View and modify model object properties by using the property pane
Tekla Structures shows the properties of different model objects in the property pane, which is a side pane window.
Which model objects to modify with the property pane
Use the property pane to view and modify the properties of
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parts, such as columns and beams
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assemblies and cast units
Note that you can have only one property pane window open at a time. This means that you can view the properties of only one object type at a time.
You can customize the property pane. You can select separately for each object type which properties you wish to see in the property pane. For example, you can organize the settings as you wish, or remove the settings you do not need.
Open the property pane
To open the properties in the property pane:
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If the property pane is closed: double-click a model object, or click the Properties button in the side pane.
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If the property pane is open: select a model object.
Alternatively, hold down Shift and click a command on the ribbon to open the properties in the property pane.
Modify model object properties
Note that if you use contextual toolbar or direct modification to modify a model object, the current properties do not change and are not automatically applied when you create the next object of the same type.
Switch between automatic and manual applying of properties
When you modify object properties in the property pane, you can switch between automatic and manual applying of properties. This means that you can select whether only the selected object is modified, or if also the next objects of the same type that you create use the current values.
You can switch between manual and automatic applying of properties at any time in the Property pane settings by selecting the Set default values automatically option. The option is not dependent on the selected object type.
When you are using dialog boxes to view and modify the properties of various objects, the OK, Apply and Modify buttons control whether the current values are used for the next objects of the same type.
Enable manual applying of properties
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Select an object in the model.
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Click the Property pane settings button in the property pane to open a drop-down menu.
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Ensure that the Set default values automatically option is not selected.
A Set as default button appears at the bottom of the property pane.
Note that if you have selected multiple objects in the model, the Set as default button does not appear.
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Change the property values as needed.
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Select how to proceed.
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To modify only the selected object, click Modify.
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To modify the selected object and to use the current values for the next objects of the same type, click the Set as default button and then click Modify.
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To use the current values for the next objects of the same type, but not to modify the selected object, click the Set as default button.
Depending on your actions, Tekla Structures either modifies the selected object or creates the next object of the same type using the current values.
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Enable automatic applying of properties
This is the default option.
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Select an object in the model.
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Click the Property pane settings button in the property pane to open a drop-down menu.
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Ensure that the Set default values automatically option is selected.
When the Set default values automatically option is selected, Tekla Structures automatically uses the current values for the next objects of the same type.
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Change the property values as needed.
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Click Modify.
Tekla Structures modifies the object and creates the next object of the same type using the current values.
Modify the common properties of different model object types
When you select several similar objects in the model, the property pane shows the properties that are common for all the selected objects.
Control the visibility of properties in the property pane
You can control which properties are shown in the property pane without customizing the property pane layout by using the Property pane settings .
Search in the property pane
Use the search to find the needed properties or the user-defined attributes (UDAs). Enter the search term in the search box in the property pane.
If you have several different object types selected in the model, the search finds properties that are common to the all selected object types. UDAs that match to the search criteria are shown even if they have not been added to the property pane layout.
If you enter a single asterisk * in the search box, all properties and UDAs available for the selected object type are shown. You can then easily enter a value for a property or for an UDA, even if the property or the UDA is not visible in the property pane by default.
Property pane settings
When you modify the property pane settings by clicking the Property pane settings button and selecting an option, the current settings are saved to the PropertyPaneSettings.xml file in the ..\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\UI\PropertyPane\ folder. If you do not change the settings, the PropertyPaneSettings.xml file is not created.
The settings in the PropertyPaneSettings.xml file are:
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FilterMode: ByData for Show properties that have a value
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FilterMode: ByGroup for Show properties based on visibility settings
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AutoApply: True when Set default values automatically is selected
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AutoApply: False when Set default values automatically is not selected
The PropertyPaneSettings.xml file is read when Tekla Structures is started and a model is opened.
If the settings in the PropertyPaneSettings.xml file are customized, the company administrators can distribute the customized property pane settings to other users in the company. The PropertyPaneSettings.xml file needs to be placed in the \PropertyPane\ subfolder in a model, project (XS_PROJECT), firm (XS_FIRM) or environment (XS_SYSTEM) folder. The property pane settings in the ..\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\UI\PropertyPane\ folder has the highest priority, and after that Tekla Structures uses the default search order.
If the PropertyPaneSettings.xml file is placed in several different folder locations, Tekla Structures reads the settings from different folders and merges them.