Modified: 7 Feb 2025

2025

Tekla Structural Designer

Model ribbon

A list of the commands accessible from the Model tab on the ribbon.

Levels Group


Command	Description
Construction Levels	Opens the Construction Levels dialog box allowing you to define the levels required in order to construct your model. See: Create and manage construction levels
Frame	Create a frame when in a 3D view (when a 2D view is displayed, this is inactive). Only those members that lie within the plane of the frame are displayed. The drop list underneath can be used to delete existing frames. See: Create frames and slopes
Sloped Plane	Create a sloped plane when in a 3D view (when a 2D view is displayed, this is inactive). A sloped plane is a 2D View of the model created in a sloped plane. It is defined by selecting 3 existing grid points. Because only those members that lie within the plane of the slope are displayed, this type of view can be particularly useful for defining inclined roofs and ramps. The droplist underneath can be used to delete existing sloped planes. See: Create frames and slopes

Grid & Construction Lines Group


Command	Description	Note
Grid Line	Create a straight grid line between two points. The drop list underneath can be used to create grid lines in other ways. See: Create and manage grid lines and architectural grids	Inactive in 3D Views.
Construction Line	Create a straight construction line between two points. The drop list underneath can be used to create construction lines in other ways. See: Create and manage construction lines	Inactive in 3D Views.

Steel Group


Command	Description
Column	Create a rolled steel column. The drop list underneath can be used to create columns of a specific fabrication type. See: Create columns
Beam	Create a rolled steel beam. The drop list underneath can be used to create beams of a specific fabrication type. See: Create beams
Brace	Create a rolled steel brace. See: Create braces
Joist	Create a joist. See: Create joists
Truss	Runs the Truss Wizard to define a steel truss. See: Create trusses
Portal Frame	Create a portal frame. To create the frame, you firstly define the two column base positions between which the frame will lie. The base positions are restricted to lie on existing grid points. All other details of the portal frame are subsequently entered in the Portal Frame dialog. Create portal frames

Concrete Group


Command	Description
Column	Create a concrete column. The drop list underneath can be used to create columns of a specific fabrication type. See: Create columns
Beam	Create a concrete beam. The drop list underneath can be used to create beams of a specific fabrication type. See: Create beams

Walls Group


Command	Description
Concrete Meshed Wall	Create a shear wall characterized analytically by a mesh of 2D solver elements located along the wall insertion line and extending to all four corners. Non-rectangular and sloping wall geometry is allowed as well as openings. The type of 2D solver element used is controlled from the structure properties and can be overridden on a wall by wall basis in the individual wall properties. See: Create concrete walls
Mid-pier Wall	Create a shear wall characterized analytically by a single vertical pier object of identical properties as the wall section, located at the center of the wall and extending from the top to the bottom level. Mid-pier concrete shear wall restrictions: must be rectangular must be in a vertical plane openings are not allowed See: Create concrete walls
Masonry Meshed Wall	Create a masonry wall characterized analytically by a mesh of 2D solver elements located along the wall insertion line and extending to all four corners. Non-rectangular and sloping wall geometry is allowed as well as openings. The type of 2D solver element used is controlled from the structure properties and can be overridden on a wall by wall basis in the individual wall properties. See: Create masonry walls
General Meshed Wall	Create a general shear wall characterized analytically by a mesh of 2D solver elements located along the wall insertion line and extending to all four corners. Non-rectangular and sloping wall geometry is allowed as well as openings. The type of 2D solver element used is controlled from the structure properties and can be overridden on a wall by wall basis in the individual wall properties. See: Create general walls
Bearing Wall	Creates a wall which resists only axial forces and does not contribute to lateral stability. See: Create bearing walls
Shear Only Wall	Creates a wall which resists only in-plane shear and has no out of plane stiffness or load bearing resistance. See: Create shear only walls
Wall Opening	Create a rectangular opening in an existing meshed shear wall when in a Frame View. Wall Opening is inactive in 3D Views and Level Views. See: Create door or window openings
Cores	Assign existing concrete members as part of a concrete core. See: Create concrete cores

Slabs Group


Command	Description	Note
Slab on Beams	Create a slab. See: Create slab items
Slab Opening	Create a rectangular or circular slab opening. See: Create slab or mat openings	Inactive in 3D Views.
Slab Overhang	Create an overhang at the edge of a slab. See: Add overhangs to existing slab or mat edges	Inactive in 3D Views.
Column Drop	Create a column drop. See: Create column drops
Slab Split	Split slab items into smaller panels for the purposes of pattern loading and slab design. See: Split and join slabs and mats	Inactive in 3D Views.
Slab Join	Join slabs to create larger panels for the purposes of pattern loading and slab design. See: Split and join slabs and mats	Inactive in 3D Views.

Timber Group


Command	Description
Column	Create a timber column. The drop list underneath can be used to create columns of a specific fabrication type. See: Create columns
Beam	Create a timber beam. The drop list underneath can be used to create beams of a specific fabrication type. See: Create beams
Brace	Create a timber brace. See: Create braces
Truss	Runs the Truss Wizard to define a timber truss. See: Create trusses

Cold Formed Group


Command	Description
Column	Create a cold formed column. The drop list underneath can be used to create columns of a specific fabrication type. See: Create columns
Beam	Create a cold formed beam. The drop list underneath can be used to create beams of a specific fabrication type. See: Create beams
Brace	Create a cold formed brace. See: Create braces
Truss	Runs the Truss Wizard to define a cold formed truss. See: Create trusses

Loading Objects Group


Command	Description
Roof Panel	Create roof panels for distributing loads and/or introducing diaphragm action. See: Create roof and wall panels
Wall Panel	Create wall panels for distributing loads. See: Create roof and wall panels
Line Ancillary	Allow for physical objects and their associated loading. For example stairs,walkways, operating platforms, etc. Point loads on supporting structure will be determined. See: Ancillaries
Area Ancillary	Allow for physical objects and their associated loading. For example stairs,walkways, operating platforms, etc. Line loads on supporting structure will be determined. See: Ancillaries
Equipment	Allow for equipment and associated loading. See: Equipment

Miscellaneous & Validate Group


Command	Description
Support	Create additional supports underneath existing members See: Create supports
Element	Create analysis elements. See: Create analysis elements
Dimension	Create dimensions between appropriate points which can be included on drawings. See: Dimensions and measurements
Measure	Measures the distance between any existing construction points or intersection points. See: Dimensions and measurements
Measure Angle	Measures angles between existing points in 2D Views. See: Dimensions and measurements
Validate	Validate the structure for physical model issues. See: Validate the model

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