Tekla Structures User Meeting 2008

Custom Components
By: Glen Hutchinson

Custom Component Quiz

Position Type Endend Plane Middle Plane B. Column to IT Beam A. Column to Spandrel Collision Plane Box Plane

C. Spandrel to Double Tee

D. Pad Footing to Column

Answers

Custom Components Quiz Middle Plane

A. Column to Spandrel

Custom Components Quiz Box Plane

B. Column to IT Beam

Custom Components Quiz Collision Plane

Custom Components Quiz Endend Plane

Custom Components Agenda CCs and Database Size ASCII Files Create an ASCII file CC .INP Backup CC Location Best Practices

CCs & Database Size V13.1 <

x 2,000 = 20,000 attributes
Name P1 Formula 1/2" Value 1/2" Value Type Length Variable Type Parameter Visibility Show Label in dialog box Joint

P2
P3 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7

4"
1" 6" 6" =P3 =P3 =P2 =P1 =P1

4"
1" 6" 6" 1" 1" 4 1/2 1/2

Length
Length Length Length Length Length Length Length Length

Parameter
Parameter Distance Distance Distance Distance Distance Distance Distance

Show
Show Hide Hide Hide Hide Hide Hide Hide

Left Side
Right Side D1.WS_DT_Right_Plates.CUTPART D2.WS_DT_Right_Plates.CUTPART2 D3.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D4.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL

CCs & Database Size V14.0 > On average, 5 are not default Store 10,000 Attributes 50% less

ASCII Files ASCII simple text file American Standard Code for
Information Interchange Tab delimited Columns

ASCII Files Scenario

6 Plates, varying in size
Name P100 Thickness Width 0.375 4 Length 4

P200
P300 P400 P500

0.375
0.375 0.5 0.5

6
8 4 6

6
8 4 6

P600

0.5

.dat

ASCII Demo

Parameters vs. ASCII Parameters = 11, Dist. = 2, Tot. = 13

ASCII = 6, Dist. = 2, Tot. = 8

Benefits of using ASCII Modifying the CC is much Easier

Dont have to mess with the .inp files Adding Variables, much easier The R&C are organized, table Less attributes in the model

Custom Component .INP Save a Custom Component an .inp Also a .inp.bak Useful when creating CCs that contain
pictures in them.

.inp

.inp .bak

CC Location

Model folders contain

CustomComponentsDialogFiles All CC .inp and .inp.bak are stored

Best Practices Keep It Light

Keep It Simple

Only Bind objects that you have to Keep intelligence to a minimum Dont detail every little thing Model only what you have to, so you can understand what the object is in the drawings.

Tips and Tricks Add a line separating the variables CC

Edit the ***.inp located in CustomComponentsDialogFiles Change number Save ***.inp Reopen the Model

Tips and Tricks Protect CCs with a Password

Name = Password Type =Text Value = Your Password

Cannot be edited without the Password

Thank You