Tekla Structures User Meeting 2008

Custom ComponentsBy: Glen Hutchinson

Custom Component Quiz

A. Column to Spandrel B. Column to IT Beam

C. Spandrel to Double Tee D. Pad Footing to Column

Position Type• Endend Plane• Middle Plane• Collision Plane• Box Plane

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• CC’s and Database Size• ASCII Files• Create an ASCII file• CC .INP Backup• CC Location• Best Practices

CC’s & Database Size V13.1 <

Name Formula Value Value Type Variable Type Visibility Label in dialog box

P1 1/2" 1/2" Length Parameter Show Joint

P2 4" 4" Length Parameter Show Left Side

P3 1" 1" Length Parameter Show Right Side

D1 6" 6" Length Distance Hide D1.WS_DT_Right_Plates.CUTPART

D2 6" 6" Length Distance Hide D2.WS_DT_Right_Plates.CUTPART2

D3 =P3 1" Length Distance Hide D3.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL

D4 =P3 1" Length Distance Hide D4.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL

D5 =P2 4” Length Distance Hide D5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL

D6 =P1 1/2” Length Distance Hide D5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL

D7 =P1 1/2” Length Distance Hide D5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL

x 2,000 = 20,000 attributes

CC’s & 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

Name Thickness Width Length

P100 0.375 4 4

P200 0.375 6 6

P300 0.375 8 8

P400 0.5 4 4

P500 0.5 6 6

P600 0.5 8 8

• Scenario• 6 Plates, varying in size

.dat

ASCIIDemo

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

• Don’t 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 CC’s 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

• Only Bind objects that you have to• Keep intelligence to a minimum

• Keep It Simple• Don’t 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 CC’s with a Password

• Name = Password• Type =Text• Value = Your Password

• Cannot be edited without the Password

Thank You