Define customized line type mappings in drawing export (old export)

You can use advanced conversion to convert the type, color and weight of lines and layers. This way you will get the line types that you want to use in the target software, for example, AutoCAD.

By default, Tekla Structures uses the file LineTypeMapping.xml in the folder ..\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments\common\inp for the conversion.

If you need to define your own line type mappings, you can use the file LineTypeMapping.xml as a template.

Note:

When modifying the line type mappings file, use an editor that is capable of validating XML in order to maintain a valid document structure.

To define your own line type mappings, do one of the following:

To	Do this
Map according to line types only	Open the mapping file in an XML editor. Enter only the line type information. For example, all lines in all layers with line type `XKITLINE01` will be exported to `DASHED`. Save the mapping file to the model folder.
Map according to line types and layers	Open the mapping file in an XML editor. Enter the line type and layer name. Define the layers that the mapping will apply to in the `LayerName` attribute. If you leave out the attribute `LayerName` , Tekla Structures uses the line type mapping for any layer. If you include the attribute `LayerName` , Tekla Structures uses the line type mapping for that layer only. For example, all lines on the layer `BEAM` with line type `XKITLINE01` will be exported to `DASHED`. Tekla Structures first searches for these kinds of mappings by default. Define the color of the line in the `Color` attribute. Enter the color values in AutoCAD Color Index (ACI) codes (numbers from 0 to 255). Define the thickness of the line in the `Weight` attribute. Enter the values in hundredths of millimeters. Save the mapping file to the model folder.

Do this

Map according to line types only

Open the mapping file in an XML editor.
Enter only the line type information.

For example, all lines in all layers with line type XKITLINE01 will be exported to DASHED.
Save the mapping file to the model folder.

Map according to line types and layers

Open the mapping file in an XML editor.
Enter the line type and layer name.

Define the layers that the mapping will apply to in the LayerName attribute.

If you leave out the attribute LayerName , Tekla Structures uses the line type mapping for any layer. If you include the attribute LayerName , Tekla Structures uses the line type mapping for that layer only.

For example, all lines on the layer BEAM with line type XKITLINE01 will be exported to DASHED. Tekla Structures first searches for these kinds of mappings by default.
Define the color of the line in the Color attribute. Enter the color values in AutoCAD Color Index (ACI) codes (numbers from 0 to 255).
Define the thickness of the line in the Weight attribute. Enter the values in hundredths of millimeters.
Save the mapping file to the model folder.

This is how the file LineTypeMapping.xml is composed:

The first section consists of XML and document type definition. Do not change or remove this section.
The mappings that are available are defined here. You can use these mappings as a template for your own mappings.

Examples

In the first example, a new Mapping element is added, where XKITLINE00 lines in the Beam layer are converted to BORDER line type, color is converted to 10 and weight to 1.00 mm:

In the second example, a new Mapping element is added, where XKITLINE02 lines in the Part layer are converted to HIDDEN2 line type, the layer name is converted to Part_Hidden , the color is converted to 8 and weight to 1.00 mm.

You can use the LineTypeMapping.xml file for exporting hidden lines to separate layers. The hidden lines must then be defined to their own layers (here Part_Hidden ).

Note:

For the export to succeed, ensure that the layer (here Part_Hidden ) exists on the list of available layers in the Modify Layers dialog box.