ASCII files

ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Some plant design systems export ASCII files, for example, ModelDraft, PDS and PDMS.

You can import and export profiles and plates created as beams using the ASCII format. Contour plates cannot be imported.

Import a model in the ASCII format

Create a new model in Tekla Structures.
Create a new 3D view.
Copy the ASCII file to the model folder.
Name the file import.asc.
On the File menu, click Import > ASCII .
Tekla Structures displays the main parts created from the ASCII file in the model.

Export a model to the ASCII format

Open the Tekla Structures model you want to export.
Select the parts in the model you want to export.
On the File menu, click Export > ASCII .
Tekla Structures creates a model.asc file in the current model folder.

ASCII file description

In an import.asc file each part is described by 8 lines. These lines are repeated for each part to be transferred. Units are always in millimeters, blanks are used as separators.

Below is an example of a beam part description:

Line	Description
Line 1	`4169 HEA300 1` = ID profile type ID 4169: Unique ID (integer). PROFILE HEA300: Profile name (string). TYPE 1: Profile type (integer) The available profile types are: `0` = free cross section (can be used for special profiles which are not in the database) `1` = I profiles `2` = Welded hollow core profiles (HK, HQ) `3` = U profiles `4` = L profiles `5` = Round bars `6` = Round tubes `7` = Rectangular hollow core sections (RHS, P) `8` = T profiles `9` = Rectangular bars (FL, PL) `10` = Z profiles `11` = C profiles `12` = Omega profiles `13` = Sigma profiles `14` = Rail profile `16` = Reinforcement bars (DH)
Line 2	The contents of line 2 depend on the part profile. Polygon plates: N_POINTS COORDINATES N_POINTS: For profiles of type 0. COORDINATES: Number of the corner points (integer). The X and Y coordinates of the plate corners (floating). Rotation direction is clockwise. Coordinates follow the global coordinate system. Z coordinates are taken from the center line in the plate thickness direction. Note that the line 2 can be divided into several rows in the file. Profiles: For profile types `1` - `16` , the line includes the physical dimensions of the cross section. HEIGHT S W1 T1 W2 T2: `290.000000 8.500000 300.000000 14.000000 300.000000 14.000000` HEIGHT `290.000000` : Height of the cross section S `8.500000` : Web thickness. W1 `300.000000` : Width of the upper flange. T1 `14.000000` : Thickness of the upper flange. W2 `300.000000` : Width of the lower flange. T2 `14.000000` : Thickness of the lower flange.
Line 3	`A/6 BEAM` = mark name MARK A/6: Position mark of the part (string). NAME BEAM: Part name (string).
Line 4	`S235JR S235JR` = material Material of the part (string).
Line 5	`0.000000` = rotation Rotation angle (in degrees) around the local x-axis of the beam.
Line 6	`16.500000 24000.000000 4855.000000` = X1 Y1 Z1 Coordinates of the beam start point. Z coordinates are center-line coordinates.
Line 7	`6000.000000 24000.000000 4855.000000` = X2 Y2 Z2 Coordinates of the beam end point. Z-coordinates are center-line coordinates.
Line 8	`16.500000 24000.000000 5855.000000` = X3 Y3 Z3 Direction vector showing the direction of the local z-axis.