Tekla Structures User Meeting 2008

TemplatesBy: Glen Hutchinson

Templates Agenda• .CSV

• What is .CSV• Why .CSV

• User Defined Attributes• Create a .CSV• Sales Takeoff Example• Tips and Tricks

• Comma-Seperated Values• CSV is a delimited data format that has

fields/columns separated by the comma character and records/rows separated by newlines.

What is .CSV?

Why .CSV• Importing Data to Other Systems

• Microsoft Access • Excel Spreadsheets

• Importing Data to Tekla Structures• Dates

• Shipping• Pouring

• Status• Poured• Shipped• Erected

User Defined Attributes

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

Identify Attributes 2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

• Scheduled• Cut• In Assembly• Galvanizer• Painted

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

Confirm UDA’s• 2 ways

• Objects.inp• Tekla Structures

UDA’S

Confirm UDA’s• Look what is already there

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

Modify Objects.inp• Objects.inp• C:\TeklaStructures\14.0\environments\

usimp\inp

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

attribute or unique_attributeattribute namepromptvalue typesformataffects numberingcheck switchmax value, min valuelabel and default value

Modify Objects.inp

• Value types

• Float = Numbers

• String = Text

• Option = Lists

• Date = Small Calender

• Field Format

• %s = String

• %D = Number

Create Objects.inp• Part User Defined Attribute Setup

Program• Extranet

• Downloads>Extended Applications

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

Modify Objects.inp• When creating these new Attributes

• Great for UDA’s for all Part Types• Create a different objects.inp for different

Part Types

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

Map New Variables• Import_macro_data_types.dat• Used in importing attributes• C:\TeklaStructures\14.0\environments\usimp\system

2. Confirm, Default or Custom1. Identify Attributes

3. Modify Objects.inp4. Map New Variables

Creating a .CSV• Commas to create columns• Rows are automatically created

Creating a .CSV• Example• _Precast_Product_List.rpt

Create a .CSVDemo

Recap Creating a .CSV• _Precast_Product_List• Insert “Commas”

Recap Creating a .CSV• Save as “.csv.rpt”

Recap Creating a .CSV• Select report• Notice .CSV• Show Report

with associated viewer

Recap Creating a .CSV• Save in new location• Opens Excel automatically

Sales Take Off Process• Fill in Attributes in Model

Sales Take Off Process• Produce .CSV Report• Format if needed

Sales Take Off Process• Import .csv to existing estimating

products• Use other .xls templates to get data and

produce an estimate• Import .csv into Microsoft Access

Template Tips and Tricks• HTML can be produced out of Tekla.• Easier approach

• .csv• Run a Format Macro• Saveas HTML

Templates Tips and Tricks• Sort Order, Tree View• Drag the Attribute

Templates Tips and Tricks• Summary Rows

• When you want to sum field values on a summary line rather than output individual field values each on their own line, you can easily turn a value field into a summary field.

Templates Tips and Tricks• Set default text color for new Texts

• Same for steps for Value Fields

Templates Tips and Tricks• Right Click > Crop

Templates Tips and Tricks• Use Characters to create lines

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Templates Tips and Tricks• Use the Preview Pane

Templates Tips and Tricks• Hide Fields in Content Browser

Tips and Tricks• Show grid location of Cast Units• CAST_UNIT_POSITION_CODE

Thank You