Using Trimble Connect files in Tekla Structures

Tekla Structures
2022
Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures
2020
Tekla Structures
2023
Tekla Structures
ts-map
cloud
Admin
CONNECT_FOLDER_SYNC
Connect
folder
SYNC
Environment
Construsoft European

You can store custom settings in a specific folder so that they are available in Tekla Structures.

To do this, you can use the following advanced options:

XS_FIRM: You can  use custom settings for all Tekla Structures models.

XS_PROJECT: You can use custom settings in one Tekla Structures model.


Both changes can be saved in a local folder or a folder on a server. A folder on a server is often used when multiple licenses are in use in one company and it is desirable that everyone uses the same settings (profile database, drawing settings, templates, etc.). This promotes uniformity within the company, and you only have to maintain one folder and after a change everyone is immediately "up-to-date". 

When custom settings are used, be careful that the changes are correctly shared to the whole team. For example, if people are working remotely it should be ensured that all changes are applied in a correct manner by all parties.

Using a folder with custom settings from Trimble Connect ensures that all Tekla Structures users always use the same correct settings and that updates are automatically shared with everyone. If you are making changes as an administrator it ensures that all your users are always using the correct settings regardless of their geographic location. You can use a custom settings folder from Trimble Connect for single-user, multi-user and Tekla Model Sharing models.

For an instruction video about using a custom settings folder from Trimble Connect in Tekla Structures, click here.

In the following examples we explain how to apply these changes. First, we give instructions to how to use custom settings for all Tekla Structures models. Then, we explain how to use custom settings in one Tekla Structures model.

Option 1: Step plan XS_FIRM

The advanced option XS_FIRM is intended to provide custom settings in all Tekla Structures models.
 
1. Go to Trimble Connect (online version). Sign in with your Trimble Identity.
 
2. Click the button
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, enter the details of the new project and click the button Submit:

 
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The project is created and opened.
 
3. In the category Team click the button 
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to invite the users of your custom settings folder:

 
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4. Enter the email address for all users. You can also add the group and the users' role.

5. Click the button 
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. The users receive an activation e-mail.

6. In the category Data, click the button Explorer. Then, click next the button Add and click Create folder:

 
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7. Enter a name for the folder and click Submit:

 
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The structure now looks like this:

 
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8. You can adjust the rights of the added users. You can also check whether the invited users have activated the activation email. To do this, go to the category Team. You can also modify the permissions in the folder ts_folder.

 
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9. Select the check box of the folder ts_folder:

 
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10. Click the button
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at the right bottom corner and the following dialog appears:

 
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11. Select the desired option per user or for the whole team and enable the option Apply permissions to this folder and all its subfolders:

12. Click Submit.



13. To add the custom settings to the folder ts_folder click the button Explorer in the category Data. Then, click the folder ts_folder:

 
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14. Click the button Add to add (upload) your custom settings to the folder ts_folder. You can also drag the setting files from the Explorer to the folder.

 
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The folder structure in our example now looks like this:

 
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15. Now set the advanced option XS_FIRM in Tekla Structures to point to the folder ts_folder.

The following format is used for the reference:

Tekla Structures 2021 and later:

%CONNECT_FOLDER_SYNC%\2_SXZTv4c-0\%europe\%ts_folder

Tekla Structures 2020 and earlier:

%CONNECT_FOLDER_SYNC%\2_SXZTv4c-0;europe%ts_folder

wherein the reference is composed as follows:

Image
TC_001_eng

Server location is the name of the location belonging to the entered details (Choose project server location) for the new project (step 2).

Mind the following: There are a number of regions you can use, these have a fixed format. The options are:

Europe = europe
Asia = asia
North America = northAmerica
 
16. Start Tekla Structures, sign in with your Trimble Identity and open a model.

17. Open the dialog box  Advanced options via File > Settings > Advanced options.

18. Set the advanced option XS_FIRM to point to the folder ts_folder:
Image
TC_002_eng

 

The advanced option is now set for the opened model, you can set the link for all Tekla Structures models in the file user.ini.

 

In case you define the advanced option in the file user.ini, you must use double percentage signs. In the example above:

 

Tekla Structures 2021 and later:

%%CONNECT_FOLDER_SYNC%%\2_SXZTv4c-0\%%europe\%%ts_folder

 

Tekla Structures 2020 and earlier:

%%CONNECT_FOLDER_SYNC%%\2_SXZTv4c-0;europe%%ts_folder

 

19. Restart Tekla Structures and reopen the model.

Tekla Structures now searches for the differences between the files in the local folder ts_folder and the files in the folder ts_folder in the Trimble Connect project.

For Tekla Structures 2021 and later in the local folder:

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Trimble\tekla folder sync\2_SXZTv4c-0\europe\ts_folder

For Tekla Structures 2020 and earlier in the local folder:

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Trimble\tekla folder sync\2_SXZTv4c-0europe%ts_folder

In case differences are found, the following message appears:

 

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20. Click Yes to save and close the model. The files are now updated and the model is reopened. Click No if you don't want to update the files.
 

Option 2: Step plan XS_PROJECT

You use the advanced option XS_PROJECT to link a folder with custom settings in Trimble Connect to a specific Tekla Structures model.
 
1. Start Tekla Structures and sign in with your Trimble Identity
 
2. Create a new model and link your Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project by selecting check box Start Trimble Connect collaboration on the start screen:

 
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3. Select Start collaboratioon the File menu to link an open model to a Trimble Connect project.
 
The Trimble Connect - Select project dialog box opens to link your Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project:

 
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4. Click the button Create to link the Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project.
 
5. Go to Trimble Connect (online version). Log in with your Trimble Identity.
 
6. Click the button
Image
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, enter the details of the new project and click the button Submit:

 
Image
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The project is created and opened.
 
7. Click in the category Team the button 
Image
2020-05-19_11-00-20.png
to invite the users of your custom settings folder:

 
Image
2020-05-19_11-03-57.png


8. Enter the email address for all users and, if desired, the group and role.

9. Click the button 
Image
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. The users now receive an activation mail.

10. Click in the category Data the button Explorer and next the button Add > Create folder:

 
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11. Enter a name for the folder and click the button Submit:

 
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The structure now looks like this:

 
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12. Optionally, you can adjust the rights of the added users and check whether the invited users have activated the activation email. To do this, go to the category Team. You can also set the permissions on the folder ts_folder.

 
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13. Select the check box of the folder ts_folder:

 
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14. Click the button 
Image
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(at the right bottom), the following dialog appears:

 
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15. Select the desired option per user (or for the whole team) and enable the option Apply permissions to this folder and all its subfolders:

16. Click Submit.

17. To add the custom settings to the folder ts_folder open the category Data and click the button Explorer.

 
Image
2020-05-19_13-17-43.png


18. Click the button Add to add (upload) your custom settings to the folder ts_folder. You can also drag the setting files from the Explorer to the folder.

 
Image
2020-05-19_13-19-58.png




The folder structure in our example now looks like this:

 
Image
2020-05-19_13-33-00.png


19. Now, set the advanced option XS_PROJECT in Tekla Structures to point to the folder ts_folder.

The following format is used for the reference:

 
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20. Open dialog box Advanced options via File > Settings > Advanced options.

21. Set the advanced option XS_PROJECT to point to the folder ts_folder:

 
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The advanced option is now set for the current Tekla Structures model.

22. Restart Tekla Structures and reopen the model.

23. Tekla Structures now searches for the differences between the files in the local folder ts_folder (C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Trimble\Tekla folder sync\<folder>) and the files in the folder ts_folder in the Trimble Connect project. In case of differences, the following message appears:

 
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24. Click Yes to save and close the model. The files are now updated and the model is reopened. Click No if you don't want to update the files.

 

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