Define a cross section with no inner contours by picking the shape of the cross section.

1. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Define profiles > Define cross section using polygon.
2. Pick the corner points of the cross section to define the shape.

   Start at the bottom-right corner and pick the points counter clockwise.

3. Pick the start point, then click the middle mouse button to close the shape.
4. Pick the center point of the cross section.

   

5. In the User Profile Cross Section dialog, enter a name for the cross section.
6. Click OK to close the User Profile Cross Section dialog.
7. Click OK in the Save confirmation dialog to save the changes.
8. Use this cross section when you add a new profile to the profile catalog.

   The Profile type is User-defined, fixed.

Define a cross section with inner contours by picking the shape of the cross section.

1. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Define profiles > Define cross section using polygon.
2. Pick the corner points of the cross section to define the shape, then pick the start point to close the shape.
3. For each inner contour, pick the corner points of the cross section inner contour, then pick the start point to close the shape.
4. When you have finished picking all inner contours, click the middle mouse button.
5. Pick the center point of the cross section.
   
6. In the User Profile Cross Section dialog, enter a name for the cross section.
7. Click OK to close the User Profile Cross Section dialog.
8. Click OK in the Save confirmation dialog to save the changes.
9. Use this cross section when you add a new profile to the profile catalog.

   The Profile type is User-defined, fixed.

If you have a contour plate in the model, you can define a cross section using a contour plate.

1. Create a contour plate that includes all the chamfers.
2. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Define profiles > Define cross section using plate.
3. On the Parameters tab of the Profile Cross-Section from Plate (10) dialog, enter a name in the Section name and Profile name fields.

   Other properties are optional.

4. Click OK.
5. Select the contour plate.

   Tekla Structures creates the cross section with the shape of the contour plate.

6. Use the Parameters tab to define the profile properties in the Profile cross-section from plate (10) component.

   Table 1. Properties: Profile cross-section from plate (10)

   Option	Description
   Section name	Name of the cross section shown in the Modify Profile Catalog dialog. If you leave this box empty, no profile is created.
   Profile name	Name of the profile shown in the Beam properties, and in the Modify Profile Catalog dialog. If you leave this box empty, no profile is created.
   Save to	The location of the profile catalog. Select one of the following options: Model directory: The current model folder. Global directory: ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments\<environment>\profil Do not save: Does not save the profile. This is useful for testing.
   Min distance between points	The minimum distance between the corner points of the cross section. To create simpler drawings of complicated cross sections, increase this value.
   Center point offset	The origin of the plate defines the location of the profile reference line. Enter an offset value to move the reference line, relative to the cross section.
   Coordinate system	Select one of the following options: Use local Use global xy-plane
   Mirroring	Select one of the following options: Do not mirror Mirror to x-direction Mirror to y-direction Mirror to x- and y-direction

7. Use this cross section when you add a new profile to the profile catalog.

   The Profile type is User-defined, fixed.

Before you import a cross section from a .dwg file into the profile catalog, prepare the DWG file so that it can be imported into Tekla Structures correctly.

1. Ensure that only the lines of the profile shape that you want to convert to a profile are visible.

   Additional objects, such as text, dimensions, XREF objects, or leader lines, must not be visible.

   • To prevent additional objects from being visible, we recommend that you delete the additional objects.
   • You can also turn off the layers that contain the additional objects. However, when you scale up the profile before the import process, most of the objects will no longer be aligned the same way as in the original DWG file.
2. Remove hatching and unnecessary lines.

   Tekla Structures imports all the lines it finds in the DWG file.

   Profiles are defined by outlines: the outer shape is the overall profile and any internal shapes are holes in the profile. For the profile to be imported correctly, there cannot be any internal lines that do not represent a hole.

   This example shows an ornamental handrail. The four internal shapes will be created correctly:

   

   But the lines above and below them that add more detail to the shape will not work. These additional lines must be removed:

   
3. Ensure that your profile only includes basic objects that make up the profile shape.

   The profile can include lines, arcs, and circles. Other shapes, such as splines, polylines, and regions, are not imported to Tekla Structures correctly. If your profile includes these shapes, the shapes must be exploded.

   When arcs are imported, Tekla Structures converts the arcs to segmented curves. If there are too many facets along the curve, the profile might be distorted when it is imported. To reduce the number of facets along the curve, remove complex arcs and draw simple lines to indicate the curve instead.

   

   Trace over the arc using the line tool, then delete the arc.

4. Ensure that the outline consists of only one closed polyline.

   Each outline must close completely, with no gaps, overlaps, or other inconsistencies. Use the trim and extend tools to close the shapes.

   

   Especially with third-party DWG files, it might be more efficient to clean up one section of the profile, then copy or mirror it to similar or symmetrical areas.

   Tip: You can use the Region function in AutoCAD to test the integrity of the profile. If all the lines form a closed shape, AutoCAD creates a region. If the shape is not closed, a region is not created. After testing, explode the region. Regions are cannot be imported into Tekla Structures.
5. If your profile has more than 10 regions, join them together using small gaps to make several outlines into one larger shape.

   When converting a DWG file to a profile, the shape is limited to 10 closed outlines or regions: the overall profile shape plus nine openings.

   
6. Scale up the profile by 25.4 so that it measures correctly in a Tekla Structures model.

   Tekla Structures works in metric, so when you import a DWG file that is being converted to a profile, the metric conversion must be taken into account.

7. Save the outline of the cross section as a DWG file.

After you have prepared the .dwg file to use as a cross section, you can import the cross section into the profile catalog as a DWG profile.

1. Open a model.
2. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Define profiles > Define cross section using DWG file.
3. On the Parameters tab of the DWG Profile to Library (6) dialog, browse for the DWG file.

   The filename path for the DWG file can have a maximum length of 255 characters.

4. Define the cross section properties.

   Option	Description
   Section name	Name of the cross section shown in the Modify Profile Catalog dialog.
   Profile name	Name of the profile shown in the Modify Profile Catalog dialog.
   Save to	The location of the profile catalog. Select one of the following options: Model directory: The current model folder. Global directory: ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments\<environment>\profil Do not save: Does not save the profile. This is useful for testing.
   Min distance between points	The minimum distance between the corner points of the cross section. To create simpler drawings of complicated cross sections, increase this value.
   Center point offset	The origin of the plate defines the location of the profile reference line. Enter an offset value to move the reference line, relative to the cross section.

5. Do not change the default values on the Profile attributes tab.

   The Profile attributes defines information about the profile that is shown on the General tab in the profile catalog. We recommend that you do not change the default values unless you are sure of the values. If the values on this tab conflict with the actual shape, the import might not work correctly.

6. Click OK.
7. In the model, pick the start and the end points of the cross section to be imported.

   Tekla Structures imports the cross section and places the profile reference line at the origin of the DWG file.

   The profile is automatically added to your profile catalog. The profile might not be visible in the profile catalog until you close the model and open it again. The Profile type is User-defined, fixed.

8. If the profile is not shown in the profile catalog, or the profile is not converted as expected, edit the DWG file and import the profile again.

   You might have to repeat this process several times before the profile is converted as expected.

   Possible problems:

   • Too many arcs: Trace over the arcs using the line tool, then delete the arcs to reduce the number of facets.
   • Radii that are too small: Very small curves might not be converted correctly. Replace small curves with straight line segments.
   • Lines on top of lines: Remove additional lines.
   • Gaps or overlapping intersections: Use the trim and extend tools to close the shapes.

You can modify cross sections that have been defined using a polygon, a plate, or a DWG file.

1. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Define profiles > Edit Polygon Cross Section.
2. In the Modify Cross Section dialog, select the cross section that you want to modify.
   Tip:

   If you want to delete a cross section, select the cross section, then click Delete.

3. Modify the cross section point properties.

   • Number refers to each point picked when the cross section was created, in numerical order. The first point picked is 1.

   • Chamfer refers to the chamfer shape.

   • x: and y: apply to the chamfer type. For example, if you want the chamfer to be equal on both sides of the angle, only enter a value for x:.

     For an uneven chamfer, enter values for x: and y:.

4. Click Update.
5. Click OK to close the Modify Cross Section dialog.
6. Click OK in the Save confirmation dialog to save the changes.