Adding Custom Fill Patterns

Additional hatch patterns can be added to the hatch_types1.pat file in the …\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments\usimp\inp folder using the "pen up, pen down" type data that is/was fairly common. 
This tutorial will not focus on the creation of the hatch pattern values, as information on this can be found from other sources, such as the internet. Instead we will focus on getting these patterns into Tekla Structures.

From Existing CAD Pattern File

If you have a hatch pattern file or have found one that creates the pattern that you want, it can be added to the Tekla Structures PAT file with a little modification (convert to metric values). A spreadsheet program capable of exporting or saving as comma-seperated (or delimited) can be used to generate the needed data. This section of the tutorial provides an overview of the process needed to get from an inch-based pattern file to a millimeter-based pattern file. This process could also be done by manually editing the values in a text editor such as notepad.

If the values are already in metric, you can skip to the end of this tutorial.

Image Knowledge of spreadsheet use is a prerequisite for this tutorial.

1. Open the source .pat file in your spreadsheet software as a comma-delimited file. Perform a save-as to an XLS format so you can save tabs.

2. Select the tab and right-click > move or copy.



3. Create a copy of the tab.



4. On the new tab, create a conversion formula from the cells on the first tab. For example, the formula could be =25.4*hatch!G265. This would be the metric multiplier (25.4) times the cell G265 from the original tab called hatch.



5. That formula can then be copied to other cells by groups (do not do the first column, these are angle values and do not need conversion).



6. Save the spreadsheet, then Save or Export the conversion tab to a Comma-delimited format (CSV), i.e. hatch.csv

Image Note that if you are using Microsoft Excel that it only saves the current or active tab when saving to CSV. Be sure to have the desired tab active and you only want to have it output if given the option to export all.

7. Open the CSV file in a text editor using the Open with option in the Windows right-click menu.


   
8. Save the CSV file with a new extension that you can associate with the text editor, i.e. hatch1.pat

9. Open in a text editor and copy the pattern group(s) that you want to use in Tekla.



10. Paste the patterns you want to use into the Tekla Structures PAT file used by your environment(s).

Pattern File Locations

• installPath\<version>\environments\usimp\inp
• installPath\<version>\environments\usmet\inp