Create items

In Tekla Structures, the term item refers to the parts that have a 3D shape. Shapes are created in an external modeling software, or in Tekla Structures, and they are available in the Tekla Structures shape catalog.

Items are similar to other parts, such as beams and columns. The main difference between items and other types of parts is that a 3D shape defines the geometry of an item, whereas a part has a 2D profile that is extruded to create the length of the part.

You can use items to model objects that would otherwise be difficult to model using basic Tekla Structures parts and commands, such as cutting. You can also use items to model objects that use shapes modeled in an external software or by a manufacturer.

Every item has properties that define it, such as shape, material, and location. If you want to use item properties in view and selection filters or in drawing and report templates, you need to use the template attributes of parts and profiles. If you want to separate items from parts, use the IS_ITEM template attribute.

Limitations to items

Items cannot be mirrored.
Items cannot be split or combined. Splitting an imported item creates a duplicate to the splitting position.
Items can only be cut or attached to another part if they have a solid shape.
The gross weight value of an imported item may be different from that of an identical Tekla Structures part modeled with cuts. This is because the cuts are not taken into account when calculating the gross weight of parts.

Create an item or a concrete item

Ensure that Direct modification is switched on.

This makes it easier to adjust the location and rotation of the item in the model.
Depending on the material of the item you want to create, do one of the following:
- On the Steel tab, click Item .
- On the Concrete tab, click Item .
Tip:
Alternatively, you can start the command in the property pane.
1. Ensure that you have nothing selected in the model.
2. In the property pane, click the Object type list button and select Item or Concrete item from the list.
  Tekla Structures starts the command and shows the properties in the property pane.
  In the property pane, you can modify the item properties and select the shape, for example.
Move the mouse pointer over object faces and edges in the model, and see how the item turns over and adjusts to the object faces.

If you are adding the item to another object (such as part or pour object), Tekla Structures also shows location dimensions to the nearest object edges.
Pick the first point of the item.
To indicate the direction of the item, pick another point.

Tekla Structures places the item between the points you picked starting from the first point (yellow handle) towards the direction of the second point (magenta handle), using the Item or Concrete item properties in the property pane.

Tekla Structures shows the coordinate axes, rotation handles, and location dimensions that you can use to fine-tune the location and rotation of the item. The handles are red, green, and blue, according to the local coordinate system of the item.
To move the item along any of its coordinate axes, drag the relevant axis handle to a new location.
To rotate the item around any of its coordinate axes, drag the relevant rotation handle to a new location.

Press Tab to rotate the item in 90-degree steps in the direction of the selected rotation handle.
To move or rotate the item by specifying a distance or angle:
1. Select an axis handle, a rotation handle, or a dimension arrowhead.
2. Type the value by which you want the dimension to change.
  
  When you start typing, Tekla Structures displays the Enter a Numeric Location dialog box.
3. Click OK to confirm the new dimension.
If you want to add more items to the model, click the middle mouse button and repeat steps 3–8.
To stop adding items, press Esc.
If needed, you can modify the item geometry further in the Geometry editing mode.

Modify item or concrete item properties

If the property pane is not open, double-click the item or the concrete item to open the Item or the Concrete item properties.
Change the properties as needed.
Click Modify.

Change the shape of an item

When you create or modify an item, you can select the shape from the list that contains all the shapes available in the shape catalog.

Before you start, ensure that you have the required shape available in the shape catalog.

Double-click an item to open the item properties in the property pane.
Click the ... button next to the Shape box to open the Select shape dialog box.
On the left side of the dialog box, select a group or sub-group.

Tip:
The latest shapes you have used can be found in the Recent group, and the shapes you have marked as important are in the Starred group.
If needed, use the Filter box to search for a shape in the selected group.
Select a shape from the list.
Click OK to close the Select shape dialog box.
Click Modify in the property pane to apply the changes.

Convert a part to an item

You can change existing parts in the model to items and at the same time add corresponding shapes to the shape catalog.

When you change a part to an item, Tekla Structures deletes the original part and replaces it with the newly created item in the model. The name, material, finish, class, pour phase, and the numbering properties of the original part are saved as the corresponding item properties. Other part type specific properties and user-defined attributes are not saved. The objects that are attached to the original part, such as reinforcement and surfaces, are deleted.

Create the parts that you want to change to an item.
If you want to include more than one part in the item, attach the parts to each other.
On the Edit tab, click Convert part to item.
Select the part.

Alternatively, you can first select the part, right-click, and then select Convert part to item.

Tekla Structures changes the part to an item and adds a new shape to the shape catalog.

The shape name is generated using the part name and part location in the format <grid location>_<elevation>_<part name>. For example:

1/D_+0_FOOTING
3/C_+0-+3600_COLUMN
1-2/A-B_+3600_SLAB

If there is already a shape with the same name in the shape catalog, Tekla Structures adds two underscore characters and a running number at the end of the new shape name. For example, 1/D_+0_FOOTING__1.

Item and concrete item properties

Use the Item and the Concrete item properties in the property pane to define, view, and modify the properties of an item. To open the properties, double-click the item or the concrete item.

The file name extension of an item property file is *.ips.

The file name extension of a concrete item property file is *.ipc.

If you have customized the property pane layout, the list of properties may be different.


Setting	Description
General
Name	User-definable name of an item. The name can contain a maximum of 61 characters. Tekla Structures uses part names in reports and in Document manager, and to identify parts of the same type.
Shape	Shape of an item. To select a shape from the shape catalog, click the ... button next to the Shape box. To show the item shape in reports and drawing tables, use the `PROFILE` template attribute.
Material	Material of the item.
Finish	Type of finish. Finish is user definable. It describes how the part surface has been treated, e.g. with anti-corrosive paint, hot galvanized, fire retardant coating, etc.
Class	Use to group items. For example, you can display parts of different classes in different colors.
Numbering series (available for items)
Part numbering	Part prefix and start number for the part position number.
Assembly numbering	Assembly prefix and start number for the assembly position number.
Position
On plane	Item's position on the work plane, relative to the item's reference line.
Rotation	Rotation of the item around its axis on the work plane.
At depth	Position depth of the item. The position is always perpendicular to the work plane.
End offset
Dx	Move the item along its reference line.
Dy	Move the item perpendicular to its reference line.
Dz	Move the item in the z direction of the work plane.
Cast unit (available for concrete items)
Cast unit numbering	Part prefix and start number for the part position number.
Cast unit	Indicate whether the item is precast or cast-in-place.
Pour phase	Pour phase of the cast-in-place parts. Use to separate pour objects from one another.
Concrete covers for rebar sets (available for concrete items)
Coordinate system	Select whether the concrete cover thickness of the rebar sets in the part is defined in the global coordinate system, or in the part's local coordinate system. The default global and local cover thickness values are defined in the Options dialog box. If you select the empty option, Tekla Structures uses the global values.
Top, Bottom, Sides, Front , Back, Start, End	To override global or local default values from the Options dialog box, define the cover thickness at each required part face.
More
UDAs	Click the User-defined attributes button to open the user-defined attributes (UDAs) of the part. UDAs provide additional information about the part.