Add dimensions to plates

You can dimension plates using some advanced options in File menu > Settings > Advanced options > Dimensioning - parts.

Note:

The settings in the dim_planes_table.txt tell Tekla Structures which dimensioning planes are possible for certain profile types, and with the advanced options, you can fine-tune the dimension position. The settings in the dim_planes_table.txt file are available for use only when you have set the path to dim_planes_table.txt as a value for the XS_PART_DIMENSION_PLANES_TABLE advanced option.

When you modify dim_planes_table.txt in environment folders, after changing the file, you need to:

Restart Tekla Structures.
Re-create the drawings.

Otherwise, the changes will have no impact on the drawings.

To dimension plates using the advanced options:


To	Do this
Dimension the plates to the edge that is nearest to the neighbor part	Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_EDGE_NEAREST_TO_NEIGHBOUR to `TRUE`.
Dimension the plates to the leading edge of the beams	Set the advanced option XS_USE_PLATE_SIDE_POSITIONING to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_EDGE_NEAREST_TO_NEIGHBOUR to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE to `TRUE`.
Dimension the plates to the leading edge of the columns	Set the advanced option XS_USE_PLATE_SIDE_POSITIONING to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_EDGE_NEAREST_TO_NEIGHBOUR to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE_IN_COLUMNS_ALSO to `TRUE`.
Dimension the plates to the trailing edge	Set the advanced option XS_USE_PLATE_SIDE_POSITIONING to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_EDGE_NEAREST_TO_NEIGHBOUR to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE to `FALSE`. Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE_IN_COLUMNS_ALSO to `FALSE`.
Dimension the plates using their original reference points in the model	Set the advanced option XS_PART_POSITION_TO_EDGE_NEAREST_TO_NEIGHBOUR to `FALSE`. Set the advance option XS_USE_PLATE_SIDE_POSITIONING to `TRUE`. Note: If you have created one plate from left to right and another from right to left, Tekla Structures dimensions the plates differently.

How dim_planes_table.txt and XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE work together

If you set all plate options (beam plates and contour plates) to FALSE in dim_planes_table.txt as follows:

5, -1.0, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE

51, -1.0, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE

In this case, the dim_planes_table.txt file does not affect the plate dimensioning at all, but the XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE advanced option defines the location to be either right or left (but not middle).
If you enable both left and right & bottom and top options in dim_planes_table.txt as follows:

5, -1.0, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE

51, -1.0, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE

In this case, you can still adjust which one is selected by using the XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE advanced option.
If you set the dimensioning to the middle of the plates as follows:

5, -1.0, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE

51, -1.0, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE

In this case, the XS_PART_POSITION_TO_LEADING_EDGE advanced option does not have an impact.