..........................................................71
Improvements in Dimension rule properties.....................................................................73
Improvements in Rebar group dimensioning.................................................................... 73
1.12 Other improvements in drawings................................................................. 75
Opening drawings faster...................................................................................................... 75
Hole and recess symbols shown in complex geometries................................................. 76
Snapping improvements.......................................................................................................76
Create a filter for selecting multiple drawing objects....................................................... 77
Additional weld size for compound weld types................................................................. 77
New command for closing the drawing mode...................................................................78
Layout editor improvements................................................................................................78
Improvements in custom grid labels...................................................................................79
New pattern lines...................................................................................................................80
View settings now remembered correctly.......................................................................... 81
New warning message for cast units.................................................................................. 82
Printing improvements......................................................................................................... 82
1.13 Template Editor 3.6 improvements .............................................................. 83
1.14 Reserve the next write out and other improvements in Tekla
Model Sharing.................................................................................................. 90
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Reserve the next write out....................................................................................................90
Create a baseline using Sharing automation tool............................................................. 92
Improved and more robust performance in Tekla Model Sharing.................................. 93
1.15 Improvements in IFC export, import and conversion.................................93
IFC4 export improvements................................................................................................... 94
IFC2x3 export improvements............................................................................................... 96
IFC import improvements.....................................................................................................96
IFC object conversion improvements..................................................................................98
1.16 Point clouds from 3D scanning...................................................................... 98
1.17 Updates in tools for concrete fabrication.................................................. 102
Export Unitechnik (79).........................................................................................................103
Export EliPlan file (68)......................................................................................................... 105
HMS export...........................................................................................................................106
1.18 Trimble Connector and other interoperability improvements................107
Trimble Connector improvements.................................................................................... 107
Reference model import plug-ins available as .tsep packages...................................... 111
New plug-ins.........................................................................................................................112
NC/DSTV improvements..................................................................................................... 112
1.19 New service and license for Open API developers ................................... 112
1.20 New options for controlling visuals and other DirectX rendering
improvements............................................................................................... 113
DirectX rendering examples............................................................................................... 114
1.21 Changes in advanced options...................................................................... 121
New advanced options....................................................................................................... 121
Changed advanced options................................................................................................122
1.22 Changes in template attributes.................................................................. 122
New template attributes.....................................................................................................122
1.23 Improvements in components.................................................................... 123
Concrete components.........................................................................................................123
Steel components................................................................................................................124
1.24 New documentation structure ................................................................... 128
1.25 Disclaimer...................................................................................................... 129
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Administrator's release notes: Concrete components.................................................. 179
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1 Tekla Structures 2018 release
notes
Check the links below for information on the many new features and
improvements in this version:
• New Support tool (page 8)
• New way to edit model object properties (page 10)
• Easier way to change work planes (page 27)
• Undo modeling and drawing changes with the new Undo history command
(page 28)
• Other user interface changes (page 31)
• New selection tool and other modeling improvements (page 36)
• More accurate analysis models and other analysis and design
improvements (page 42)
• Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement improvements (page 48)
• Improvements in pour management (page 56)
• New way to manage drawing content and other mark and note
improvements (page 58)
• Customized dimension line arrows and other dimensioning improvements
(page 69)
• Other improvements in drawings (page 75)
• Template Editor 3.6 improvements (page 83)
• Reserve the next write out and other improvements in Tekla Model Sharing
(page 90)
• Improvements in IFC export, import and conversion (page 93)
• Point clouds from 3D scanning (page 98)
Compatibility
We suggest that you complete any unfinished models using your current
version of Tekla Structures.
This version is not backwards compatible. When you create or save a model in
Tekla Structures 2018, you cannot open it in older versions due to database
differences.
Tekla Structures 2018 can only be installed on 64-bit Windows operating
systems.
See the Tekla Structures 2018 Hardware Recommendations for more
information.
Tekla Structures 2018 requires Tekla Structures License Server 2017. To
check which license server version to use with your current Tekla Structures
version, see Which license server version to use (page 188).
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 10 New way to edit model object properties
all the object properties that previously were available in the dialog boxes are
now accessible through the new property pane. Property pane offers a smooth
workflow for creating and modifying objects, for saving and loading object
properties, and for copying properties between objects.
Previously, the property pane was available only for rebar sets and spiral
beams. Now you can use the property pane to view and modify the properties
of
• parts, such as columns and beams
• items
• bolts
• welds
• reinforcement
• rebar sets
• pour objects, pour units and pour breaks
• construction objects
• assemblies and cast units
The property pane can be customized. You can select separately for each
object type which properties you wish to see in the property pane.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 11 New way to edit model object properties
If needed, you can still open the previously used object property dialog boxes
using Quick Launch.
Main benefits
The new property pane has several benefits compared to the previously used
property dialog boxes:
• The property pane is always up-to-date. When you select an object in the
model, the current properties are instantly shown in the property pane.
• There is less clutter on the screen because there is no need to have
separate dialog boxes open as previously.
• You only need to click Modify to change the selected properties, there is no
need to click Apply or OK as previously.
• You can easily create objects that are similar to those objects that you
already have in the model: when you select an object in the model, Tekla
Structures creates the next similar object using the same properties.
• When you select several objects in the model, you can check if the objects
have common properties, what the values of the common properties are,
and modify the properties, if needed.
• It is easy to copy properties from one object to another. You can copy
properties between any objects as long as both objects have the same
property available. For example, you can copy the material from a steel
beam to a plate.
• You can easily check which properties you are about to modify in the
property pane. Tekla Structures highlights the changed properties in yellow
in the property pane and a checkbox appears next to the modified
property.
• You can customize the property pane: for example, you can organize the
settings as you wish and remove the settings you do not need. You can also
add your most needed user-defined attributes (UDAs) directly to the
property pane so that you do not need to open a separate UDA dialog box.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 12 New way to edit model object properties
properties and reinforcement properties. This is not possible with the property
pane.
You can float or dock the property pane in the same way as any other side
pane window, or drag it around your screen or to your secondary screen, if
you have multiple displays.
You can use the Select All and Select None switches at the bottom of the
property pane to select all the changes or to clear all the changes.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 13 New way to edit model object properties
4. When you are ready with the modifications, click Modify to apply the
changes.
The modified properties become the new current properties. Tekla
Structures uses the current properties the next time you create an object
of the same type.
If you want to create an object using the standard values instead of the
new current values, load the standard file first.
Note that if you use the contextual toolbar or direct modification to modify a
model object, the current properties do not change and are not automatically
applied when you create the next object of the same type.
You can modify the common properties in the same way as any other
property. Tekla Structures highlights the modified properties in yellow in the
property pane, and these properties are applied when you click Modify.
Use the Object type list in the property pane to check which object you have
selected in the model and the number of each object type.
To Do this
Check which objects you have Click the Object type list button
selected in the model
to open the
list of the selected objects.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 14 New way to edit model object properties
To Do this
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 15 New way to edit model object properties
Copy object properties from one object to another
You can use the property pane to easily copy properties between any objects
as long as both of the objects have the same property available.
1. Select the object you want to copy properties from.
You can clear the check marks one by one, or select a whole section and
all its properties.
Use the Select All and Select None switches at the bottom of the
property pane to select all the changes or to clear all the changes. If you
use the Select None switch, all check marks will be cleared the next time
you start the Copy properties command.
5. Click Modify to apply the selected changes.
The modified properties become the new current properties. Tekla
Structures uses the current properties the next time you create an object
of the same type.
When the properties have been copied, the mouse pointer returns to
normal.
Note that if you have customized the property pane and added user-
defined attributes (UDAs) to it, the values of the UDAs are copied when
you use the Copy properties command in the property pane. Values of
the UDAs that are visible only in the UDA dialog boxes are not copied with
the object. Unique user-defined attributes (unique_attribute) are not
copied with the object.
Note that if you copy rebar set or leg face properties, the layer order
number is not copied.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 16 New way to edit model object properties
TIP To copy properties to multiple objects, double-click the Copy
properties button to keep the Copy properties command running. Click
Modify after each selected object. The mouse pointer remains in the
3. In the box next to the button, enter a name for the new set of
properties.
5. When you want to load the properties, select the set of properties from
the list.
• If you select an object in the model and load a property file in the
property pane, the properties and the user-defined attributes (UDAs)
are loaded immediately, and the values that are different from the
currently selected object are highlighted in yellow in the property
pane. Click Modify to apply the new values.
If there are changes only in the UDA values in the UDA dialog box and
not the in the values in the property pane, the Modify button does not
become active. Click Modify in the UDA dialog box to active the UDA
values.
• If you start an object creation command in the model and load a
property file in the property pane, the properties and the user-defined
attributes (UDAs) are used right away and Tekla Structures creates the
object using the loaded values.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 17 New way to edit model object properties
NOTE If the UDA dialog box is open when you load a property file in the
property pane, the UDA dialog box updates and shows the values
of the UDAs that are saved in the property file. However, if you
first select an object and load a property file and only then open
the UDA dialog box, the dialog box shows the UDA values of the
selected object.
To check which UDA values are saved in a property file, you need
to open the UDA dialog box first, or load the property file again
after opening the UDA dialog box.
c. Click .
Tekla Structures saves the changes in the file shown in the list,
overwriting the old set of properties.
The modified properties become the new current properties. Tekla
Structures uses the current properties the next time you create an object
of the same type.
If you want to create an object using the standard values instead of the
new current values, load the standard file first.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 18 New way to edit model object properties
the settings in the property pane. You can also add your most needed user-
defined attributes (UDAs) directly to the property pane. Company
administrators can distribute the customized property pane layouts to the
whole organization, in the same way as customized ribbon or customized tabs.
With the customization tool, you can
• organize properties to a suitable order or to suitable groups
• remove properties you do not use or need
• create your own groups for properties that you find relevant, including
user-defined attributes (UDAs)
• add properties to an existing group, including user-defined attributes
(UDAs)
• create nested property groups
• rename properties or groups
• save the customized property pane layouts
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 19 New way to edit model object properties
• The left side of the customization tools shows the available properties and
user-defined attributes for each object type. You can add these properties
and UDAs to the property pane layout as regular properties. Properties
which are already in use cannot be added for a second time but you can
reorganize them in the property pane layout.
• The right side of the customization tool shows the current layout of the
property pane for the selected object type.
To Do this
Add a new property to the property Select a property from the list on the
pane layout left and drag it to the property pane
layout on the right.
You can drag the property to any
group on the property pane.
Add a new group to the property Drag the group template from the
pane layout middle section of the customization
tool to the property pane layout on
the right.
You can create a new group, or insert
a new group inside an existing group
to create nested groups.
You can reorganize the existing
groups by dragging them.
Rename a group or a property
Click and enter a new name for
the group or for the property. Press
Enter to activate the name.
Alternatively, right-click the group or
the property name and select
Rename.
Copy a group from one object type to You can copy groups from one object
another object type type to another object type, for
example, from steel beam to steel
plate.
1. In the property pane layout on
the right, select the group you
want to copy.
2. Right-click the group name and
select Copy properties.
The name of the copied group
and the content of the group is
shown in the middle of the
customization tool.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 20 New way to edit model object properties
To Do this
3. In the Properties for list, select
the object type to which you want
to copy the group.
4. Drag the copied group from the
middle of the customization tool
to the property pane layout on
the right.
The name of the copied group
and the content of the group is
shown in the middle of the
customization tool until you copy
another group or close the
customization tool.
If you copy nested groups, all the
nested groups inside the main group
are copied, too.
Note that properties that are already
in use cannot be added for a second
time. If you copy a group containing
properties that are already in use, the
copying does not succeed and the
customization tool status bar displays
a message describing the details.
Delete a group or a property Right-click a group or a property, and
select Delete.
Revert back to the original property Click the Remove this customization
pane layouts button to remove the customization
of a single property pane layout, or
the Remove all customizations
button to remove the customization
of all property pane layouts.
Discard changes On the Edit property pane tab, click
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 21 New way to edit model object properties
Example: How to add IFC related user-defined attributes to the property
pane layout
This example shows how to add IFC related user-defined attributes (UDAs) to
the steel column property pane layout, and copy the group to the steel beam
property pane layout.
1. In the Properties for list, select Steel column.
2. Create a new property group. Drag the group template to the property
pane layout on the right.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 22 New way to edit model object properties
4. In the search box on the left, search the IFC related UDAs.
5. Drag the UDAs one by one to the group you created in the property pane
layout.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 23 New way to edit model object properties
6. When you have added all the needed UDAs to the new group, copy the
group and add it to the steel beam property pane layout. Right-click the
group and select Copy properties.
The name of the copied group and the content of the group is shown in
the middle of the customization tool.
7. To add the copied group in the steel beam property pane layout, select
Steel beam in the Properties for list.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 24 New way to edit model object properties
8. Drag the copied group from the middle of the customization tool to the
steel beam property pane layout on the right.
Now the IFC related UDAs are available both in the steel column property
pane layout and in the steel beam property pane layout.
9. On the Edit property pane tab, click the Save button to save the
changes. When you return to Tekla Structures, Tekla Structures asks if you
wish to reload the changed property pane templates. Click Yes to take the
customized property pane layout in use.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 25 New way to edit model object properties
Distribute customized property pane layouts using a
project, firm, or environment folder
Company administrators can distribute the customized property pane layouts
to other users in the company by placing the property pane layout file
PropertyTemplates.xml in a folder called PropertyRepository
\Templates in a project, firm, or environment folder. For example, company
administrators can create company property pane layouts and save them in
the firm folder. These property panes are available in the Tekla Structures user
interface for all users who use the same firm folder.
NOTE If you use a firm folder to distribute the PropertyTemplates.xml file, you
need to set the firm folder path in an .ini file. If you set the firm folder path
in the advanced option XS_FIRM, the PropertyTemplates.xml file does not
work correctly.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 26 New way to edit model object properties
Add a property pane layout file to a project, firm, or environment folder
1. In the customization tool, create the property pane layouts that you want
to share.
The property pane layouts are saved in the PropertyTemplates.xml
file, in the ..\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Trimble
\TeklaStructures\<version>\UI\PropertyTemplates folder.
2. Create a folder called PropertyRepository\Templates either in your
company's project folder, firm folder, or in the \system folder, which is
located under the environment folder: ..\ProgramData\Tekla
Structures\<version>\Environments\<environment>\system.
3. Copy the PropertyTemplates.xml file to the PropertyRepository
\Templates folder.
For example: ..\ProgramData\Tekla Structures\<version>
\Environments\<environment>\system\PropertyRepository
\Templates\PropertyTemplates.xml.
4. Restart Tekla Structures.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 27 Easier way to change work planes
Work plane handler
Use the work plane handler toolbar to select which work plane you currently
have in use in the model. You can switch between the different saved work
planes and base points.
Select the saved work plane or the base point on the list in the toolbar to
activate it.
By default, the Work plane handler toolbar is located at the bottom of the
screen. You can float and dock the toolbar. If you are unable to find the
toolbar, see How to restore missing toolbars.
The work plane handler allows you to select among the following work planes:
• Model origin (if project base point is set somewhere else)
• Project base point
• All base points
• All work planes you have set and saved
The symbol for model origin is different if the project base point is to model
origin, or if it has been set to a base point.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 28 Undo modeling and drawing changes with the
new Undo history command
the model history. The Undo history list helps you to check which commands
and modifications you have done and undone, and to keep track of the
changes. Undo history is available both in the modeling and in the drawing
mode.
The Undo and Redo commands work in the same way as previously; with
those commands you can undo and redo actions one by one.
To open the Undo history dialog box, click the button on the Quick Access
Toolbar, next to the Undo and Redo buttons. Alternatively, use Quick Launch
to open the dialog box.
To Do this
Undo commands Click any row on the list.
If the undo operation takes a long
time, Tekla Structures highlights the
clicked row to show what was
selected.
All the modifications you have done
after the selected command are
undone. The modifications you have
undone have a dark gray background
color in the list.
Redo previously undone commands Click any row with a dark gray
background color in the list.
All the modifications you have done
before the selected command are
redone.
Add a bookmark Move your mouse pointer over any
row. A bookmark icon is shown.
Click the bookmark icon to mark
certain commands.
Use the bookmarks to mark
important commands or actions. You
can later return to these commands
or actions if the changes in the model
are not satisfactory.
To remove a bookmark, click the
bookmark icon again.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 29 Undo modeling and drawing changes with the
new Undo history command
The Undo history dialog box
• lists the commands you have run and modifications you have done,
starting from the top of the list. The latest commands and modifications
are at the bottom of the list.
• updates constantly according to the changes you make in the model or in
the drawing.
• creates a hierarchy for some of the used commands. The hierarchy is
created when you first run a command, then you undo some commands to
a certain point in the list, and run another command.
The hierarchy is marked with an arrow in the list. You can undo or redo
commands at any point in the hierarchy, making it possible to even undo
commands that you have previously redone.
This means that after you have undone a command, you can continue
working with the model, and you still have the option to go back to the
commands you have used first.
• shows the undone commands and modifications with a dark gray
background color in the list
The Undo history list is cleared when you
• save a model
• open or close a drawing
• synchronize Organizer with the model
• read in or write out model changes using Tekla Model Sharing
• use CIS/2 or SDNF import commands.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 30 Undo modeling and drawing changes with the
new Undo history command
1.5 Other user interface changes
Tekla Structures 2018 user interface has been improved with some completely
new features and with plenty of enhancements to make your work more
efficient and smoother.
To open the Tekla Online side pane, click the Tekla Online icon in the
side pane.
You can search help content from Tekla User Assistance, forum posts from
Tekla Discussion Forum, and both online and local content from Tekla
Warehouse. In addition, you can get the latest updates from Tekla User
Assistance and see Tekla Model Sharing messages in the Notifications area.
If you have logged in to Tekla Structures, you are automatically logged in to the
Tekla Online services. By logging in, you can access more content if your
company has a valid maintenance agreement.
• If you have several side pane windows open, and you want to close all the
other side pane windows expect the selected side pane, click Ctrl+active
side pane button.
Snapping toolbar in
the modeling mode
Selecting toolbar in
the modeling mode
Snapping toolbar in
the drawing mode
Selecting toolbar in
the drawing mode
Snap override toolbar
• The new toolbars follow the display scaling settings in Windows. Therefore
the previously used Large icons option is not needed anymore and has
been removed.
• You can use Quick Launch to hide or show the toolbars. Click the name of
the toolbar on the search results list to activate the toolbar.
• You can use Quick Launch to switch single snapping or select switches on
or off. Click the name of the switch on the search results list to activate the
switch.
In addition, there are new selection switches for rebar sets on the
Selecting toolbar.
If the currently edited base point is the same as the currently used base
point, the blue color is not shown, and the symbol is red, just like the one in
the first image above.
• On the ribbon, click the down arrow next to the button, and then click
Select previous objects.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 36 New selection tool and other modeling
improvements
• Press Alt+P.
• Use Quick Launch to find the command.
The Select previous objects command is available both in the modeling and
in the drawing mode.
• 3=
• 4=
• 5=
Redraw the model view after changing the values to update the existing
construction objects in the view.
• The construction points that are on the view plane are now blue, and better
visible on the gray background than the previous yellow points.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 37 New selection tool and other modeling
improvements
• You can now add construction objects to phases.
For more information about working with phases, see Phase Manager.
• You can now use the properties of construction objects in filtering. You can
filter by phase and type (Line, Circle, Plane).
For more information, find the pages titled Object properties in filtering
and Filter objects in Tekla User Assistance.
When you click the down arrow next to on the ribbon, and then select
Point coordinates, the Inquire point coordinates dialog box is displayed.
You can then click the Pick button in the dialog box and pick a point in the
model to see the coordinates of the point in:
• Local coordinates
• Model coordinates (global)
• Project base point coordinates
• Current base point coordinates
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 38 New selection tool and other modeling
improvements
Improvements in numbering
• In the Numbering Setup dialog box, you can now select whether the
object's phase affects the numbering. If you select the Phase check box,
Tekla Structures compares the phases when numbering objects, and gives
otherwise identical objects different numbers if the objects belong to
different phases.
For more information, find the pages titled Define what affects numbering
and Adjust the numbering settings in Tekla User Assistance.
• In design group numbering, you can now use letters instead of numbers
after the prefix. Specify the allowed letters using the advanced option XS_
VALID_CHARS_FOR_ASSEMBLY_POSITION_NUMBERS. By default, letters A–Z
are used.
For more information, see Number parts by design group.
• Using the new advanced option XS_IGNORE_CROSSBAR_LOCATION_IN_
REBAR_MESH_NUMBERING you can define whether the location of the
crossing bars (e.g. above or below the main bars) affects the numbering of
the reinforcement meshes or not. The default value is FALSE, which means
that the crossing bar location is taken into account when meshes are
numbered. The otherwise identical meshes receive different numbers if the
crossing bars are on the different sides of the main bars.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 39 New selection tool and other modeling
improvements
Improvements in compound welds
• In Tekla Structures 2018, compound welds can be shown as solid objects in
model views. This means that the weld types and now look
more realistic in the model.
For more information, see Set the visibility and appearance of welds and
List of weld types.
• You can now define the size of both welds in compound welds. In weld
properties in the property pane, two boxes for Size appear when you select
a compound weld type. For example:
• You can also define the size of both welds in compound welds when you
create manual drawing welds. See Other improvements in drawings
(page 75).
• In reports of compound welds, you can show the size of the additional weld
above line and below line using the new template attributes
WELD_ADDITIONAL_SIZE1, WELD_ADDITIONAL_SIZE2.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 40 New selection tool and other modeling
improvements
• You can split a selected double-sided polygon weld into two single-sided
polygon welds by using the new Split command on the pop-up menu.
Improvements in shapes
Tekla Structures 2018 introduces a new compressed file format .tez for shape
geometry files.
By using the .tez format and compressing the shape geometry files, you can
save disk space. This is useful if you want to use an older model with many
shape files in Tekla Structures 2018.
When you import new shapes to Tekla Structures 2018, Tekla Structures saves
the shape geometry files in the \ShapeGeometries subfolder in the current
model folder and automatically uses the compressed .tez format.
If an imported shape geometry file has the same name as an existing shape in
the model, the imported file overrides the existing shape geometry file, and
a .tez file is created instead of an .xml file in the \ShapeGeometries folder.
Tekla Structures 2018 also provides an application that compresses existing
shape geometry files. The Compress shape geometries application converts
all the shape geometry files stored in the \ShapeGeometries folder
from .xml format to the compressed .tez format.
The Compress shape geometries application is available in the Applications
& components catalog.
NOTE Compression is a permanent action, and you cannot undo it even if you do
not save the model.
Do not compress shape geometry files if you need them in models that you
will open using Tekla Structures 2017i or an older version. The .tez files do
not work in those versions.
If your project, company, or environment uses a common location for shapes
that are used in several Tekla Structures versions including 2017i and older,
do not convert those shape geometry files to .tez format. Otherwise the
shapes will not work in all versions.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 41 New selection tool and other modeling
improvements
Then select multiple objects in the model, and click the middle mouse
button to finish selecting. The current values of the selected objects
appear, separated with spaces, in the Value cell on the filter row.
• When you use the View --> Navigate --> Set view point command, or the
keyboard shortcut V, and then pick the view point for rotation, Tekla
Structures now uses all active snap switches and the Snap to any
position switch. Previously, only the Snap to any position switch was
used, and you could accidentally pick a wrong view point.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 42 More accurate analysis models and other analysis
and design improvements
columns, and braces may now be connected using a single common node,
instead of several nodes and rigid links.
If you open an existing model with analysis models in Tekla Structures 2018,
and activate an analysis model, Tekla Structures recreates the analysis model
using this new method.
If you need to revert to the analysis model creation method used in Tekla
Structures 2017i and previous versions, set the new advanced option XS_AD_
ANALYSIS_PLANES_ENABLED to FALSE. This advanced option is model specific.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 43 More accurate analysis models and other analysis
and design improvements
For more information, find the page titled Export a model from Tekla
Structures to an analysis application... in Tekla User Assistance.
See also the page titled Link Tekla Structures with an analysis application in
Tekla User Assistance.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 44 More accurate analysis models and other analysis
and design improvements
• Tekla Structural Designer is now available as an option in the Analysis
application list.
• Creation method has been renamed to Analysis model content, and the
default value is now Selected parts and loads.
• Filter has been renamed to Analysis model filter.
• A new setting Bracing member filter has been added.
Use Bracing member filter to define which of the included analysis model
objects are considered to be braces. The analysis nodes of the braces can
move more freely than the ones of the primary analysis parts when the
analysis model is created.
• Secondary member filter has been updated: the Auto-detect secondary
members option and the Reapply to all parts check box have been
removed.
Use Secondary member filter to define which of the included analysis
model objects are considered to be secondary analysis parts. The nodes of
the secondary analysis parts can move more freely than the ones of the
primary analysis parts when the analysis model is created.
• The More settings button has been removed, and all the settings are
visible right away.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 45 More accurate analysis models and other analysis
and design improvements
• The Default keep axis for secondary members setting has been
removed.
For more information, find the page titled Analysis model properties in Tekla
User Assistance.
• Primary analysis parts Beam and Column have been changed from red to
blue.
• The new class Bracing is green.
Bracing - Truss, Bracing - Truss-Compression only, and Bracing - Truss-
Tension only are the same colors as the corresponding primary classes.
• Secondary has been changed from red to orange.
Note that the analysis application you use may not support all of the analysis
classes or colors.
The shades of analysis node colors have been changed slightly.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 46 More accurate analysis models and other analysis
and design improvements
Showing analysis member and node numbers
It is now easy to show or hide the analysis member and node numbers in
model views. Previously, you needed to use the advanced options XS_AD_
MEMBER_NUMBER_VISUALIZATION and XS_AD_NODE_NUMBER_
VISUALIZATION. Now you can go to the Analysis & design tab on the ribbon,
and click:
• Member numbers to switch the member numbers on or off
• Node numbers to switch the node numbers on or off
To show or hide the toolbar, go to the Analysis & design tab and click
Analysis toolbar.
Alternatively, you can use Quick Launch: start typing analysis selecting,
and then select or clear the Analysis selecting toolbar check box in the list
that appears.
See also Other user interface changes (page 31).
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 47 More accurate analysis models and other analysis
and design improvements
• If there is a connection between parts in the physical model, the parts are
now connected in the analysis model as well, even when the parts do not
clash in the physical model. Previously, this did not happen in connections
with one secondary part only.
• Tekla Structures now takes the fittings that extend or shorten physical parts
into account when it creates analysis models, and the analysis parts are
connected correctly.
• Now when you use the Inquire command to check an analysis node, the
node coordinates are also shown according to the local (work plane)
coordinate system.
• Tekla Structures checks that slabs, panels, and walls are planar and shows a
warning if one or more analysis nodes are out of the plane. The Inquire
object dialog box shows the distances between this kind of nodes and the
plane.
• Vertical and diagonal parts created by the Truss (S78) component are now
handled as braces in the analysis.
Using these switches, you can either select entire rebar sets, bar groups in
rebar sets, or individual bars in rebar sets.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 48 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
Now you can hide, inquire, create reports for, and define user-defined
attributes for individual bars or bar groups in rebar sets. Note that you cannot
delete, copy, or move individual rebar set bars or bar groups, or change their
phase, for example.
All the three new selection switches also select single reinforcing bars, bar
groups, reinforcement meshes, and strands.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 49 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
• The same user-defined attributes that affect numbering now affect the
grouping of rebar set bars. If this kind of user-defined attribute is defined
for an individual bar, the group to which the bar belongs will be
ungrouped.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 50 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
Previously, reinforcing bar groups were adjusted if you only had two layers
of bars, and Tekla Structures often placed bars from different groups on
top of each other in drawings. You could not trust that all bars were visible
just by looking, and a lot of manual work was needed to clean up the
drawing.
In the example below, there are three similar rebar groups on top of each
other in the model. In the drawing, one bar in the middle of the group is
now shown for each of them.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 51 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
New rebar representation option: single line with filled ends
• A new option single line with filled ends has been added in rebar
representation to be used especially in section views. This option shows a
different representation for parallel and perpendicular bars.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 52 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
Rebar set groups now keep their settings better
• Rebar set groups in drawings can lose their dimensions, marks, and
visibility/representation settings after groups of bars are modified in,
added to or deleted from a rebar set in a model. Improvements have now
been made to ensure this happens much less frequently.
XS_DRAW_REBAR_HIDDEN_FACES
You can now use the new advanced option XS_DRAW_REBAR_HIDDEN_FACES
in the Advanced Options category Drawing Properties to control whether
the hidden faces of the rebars are shown in drawings. Setting it to TRUE shows
the hidden faces of rebars. FALSE is the default value.
Previously, the advanced option XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_FACES was used to control
both hidden part faces and hidden faces of rebars. Now XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_
FACES only controls hidden part faces.
In the first image below, XS_DRAW_REBAR_HIDDEN_FACES has been set to
TRUE.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 53 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
In the image below, XS_DRAW_REBAR_HIDDEN_FACES has been set to FALSE.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 54 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
New template and format string attributes
• GROUP_POS (similar to REBAR_POS)
• SUB_ID
• NUMBER_OF_BARS_IN_GROUP
• WEIGHT_TOTAL_IN_GROUP
• WEIGHT_ONLY_REBARS
Also a new format string attribute SUB_ID_WITH_LETTERS is now available. It is
not available as a template attribute, but works with XS_REBARSET_TAPERED_
REBAR_POSITION_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 55 Faster rebar sets and other reinforcement
improvements
Also the following commands now work with rebar set bars in cast-in-place
concrete objects:
• Pour --> Add to pour unit
• Pour --> Remove from pour unit
• When you create a new corner point to a rebar set guideline by dragging a
midpoint handle , the corner point now has the None chamfer.
Previously, the new corner points had Arc point chamfers by default.
• You can now show and report the reinforcing bar GUID, REBAR_POS, and
user-defined attributes without the REBAR. prefix on the SINGLE_REBAR
template rows.
• A new option STL can now be used in bending shape rules in Rebar shape
manager. STL is the total length of the spiral bar when the bar is installed
on site.
• In bending shape rules in Rebar shape manager, spiral length SL is now
the distance between the reference points of the spiral bar.
• In bending shape rules in Rebar shape manager, center line length CLL is
now available for curved and circular bars.
• When the Select assemblies selection switch is active and you select
a pour object in a pour view, the new object type, pour unit, is selected.
• You can now inquire and modify the pour unit properties using the
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 58 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
Drawing content manager - efficiently manage drawing
content
Tekla Structures 2018 introduces Drawing content manager - a new
interactive tool for checking and editing marks, notes and model objects in the
current drawing.
Use Drawing content manager to quickly and easily:
• Select relevant content for checking and editing purposes, and target
actions on single or multiple model objects or marks simultaneously
• Add, modify or remove model object marks, including associative notes
• Add weld marks to model welds in drawings, which has not been possible
in earlier Tekla Structures versions
• Highlight either objects or marks
• Check how many marks model objects have in one view or in the entire
drawing
• Add other content to model objects depending on the object type, such as
rebar dimension lines
• Change how model objects are shown in drawings and modify mark
properties
• Hide/show model objects in drawings
With this new tool you can avoid duplicate, missing, or false information, and
efficiently check if all necessary content exists, without having to manually go
through all drawing objects separately.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 59 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
on the object type. Associative notes are also considered and counted as
marks.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 60 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
• Parts
• Welds
• Bolts
• Reinforcement
• Pour objects
• Neighbor parts
object to mark using the switch . When the model object selection is
active, the switch is black , and when the mark selection is active, the
switch is yellow .
Marks selected:
Parts selected:
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 61 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
• To search for and list specific model objects, use the search box.
• To collapse or expand model object categories, use the arrow buttons .
• To sort mark properties in alphabetical order, click a column header.
• To add marks, first select the objects needing marks from the Drawing
manager, use the switch to select only marks, and then press Delete
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 62 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
• To change how model objects are shown in drawings, select the objects
from the Drawing content manager list, right-click in the model and select
Properties....
• To modify the properties of the marks, select the objects from the list,
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 63 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
In Tekla Structures 2018:
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 64 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
• Even though you set XS_MARK_INTELLIGENT_PLACING to FALSE, you can
still arrange the marks and associative notes with the following two
commands on the ribbon:
• Align marks : Align the selected marks and associative notes that
are close to each other by stacking the marks and placing them evenly.
• The two new commands are also available in Quick Launch.
• Note that these commands do not work for weld marks.
• The commands Near current location and Ignore current locations now
work for fixed marks as well. The repositioned objects will keep their fixed
state. Earlier, these commands only worked for free marks.
• The command Ignore current locations now also moves rebar mark base
points to their original location.
• The mark quarter placement has also been improved. If you select all four
corner points in the Part Mark Placing dialog box, the improved automatic
placement will be used, and Tekla Structures attempts to find the closest
quarter with empty space.
• Note that if you use high Search margin and Minimum distance values in
the Part Mark Placing dialog box, the mark placement does not work
efficiently.
• If you set the new advanced option
XS_MARK_PLACING_ANGLE_CLOSE_TO_45_DEGREES to TRUE (default),
marks with leader lines are placed in a 45-degree angle if allowed by the
protection settings.
This model-specific advanced option is located in the Marking: General
category in the Advanced Options dialog box.
• If you set the new advanced option
XS_MARK_INTELLIGENT_POST_FREEPLACE_NEARBY to TRUE (default),
Tekla Structures first places the marks avoiding crossing leader lines and
after that runs the place nearby command, which ensures that the mark
locations follow the protection settings. If you set this advanced option to
FALSE, the crossing mark check is performed, but the place nearby
command is not run, and some of the protection settings may not be
followed.
This model-specific advanced option is located in the Marking: General
category in the Advanced Options dialog box.
For more information about mark placement and protection settings, see
Define object protection and placement settings in drawings.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 65 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
Improved way to select part marks
With the new Select part marks command on the drawing pop-up menu you
can select the part marks of the parts you have selected, and modify all these
marks at one go, for example, or delete them by pressing Delete on the
keyboard. Select part marks selects the part marks from the current drawing
view or from all drawing views according to your selection. This method is
easier than searching the whole drawing for the wanted part marks and then
after that modifying them, especially with large models.
This command replaces the old Delete part marks command.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 66 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
• When you have selected the welds, right-click and select Add Weld Mark.
Note that when you add a weld mark using the pop-up menu, it is now
visible even if its weld size is below the minimum weld size limit defined in
drawing view settings.
In addition to the weld size limit setting, the advanced option
XS_OMITTED_WELD_TYPE may also hide the weld marks.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 67 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
Selection switch to select associative notes
You can now use the Select drawing marks switch to select associative
notes as well. The Select drawing texts switch no longer selects notes,
only texts.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 68 New way to manage drawing content and other
mark and note improvements
1.11 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
You can now customize dimension line arrows, change dimension arrow size
for all arrow types, and add pour object properties in dimension tags. Straight
rebar dimensions are now anchored to the rebar ends. There are also some
updates in the Rebar group dimensioning application.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 69 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
• Finally, restart Tekla Structures.
Now, when you open the Dimension Properties dialog box, you should see
the new arrow type in the Arrow list .
For more information about customized dimension line arrows, see Customize
dimension line arrows.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 70 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
Rebar dimensions anchored to rebar ends
Straight rebar dimensions are now anchored to the rebar ends and not to the
middle of the rebar group.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 71 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
on pour object dimensions before this improvement will not work, and they
need to be recreated.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 72 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
Improvements in Dimension rule properties
• You can now define different dimension line settings for each side (Top,
Bottom, Left and Right) in the Dimensioning rule properties dialog box.
To do this, clear the new Same on all sides check box.
If you select Same on all sides, the settings in the same dimension
properties file are used on all sides.
• The list for selecting vertical dimension properties has been deleted.
For more information about dimensioning rule properties, see Dimensioning
rule properties.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 73 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
• On the Parameters tab there is another new option Combine dim.
between rebar - dim. allowing you to combine the dimensions of the
distance between two rebar groups with the dimensions of the rebar group
where the spacing is the same as the distance between the groups. It also
combines the first/last group dimension line with the distance to the part
end if the distance to the border is the same as the rebar group spacing.
Example
• In the example below, the first dimension from the top shows the rebar
groups (blue color) with the distances between the groups (green color)
plus the distances to the part ends (grey color). Dimensions are not
combined.
• The second dimension shows the same situation with marked equalities
between the drawing rebar group spacing (cc) and the distances
between the groups. Note that the distance to the part end on the left is
not the same as the spacing, and so the dimensions are not combined.
• In the third dimension, the new combining type Consider same
spacings has been applied. The green distances between the two blue
rebar groups have been combined with the group that has the same
spacing (cc) as the distance between the groups.
• The combining has also been applied to the gray distance to the part
end because the distance to the part end is the same as the spacing (cc)
of the adjacent rebar group.
• On the Extra marks tab, where you can create extra marks in front of or
behind the dimension line, the list box labels Rebar position and Text
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 74 Customized dimension line arrows and other
dimensioning improvements
properties are now placed more nicely in the dialog box, and they now
exist for both marks.
Snapping improvements
Snap switch settings now saved in drawing mode
Now, when you activate a set of snap switches in a drawing and save the
drawing, and then reopen the same drawing, or open another drawing, the
same set of snap switches is still active. Previously, the snap switch settings
were not saved in the drawing mode.
Select multiple objects in the drawing, and click the middle mouse button
to finish selecting. The current values of the selected objects appear,
separated with spaces, in the Value cell on the filter row.
• DoubleFaceConcBarrier:
• GovernmentLine:
• HedgeLine:
• LimitedAccessRow:
• SingleFaceConcBarrier:
• TreeLine:
Printing improvements
There are several improvements in printing and in the usability of the printing
dialog box:
• The name of the first color column on the Line properties tab has been
changed to Object color to better describe the meaning of the colors.
• The colors are now in the same order as in other color lists for various
objects in Tekla Structures.
• Color boxes now have tooltips indicating the name of the object color, and
what happens when you click the color boxes.
• The Line properties tab is more compact so that the color controls can fit
in the dialog box without the need for scrolling.
• When you change the printing settings, and you have a preview visible, the
preview is only regenerated if the changed setting affects the preview
result. For example, changing the file name prefix or suffix does not trigger
the preview regeneration.
• The Print Drawings dialog box is displayed faster than before.
• Now you can record macros in the Print Drawings dialog box.
• To be consistent with the old printing, the line thickness of 0 width lines is
no longer affected by scaling.
• If you select Fit to paper and set Paper size to Auto, the drawing will be
scaled to fit the automatically selected paper size. Previously the output
was not scaled.
• Previously, you could print without giving a file name when printing to a
single file. Now you need to enter a file name to be able to print.
• PDF reports were previously hardcoded to not embed fonts, which caused
the text to appear incorrectly in some languages. Now PDF report options
are read from settings files with the name
report.PdfPrintOptions.xml (a settings file saved with the name
report in the printing dialog box). The settings file can be located in any of
• Multiple bugs have been fixed, which has improved the printing reliability.
For more information about printing, see Print to a .pdf file, plot file (.plt) or
printer.
• Now when you open a new template file, it will be opened in a new
Template Editor application window. Earlier, the new template file was
opened in the current application window.
• Now it is possible to select which objects are selectable in the work area
(text, lines, fields, symbols, etc). Earlier it was only possible to switch on and
off the visibility of these objects in the Content browser tree.
Template Editor 3.6 also introduces a new selection toolbar for objects.
CopyField
• Now it is possible with CopyField to copy the actual output value.
Previously, you could only copy the field formula and use that to calculate
the value.
• If CopyField can get a value from the same component as it is in, then
that value is used.
• If CopyField is used in a header or page header, then the value is
searched from the subsequent components.
• If CopyField is used in a footer or page footer, then the value is searched
from the preceding components.
Example of usage:
if GetValue("ADVANCED_OPTION.XS_IMPERIAL")=="TRUE" then
": X= "+format(GetValue("START_X"),"Length","ft-frac", 1/16) + "ft-in"
else
": X= "+format(GetValue("START_X"),"Length","mm", 1)+" mm "
endif
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 90 Reserve the next write out and other
improvements in Tekla Model Sharing
be numbering the model or creating a model baseline, for example, or other
changes that need to be available for all users of the model.
All users of a shared model can reserve the next write out, except users with
the Viewer role. To reserve the next write out, on the File menu, click Sharing
--> Reserve next write out.
The Reserve next write out command opens the Reserve next write out
dialog box where you need to enter a comment about why you are reserving
the write out. Click Reserve to reserve the write out.
When you have reserved the next write out, the Write out icon on the Quick
Access Toolbar shows a yellow arrow for all users of the model. Other
users cannot write out while you have the next write out reserved. Placing the
mouse pointer on top of the icon shows who has reserved the next write out
and the comment that was written in the Reserve next write out dialog box.
When you have made your changes in the model, on the File menu, click
Sharing --> Write out. In the Reserve next write out dialog box, enter a
comment about the changes and click Release. When you have written out,
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 91 Reserve the next write out and other
improvements in Tekla Model Sharing
the arrow in the Write out icon changes to green again . Other users can
now write out normally.
You can also release your write out reservation without writing out. To do this,
on the File menu, click Sharing --> Release reservation without write out.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 92 Reserve the next write out and other
improvements in Tekla Model Sharing
Improved and more robust performance in Tekla Model
Sharing
Working with Tekla Model Sharing is now even more productive than before.
Several improvements in change and conflict handling now result in more
robust and reliable performance.
• The list of read in changes is now more accurate as unnecessary change
flags are not anymore shown for parts, assemblies and cast units, and part
cuts.
• Changes in the model folder are now more controlled.
• Gaps in standard part numbering and renumber all have been addressed.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 93 Improvements in IFC export, import and
conversion
IFC4 export improvements
• Before you can start the IFC4 export in Tekla Structures , you need to set
the advanced option XS_IFC4_EXPORT_PLEASE to TRUE in
teklastructures.ini.
• The Property sets selection has been removed from the dialog box. The
property sets are now hardcoded in the IFC4 export.
• The new Object color setting allows you to export objects using the object
class colors or object group colors. If you select object group colors, the
defined transparency settings are also exported.
• You can now export flat and wide beams as plates using the new option
Export flat wide beams as plates. Select this option if you have modeled
plates as beams or columns with flat profiles. For example, some system
components use beams or columns instead of plates.
• The option Locations from Organizer has been renamed to Spatial
hierarchy from Organizer, which tells more clearly what this option does.
• When you select the new option Pours, concrete parts are exported as
pours. If you do not select it, concrete parts are exported without pours.
• Base quantity definitions are now automatically included in the export.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 94 Improvements in IFC export, import and
conversion
• The selections that you make in the dialog box are now written in the IFC
file header.
• A log file is now automatically created at the export and saved in the export
folder. When you export, a message box is displayed, and you can select to
open the export folder or view the log file.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 95 Improvements in IFC export, import and
conversion
IFC2x3 export improvements
• The IFC2x3 export now uses IFC type ifcWall to export Constructive Solid
Geometry (CSG) and basic geometry for walls.
• The option Locations from Organizer has been renamed to Spatial
hierarchy from Organizer, which tells more clearly what this option does.
• Elements that are completely cut out may still appear as wireframes.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 96 Improvements in IFC export, import and
conversion
• Flange edge radius and flange slope parameters have been added to the I
shape profile definition.
• The performance of the IFC import has been improved, and large bolt
systems are imported much faster, the worker queue works better, and
there are fewer triangles in some models.
• The import now supports tapered extruded and revolved solids.
• Import now supports IFC4-type, profile-based, material definitions.
• Container shapes no longer appear twice in import.
• Grid placement in reference view has been improved.
• Elements with only graphics set, such as some grids, are no longer missing.
• IfcSystem (IfcGroup) import is now working.
• IfcRevolvedAreaSolid now produces valid solids.
• Added a check to verify that all elements are imported/handled.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 97 Improvements in IFC export, import and
conversion
IFC object conversion improvements
• IFC object conversion now supports B-rep cuts.
• B-rep to item conversion is now much faster.
• The conversion change management changes list now has a new column
Type indicating the type of the object, for example, IFCBEAM or
IFCCOLUMN.
• The setting Set handles to top flange is no longer used for polybeams for
better conversion results.
• New settings have been added to the IFC object conversion settings
dialog box allowing you to select conversion to item and conversion to
extrusion separately for concrete material and other material, for example,
steel. These options are applied to direct conversion and to conversion
change management.
• The ifcRoof objects are now converted correctly. Earlier, the plates were not
always oriented properly after conversion.
• Handling of polygons and arbitrary profiles in conversion has been
improved.
1. Click the Point clouds button in the side pane, click Attach, and
browse for the point cloud.
2. Change the scale, if needed.
3. Select Model origin to place the point cloud in the Tekla Structures
model origin, or select a base point to place the point cloud in the real
world coordinates.
If you do not know the coordinate system of the point cloud, select
Auto-created base point to get the point cloud near the model origin.
This will create an automatic base point with point cloud bounding box
min x, min y, and min z coordinates in the Tekla Structures origin.
• To show the point cloud in the model, select the model view where you
want to show it, and click the eye button next to the point cloud in the
list. When the view is selected, it has a yellow frame.
When the point cloud is set visible in the model view, you can see the min
x, min y, and min z coordinates of the point cloud bounding box on the
status bar.
• To detach a point cloud, click Detach next to the point cloud name in
the Point clouds list. Then reopen or save the model.
Note that you cannot detach a point cloud by pressing Delete on the
keyboard.
The point clouds are cached to the default location or to a location
specified by the user. When a point cloud is no longer used in any Tekla
Structures model, it is cleaned from the cache.
For more information about point clouds and related limitations, see Point
clouds.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 100 Point clouds from 3D scanning
Structures objects are not clipped. FALSE is the default value. This advanced
option is located in the Model View category in the Advanced Options dialog
box.
Redraw the model views after changing the value.
Perspective projection:
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 101 Point clouds from 3D scanning
Sharing point clouds
Point clouds are normally so large in file size that it is not sensible to share a
point cloud as a part of the shared model data. However, there may be a need
for multiple persons to use the same point cloud in a project, in which case
you can use the point cloud potree file for sharing the point cloud.
You first need to create the potree file and then copy the potree file to a
shared location, where other users can get it and attach it to the Tekla
Structures model. For more information, see Point clouds in Tekla User
Assistance.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 102 Updates in tools for concrete fabrication
Export Unitechnik (79)
Unitechnik export has been updated with the following improvements:
• Bent meshes with limited rebar angles are now exported with corect origin
points.
• Option to rotate the pallet 90° if the pallet width is exceeded is now
working correctly.
• Now when you define manual rotation in the export dialog box, the line
attribute override takes the rotation into account.
• When using template variables, the export now automatically checks the
contentattribute_xxx.lst files to get the unit of the template variable
and converts the value to the precision level used in Unitechnik export. The
default value of the precision level is now taken from the
contentattribute_xxx.lst files.
•
• Cage reinforcement main dimensions are now exported in the cage's
coordinate system instead of the pallet's coordinate system, according to
the Unitechnik 6.1.0 specifications.
• You can now use the value Text[Template]#Counter for the following
options:
• Name of order
• Name of component
• Drawing number
• Project line 1-4 text
• Slab number
• Info text 1 - 4 of slabdate
• Info text 1 - 2 of mounting part
• Steel parts and items now have in the user-defined attributes dialog box a
new tab Unitechnik Mountpart, where you can specify data which will
overwrite the settings defined on the Mounting part data specification
tab. On the Unitechnik Mountpart tab you can also exclude mounting
parts from the export using the new option Exclude from export.
• The maximum number of exported elements or layers in the SLABDATE
block is now limited to 99 according to the Unitechnik specification. If the
limitation is exceeded, you will be notified by a console and log file
message.
• TS configuration tab:
• You can now export CONTOUR as bounding box. It is recommended to
use this option with the file structure set to Single layer, 1 slabdate, n
parts on the Main tab.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 103 Updates in tools for concrete fabrication
• You can now merge cutouts using the new setting Merge CUTOUTs. You
can select to export a large cutout that is created out of smaller cuts as
separate cutouts. The options are:
Merged as one cutout
• You can now prevent exporting cutouts with the new option Export
CUTOUTs.
• Embeds tab:
• It is now possible to export reinforcing bars as mount parts. There is a
new export option Selected (also reinforcement) + steel available for
Normal embeds. When you select this option, all reinforcing bars listed
in the Embeds classes box are considered as embeds and plotted as
lines. Also bounding box can be used. All steel parts are also considered
as embeds. When you export rebars as mount parts with the option Cut
outer assemblies, the rebar geometry is now exported correctly.
• Cuts that have been specified with a class can now be exported in the
MOUNPART block with the option Cutpart former.
• Reinforcement tab:
• In addition to spacer type, you can now export spacer start position and
spacer pitch information with the new settings Spacer start position
and Spacer pitch.
• The new option First bending angle allows setting the first bending
angle of free-flection rodstock to negative as required by certain
interfaces.
• Reinf. data specification tab: The new option Welded leg designation
can be used for designating the welded leg in bent mesh bars if there is
only one leg that is welded to cross-wires. When you select Yes,
information about welded leg designation is exported.
• The Data specification tab has been divided into two separate tabs:
SLABDATE block data specification and HEADER block data
specification.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 104 Updates in tools for concrete fabrication
• SLABDATE block data specification tab: Now you can specify the
Transport pile level number. If there are elements in the stack that need
to be layered on the same level, then the pile level is used. For example,
you may have a pile of 6 slabs, and they each have sequential pile level
numbers 1, 2, 3.. 6. The Transport pile level number can be defined in the
part UDAs.
• HEADER block data specification tab:
• You can now specify building site and building owner name, address,
post code and city/town.
• You can now specify the number of decimals after the decimal
separator in data field template units.
For more information about Unitechnik export settings, see the following
topics:
Unitechnik export: Main tab
Unitechnik export: TS configuration tab
Unitechnik export: Embeds tab
Unitechnik export: Reinforcement tab
Unitechnik export: Validation tab
Unitechnik export: Reinf. data specification tab
Unitechnik export: HEADER block data specification tab
Unitechnik export: SLABDATE block data specification
Unitechnik export: Mounting part data specification tab
Unitechnik export: Line attributes tab
Unitechnik export: Pallet tab
Unitechnik export: Log files tab
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 105 Updates in tools for concrete fabrication
• Plotter data tab:
• When you export cutout plotting data with the option Full depth cuts
only, now the actual full depth cut geometry is only exported without
recesses.
• You can now exclude embeds by class, name or material from exported
plotting data with the new setting Exclude embeds by.
• You can also exclude embeds or cuts that are above the specified Z
position from exported plotting data by using the new setting Exclude
above z position. The Z position is the depth of the element on the
pallet, that is how many millimeters the lowest point of the embed is
above the casting table.
• Data content tab:
• In No. of digits after decimal point, you can now set 3 digits after the
decimal separator. 1 digit is the default. Now this option also affects
volume, gross area and net area.
• In Net area calculation, you can select whether the export excludes all
cuts or only full depth cuts from the net area calculation, or export
gross area as net area. The whole assembly is checked.
• In Weight calculation, you can select which weight will be exported.
• In Decimal mark, you can set period (.) or comma (.) as the decimal
mark.
For more information about EliPlan export settings, see EliPLAN export
settings.
HMS export
HMS export has been updated with the following new functionality:
• The UDA source of the Bay number can now be set on the Slab data tab.
The value needs to be an integer.
• HMS export has a new tab Reinforcement including the following features:
• HMS Export now exports pull forces for strands. The option Export
strand pull force has been added on the new Reinforcement tab.
• The Export strand code option was moved to the new Reinforcement
tab.
• The boundary line can be now be exported along the cut or uncut side of
the slab. The two options are located on the Options tab.
• HMS export now prevents the export of the parts that have been cut on
both longitudinal sides, and the boundary line cannot be set.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 106 Updates in tools for concrete fabrication
• Welded plates, solid fills and hook boxes are now exported correctly
according to the exported slab rotation.
For more information about HMS export, see HMS Export settings.
Add attachments
You first need to open a Tekla Structures model and Trimble Connector, open
a project in Trimble Connector, and select the needed objects from the
model.
To add an attachment:
1. Create a ToDo note following the instructions in section Trimble
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 107 Trimble Connector and other interoperability
improvements
• Click to browse for a file on your computer, click Add from my
computer and attach it to the current ToDo note.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 108 Trimble Connector and other interoperability
improvements
2. Click OK and click Save to synchronize the ToDo containing the
attachment to Trimble Connect.
Double-clicking the attachment opens the file if Windows has association to
the file name extension. Model files are not opened.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 109 Trimble Connector and other interoperability
improvements
• In Trimble Connector, open a project and a project folder, click to start
the export, enter the required details, and select the settings file from the
Export settings from standard file list.
For more information about IFC export in Trimble Connector, see section
Trimble Connector.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 110 Trimble Connector and other interoperability
improvements
To collaborate:
• To adjust a Trimble Connect Desktop view, select a Tekla Structures view,
and click in Trimble Connector.
• To adjust Tekla Structures view camera and projection based on Trimble
Connect Desktop view , select a Trimble Connect Desktop view and click
in Trimble Connector.
• To select Tekla Structures native model objects based on Trimble Connect
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 111 Trimble Connector and other interoperability
improvements
IFC (.ifc, .ifczip , .ifcxml)
IGES (.igs , .iges)
LandXML (.xml)
MicroStation (.dgn , .prp)
Tekla Collaboration (.tczip)
SketchUp (.skp)
STEP (.stp, .STEP)
For more information about .tsep packages, see Import a .tsep extension to
the Applications & components catalog.
New plug-ins
Tekla Structures 2018 contains the following new plug-ins:
• New DWG plug-ins: Version 1.37, which includes support for AutoCAD 2018,
and version 1.28, which includes integration to Teigha 4.3.1.
• A new DGN plug-in version 1.37, which includes integration to Teigha 4.3.1.
• A new SketchUp plug-in version 1.55.
• A new Step/IGES plug-in 3.15.
NC/DSTV improvements
• You can now show bent line information for bent plates and polybeam
plates in the NC file KA block. Go to the Advanced Options tab in the NC
File Settings dialog box, and under Create KA block for, select Unfolded
bent plates and Unfolded polybeam plates.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 112 New service and license for Open API developers
exercises, code examples, a community for asking questions and sharing best
practices, and more.
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 113 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
This advanced option is set to TRUE by default.
If you change the value, you need to reopen the view to activate the new
value.
• XS_SHOW_SHADOW_FOR_ORTHO_IN_DX controls whether shadows are
shown in DirectX views when the orthogonal mode is on.
This advanced option is set to FALSE by default.
If you change the value, you need to reopen the view to activate the new
value.
• XS_USE_ANTI_ALIASING_IN_DX controls whether antialiasing is used in
DirectX views. Antialiasing makes the edge lines smoother, but with low
resolution screens it can make the lines look thicker.
This advanced option is set to TRUE by default.
• XS_HATCH_OVERLAPPING_FACES_IN_DX controls whether hatching is
shown in DirectX views for overlapping surfaces.
This advanced option is set to TRUE by default.
If you change the value, you need to reopen the view to activate the new
value.
NOTE If you use Tekla Structures via remote connections, the DirectX rendering may
not work as expected: parts that you have created may not show in the
model, or the model is working slowly. If you experience such problems,
switch the DirectX rendering off.
DirectX OpenGL
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 114 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
Improved depth accuracy
The accuracy in depth buffer has been improved so that when the model is
zoomed, parts are not shown through other parts' faces as often as previously.
DirectX OpenGL
Dynamic states
In dynamic states, such as in selection and in preselection highlight, the
selection is clearer and the highlight is less intrusive.
DirectX OpenGL
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 115 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
DirectX OpenGL
DirectX OpenGL
DirectX OpenGL
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 116 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
DirectX OpenGL
DirectX OpenGL
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 117 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
Added accuracy and clarity on details
DirectX OpenGL
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 118 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
DirectX OpenGL
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 119 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
Tekla Structures 2018 release notes 120 New options for controlling visuals and other
DirectX rendering improvements
1.21 Changes in advanced options
There are some uodates in the advanced options in Tekla Structures 2018, they
are listed below.
XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_FACES
Previously, the advanced option XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_FACES was used to control
both hidden part faces and hidden faces of rebars. Now XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_
FACES only controls hidden part faces.
You can now use the new advanced option XS_DRAW_REBAR_HIDDEN_FACES
in the Advanced Options category Drawing Properties to control whether
the hidden faces of the rebars are shown in drawings. Setting it to TRUE shows
the hidden faces of rebars. FALSE is the default value.
Concrete components
Braced girder (88), Braced girder (89)
On the Picture tab, you can now select to add two reinforcing bars at the top
and define the distance of these reinforcing bars from the top of the
connecting reinforcing bars.
In Braced girder (88):
Steel components
Stiffener seating (12)
On the Parts tab, you can now define the seat material and name.
Stairs (S71)
You can now set the bolt type on the Stair setup tab when creating catalog
steps. If you select the Workshop option, the bolts are shown in workshop
assembly drawings in the list of workshop bolts.
1.25 Disclaimer
© 2018 Trimble Solutions Corporation and its licensors. All rights reserved.
This Software Manual has been developed for use with the referenced
Software. Use of the Software, and use of this Software Manual are governed
by a License Agreement. Among other provisions, the License Agreement sets
certain warranties for the Software and this Manual, disclaims other
warranties, limits recoverable damages, defines permitted uses of the
Software, and determines whether you are an authorized user of the Software.
All information set forth in this manual is provided with the warranty set forth
in the License Agreement. Please refer to the License Agreement for important
obligations and applicable limitations and restrictions on your rights. Trimble
does not guarantee that the text is free of technical inaccuracies or
typographical errors. Trimble reserves the right to make changes and
additions to this manual due to changes in the software or otherwise.
In addition, this Software Manual is protected by copyright law and by
international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction, display, modification, or
distribution of this Manual, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and
criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the full extent permitted by law.
Tekla, Tekla Structures, Tekla BIMsight, BIMsight, Tekla Civil, Tedds, Solve,
Fastrak and Orion are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Trimble
Solutions Corporation in the European Union, the United States, and/or other
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 131 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Administrator's release notes: Model templates in version
update
1. Open Tekla Structures 2018.
2. Create a new model using an existing model template.
3. Give the model the same name as in the previous Tekla Structures
version.
4. Open a 3D view.
5. Diagnose and repair the model.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 132 Administrator's release notes: General settings
6. Create a project thumbnail, or add a custom image named
thumbnail.png in the model folder.
The preferred size of the image is 120 x 74 pixels.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 133 Administrator's release notes: General settings
8. Save the model as a model template.
9. Include the needed catalog files and subfolders from the model folder,
and click OK.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 134 Administrator's release notes: General settings
The .idrm files (db.idrm and xslib.idrm) should be kept as they are
part of the model.
The model template is saved in a location pointed by
XS_MODEL_TEMPLATE_DIRECTORY.
You now have a sample image for your model template. The Applications
& components catalog is now also in order and easy to use.
The Applications & components catalog shows the message log button
in the lower-right corner of the catalog if there are errors or warnings in the
catalog definition files, for example.
If there are references to missing plug-ins, go to the referred
ComponentCatalog.xml and remove the references manually:
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 135 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Test thoroughly that these changes do not create any further errors, or change
the structure of your Applications & components catalog. Check at least the
Ungrouped items and Legacy catalog groups.
As in the example above, there may be errors for:
• CatalogPluginComponentItem?CopyModelDirectoryPlugin
• CatalogPluginComponentItem?SaveAsModelTemplatePlugin
3. Hide all non-related applications and components from roles
1. In the Ungrouped items catalog, select the Show hidden items check
box at the bottom.
2. Right-click an application or a component and select Hide / Unhide.
4. Create custom thumbnails
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 136 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Administrator's release notes: IFC4
There are several improvements in the IFC4 export, and you need to create a
new standard file.
• The new Object color setting allows you to export objects using the object
class colors or object group colors. If you select object group colors, the
defined transparency settings are also exported.
• You can now export flat and wide beams as plates using the new option
Export flat wide beams as plates. Select this option if you have modeled
plates as beams or columns with flat profiles. For example, some system
components use beams or columns instead of plates.
• When you select the new option Pours, concrete parts are exported as
pours. If you do not select it, concrete parts are exported without pours.
For more information about IFC4 export, see Export a Tekla Structures model
or selected model objects to....
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 137 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Administrator's release notes: Property pane customizer
You can customize the property pane to show, hide and re-organize settings.
You can hide settings that are never used and add important UDAs.
One user can create customized property pane layouts and share them with
the whole organization.
To open the customization tool, click File --> Settings --> Customize -->
Property pane.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 138 Administrator's release notes: General settings
5. User-customized property pane under %localappdata%
The property pane definitions loaded later will override previously loaded
definitions. For example, a property pane defined in the firm folder will take
precedence over a property pane defined in the environment folders.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 139 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Note that you can reuse the dimension_arrows.sym file from Tekla
Structures 2017i if you do not wish to work at a 1:1 scale with arrowheads. You
can direct Tekla Structures by using the environment variable
DXK_SYMBOLPATH in an .ini file to your own symbol file where symbols are
created to be used with dim_arrow_width 2.500000.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 140 Administrator's release notes: General settings
New option in advanced grid labels
The Advanced grid label properties dialog box now contains a new option
Align to lines. When you select Yes, the labels of vertical and skewed grid lines
are rotated to align with the grid lines.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 141 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 142 Administrator's release notes: General settings
For more information about grid labels, see Customize drawing grid labels.
Dimensioning rules
You can now define different dimension line settings (Overall, Shape, Hole,
Recess, Filter, Secondary parts and Grid) for each side (Top, Bottom, Left and
Right) in the Dimensioning rule properties dialog box. To do this, clear the
new Same on all sides check box. Previously, two separate settings were
available (vertical and horizontal).
PDF reports
PDF report options are read from the settings files with the name
report.PdfPrintOptions.xml. The settings file can be present in any
location where PdfPrintOptions.xml files are normally searched for. This
allows the embed fonts option to be enabled for languages that require it. If
no such files are present, the default hard coded options are used.
If you want to have PDF reports to have embedded fonts for better support for
special characters (or other options enabled), save the settings from the Print
Drawings dialog box with the name report (creating a file
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 143 Administrator's release notes: General settings
report.PdfPrintOptions.xml) and move it to an XS_PROJECT, XS_FIRM,
or XS_SYSTEM folder.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 144 Administrator's release notes: General settings
New Tekla Structural Designer UDAs
TSD Member Type, TSD Slab Type, and TSD Wall Type UDAs have been
added to Tekla Structural Designer UDA tab in \Environments\common
\inp\objects.inp. You can use that file as an example if \common\inp\ is
not defined in XS_INP.
\Environments\common\inp\objects.inp, with the additions in bold:
tab_page("TeklaStructuralDesigner")
{
unique_attribute("TSD_PART_MARK", "j_Mark", string, "%s", no, none,
"0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 0)
}
unique_attribute("TSD_TOTAL_STUDS", "j_No_of_Studs", integer, "%d", no,
none, "0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 0)
}
unique_attribute("TSD_TRANS_REINF", "j_Transverse_Rebar", string, "%s",
no, none, "0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 0)
}
unique_attribute("TSD_EW", "j_Effective_Width", float, "%d", no, none,
"0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 0)
}
unique_attribute("TSD_STATUS", "j_Integration_Status", string, "%s",
no, none, "0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 1)
}
unique_attribute("MBR_TYPE", "TSD Member Type", string, "%s", no, none,
"0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 2)
}
unique_attribute("SLAB_TYPE", "TSD Slab Type", string, "%s", no, none,
"0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 2)
}
unique_attribute("WALL_TYPE", "TSD Wall Type", string, "%s", no, none,
"0.0", "0.0")
{
value("", 2)
}
}
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 145 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Advanced options
Advanced options for DX visualization
• SSAO on/off: XS_SHOW_SHADOW_FOR_PERSPECTIVE is on by default.
Controls whether shadows are shown in DX views when the perspective
mode is on.
• SSAO on/off: XS_SHOW_SHADOW_FOR_ORTHO off by default.
Controls whether shadows are shown in DX views when the orthogonal
mode is on.
• FXAA (anti aliasing) on/off: XS_USE_ANTI_ALIASING_IN_DX on by default.
Controls whether anti-aliasing is used in DX views or not. Anti-aliasing
makes the edge lines smoother, but also less precise.
• Hatching for overlapping surfaces:
XS_HATCH_OVERLAPPING_FACES_IN_DX on by default. The option has
been renamed, the previous name was XS_OVERLAPPING_SURFACES.
Controls whether hatching is shown in DX views for overlapping surfaces or
not.
• Performance statistics: XS_SHOW_STATISTICS_IN_DX off by default.
Controls whether performance statistics are shown in DX views or not.
Advanced option for improved mark placement
Marks are now automatically placed according to the new mark placing
algorithm if the new model-specific advanced option
XS_MARK_INTELLIGENT_PLACING is set to TRUE (default).
The new placement tries to avoid crossing leader lines, and also places marks
otherwise more clearly. The new algorithm applies to all marks and associative
notes, except weld marks.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 146 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Advanced options for construction object line type
There are new advanced options to control the construction object line type:
• XS_CONSTRUCTION_CIRCLE_LINE_TYPE
The default value is 1.
• XS_CONSTRUCTION_LINE_LINE_TYPE
The default value is 2.
The values range from 1 to 5: 1 = solid and 2 - 5 = dotted lines.
Other added advanced options
• XS_IGNORE_CROSSBAR_LOCATION_IN_REBAR_MESH_NUMBERING
Use to ignore the crossbar location when considering geometrical
differences between rebar meshes in numbering, for example, meshes
with crossing bars above are considered equal to otherwise similar meshes
with crossing bars below.
• XS_AD_ANALYSIS_PLANES_ENABLED
The default value is TRUE.
The method Tekla Structures uses to create analysis models has been
improved in version 2018. If you open an existing model with analysis
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 147 Administrator's release notes: General settings
models in Tekla Structures 2018, and activate an analysis model, Tekla
Structures recreates the analysis model using this new method.
If you need to revert to the analysis model creation method used in Tekla
Structures 2017i and previous versions, set the advanced option
XS_AD_ANALYSIS_PLANES_ENABLED to FALSE. This advanced option is
model specific.
Changes in advanced options
• XS_CS_CHAMFER_DIVIDE_ANGLE works again for sketched profiles.
Template editor
CopyField improvement
Earlier you could only get the values of sum using the CopyField command,
before it was calculated. If CopyField can get a value from the same
component as it is in, then that value is used.
• Now it is possible with CopyField to copy the actual output value.
Previously, you could only copy the field formula and use that to calculate
the value.
• If CopyField can get a value from the same component as it is in, then
that value is used.
• If CopyField is used in a header or page header, then the value is
searched from the subsequent components.
• If CopyField is used in a footer or page footer, then the value is searched
from the preceding components.
• If CopyField is used in a row, then the value is first searched from the
previous components and if not found, then the value is searched from the
following components.
Advanced options available in Template editor
Add the following line into tpled.ini in \<environment>\template
\settings as the last line:
@\..\..\..\common\env_global_default.ini
Miscellaneous
Compare phase in numbering
It is now possible to compare phases in numbering. Update the standard files
if needed. The parts in different phases will never get the same numbers with
the Phase setting selected.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 148 Administrator's release notes: General settings
Construction objects
Construction objects can now be assigned a phase, and they can be filtered by
construction object type and phase. This way you can hide only some of the
construction objects at a time.
Snap symbol to circle center points in drawings
• Setting XS_ADD_SNAPPING_SYMBOL_TO_CIRCLES to TRUE will now show
center point snap symbols for circular part cuts in drawings.
• General arrangement drawings are not affected, as this may cause a
performance hit.
Surface object attributes
Surface object attributes are now available for the IfcCovering entity type in
additional property sets.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 149 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Administrator's release notes: Spiral beams
Update inquiry templates
The inquiry template for parts has been updated to Tekla Structures 2018 in
the Common environment. It is basically the same for normal parts, but has
additional information for spiral beams, like rotation axis points.
Check/update UDAs
Add spiral-specific UDAs for spiral beams. The Common environment is up to
date, but you need to add the spiral beam-specific UDAs to the role
specific .inp files.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 150 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Limitations
IFC export does not work for spiral beams, and DSTV export results may be
unreliable.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 151 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Weld marks in drawings
In drawing view weld properties there is a new setting Welds in hidden parts
with the following options for showing and hiding weld marks for hidden parts
(shown with hidden lines) in drawings:
• None: If the part is hidden, the weld mark is not drawn.
• Site: If the part is hidden, weld marks for site welds are drawn.
• Workshop: If the part is hidden, weld marks for workshop welds are
drawn.
• Both: Weld marks are always drawn for hidden parts.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 152 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Additional size value for compound weld types
When a compound weld is selected, there is another setting for the second
size value both in model welds and in manual drawing welds.
The following template attributes are available for the additional sizes of
compound model welds:
• WELD_ADDITIONAL_SIZE1
• WELD_ADDITIONAL_SIZE2
No paint area
The number of supported bolt standards in the No paint area component has
been increased from 50 bolt standards to 250 bolt standards.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 153 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Other changes and fixes:
• The gusset plate is now correctly placed when secondary parts are rotated.
(TT113323)
• The slot cuts in the braces are now correctly created when the braces are
on different planes. (TT77753)
• The gusset plate is now positioned to the correct side when you define the
plate height. (TT120585)
• The bolt length increase defined on the Gusset bolts and Brace bolts 1-3
tabs is now correctly applied. (TT102092)
• The rectangular gusset plate no longer gets a new ID after you click Modify.
(TT129708)
• The gusset offset from bracing is now correctly applied. (TT130521)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 154 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Stub (28)
You can now define the top and bottom offsets for all stiffeners. (TT85772)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 155 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Seating cap (37), Column seating (39)
You can now create galvanizing holes in the end plate on the Holes tab.
(TT130854, TT130855)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 156 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Haunch (40)
You can now set on the Haunch tab whether the haunch profile is cut parallel
at both ends. (TT130004)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 157 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Wraparound gusset (58), Wrapped cross (61), Gusseted cross (62) and
Corner wrapped gusset (63)
You can define 3 types of shim plates on the Shim plates tab. (TT77336)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 158 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Other changes and fixes:
• You can create shim plates when connecting braces to the gusset using clip
angles. (TT77330)
• You can control the brace flange bolts spacing from the heel of the angle or
from the center of the brace. (TT77334)
Tube splice (6), Tube gusset (20), Tube crossing (22), Corner tube gusset
(56), Corner bolted gusset (57), Hollow brace wraparound gusset (59),
Wraparound gusset cross (60)
You can make a round slot in the bracing. (TT106612)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 159 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Portal bracing (105)
You can define the name of the gusset. Also, you can define slotted holes, bolt
assembly and bolt length increase for Bolts 1-3. (TT103815)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 160 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Clip angle (141), Two sided clip angle (143)
You can now define separate profiles for the top and the bottom angles on the
Angle box tab. You can also do this in End plate (144) and Shear plate
simple (146). (TT131709)
You can define plate washers separately for the main and secondary bolts on
the Plate washers tab. (TT106278)
Bolt spacing with weld gap option works correctly in Two sided clip angle
(143). There is an option to control the gap when the secondary parts have
different web thicknesses. (TT130741)
Other changes and fixes:
• The gap between the flange and the stiffener works correctly. (TT83588)
• Bolts are correctly created when you set them to be parallel to the sloped
secondary part. (TT130989)
• The slotted holes for the top and bottom primary bolts in the angle box are
now correctly applied. (TT131707)
• Manual notch in the bottom flanges no longer causes a cut in the top
flange. (TT54515)
• Slotted holes are now correctly applied on the secondary bolts when using
a wrapped angle connection. (TT105965)
• The vertical offset to the first bolt is now correctly calculated in beam to
column connections. (TT60251)
• A double set of bolts is no longer created when using C profiles as
secondary parts. (TT101901)
• The gauge dimension on the Bolts tab is now correctly applied when the
web clearance option is set on the Parts tab. (TT131749)
• The plate washer width and top flange cutback are applied correctly as
defined in the component properties. (TT129110)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 161 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Bent plate (151)
You can define the primary bolted part for the secondary bolts on the Bolts
tab. (TT127819)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 162 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
• The delete option for bolts and anchor rods works correctly. (TT48331)
• When using U shape anchor rods and hook direction of type 3 or type 4,
the created parts are correctly attached to the anchor rod. (TT132020)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 163 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
Railings (S77)
You can define the direction of the used connection on the Rails tab.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 164 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
• Bolted cap plate (27)
• Simple endplate (32)
• Welded tee (32)
• Tab plate (33)
• Two side end plate (34)
• Shear Pl simple (35)
• Seating (39)
• Column splice (42)
• Tapered beam 2 (S45)
• Bracing wrap around (46)
• New notch (49)
• Generation of purlins (50)
• Diagonal splice (53)
• Corner bolted gusset (57)
• Wraparound gusset (58)
• Hollow brace wraparound gusset (59)
• Wraparound gusset cross (60)
• Splice plate 2 (62)
• Gusseted cross (62)
• Partial stiff end plate (65)
• Hss Brace special (66) (67)
• Shear Pl Built-up T (69)
• U.S. Base plate connection (71)
• Seat type 9 (73)
• U.S. Seat connection 2 (73)
• Splice connection (77)
• Railings (S77)
• Truss (S78)
• Handrail bolted joint (S81)
• Stanchion double plate (87)
• Column tube seating (100)
• Tube seat (104)
• Stub connection (119)
• Round joining plates (124)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 165 Administrator's release notes: Steel settings
• Turnbuckle connection (126)
• Welded column with stiffeners (128)
• Column splice (132)
• Stub (133)
• Bolted moment connection (134)
• Column site weld splice (137)
• Two sided end plate (142)
• Two sided clip angle (143)
• Shear plate simple (146)
• 2L Splice (152)
• U.S. Hip & Valley (179)
• Column with stiffeners W (182)
• Beam prep (183)
• Full depth S (185)
• Column with stiffeners (186)
• Column with stiffeners S (187)
• Column with stiffeners (188)
• Shear plate tube column (189)
• Bent plate (190)
• Bolted gusset (196)
• Tapered beam to tapered beam (200)
• Stiffeners (1003)
• Web stiffened base plate (1016)
• Base plate (1042)
• Stair base detail (1043)
• Twin profile connection plate (1046)
• U.S. Base plate (1047)
• Circular base plates (1052)
• Multiple stiffeners (1064)
• Tapered column base plate (1068)
• Cast-in plate (1069)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 166 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
2.3 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
The following customization settings only apply to the concrete user group.
To do
• Update your reports to report pour units instead of pour objects.
• An example of a hierarchical report is in \Environments\default
\system\concrete\CIP\contractor
\Pour_List_Hierarchical.rpt.
• Create UDA tab pages for pour units. Pour units are similar to assemblies
so workflow-related information, for example, should be there instead of
pour objects.
• Update Organizer filters and categories to use pour units instead of pour
objects.
• Create a pour unit inquiry report if the Common environment is not in use.
• Create a custom inquiry for pour unit, if needed.
• In general arrangement drawings for pour units, start using the reflected
view, if needed. Previous problems with pours have now been fixed.
• Update at least some Task manager task types to use pour units.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 167 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
accessed, and are hierarchically under pour units in reports and templates.
The Default environment has some reports and templates that you can use as
an example, such as Pour_List.rpt and Pour_List_Hierarchical.rpt in
the \Environments\default\system\concrete\CIP\contractor\
folder.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 168 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
To use pour units in Organizer categories, add them to categories by using the
Object type - Pour unit filter and set the category to Include the
highest assembly level in the model. You can use this category as an
example \Environments\default\system\concrete\CIP\contractor
\ProjectOrganizerData\DefaultCategoryTrees\Pours by
Type.category.
You can set custom inquiry to work with pour units by modifying .it files. Find
an example inquiry in \Environments\common\system\CustomInquiry
\Pour.it.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 169 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 170 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
You can add user-defined attributes to pour units using object type
pour_unit. This is already done in the objects.inp file located in the
\Environments\common\inp\ folder, so if your environment does not use
that you can add them yourself, or use the file in the Common environment as
an example.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 171 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
Limitations
• Pour units are currently exported in IFC4 only, not in IFC2x3.
To do
Copy or share new updated and enhanced rebar reports to your environment
from the \Environments\default\system\concrete folder.
The following new reports are available:
• Rebar - Group Bending List - Compact.rpt
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 172 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
• Rebar - Group Bending List - Extended.rpt
• Rebar - Single Bar Bending List.rpt
These reports have been updated to support the new linearly tapered bar
groups within rebar sets in reporting. The reports also work with the rebar
groups and single bars.
If you have been using the Rebar Bending List With Single Bars.rpt
and/or Rebar Bending List.rpt reports, you can remove them. The three
new reports listed above will replace these two old reports.
If you have old rebar reports that are using SINGLE_REBAR, update the
following attributes in them:
• REBAR.NUMBER_OF_BARS_IN_GROUP instead of REBAR.NUMBER
• REBAR.WEIGHT_TOTAL_IN_GROUP instead of REBAR.WEIGHT_TOTAL
• Other new attributes if needed
Rebar reports which are using REBAR rows do not necessarily need any
updates and can continue using NUMBER and WEIGHT_TOTAL.
Modify the new advanced settings, if needed.
New features
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 173 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
• With this option you can define which letters to use with the
SUB_ID_WITH_LETTERS format string.
• Enter the wanted characters without spaces or delimiters as they are, for
example, ABCDXYZ123.
• By default, letters A to Z are used.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 174 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
• NUMBER_OF_BARS_IN_GROUP reports the number of bars in a single group,
also works for the old rebars.
Rebar reports in all environments should be changed to start using this
attribute instead of NUMBER.
• WEIGHT_TOTAL_IN_GROUP reports the total weight of a single group, also
works for the old rebars.
Rebar reports in all environments should be changed to start using this
attribute instead of WEIGHT_TOTAL.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 175 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
Position
On the Parameters tab, you can now select a location for the mark. The
options are:
• Automatic: Mark 1 is positioned above the dimension text when the
dimension is above the part, and under the dimension text when the
dimension is under the part.
• Above dim. text: Mark 1 is always positioned above the dimension text.
• Below dim. line: Mark 1 is always positioned below the dimension line.
When placing the mark, the dimension text font size for the above text
position and the spacing values defined on the Advanced settings tab for
both positions are considered. This setting is only available for the non-radial
annotation types.
Combine dim. between rebar-dim
On the Parameters tab there is another new option Combine dim. between
rebar - dim. allowing you to combine the dimensions of the distance between
two rebar groups with the dimensions of the rebar group where the spacing is
the same as the distance between the groups. It also combines the first/last
group dimension line with the distance to the part end if the distance to the
border is the same as the rebar group spacing.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 176 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
New option for reinforcing bar representation
A new option single line with filled ends is added in rebar representation to
be used especially in section views. This option shows a different
representation for parallel and perpendicular bars.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 177 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
• Export now checks the Top in Form Face setting for all parts, if in use.
• New settings on the Plotter tab:
• It is now possible to exclude from exported plotting data embeds by
class, name or material with the new setting Exclude embeds by.
• You can also exclude from exported plotting data embeds or cuts that
are above the specified Z position by using the new setting Exclude
above z position. Z position is the depth of the element on the pallet,
that is how many millimeters the lowest point of the embed is above
the cast.
TT132597 (68) Export EliPlan file - Data content tab: New user option to use
comma (,) as the decimal separator instead of period (.) (like in some European
systems)
TT132568 (68) Export EliPlan file - Data content tab: In Weight calculation,
you can select which weight will be exported.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 178 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
TT129944 (79) Unitechnik export - You can now set the rotation of the meshes
to pallet to correct the geometry in the export file by using the option Export
meshes as: Turned to pallet on the Reinforcement tab.
TT132217 (79) Unitechnik-export - You can now specify the transport pile level
number in part user-defined attributes dialog box on the Unitechnik tab. If
there are elements in the stack which need to be layered on the same level,
then the pile level is used.
BVBS export
BVBS export has some fixes but the user interface has not been changed.
TT130340 BVBS export: In BVBS export, any tapered groups where the bar legs
have the same length are now exported as a 'normal' group. If the length of
the legs varies linearly or regularly, the bars are exported as "stepped bars",
regardless of the group type or spacing type. If you set the option Export
stepped bars as separate items to Yes the "stepped bars" are exported as
separate items with sub-item numbers. Groups where bar legs have the same
length are still exported as a 'normal' group (not as separate items) regardless
of the group type or spacing type.
TT130710 BVBS export: The BVBS export has been changed so that when the
private block has no content, the private block (@P) does not give any output.
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 179 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
Rectangular column reinforcement (83)
When creating cranked rebars, you can now define the length separately for
the side bars and corner bars on the Bar ends tab. (TT132120) (TT104691)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 180 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
Braced girder (88), (89)
You can now create bar C as a plate. (TT131919)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 181 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
Reinforcement mesh array components (89)(91)
You can set the mesh spacing type to Exact number on the Picture tab. Use
Exact number when the mesh has a specified number of spacings, like 1*100,
in mesh_database.inp. (TT129561)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 182 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
• The radius value for the bottom end and top end rebars is applied correctly
on the Landings end bars tab. (TT131669)
• You can create rebar shape 64 on the Bar C and Bar E tabs. (TT131670)
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 183 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
• Detailing manager
• Double wall edge and opening reinforcement
• Floor layout
• Mesh bars by area
• Mesh bars
• Sandwich wall window
• Rebar coupler and anchor tools
• Wall groove seam detail
• Wall layout
• Wall to wall connection
Tekla Structures administrator's release notes 184 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
3 Localization release notes
You can have many Tekla Structures versions on your computer. When you
install and start using a new version, you do not need to uninstall the older
versions. Note however, that you can have only one service pack related to a
certain Tekla Structures version on your computer.
NOTE We recommend that you complete any models you are already working on
using your current version of Tekla Structures. Once you save a model in the
new version, you cannot open it in the previous versions anymore.
You can download the installation packages from the Tekla Downloads
service.
Complete the upgrade in this general order (follow the links in the text for
detailed instructions):
1. Update the Tekla Structures license server (page 187). The updated
version replaces the existing version you have installed.
If you plan to use several versions of Tekla Structures, check the
compatibility of the license server with different versions (page 188)
before upgrading.
2. Renew your licenses as explained in Renew a Tekla Structures license
(page 188).
The renewed licenses can be used with the version indicated on the
license and any previous versions that are compatible with your installed
license server version.
3. Install Tekla Structures.
You can have many Tekla Structures versions and environments on your
computer. When you install and start using a new version, you do not
need to uninstall the older versions.
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version 186 Administrator's release notes: Concrete settings
4. Copy personal settings to a new Tekla Structures version (page 189).
You can use the Migration Wizard (page 189) tool to copy some of the
personal settings to the new version. You can skip the copying if you do
not want to copy the settings, or if you want to copy the settings from
some other Tekla Structures version than suggested in Migration Wizard.
5. Transfer customized information to a new Tekla Structures version
(page 190).
In the new Tekla Structures version, you can use the information you have
customized in the previous version. We strongly recommend that you
create project and firm folders, and store the files you customize in these
folders. Tekla Structures does not replace the files in project and firm
folders when you install a new version. If you do not use project and firm
folders, you need to transfer the customized information to the new
version manually.
The version of Tekla Structures License Borrow Tool should be the same as
the version of Tekla Structures license server. For more information about the
compatibility between Tekla Structures versions and Tekla Structures license
server versions, see Which license server version to use (page 188).
Before you start the license server update, turn off the internal firewall and
pause the antispyware/antivirus protection.
To update the Tekla Structures license server:
1. Go to Tekla Structures Licensing --> LMTOOLS through the Start menu
or Start screen, depending on your Windows operating system.
2. On the Stop/Start/Reread tab, click Stop Server to stop the Tekla
Structures license server and any other licensing services.
When you have completed installing the Tekla Structures license server,
you can restart the other licensing services.
3. Backup any files you have modified in the C:\TeklaStructures
\License\Server folder.
You do not need to back up tekla.lic or tekla.opt, because the
installer will not changes these files.
4. Download the latest version of the Tekla Structures license server on the
server or computer from Tekla Downloads.
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version 187 Update the Tekla Structures license server
5. Install the downloaded license server with administrator rights using the
automatic installation for normal setup. Follow the instructions displayed
on the screen.
21.0 or earlier
For instructions on how to install the license server, see Install Tekla Structures
license server.
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version 188 Which license server version to use
If you are replacing an existing license, then the existing certificate needs to be
deactivated before the renewal certificate can be activated.
To renew a license:
1. Rename your previously provided entitlement certificate file to
EntitlementCertificate-OLD.html.
2. Go to Tekla Structures Licensing --> Tekla Structures License
Administration Tool through the Start menu or Start screen, depending
on your Windows operating system.
3. In the Activated Licenses area, select the Deactivate check box next to
the license you want to deactivate.
4. Click the enabled Deactivate button.
This will deactivate your license. When deactivation is completed, you will
see a message about it.
5. The person in your organization who has made the license purchase, or to
someone named as the contact person has received a new entitlement
certificate for the extended license by e-mail as an attachment. Download
the entitlement certificate toC:\TeklaStructures\License\Server.
6. Now you can activate your extended license normally Tekla Structures
License Administration Tool. For more information, see Activating Tekla
Structures licenses
Migration Wizard shows the version number from which the settings are
copied and the version number to which the settings are copied. You can
select which settings are copied.
1. Start the new Tekla Structures version.
2. In Migration Wizard, click Next to start copying the settings.
3. Select the settings you want to copy and click Next.
4. Check that you have selected the correct settings.
5. Click Copy.
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version 189 Copy personal settings to a new Tekla Structures
version
NOTE If you want to copy the settings later, you can start Migration Wizard manually
by double-clicking the MigrationWizard.exe in the \Tekla Structures
\<version>\nt\bin\applications\Tekla\Migrations folder. You can
select the version from which the settings are copied and the version to which
the settings are copied.
See also
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version (page 186)
You can copy some information automatically to the new version using the
Migration Wizard (page 189) tool.
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version 190 Transfer customized information to a new Tekla
Structures version
See also
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version (page 186)
Upgrade Tekla Structures to a new version 191 Transfer customized information to a new Tekla
Structures version
5 Tekla Structures service packs
See also
Install a Tekla Structures service pack (page 192)
Install an earlier Tekla Structures service pack (page 193)
NOTE Service pack software installation files are stand-alone installers that
contain the full Tekla Structures version software. You do not need to
separately install the related Tekla Structures version or a previous
service pack.
If you have the related Tekla Structures version or a previous service pack
installed on your computer, you do not need to remove it before installing a
new service pack.
Tekla Structures service packs 192 Install a Tekla Structures service pack
NOTE You need to be logged in with administrator rights to install the Tekla
Structures software on your computer.
See also
Tekla Structures service packs (page 192)
Tekla Structures service packs 193 Install an earlier Tekla Structures service pack
2. Uninstall the related Tekla Structures environments in Windows Control
Panel.
3. Install the Tekla Structures service pack software.
a. Download the software installation file of the service pack from Tekla
Downloads.
b. Double-click the installation file to run the installation.
c. Follow the steps in the installation wizard to complete the installation.
You can select the installation folder and the model folder.
4. Install the Tekla Structures environments.
The latest environments are in Tekla Downloads.
a. Download the environment installation files related to the service
pack that you have installed.
b. Double-click the installation file to run the installation.
c. Follow the steps in the installation wizard to complete the installation.
See also
Tekla Structures service packs (page 192)
Tekla Structures service packs 194 Install an earlier Tekla Structures service pack
Index
A L
administrators license server
advanced grid labels.............................140 updating................................................. 187
applications............................................135 version.................................................... 188
bent plates............................................. 151 licenses
component catalog............................... 135 extending the licensing period............ 188
components...........................................135 renewing.................................................188
compound welds...................................151
concrete components...........................179
concrete fabrication..............................177
dimension arrows................................. 139
R
DX............................................................ 140 release notes................................................... 7
EliPlan..................................................... 177 renewing
HMS export............................................ 177 licenses................................................... 188
IFC4......................................................... 136
mark placement.................................... 140
model templates................................... 131 U
numbering............................................. 140 updating
pour units...............................................167 license server.........................................187
property pane........................................137 upgrading
rebar group dimensioning................... 175 license server.........................................187
rebar sets............................................... 172
reinforcement representation.............140
reinforcing bar representation............ 175
spiral beams.......................................... 150
steel components................................. 153
text alignment....................................... 140
Unitechnik.............................................. 177
I
installing Tekla Structures
copying personal settings.................... 189
Migration Wizard............................186,189
service packs.................................. 192,193
service releases..............................192,193
transferring customized files...............190
upgrading........................................186,190
upgrading Tekla Structures.................. 189
195
196