Tekla Structures – Basic Navigation

Marvin Josol Garcia

1 Technical Specialist
 Topics
Basic Setup Inquiry
Welcome Page Measure
User Interface Clip Plane
Navigation Managing .db1 and .db2 files
Object Selection Phase Manager
Grids Object Representation
Views Copying from Another Model
Selection Switches Drawing Environment
Snap Switches Support Links
Rendering

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 Basic Setup

When you start Tekla Structures, you will be asked to choose your setup. The set-up consists of setting the
Environment, Role and Configuration.

Environment: sets the region-specific or company-specific settings and information. It defines which
profiles, material grades, default values, connections, wizards, variables, reports, and templates you
have available.
Role: limits the availability of files and settings in an environment which would eventually customize
the user interface.
Configuration: consists of a set of features that the user is entitled to base on the license agreement.
Each configuration is meant for a specific user group to suit the various players in the construction
industry.

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 Welcome Page
When you have selected the set-up that you want to use, the next step is to either open a model or create a
new model. It is important to note at this point that you can only work on one model at a time.

Under the Recent tab, you have a list of all models that you have recently worked with. You can sort the list
out by name, date created and date modified. You can find details about your model by clicking its name
while double clicking it will open the model.

Under the All Models tab, you can browse all your existing models. The list can also be sorted out by name,
date created and date modified. By default, out target folder is set to C:\TeklaStructuresModels.

If you want to create a new model, go to the New tab, give a name for your model and browse for the
location where you want to save your new model. In addition, you can choose to create a new model from a
template or a blank project.

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 User Interface
When you start a new Tekla 7
6
Structures model, the window that 8
you will see first looks like this.
5
Here is an empty grid (1).
The green box around the grid
9
represents the Work Area (2).
Objects outside the work area may 2
exists however only those objects
inside the work area will be made 4
visible in your workspace. You can
shrink and expand the work area to 3
suit your needs. You can also hide 11
1
the work area box which is essential 10
when creating screenshots for
presentation.

5
 User Interface
Right here is the local coordinate system 7
6
(3) which also indicates the direction of 8
the model. You may change its
orientation to suit your needs. 5
This green cube (4) symbol represents
the global coordinate system and lies at 9
the global origin where X = 0, Y=0 & Z =
0. 2
Here is your File (5) menu where you
will find many commands that help you 4
manage your model. To name a few, you
can save your model, print drawings 3
and import/export models. You can also 11
1
check your current Tekla Structures 10
setup at any time without having to
close your model.

6
 User Interface
The Main Tab (6), contains all the 7
6
commands and functions you may 8
use when building a model. Use your
mouse to scroll the ribbon content. 5
To change how tabs are aligned, right
click on the top bar of the ribbon, 9
select Navigation Mode and then
select one of the options. You can 2
also minimize your ribbon to save
space on your screen. You can 4
change the order of your ribbon tabs
by simply selecting and dragging it 3
from left to right. You can also hide 11
1
some parts of the ribbon if you do 10
not need it in your current project.

7
 User Interface
If you do not find a command you’re 7
6
looking for, you may search through 8
Quick Launch (7).
The Side Pane (8) opens here which 5
you may use for adding reference
models and components. You can
9
drag the Side Pane anywhere in your
screen or may choose to dock it
2
either on left, right, top and bottom
of your screen.
4
When you click an object in a model
or drawing, a contextual toolbar (9) 3
appears somewhere in your screen. 11
You may use this to quickly view and 1
change some basic properties of an 10
object, view, grid, and so on.

8
 User Interface
At the bottom of the screen, you 7
6
have two toolbars (10). One with the 8
Selection Switches and one with the
Snap Switches. Like the Side Pane, 5
you can drag these toolbar anywhere
in your screen or may choose to dock
it either on left, right, top and 9
bottom of your screen. Selection
Switches are special commands that 2
control which objects or object types
you can select. On the other hand, 4
Snap Switches are used to control
which position you can pick in the 3
model or in the drawing. By using 11
these tools, you can position objects 1
precisely without having to know the 10
coordinates.

9
 User Interface
Lastly, here is your Status Bar (11) 7
6
which guides you on how to proceed 8
and when to pick points.
5

3
11
1
10

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 Navigation
You can navigate your model using the
navigation tools (1) under the View (2)
tab or, alternatively, using the mouse 2
1
buttons.

To rotate, press & hold the CTRL key and

the middle mouse button, then move
the mouse around.

To Pan, press & hold the middle mouse CTRL +

button, then move the mouse around.

To zoom in/out, scroll the middle mouse

button. ROTATE PAN ZOOM IN/OUT

11
 Navigation

3D View

You may switch from 3D view to plan

view, or vice versa, using the shortcut
key CTRL + P.

Plan View

12
 Navigation

If you lost your model somewhere in

the model view, right click anywhere
in the model view and select Fit Work
Area to Entire Model.
To fix disoriented model, double click
anywhere in the model view and re-
select the standard view properties
in the View Properties dialog box.
Click Load then click Modify.

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 Object Selection
You can make single selections and area
selections. Tekla Structures highlights
the selected objects. The number of
selected objects and handles is
displayed in the bottom right corner of
the status bar (1).
To make a single selection, click an
individual object.
To select all objects that are completely
within a rectangular area, hold down
the left mouse button and drag the
mouse from left to right.
To select all objects that are at least
1
partly within a rectangular area, hold
down the left mouse button and drag
the mouse from right to left.

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 Grids

A Grid represents a three-

dimensional complex of horizontal 2
and vertical planes. The grid is shown
on the view plane using dash-and-
dot lines. Use grids as an aid in 3
locating objects in a model. 4

Double click an existing grid (1) to

see the Grid (2) dialog box. Take note
that values in the X & Y coordinates
(3) are relative while values in the Z
coordinate (4) are absolute.
1

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 Views
A View is a representation of a model 1
from a specific location. Each view is 2
represented in its own window
within Tekla Structures. Selecting a 3
part in a view highlights the part in
all open views. 5
4
To create a basic view, on the View
(1) tab, click New view > Basic view
(2).
Select a view plane from the Plane
(3) list.
In the Coordinate (4) box, enter the
view level. This value defines the
distance from the global origin.
Click Create (5).

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 Views

3
Finally, double click anywhere in the
model view of the newly created
view, give it a name (1) and click
Modify (2). 1

This is an important step in order to

save the newly created view in the
View List (3).

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 Views
1

To create a view using two points, on 2

the View (1) tab, click New
view>Using two points (2).
Pick a point to indicate the origin of
the view plane.
Pick a second point to indicate the
direction of the y axis.
The y axis is perpendicular to the
view plane on which you picked the
first point.

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 Views

3
Finally, double click anywhere in the
model view of the newly created
view, give it a name (1) and click
Modify (2). 1

This is an important step in order to

save the newly created view in the
View List (3).

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 Selection Switches

The Selection Switches are special

commands that control which
objects and object types you can
select. For example, if you select the
entire model area but only the Select
parts switch is active, only the parts
become selected.
Click the selection switches on
the Selecting toolbar to switch them
on or off.

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 Selection Switches

The main selection switches control

whether you can select components
and assemblies, or objects included
in them. These switches have the
highest priority.

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 Selection Switches

The table on the right lists the

remaining selection switches. Use
these switches to control which
object types you want to select.

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 Snap Switches

Use the Snap Switches to control

which positions you can pick in the
model or drawing. By using snap
switches, you can position objects
precisely without having to know the
coordinates. You can use snap
switches whenever Tekla
Structures prompts you to pick a
point.
Click the snap switches on
the Snapping toolbar to switch them
on or off. Click the left mouse button
to select the appropriate point.

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 Snap Switches

The two main snap switches define

whether you can snap to reference
points or any other points on objects,
for example part corners. These
switches have the highest snap
priority. If both these switches are
off, you cannot snap to any positions,
even if all the other switches are on.

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 Snap Switches

The table on the right lists the

remaining snap switches and their
symbols in the model and drawing.
Make sure that you do not have too
many snap switches on when
snapping, as it may easily lead to
inaccuracies and errors in snapping.

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 Rendering

You can easily change the rendering

of parts and components in model
views.
On the View tab, click Rendering.
Select one of the rendering options
for parts or components.
Alternatively, you may use the
keyboard shortcuts CTRL + 1 to 5 for
parts and SHIFT + 1 to 5 for
components to switch between the
rendering options.

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 Inquiry

1
Select the Inquire (1) commands and
click an object or a group of objects
to get its information within the 2
model.
Alternatively, you may select the
object, right click anywhere it the
model view then select Inquire>Part
(2).

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 Measure
Use the Measure commands to
measure angles, arcs, the distance
between two points and between 2
bolts in the model. 1
All measurements are temporary.
The measurements appear in the
model view window until you update
or redraw the window.
The units depend on the settings in
File menu > Settings > Options >
Units and Decimals.
To measure, go to Edit (1) tab. Click
Measure (2) and select any of the
desired option. Follow the
3
instructions stated in the Status Bar
(3).

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 Clip Plane
Clip planes enable you to focus on the
required detail in the model. You can
create up to six clip planes in any model Clip Planes
view that shows the object faces.
When you create clip planes, ensure
that you are using a model view that
shows object faces.
On the View tab, click Rendering ,
and use any of the following
options:
Parts grayscale (Ctrl+3)
Parts rendered (Ctrl+4)
Components grayscale (Shift+3)
Components rendered (Shift+3)

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 Clip Plane

On the View tab, click Clip Plane.

Move the mouse pointer over the
model objects.
A green symbol indicates the object
faces that you can select and align
the clip plane with. The green line
indicates the side that will be clipped
out.
Select an object face. The clip plane
symbol appears in the model.

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 Managing .db1 and .db2 files

Q: How to open .db1 and .db2 files, named “ABC”, in Tekla Structures?

Note:
.db1 – Model Database
.db2 – Numbering Database

A: Tekla Structures model database file .db1 needs to have same name as model folder in which it is located.
This is the very least you need to open a Tekla Structures model.

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 Managing .db1 and .db2 files

To open it in Tekla Structures, create

a normal windows folder.

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 Managing .db1 and .db2 files

Rename the newly created folder to

“ABC”.

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 Managing .db1 and .db2 files

Move both .db1 and .db2 files into

this folder.

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 Managing .db1 and .db2 files

1
Next go to File menu > Open > All
models.
Browse for the location of the “ABC”
folder then click Select Folder.
Select the model “ABC” (1) and click
Open (2).
2

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 Phase Manager
Phase Manager is used to break a
model up into sections.
1
On the Manage (1) tab, click Phases 3 2
(2). The Phase Manager (3) dialog 5
box appears. 94
10
6
Click Add (4) to create new phase(s). 7
8
Click Set current (5) to make the
selected phase the current phase. 10
From now on, Tekla
Structures assigns all objects you
create to the current phase. The @
character in front of the phase
number indicates the current phase.

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 Phase Manager
Divide the model into phases.
To identify the phase of an object, 1
3 2
select an object and click Phases by
objects (6). Tekla Structures selects 5
the phase of the object. 94
10
6
To see which objects belong to a 7
8
certain phase, select a phase from
the list then click Objects by phases 10
(7). Tekla Structures highlights the
corresponding objects in the model.
To change the phase of one or more
objects, select the objects, select a
phase from the list, and then
click Modify phase (8).

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 Phase Manager
To protect model objects from being
accidentally modified or deleted, you
1
can lock them. 3 2
To lock objects, click Lock objects (9). 5
Tekla Structures sets the user- 94
10
defined attribute Locked to Yes for 6
7
8
the objects in the selected phases.
To unlock objects, click Unlock 10
objects (10). Tekla Structures sets the
user-defined
attribute Locked to No for the objects
in the selected phases.
Click OK (11) to save your changes.

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 Object Representation

You can modify the color and

transparency of parts and create
customized presentations of the
model. The following images show
the same model with different
transparency settings:

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 Object Representation
To define color and transparency
settings for parts and objects:
Double click on the model view to 1
see the View Properties (1) dialog.
Click Representation (2) to open 2
the Object Representation (3) dialog
box. Click Object group (4) to see the 3
Object Group – Representation (5)
dialog box.
5 9
Click New filter (6) and Add row (7) to 4
add rules to your filter. Give a name 8
(8) to this filter and click Save as (9). 7
You can create more filters if 10
necessary. 6
Click Close (10) once you’re done.

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 Object Representation
In the Object Representation dialog
box, click Add row (11).
Select an object group from
the Object group (12) list. 13 16
Use the Color (13) list to define the
color of the objects.
Use the Transparency (14) list to 15
define the transparency of the 12 11
objects.
You can add more rows if necessary.
Enter a unique name (15) in the box
next to the Save as (16) button. 14
Click Save as to save the settings.

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