Tekla Structures 2016i release notes

Tekla Structures 2016iRelease notes

September 2016

©2016 Trimble Solutions Corporation

Contents

1 Tekla Structures 2016i release notes...........................................51.1 Full ribbon customization and other interface improvements...................6

Notifications on Welcome page............................................................................................. 7Customization tool...................................................................................................................7Improvements in command buttons.................................................................................... 9Improvements in contextual toolbar...................................................................................11

1.2 Bent plates, pour units, and other modeling improvements.................... 11Bent plates..............................................................................................................................11Pour units............................................................................................................................... 12Improvements in Organizer................................................................................................. 13Improvements in clash checking......................................................................................... 16Improvements in the Inquire tool........................................................................................16

1.3 Drawing improvements..................................................................................16Add complex lines with Pattern line editor and Pattern line tool....................................16Explode and combine drawing shapes............................................................................... 19Draw single lines continuously.............................................................................................20Other improvements in drawing sketching tools.............................................................. 20Customize grid labels............................................................................................................ 22Drawing hatches.................................................................................................................... 25Place snapshots on model objects and drawings with new Snapshot overlay..............27Reference models in drawings.............................................................................................29Add images in drawings........................................................................................................32Improved rich text files......................................................................................................... 32Improved drawing .dwg files................................................................................................ 32Dimensioning......................................................................................................................... 32Reinforcement marks............................................................................................................342D Library............................................................................................................................... 34Faster drawings......................................................................................................................35Other drawing improvements..............................................................................................35

1.4 Printing improvements.................................................................................. 35Frames and fold marks......................................................................................................... 35Save and load printing settings............................................................................................35Separate print jobs................................................................................................................ 37Drawing hatches.................................................................................................................... 37Collate multiple copies..........................................................................................................37Print selected drawing preview area................................................................................... 37XS_PLOT_VIEW_FRAMES........................................................................................................ 38.pdf report printing................................................................................................................38Other printing improvements.............................................................................................. 38

1.5 Custom component and component improvements..................................38Chamfer properties dz1 and dz2......................................................................................... 38Rebar coupler and anchor tools.......................................................................................... 39

1.6 New ribbon interface for Symbol Editor.......................................................401.7 Template and report improvements.............................................................42

2

1.8 Project base points and other interoperability improvements.................48Project base points................................................................................................................ 48Reference models..................................................................................................................52NC export................................................................................................................................53BVBS export............................................................................................................................54EliPlan......................................................................................................................................54 Improvements in .tsep extension import.......................................................................... 55

1.9 Object locks and new roles in Tekla Model Sharing....................................55Object locks............................................................................................................................ 55User roles................................................................................................................................58 Other Tekla Model Sharing license related changes........................................................ 59

1.10 Advanced option improvements................................................................... 59New advanced options..........................................................................................................59Changed advanced options..................................................................................................60Deleted advanced options....................................................................................................60

3 Disclaimer.....................................................................................61

3

4

1 Tekla Structures 2016i releasenotes

Welcome to the Tekla Structures 2016i release notes!

This version comes with many bug fixes and a bunch of new features. The keyfeatures of this new version include the ribbon customizer, bent plates, manydrawings improvements, and a lot more:

• Full ribbon customization and other interface improvements (page 6)

• Bent plates, pour units, and other modeling improvements (page 11)

• Drawing improvements (page 16)

• Printing improvements (page 35)

• Custom component and component improvements (page 38)

• New ribbon interface for Symbol Editor (page 40)

• Template and report improvements (page 42)

• Project base points and other interoperability improvements (page 48)

• Object locks and new roles in Tekla Model Sharing (page 55)

• Advanced option improvements (page 59)

• Fixes in Tekla Structures 2016i

Fixes by service pack or progress release

Follow the links below for information on fixes made in each currentlyavailable service pack and progress release:

• There are currently no service packs or progress releases available for thisversion.

Compatibility

We suggest that you complete any unfinished models using your currentversion of Tekla Structures.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 5

This version is not backwards compatible. When you create or save a model inTekla Structures 2016i, you cannot open it in older versions due to databasedifferences.

Tekla Structures 2016i can only be installed on 64-bit Windows operatingsystems. Tekla Structures 21.1 was the last version that supports installationon 32-bit Windows.

See the hardware recommendations for more information.

Migration wizard

Migration wizard does not support the migration of Tekla Structures version2016 user interface settings to version 2016i. For example, if you havemodified the ribbon, your modifications are not visible in 2016i.

Administrator's release notes

Advanced users should read the Administrator's release notes for informationon how to apply the additional customizations available in this release.

Localization release notes

Environment-specific changes are explained in the Tekla Structures 2016ilocalization release notes.

Tekla Open API release notes

The Tekla Open API release notes are included in the Tekla Open API StartupPackage, which you can download from Tekla Warehouse.

1.1 Full ribbon customization and other interfaceimprovementsTekla Structures 2016i introduces the following improvements in the userinterface.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 6 Full ribbon customization and other interfaceimprovements

http://teklastructures.support.tekla.com/en/support-articles/tekla-structures-2016i-hardware-recommendations

https://warehouse.tekla.com/?loggedIn=true#/catalog/details/ufc61f4ac-d57e-4452-9144-1f4febe853a9

Notifications on Welcome pageNotifications about new versions and other important information are nowshown on the Welcome page. Previously, this information was displayed in aseparate window.

Customization toolYou can now customize the ribbon according to your needs.

You can:


• Add command buttons simply by dragging commands to the ribbon

• Rearrange command buttons on the ribbon

• Change the size of existing command buttons

• Change the name and icon of any command button

• Create user-defined commands and link them to any file or URL

• Add new buttons, split buttons, toggle buttons, and drop-down buttons

• Add vertical and horizontal separator bars to divide command buttons intosmaller groups on the ribbon


• Compare the original ribbon with the changes you have made

• Share the customized ribbon with your co-workers

• Restore the default Tekla Structures ribbons at any time

Improvements in command buttons• The active command button is now highlighted on the ribbon.


• New icons have been added to drop-down lists that previously did notcontain any. For example:

• Full command names are now available in the Quick Launch box and inthe Keyboard shortcuts and Customize dialog boxes.

For example, you can use either one of these names to find the samecommand: Fit work area using two points and Using two points. In TeklaStructures 2016, only the short version Using two points was available.


Improvements in contextual toolbar• Edge chamfers now have a contextual toolbar.

• Color and extension fields are now available on the contextual toolbar forconstruction lines.

• Associative note, part mark, and symbol now have a leader line type on thecontextual toolbar.

1.2 Bent plates, pour units, and other modelingimprovementsSee below for information about new features, improvements and changes inmodeling in Tekla Structures 2016i.

Bent platesYou can now create bent steel plates in the model. You create them either byselecting two parts or two part faces. The parts that you use for creating abent plate must be contour plates, or beams whose profile is a plate (forexample, PL200*20). After creating a bent plate, the individual parts no longerexist in the model. The bent plate gets its properties from the first part thatyou selected when creating the bent plate.

Here are some examples of bent plates that you can create:

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 11 Bent plates, pour units, and other modelingimprovements

Pour unitsYou can now create pour units from pour objects and other model objects. Apour unit is a management unit for cast-in-place concrete that consists of apour object and all related reinforcement, embeds, and other objects thatneed to be in place before concrete can be poured on the building site.

You can create pour units automatically by attaching objects to each pourobject in the model. To do this, use the new Calculate pour units commandon the Concrete tab.

You can visually check the pour units in a pour view. A magenta box indicatesthe pour unit. The objects that are attached to the selected pour object arealso highlighted.


You can also use the Inquire tool, Organizer, or reports for checking pourunits.

If you want to modify the pour units, you can manually add and remove pourunit objects. Use the following commands from the pop-up menu of theselected object:

• Pour --> Add to pour unit

• Pour --> Remove from pour unit

Improvements in Organizer

Export object property values to Excel

Excel export from Object Browser has been improved to better supportreporting.

• There are now two new export options in the Export data to Excel dialog

box. To open the dialog box, click in Object Browser.


• Export without column headers does not export the Object Browsercolumn headers.

• Export only summary rows exports a summary of the object data. Theindividual objects are not listed.

The image below shows an example of the export result. In this example,the Export only summary rows option has been selected for the export.Column headers have also been exported, and they are shown on thegreen line at the top.

If the Excel template already includes the column headers, you can selectthe Export without column headers option to avoid duplicate headers.

• You can now define the start cell for the exported data in the Exceltemplate. Modify the Excel template by typing %&O%& to the cell where youwant the data placement to start.


• You can now automatically include project properties in object propertyexport.

Create a property template for the project properties and name thetemplate as W_Project_data. Add the same project properties to theExcel template that you are going to use in the export. Then export theobject properties from Object Browser.

Automated subcategories

Automated subcategories have been improved to better support predefinedcategory structures and fluent use of categories.

• There is a new option for automated subcategories: Do not delete emptyautomated subcategories.

Previously, automated subcategories were deleted at synchronization, forexample, if you changed the model so that some, or all of the categoriesdid not contain any objects anymore.

The Do not delete empty automated subcategories option is useful, forexample, when you want to set up the categories of your project based ona previous project and already know the automatic subcategory structurethat you want to use.

• You can now manually create subcategories to automated categories.Right-click an automated category and select New category or Newsubcategory. Manually created categories are not deleted atsynchronization.


Copy a project to property categories or custom categories

You can copy any Project from the location categories to the propertycategories or custom categories. To copy a Project, drag it to a suitablelocation in the property categories or custom categories. If you copy both theProject tree structure and the objects, the changes you make in the originalProject category in the location categories are automatically shown in thecopied category.

Improvements in clash checkingIn clash check settings, you can now define a minimum clearance betweenreinforcing bars and steel parts. Use the new setting Reinforcing bar vs steelpart clearance (negative value to allow overlap) in the Options diaIog box.

This setting replaces and has the same functionality as the advanced options XS_CLASH_CHECK_REBAR_STEEL_TOLERANCE_ENABLE and XS_CLASH_CHECK_REBAR_STEEL_TOLERANCE in Tekla Structures 21.1 SR4,21.1.4, 2016 SP1, and 2016 PR1.

Improvements in the Inquire tool

When you click the down arrow next to on the ribbon, and then selectModel size, the Inquire Model Size dialog box now lists also the pours, pourbreaks, and surfaces in the model.

1.3 Drawing improvementsTekla Structures 2016i has several new features and improvements includingnew sketching tools, custom grid labels, true gray colors for hatches, snapshotoverlay both in model and in drawings, new representation options forreference models, and many more.

Add complex lines with Pattern line editor and Pattern linetoolYou can now create pattern lines to indicate cut lines, foundations, weld paths,or electrical wiring, for example. You can create and modify pattern lines inPattern line editor, and add pattern lines in drawings with the Pattern linecommand.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 16 Drawing improvements

A pattern line consists of one or several blocks of elements arranged betweentwo points. Pattern lines may include symbol, line and spacing elements.Symbols are taken from a defined Tekla Structures symbol file.

Below is an example of a pattern line:

1. Symbol in a pattern line start element

2. Symbol in a pattern line repeating element

3. Line in a repeating element

4. Solid line in a pattern line continuous element

5. Solid line in a continuous element

6. Symbol in a pattern line end element

Create a pattern line in Pattern line editor

You can use Pattern line editor both in the model and drawing mode.

To create new and modify existing pattern lines in Pattern line editor, on theFile menu, click Editors --> Pattern line editor.

• Give a name to a new pattern line, or select an existing pattern line in thebox at the top of the dialog box.

• Add a sample image. The sample image will be shown for the line in thePattern line dialog box when you are adding a pattern line in a drawing.


• On the Start and end element tab, click New, select the elements to beused as the start and end elements of the pattern line, and define theelement properties.

• On the Repeating and continuous elements tab, select the elements thatare repeating and continuous on the pattern line, and define the elementproperties.

• To check your pattern line definitions and how the line looks, click the

Preview button . You can preview the changes automatically (selectAutomatic) or refresh the preview manually (select Manual and click

Refresh ).

• To save your pattern line, click the Save button.

Add a pattern line in a drawing

To add a pattern line in a drawing, on the Drawing tab, hold down Shift and

click Line --> Pattern line .

• Select the pattern line from the Pattern line list.

• Select whether to use the start and end elements defined for the patternline in the editor, select how the elements are aligned/spaced and scaledon the line, set the line size and color, and define a vertical offset for theline.

• You can also load predefined properties (Load) and save pattern lineproperties for later use (Save as).


Explode and combine drawing shapesNow you can explode a polyline, rectangle, or polygon into separate straightlines. You can also combine separate lines, continuous lines and polylines intoa single polyline or a closed polygon.

• To combine, select the separate lines, continuous lines or polylines, and on

the Drawing tab, click Combine .

• To explode, select the polylines, rectangles or polygons, and on the

Drawing tab, click Explode .


Draw single lines continuouslyNow you can add continuous single lines in drawings at one go:

• To create continuous single lines, on the Drawing tab, click Line --> Draw

single lines continuously .

Tekla Structures creates a continuous line as separate line sections. PressEsc to interrupt.

• To modify the properties, double-click the lines. You can combine the line

sections with the Combine command .

Other improvements in drawing sketching tools

Polylines

• While drawing a polyline , you can now:


• Snap to temporary graphical points and set them as reference points byholding down Ctrl and clicking a point on the temporary line

• Set multiple reference points using DWG objects and Tekla Structuresbuilding objects

• Delete a reference point by holding down Ctrl and clicking the point

• Create a polygon by clicking the start point of the polyline

• To delete the selected corner point on a polyline, right-click and selectDelete.

• To add handles on the line, drag a handle point on the polyline.

• To change the shape of the polyline, drag the arc handles.

• You can also explode a polyline into separate straight lines using the

Explode command , and combine polylines into closed polygons using

the Combine command .

Polygons

• While drawing a polygon , you can now:

• Snap to temporary graphical points and set them as reference points byholding down Ctrl and clicking a point on the temporary line

• Set multiple reference points using DWG objects and Tekla Structuresbuilding objects

• Delete a reference point by holding down Ctrl and clicking the point

• To delete the selected corner point on a polygon, right-click and selectDelete.

• To add handles on the polygon, drag a handle point on the polygon.

• To change the shape of the polygon, drag the arc handles.

• You can also explode polygons into single lines using the Explode

command .

Copy with offset

Copy with offset now works properly also for polylines. The polylines andpolygons are copied with offset to the side you select by clicking the mouse.


Customize grid labelsIn GA drawings, you can customize drawing grid labels by including extra textand symbols in the labels. You can define the label text, offsets and offsetprefixes in the grid user-defined attributes in the model, and show the gridlabel text in drawings.

To add custom grid labels, you need to:

• Modify the grid properties and the user-defined grid properties in themodel to get the information required by the custom grid labels.

Add the Labels for the Z direction in the grid properties to create customgrid labels for elevations.

Define Grid label text, Offset in Z and Prefix offset in Z in the user-defined grid properties.

• In a GA drawing, hold down Shift and on the Drawing tab, click Grid labels

to open the Advanced grid labels dialog box. There you can definewhere the grid label properties are taken from, the frame label type, andwhere to place the custom grid labels.

• Before you add the custom grid labels, ensure that you have the correctgrid selection switch active:

• When you are applying the grid labels on the whole grid, activate theSelect grids in drawings selection switch .


• When you are applying the grid labels on single grid lines, activate theSelect grid lines in drawings selection switch .

• To add the custom grid labels, click OK and select the whole grid or singlegrid lines.

Examples of custom grid labels

In the example below, the following properties have been defined in the user-defined grid attributes in the model:

Grid label text=TextPrefix for offset in Z=Prefix ZOffset in Z=1000.00In the Advanced grid labels dialog box, Elevation symbol, grid label text atthe bottom was selected as the Frame type.

In the following example, grid labels have been customized only at one end ofa grid line:


In the following example, different custom grid labels have been added onhorizontal and vertical grid lines:


Drawing hatches

New gray drawing hatch colors

Part and shape fills/hatches have four new gray colors. Now it is much easierto select the right shade of the gray. The different gray shades are true colorsin the way that they will keep their color regardless of the drawing color mode,all the way to printing.

• The new gray colors are excellent on GA drawings for differentiatingbetween various materials, or different stages, such as existing structures,new structures, or structures to be demolished.

• The new gray colors allow clearer sections of details. For example, you canshow how a precast element is connected to the cast-in-place concrete.

You can select the color for a hatch in part or shape properties on the Fill tabafter you have selected a fill type from the Type list.

The new gray shades are marked with red in the image below.


Draw hatches consistently between parts

Hatches can now be drawn consistently between parts and set to origin. To dothis:

• Set the advanced option XS_SET_HATCH_ORIGIN_INTO_VIEW_ORIGIN to TRUE in the Hatching category of the Advanced Options dialog box.

• Set the hatch scaling and rotation to zero (0):

• For automatic hatches, the scale and rotation can be set in the .htc file,for example, CONCRETE,0,hardware_LINES,,120, where the value 0(or empty) sets auto scale and rotation to false.

• For manual hatches, the scale and rotation can be set on the Fill tab,where you need to set the Scale option to Custom and select the Keepratio of x and y check box.

In the example below, the parts that belong to the same cast unit are hatchedconsistently.


Place snapshots on model objects and drawings with newSnapshot overlayWith drawing snapshot overlay you can view the contents of the drawingsdirectly in a model view without opening the actual drawing. You can alsoshow drawing snapshots against the latest version of a drawing, or againstanother drawing in the drawing mode.

To see a snapshot overlay of a drawing, you first need to create a snapshot byopening and saving the drawing. Select the Create snapshot check box if amessage box including the check box is displayed.

Snapshot overlay in model


Now it is much faster to find the correct drawing in the modeling mode bygoing through the snapshots instead of opening the actual drawings one byone.

• In a model view, open the Drawing list, select a drawing, and clickSnapshot. At the top of the dialog box, under Overlay in model, select theOverlay check box.

In the following example, a cast unit is overlaid with the corresponding castunit drawing:

Snapshot overlay in drawings

All drawing types can be overlaid with snapshots. You can view a snapshot of adrawing while you are editing a drawing. In the snapshot overlay, you can seethe latest changes, and align the content, for example.

You can see the changes in a drawing since the latest update, and switchbetween the snapshot and the actual drawing.

• In an open drawing, click Drawing --> Drawing list, and open a drawingthat has changed after the latest snapshot. Still in the Drawing list, selectthe same drawing and click Snapshot. Then select one of the optionsunder Overlay in drawing:

Overlay: Show the snapshot on the actual drawing so that both are visible.

Show snapshot only: Show the snapshot only without the actual drawing.

None: Quickly switch to the actual drawing.

Note that the snapshot on the drawing has the same color as the drawingitself. To see the difference between the drawing and the snapshot, changethe drawing color mode while showing the snapshot.

In the example below, the option Overlay has been selected. The size of thecast unit has changed since the snapshot was taken.


Reference models in drawings

New options for setting reference model representation and hidden lines

You can now select whether to show the reference model as outlines or aswireframe, and whether to show hidden lines or own hidden lines, and definethe hidden line color and type. The Hidden lines and Own hidden linessettings are only available when Outline is selected.

Below is an example of the Wireframe representation:


Below is an example of the Outline representation, where Hidden lines andOwn hidden lines are set off:

Below is an example of the Outline representation, where Hidden lines is seton, and shown in red.

Below is an example of the Outline representation, where Hidden lines andOwn hidden lines are both set on, and shown in red.


Add reference objects in detailed object level settings

• Reference object has been added as a new Drawing object type in theObject level settings dialog box.


Add associative notes to several reference objects

• Now you can add associative notes to several reference objects in drawingsat one go: Pick the objects first and then select one of the commands in theNote list on the Drawing tab.

Earlier you had to add the notes manually object by object. Also, when youmake changes to reference models, the associative notes are now updatedautomatically.

Add images in drawingsYou can now add images in your drawings as links:

• To add an image, on the Drawing tab, click Image . Browse for theimage, set the desired properties, click OK and add the image.

Tekla Structures adds the image link using the properties in the ImageProperties dialog box. When you modify the original image file, TeklaStructures also modifies all the linked instances of the image in drawings.

Improved rich text files• You can now indent lines and use the tab key to format text in the .rtf

files that you can add in drawings using the Rich text command .

Improved drawing .dwg files• .dwg texts are now imported as text primitives instead of triangulated

polygons when you use the command DWG/DXF. Now you can editthe actual texts.

Dimensioning

Component object dimensions to component insertion points

• Dimensions can now be created to component insertion points. Use thedimensioning type Filter dimensions to dimension objects created by acomponent (for example, embeds), and set the Component objects


setting to By reference point, and in Dimension to, select both start andend points.

Previously, dimensions were only created to component object start andend points, similarly to the As secondary objects setting.

New options for measuring from bounding box and nearest edge

• You can now measure from the bounding box and from the nearest edge infilter, hole, recess and secondary part dimensioning. There are two newoptions available in the Dimensioning Rule Properties dialog box for theMeasure from setting: Bounding box and Nearest edge.

New option for dimensioning all geometry points

• In Dimensioning Rule Properties, the dimensioning types filter, secondarypart, hole and recess now have a new option for the Dimension to settingfor dimensioning all geometry points of the object. Previously, only endpoints and middle point were available.

New option for combining dimensions

• In Dimensioning Rule Properties, you can now select to only combine thedimensions of objects with the same Z coordinate.

Add templates in dimension marks

• Now you can also add custom graphical templates in dimension marks anddimension tags. If there are several parts included in the dimension, thenthere are also several templates shown, because the templates are notmerged.


Reinforcement marks

Rotate merged reinforcement marks

• There is a new setting Rotation for merged reinforcement marks in theMerged reinforcement mark properties dialog box:

2D Library

Add .dwg files from 2D Library

You can now insert .dwg files to drawings from the 2D Library.

• To insert a .dwg reference file in a drawing, go to the 2D Library andbrowse for the folder containing the .dwg files. Alternatively, you can moveyour reference files to a \Drawing Details folder under the currentmodel folder. To place the .dwg file, select the file and click the drawingview or drawing.

• You can capture a snapshot, modify the description and scale, and set aframe that will be used around the .dwg file. The metadata will be saved toa .dde file, which gets the same name as the .dwg file.

• The .dwg file is inserted as a reference object in the drawing, not as a 2Ddetail. If the file is inserted from outside the model folder, Tekla Structureswill copy the file to the model folder first, and the insertion path will berelative to that.

• You cannot update the .dwg file with new objects, but you can select aninserted .dwg along with any other objects and create a new detail.


Faster drawings• Drawings containing key plan views are now faster to open.

• Some rebar properties now work slightly faster in drawings.

• Drawing templates are now slightly faster.

Other drawing improvements• If you cannot use Save as when there is something wrong with a drawing, a

log entry is now created in the report log, and you will get a warningmessage.

1.4 Printing improvementsTekla Structures 2016i introduces several improvements in printing, includingthe possibility to save your printing settings, add frames and fold marks toprinted drawings, collate the printouts, and print hatches using new graycolors. Each drawing is now sent to the printer as a separate print job.

Frames and fold marks

You can now access the Drawing Frame properties dialog box to add framesand fold marks to printed drawings. Enter the command Drawing framesand foldmarks in Quick Launch to open the Drawing Frame propertiesdialog box. Change the values, and click OK or Apply.

Drawing frames to be printed are controlled in the standard.fms file underthe system folder. There is no saving option in the Drawing Frame Propertiesdialog box, which is why the default values are located in a standard file.

Save and load printing settings

Now you can load existing printing settings and save the current printingsettings to either an existing settings file or a new file in the Print drawingsdialog box. You can create settings files for different printing purposes, andload them later to make working with the Print drawings dialog box moreefficient. Now you can also create and share common settings throughout theorganization.

• When you select a settings file from the list, the printing settings areloaded.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 35 Printing improvements

• The first settings file name in the list is standard and other settings filenames are listed alphabetically after this file.

• The latest settings used are automatically saved to <model>\attributes\<user>_PdfPrintOptions.xml when you close the dialog box.

• If you want to save the settings to an existing or new file, load the existingfile or enter a new file name before you modify any settings, otherwiseyour changes will be lost.

• Settings that you save manually using the Save button are saved to the<model>\attributes\ folder with the following names:

• The changes in the standard settings are saved in thePdfPrintOptions.xml file.

• All other settings use the filename<Settings_Name>.PdfPrintOptions.xml, for example,<MyPrintingSettings>.PdfPrintOptions.xml.

• If a file with the same name already exists, it will be overwritten.

• Saved printing settings files can be copied to the following standardlocations so that other models and other users can access the settings:

• XS_PROJECT• XS_FIRM• XS_DRIVER• XS_SYSTEM• XS_USER_SETTINGS_DIRECTORYWhen you open the dialog box, Tekla Structures searches the abovelocations in the listed order for any available settings files, and the files tothe printing settings list.

• Tekla Structures also loads the settings from the first of the followingsettings files it finds:

• <model>\attributes\<user>_PdfPrintOptions.xml• <model>\attributes\PdfPrintOptions.xml• PdfPrintOptions.xml from the standard locations


Separate print jobs• Each drawing is now sent to the printer as a separate print job. This new

feature also resolves possible printer memory limitation issues. Printingnow supports better third party printer drivers such as .pdf printerdrivers.

Print drawing hatches• There are four new true gray colors available for printing hatches.

• Hardware hatches will now appear in drawings printed on paper andin .pdf files.

Collate multiple copies• You can now collate printed output when you are printing multiple copies

using the new option Collate.

Print selected drawing preview areaThe new option Select area allows you to select a rectangular area from thedrawing preview and only print that area. This is useful when a small part of alarge and complex drawing needs to be printed, for example.

The Select area option only works when you have a drawing open. All settingsin the dialog box work normally when this option is selected, and you canchange the orientation, line thicknesses, and paper size, for example.

When you have selected an area with Select area, the Show entire drawingbutton becomes visible, and you can use it to show the entire drawing previewagain.


XS_PLOT_VIEW_FRAMESDrawing view frames are now shown in the printed output and in export whenthe advanced option XS_PLOT_VIEW_FRAMES is set to TRUE. This option islocated in the Printing category of the Advanced options dialog box.

Create graphical .pdf reports with Tekla Template EditorYou can now create graphical .pdf reports:

Set the template page size to match the target page size (for example A4). Add new rows and value fields to get the required data from your Tekla Structures database. You can also create landscape .pdf reports. To do this, set the report template so that the sheet width is wider than the sheet height. Save the report with the filename extension .pdf.rpt.

Other printing improvements• Tekla Structures detects out-of-date drawings and asks whether to include

them in the output or not.

• Now you can also print locked drawings that are up to date, which was notpossible earlier. If a locked drawing is not up to date, then it is not possibleto open it so it will fail during printing and will be reported. Now you canprint any unlocked drawing unless the status of the drawing is Originalpart deleted.

• If the drawing layout contains several .dwg files, all .dwg files are nowincluded in snapshots and printouts. Previously some .dwg files could bemissing.

• Some symbols were not printed in drawings, because symbols were notsearched from the model folder. Now all symbols are printed.

1.5 Custom component and component improvementsTekla Structures 2016i introduces the following improvements in customcomponents and components.

Chamfer properties dz1 and dz2Chamfer properties dz1 and dz2 are now available in the custom componenteditor. You can use these for sloped slabs, for example.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 38 Custom component and componentimprovements

••

•

•

Rebar coupler and anchor toolsRebar coupler and anchor tools have been changed in the following way:

• Rebar coupler and end anchor related UDAs have been removed from theobjects.inp file in the Common environment and added to a separateobjects_couplers.inp file in all environments' system folder.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 39 Custom component and componentimprovements

• In Rebar coupler, Split rebar and add coupler and Rebar end anchorcomponents the rebar end specific UDA names for the threaded length andextra fabrication length can now be customized by adding the UDA namesto the RebarCoupler.Udas.dat file.

The existing attribute names (TreadLeft/TreadRight andToleranceLeft/ToleranceRight) are used and the field type isDistance. On the components' Attributes tabs the existing fields are stillused. Note that if the new attribute names are not given in theRebarCoupler.Udas.dat file, the previous hardcoded UDA names areused.

For example, the rows in the RebarCoupler.Udas.dat file could be asfollows:

distance TreadLeft TreadRight THREAD_LENGTH_STARTTHREAD_LENGTH_ENDdistance ToleranceLeft ToleranceRight EXTRA_LENGTH_STARTEXTRA_LENGTH_END

1.6 New ribbon interface for Symbol EditorSymbol Editor user interface now has a ribbon and aFile menu instead ofmenus and toolbars.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 40 New ribbon interface for Symbol Editor

The most frequently needed creating and editing controls are located on theHome tab. The working area where you create and edit symbols is the same asbefore.

Controls for importing files are on the Import tab:

Controls for creating, opening, and saving files are on the File menu:

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 41 New ribbon interface for Symbol Editor

For more information about the Symbol Editor, see Symbol Editor User'sGuide.

1.7 Template and report improvementsTekla Structures 2016i introduces some new features and improvements intemplates and reports, including the possibility to print .pdf reports, createrules for images showing different images in different situations, andautoscale pull-out pictures.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 42 Template and report improvements

https://teklastructures.support.tekla.com/system/files/manual/SymbolEditorUserGuide_2.70.pdf

https://teklastructures.support.tekla.com/system/files/manual/SymbolEditorUserGuide_2.70.pdf

Create graphical .pdf reports with Tekla Template Editor

You can now create .pdf format report templates:

• In Template Editor, create a new graphical template. Adjust the pageproperties so that you get a report of the size that you want. For example,for an A4 report, enter the A4 size:

• Save the template with the filename extension .pdf.rpt. Now you cancreate a .pdf report using the new .pdf report template. For moreinformation about creating a report, see Create a report.


• Add new rows and value fields to get the required data from your Tekla Structures database.

• You can also create landscape .pdf reports. To do this, set the report template so that the sheet width is wider than the sheet height.

Report zero as empty string

It is possible to report zero as an empty string by using the new settingOutput 0 as empty string in the Value Field Properties dialog box. Selectingthis setting removes the 0 values.

Image rules

You can now create rules for images in Template Editor, and show differentimages depending on the rule. For example, you can show a thumbnail of aprofile type next to each part.

To add an image rule, do the following:

1. Add a picture element to a Template Editor row.

2. Open the Picture properties dialog box, click Rule and edit the rule.


For example, add the following lines:

if GetValue("PROFILE_TYPE")=="I" then "I-profile.jpg"else "U-profile.jpg"endif

The image below shows an example of the result:


NOTE The images must be located in one of the folders defined in Options --> Preferences --> File locations --> Symbols, Pictures in TemplateEditor.

Autoscale pull-out pictures

• There is a new free attribute available for the PULLOUT attribute ingraphical templates. If you set the free attribute ScaleType to 1 on theUser tab in the Free attributes dialog box, the pull-out pictures will bescaled to fit the available space in both X and Y dimensions. As a result, the


shape becomes out of proportion, but small segments can be seen moreeasily.

A bending shape earlier:

The same bending shape that uses the new free attribute ScaleType withvalue 1.


New template attributes for locking objects

You can now use the following template fields in report templates to reportthe lock statuses: ASSEMBLY.OBJECT_LOCKED,ASSEMBLY.OWNER_ORGANIZATION, and ASSEMBLY.LOCK_PERMISSION.

Other improvements in templates and reports

• ASSEMBLY_POSITION_CODE: The position of the objects is now calculatedbased on the closest grid.

• Custom attributes now work within the part hierarchy, for example MAINPART.CUSTOM.LENGTH.

1.8 Project base points and other interoperabilityimprovementsTekla Structures 2016i contains some new interoperability features includingproject base points for using other coordinate systems in reference modelimport and IFC export, and improvements in NC, BVMS, and EliPlan export.The .tsep import extension has also been improved.

Project base pointsThe base point allows you to use another coordinate system needed forinteroperability and collaboration. You can use another coordinate system forinserting reference models and exporting IFC models. When you use a basepoint, you can keep the coordinates small and locate the model whereverneeded. You can define as many base points as you need.

Define a base point

Before defining a base point, you need to know the coordinates of thereference model that you are importing, or the coordinates that you want touse in the IFC export.

• To define a base point, on the File menu, click Project properties --> Basepoints. Fill in the needed information and click Modify.

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 48 Project base points and other interoperabilityimprovements

Name, Description Enter a name and a description for the basepoint.

Coordinate system Enter the name of the coordinate system youare using.

East coordinate (E) Enter the East coordinate (E) that representsthe corresponding X coordinate point in theother coordinate system.

North coordinate (N) Enter the North coordinate (N) that representsthe corresponding Y coordinate point in theother coordinate system.

Elevation Enter the Elevation that represents thecorresponding Z coordinate point in the othercoordinate system.

Latitude,Longitude Enter the Latitude and Longitude of the basepoint to be used in the IFC export.

Location in the model Pick or enter a location for the base point in theTekla Structures model.

Angle to North Enter the Angle to North, which is the anglebetween Y and North. Angle to North is 0 if the


North is equal to Y in the other coordinatesystem.

The base point data is saved in the model database .db1. A blue symbol isadded in the model.

Insert a reference model using a base point

• In the Add model dialog box in the Location by list, select the base pointthat you want to use, fill in other necessary information, and click the Addmodel button. Tekla Structures inserts the reference model relative to theselected base point by using the coordinate system values, elevation andangle in the base point definition in the model Project properties.


Export an IFC model using a base point

• In the Export to IFC dialog box, in the Location by list, select a base pointthat you want to use, fill in other necessary IFC export information, andclick Export.


The base point option exports the IFC model relative to the base point usingthe coordinate system values, elevation, latitude, longitude and angle in thebase point definition in the model Project properties.

Reference models

• You can now lock multiple reference models in the Reference Models listat one go: Select multiple models from the list, and by holding down Shift,

click the Lock button of one of the reference models. All selectedmodels are locked, including the one for which the Lock button wasclicked, if it was not part of the selection.


• The performance of the Show only selected command for referencemodels has been improved, and the selected objects are shown muchfaster than before.

• You can now lock and unlock several reference models at the same time inthe Reference Models list by holding down Shift and clicking the Lockbutton next to the models that you want to lock or unlock.

NC export• The Pop-marking options tab in the Pop-mark Settings dialog box now

has a new setting Consider zero diameter holes as pop-marks thatwrites zero-diameter bolt holes as a pop-marks. If you do not select thissetting, the bolt holes will be written as normal holes with diameter zero. Ifyou select the setting Show pop-marks in the model, the pop-marks ofthe zero-diameter bolt holes will also be visible in the model.

In the example below, the new setting Consider zero diameter holes aspop-marks has not been selected on the left, and has been selected on theright:

In the example below, the pop-marks of the zero-diameter holes are shownin the model:

• Pop-marks are now also created between secondary parts in an assemblywhen the setting Secondary pop-marks is set to Yes. The visual placementof pop-marks and contour marking of polybeams has been improved.

• There is a new advanced option XS_DSTV_LIST_NET_WEIGHT in the CNCcategory of the Advanced Options dialog box. When you set it to TRUE, netweight is used in MIS list export. If you set it to FALSE, gross weight is used.


BVBS export• A new file name template option [Cast unit position]_[Assembly

control number].abs has been added in the BVBS export. When thisoption is selected, the file name will be unique for each cast unit, even ifthe position is the same. A separate file will be created for each instance.

• Now in BVBS export when the minimum and maximum cut length check isactivated in Check cutting length on the Checking tab, the length oflattice girders is also checked. A warning is added in the log when the checkfails. The length of the main chord defines the exported length of the latticegirder.

• BVBS now exports lattice girders where diagonal bars are modeled withtwo or more rebars. This is typical in very long girders, and thus it is nowpossible to export long girders.

In addition, the BVBS export now gives a warning message when some ofthe rebars have the girder bar class but the bars do not form a valid girder.These bars are not exported as any BVBS item. Valid girders must have atleast two straight chord bars and one diagonal bar connecting the chords.

EliPlan• In Export EliPlan file (68) you can now export the cast unit position

number and assigned control number together as a mark using the newPosition number type Cast unit (ACN). For details about EliPlan exportsettings, see EliPLAN export settings.


• In Export EliPlan file (68), there is now a new setting Notes on the Datacontent tab. You can export a specific UDA or template attribute, or youcan export your own text.

Improvements in .tsep extension importYou can now open Extension manager from File menu --> Extend -->Extension manager. As before, you can also open it from the Applications &

components catalog, click > Manage extensions --> Extensionmanager.

Import .tsep extensions

You can now import a .tsep extension to several Tekla Structures versions ata time. When you have downloaded a .tsep extension from Tekla Warehouse,Tekla Structures displays a dialog box that lists all the installed Tekla Structuresversions to which you can import the extension. Select the versions and clickthe Import button.

Imported .tsep extensions are listed in Extension manager. To install theimported extensions, restart all the Tekla Structures versions to which youhave imported the extensions.

Copy extensions to a new Tekla Structures version

When starting to use a new Tekla Structures version, you can now use theMigration Wizard tool to copy the installed .tsep extensions to the newversion.

You can now open Migration Wizard either from the

• Applications & components catalog, click > Manage extensions -->Migrate extensions

• File menu, click File menu --> Extend --> Migrate extensions

Note that you can only copy extensions when you open Migration Wizard fromthe Applications & components catalog or the File menu. To install thecopied extensions in the new Tekla Structures version, restart Tekla Structures.

1.9 Object locks and new roles in Tekla Model SharingTekla Structures 2016i introduces new features in Tekla Model Sharing.

Object locksYou can now lock assemblies and model objects to prevent accidentalmodification and numbering of objects. This is useful when there are multiple

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 55 Object locks and new roles in Tekla Model Sharing

organizations working with the same shared model, and the organizationswant to prevent changes to their own organization objects.

Different organizations can lock model objects so that only the users withinthe same organization can modify the objects. Users within organization canchange the status of their own locks on the assembly level and on the cast unitlevel, or on the model object level.

You can set the default lock status for all new assemblies and cast units whenthey are created. Use the advanced option XS_OBJECTLOCK_DEFAULT.Additionally, when you start to share the model, the default lock status is setfor all assemblies and cast units that do not yet have any lock status.

You can check and change the lock statuses in the Object locks dialog box. Onthe Manage tab, click Locks to open the Object locks dialog box. The Lockedstatus shows whether the assembly or object is locked or not. If needed, youcan change lock status.

To change the status of the locks in the Object locks dialog box:

1. Select the assemblies or objects in the list, or in the model.


2. Select a new lock value from the list at the bottom of the dialog box.

3. Click Set.

The lock status is changed.

You can also set the locked status in the user-defined attributes of theassembly or object. In addition to the existing Yes and No values, the LockedUDA now has the new value Organization that locks the assembly or objectfor other organizations than the object creator.

How the object locks are set What is lockedAssembly is set to Organization (theLocked status is For others) and theobjects in the assembly are set to No.

Assembly and the objects in theassembly are locked for myorganization, and users in myorganization can modify the assemblyor the objects in the assembly.

Users in other organizations cannotmodify the assembly or the objects inthe assembly. Assembly and theobjects in the assembly are green inthe model.

Assembly is set to Yes and the objectsin the assembly are set to No.

Assembly and the objects in theassembly are locked for all users, noone can modify the object.

Assembly and the objects in theassembly are red in the model. It isnot possible to delete, modify ornumber the assembly or the object.

Assembly is set to No and the objectsin the assembly are set to No.

Assembly or the objects in theassembly do not have any locks,anyone can modify the objects.

Assembly and the objects in theassembly are green in the model.

NOTE Organization information for object locks is based on the Windows useraccount, not on the Tekla account.

You can use the following template fields in report templates to report the lockstatuses: ASSEMBLY.OBJECT_LOCKED, ASSEMBLY.OWNER_ORGANIZATION andASSEMBLY.LOCK_PERMISSION.

In addition, you can use the object representation to visualize the locks. Whenyou share the object representations, other members in the project canvisually check the lock statuses.


User rolesThere is a new Tekla Model Sharing user role, Project viewer. Also the Viewerrole has some changes.

Project viewer

With the new Project viewer user role you can

• read in other users' changes and write out your own changes to thesharing service

• view the model but you cannot modify the model objects

• list other users

With the Project viewer role you cannot

• modify user-defined attributes that affect numbering

• insert and modify grids

• import and update models that would create, for example, beams andother objects

When you open the model in the Project viewer role, Tekla Structures restartis required.

Viewer

As a Viewer you can

• read in other users' changes but you cannot write out any changes to thesharing service

• view the model but you cannot modify the model objects

When you open the model in the Viewer role, Tekla Structures restart isrequired.

General changes in the user roles

The permissions to the model are in use also when you work in the offlinemode.

Your permission to the shared model is removed when you detach the modelfrom the sharing by

• using the Exclude from sharing command

• upgrading to the next Tekla Structures version

• using the Save as command to save the model


Other Tekla Model Sharing license related changesAny user who has a valid Tekla Structures maintenance agreement canperform the following operations without having or reserving a Tekla ModelSharing license:

• see the available shared models to which the user has a permission

• get the permission to the model when the model is opened

• see the number of available packets

1.10 Advanced option improvementsSome advanced options have been added, changed and deleted in TeklaStructures 2016i.

New advanced options

XS_LEADER_LINE_TO_DRAGGED_DIMENSION_TEXT

There is a new advanced option XS_LEADER_LINE_TO_DRAGGED_DIMENSION_TEXT in the Dimensioning:General category. When you set it to TRUE, a leader line is drawn when adimension text is dragged away from the dimension line. When you set it to FALSE, the leader line is not drawn. The default value is TRUE.

XS_DSTV_LIST_NET_WEIGHT

There is a new advanced option XS_DSTV_LIST_NET_WEIGHT in the CNCcategory of the Advanced Options dialog box. When you set it to TRUE, netweight is used in MIS list export. If you set it to FALSE, gross weight is used.FALSE is the default value.

XS_OBJECTLOCK_DEFAULT

There is a new advanced option XS_OBJECTLOCK_DEFAULT in the ModelingProperties category. Use the advanced option to set the default lock status fornew assemblies or cast units when they are created. Additionally, when you

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 59 Advanced option improvements

start to share the model in Tekla Model Sharing, the default lock status is setfor all assemblies and cast units that do not yet have any lock status.

The value options are ORGANIZATION or NO.

Advanced options controlling the scale in a single part drawing in anassembly drawing

Tekla Structures now maintains the original scale in a single part drawingincluded in an assembly drawing when you set the layout to include single partdrawings, and set the option XS_USE_EXISTING_SINGLE_PART_DRAWINGS_IN_ASSEMBLY_DRAWINGS toTRUE.

If you do not want to maintain the scale of the existing single part drawing, setthe new advanced option XS_USE_EXISTING_SINGLE_PART_DRAWINGS_SCALE to FALSE. If you do this,the scale of the included single part drawing will follow the scale of theassembly drawing, or the advanced option XS_SINGLE_SCALE if it is set.

Changed advanced options

XS_RUN_AT_STARTUP

You can now define multiple folders for the advanced option XS_RUN_AT_STARTUP. Separate the folder paths with a semicolon (;).

Deleted advanced options

Options for defining reference model hidden lines in drawings

The following reference-model-related advanced options have been removed,because the hidden line settings are now handled in the reference modelproperties panel:

• XS_SHOW_REFERENCE_MODEL_HIDDEN_LINES• XS_REFERENCE_MODEL_LINES_HIDDEN_BY_ITSELF• XS_REFERENCE_MODEL_LINES_HIDDEN_BY_OTHER_REFERENCE_MODELS• XS_REFERENCE_MODEL_LINES_HIDDEN_BY_PARTS• XS_REFERENCE_MODELS_HIDE_PART_LINES• XS_REFERENCE_MODEL_HIDDEN_LINE_TYPE

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes 60 Advanced option improvements

3 Disclaimer

© 2016 Trimble Solutions Corporation and its licensors. All rights reserved.

This Software Manual has been developed for use with the referencedSoftware. Use of the Software, and use of this Software Manual are governedby a License Agreement. Among other provisions, the License Agreement setscertain warranties for the Software and this Manual, disclaims otherwarranties, limits recoverable damages, defines permitted uses of theSoftware, and determines whether you are an authorized user of the Software.All information set forth in this manual is provided with the warranty set forthin the License Agreement. Please refer to the License Agreement for importantobligations and applicable limitations and restrictions on your rights. Trimbledoes not guarantee that the text is free of technical inaccuracies ortypographical errors. Trimble reserves the right to make changes andadditions to this manual due to changes in the software or otherwise.

In addition, this Software Manual is protected by copyright law and byinternational treaties. Unauthorized reproduction, display, modification, ordistribution of this Manual, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil andcriminal 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 TrimbleSolutions Corporation in the European Union, the United States, and/or othercountries. More about Trimble Solutions trademarks: http://www.tekla.com/tekla-trademarks. Trimble is a registered trademark or trademark of TrimbleNavigation Limited in the European Union, in the United States and/or othercountries. More about Trimble trademarks: http://www.trimble.com/trademarks.aspx. Other product and company names mentioned in thisManual are or may be trademarks of their respective owners. By referring to athird-party product or brand, Trimble does not intend to suggest an affiliationwith or endorsement by such third party and disclaims any such affiliation orendorsement, except where otherwise expressly stated.

Portions of this software:

Open Cascade Express Mesh © 2015, by OPEN CASCADE S.A.S. All rightsreserved.

Disclaimer 61 Advanced option improvements

http://www.tekla.com/tekla-trademarks

http://www.tekla.com/tekla-trademarks

http://www.trimble.com/trademarks.aspx

http://www.trimble.com/trademarks.aspx

D-Cubed 2D DCM © 2010 Siemens Industry Software Limited. All rightsreserved.

PolyBoolean C++ Library © 2001-2012 Complex A5 Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.

EPM toolkit © 1995-2006 Jotne EPM Technology a.s., Oslo, Norway. All rightsreserved.

FLY SDK - CAD SDK © 2012 VisualIntegrity™. All rights reserved.

Teigha © 2002-2015, Open Design Alliance. All rights reserved.

FlexNet © 2003-2015 Flexera Software LLC. All rights reserved.

This product contains proprietary and confidential technology, informationand creative works owned by Flexera Software LLC and its licensors, if any. Anyuse, copying, publication, distribution, display, modification, or transmission ofsuch technology in whole or in part in any form or by any means without theprior express written permission of Flexera Software LLC is strictly prohibited.Except where expressly provided by Flexera Software LLC in writing,possession of this technology shall not be construed to confer any license orrights under any Flexera Software LLC intellectual property rights, whether byestoppel, implication, or otherwise.

To see the third party open source software licenses, go to Tekla Structures,click File menu --> Help --> About Tekla Structures and then click the 3rdparty licenses option.

The elements of the software described in this Manual are protected byseveral patents and possibly pending patent applications in the United Statesand/or other countries. For more information go to page http://www.tekla.com/tekla-patents.

Disclaimer 62 Advanced option improvements

http://www.tekla.com/tekla-patents

http://www.tekla.com/tekla-patents

Documents

Tekla Structures 2016i release notes