1. Home
  2. Tekla Structures
  3. Create models
  4. Get to know Tekla Structures basic working methods
  5. Set up the workspace
  6. Work with views
  7. Create model views

Create model views

Tekla Structures
2020
Tekla Structures
creating view

Create model views

You can create model views in several ways in Tekla Structures.

For example, you can create views

Each view has properties which define its appearance. You can change the appearance of a view after you have created it. To view and modify the properties of each view, double-click anywhere on the model background to open the View Properties dialog box.

If you create views along grid lines, you can view and modify the properties using the Creation of Views Along Grid Lines dialog box.

Create a basic view of the model

You can create a basic view along two coordinate axes. Use this view for the overall viewing of the model.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > Basic view.
  2. Select a view plane from the Plane list.

    The view plane is defined by two axes.

  3. In the Coordinate box, enter the view level.

    This value defines the distance of the view plane from the global origin, perpendicular to the view plane.

  4. Click Create.

Create a view using two points

You can create a view using two points you pick: the origin and a point in the direction of the x axis.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > Using two points.
  2. Pick a point to indicate the origin of the view plane.
  3. Pick a second point to indicate the direction of the x axis.

    The y axis is perpendicular to the view plane on which you picked the second point.

Create a view using three points

You can create a view using three points you pick: the origin, a point in the direction of the x axis, and the third point in the direction of the y axis.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > Using three points.
  2. Pick a point to indicate the origin of the view plane.
  3. Pick a second point to indicate the direction of the x axis.
  4. Pick a third point to indicate the direction of the y axis.

Create a view of the work plane

You can create a view of the work plane using the current view properties.

On the View tab, click New view > On work plane.

Create grid views

You can create views along the grid lines you select.

Before you start, create a view that contains a grid, and check the grid properties. Note that with radial grid you can create the grid views only on the straight grid lines, not on the arched grid lines.

If the grid properties are incorrect in some way, Tekla Structures may cut the views at the wrong elevations or they may be named incorrectly. If you change the grid labels or the elevation or grids later on, the views will not be automatically renamed.

  1. Select the grid.
  2. On the View tab, click New view > Along grid lines.
  3. Modify the grid view properties if needed.
    1. In the Number of views list, select how many views you want to create.
    2. In the View name prefix box, enter a prefix.
    3. In the View properties list, define which view properties (applied or saved) you want to use.
  4. Click Create.

    The Views dialog box opens.

  5. Click the arrow buttons to move views from the Named views list to the Visible views list.

    The views will not be visible until you move them to the Visible views list.

Example

This example shows how to create vertical views of the grid lines 1–7 on the following model:

In the Creation of Views Along Grid Lines dialog box, select All for the view plane XZ and None for the view planes XY and ZY. Use the default settings for the view name prefix and the view properties.

After creating the grid views, move the view named Grid 2 to the Visible views list:

The grid view is displayed as a plane view in a new window:

Rotate the view to see it in 3D:

Create a view on a plane

You can create a view on the work plane or almost any plane of an existing part.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > On plane.

    When you hover the mouse cursor over model objects, Tekla Structures highlights the available planes in light blue.

  2. Select the desired plane.
Tip:

Alternatively, to create a view on the front, top, back, or bottom plane of a part, you can also use the following commands available on the View tab:

  • On part front plane

  • On part top plane

  • On part back plane

  • On part bottom plane

To use these commands, first select a command and then the part.

Create a 3D view of a part

When you need to see a specific part clearly, create a 3D view of the part. The part is placed in the center of the view.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > 3D view of part.
  2. Select the part.

    Tekla Structures creates the view using the properties defined in the part_basic_view property file. The view plane y axis is the global z axis of the model. The x axis is the projection of the part's local x axis onto the global xy plane.

    Tekla Structures fits the work area to include the selected part.

    If you want Tekla Structures to rotate the view once whenever you create a new 3D view, select the Basic view auto rotation setting in the File menu.

Create default part views

You can create four views of a part: front, top, end, and 3D view. Tekla Structures creates these views all at once with the same command. The front, top, and end views are plane views by default.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > Default part views.
  2. Select the part.

    Tekla Structures creates the four default views all at once, using the properties defined in part_front_view, part_top_view, part_end_view, and part_persp_view property files.

Create an undeformed part view

You can create a view that shows a deformed part in undeformed form. This works only for beams and columns.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > Undeformed part view.
  2. Select the part.

    For example, select a warped beam. Tekla Structures displays the beam in a separate view in undeformed form.

Create a 3D view of a component

When you need to see a specific component clearly, create a 3D view of the component. The component is placed in the center of the view.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > 3D view of component.
  2. Select the component.

    Tekla Structures creates the view, using the properties defined in the component_basic_view property file. The view plane y axis is the global z axis of the model. The x axis is the projection of the first secondary part local x axis onto the global xy plane. Work area depth is 1 m in all directions.

    The component you select automatically defines the work area.

    If you want Tekla Structures to rotate the view once whenever you create a new 3D view, select the Basic view auto rotation setting in the File menu.

Create default component views

You can create four views of a component: front, top, end, and 3D view. Tekla Structures creates these views all at once with the same command. The front, top, and end views are plane views by default.

  1. On the View tab, click New view > Default views of component.
  2. Select the component.

    Tekla Structures creates the four default views all at once, using the properties defined in the component_front_view, component_top_view, component_end_view, and component_persp_view property files.

Create a surface view

Use the Create surface view macro to create an automatically aligned surface view. This can be useful when modeling bolt groups, stiffener plates, and hole penetrations on complex geometry.

To be able to select the surface of a part, ensure that you are using a model view that shows part faces. On the View tab, click Rendering, and select either the Parts grayscale or the Parts rendered option.

  1. Click the Applications & components button in the side pane to open the Applications & components catalog.
  2. Click the arrow next to Applications to open the applications list.
  3. Double-click Create surface view to start the macro.
  4. Select the surface of the part.

    Tekla Structures creates a new temporary view and moves the work plane typically along the longest edge of the part face. You can model in the surface view and see your modeling work being done in your original 3D view at the same time.

  5. Press Esc to stop the macro.
  6. To return the work plane back to the origin:
    1. Repeat steps 1–2 to open the Applications list.
    2. Double-click the Work plane global macro.

      The work plane returns back to the origin and is aligned with the global x,y, and z planes of the model.

Create a surface view along selected edge

Use the Create surface view wEdge macro to create a surface view and align the work plane along the edge you select. This can be useful when modeling bolt groups, stiffener plates, and hole penetrations on complex geometry.

To be able to select the surface of a part, ensure that you are using a model view that shows part faces. On the View tab, click Rendering, and select either the Parts grayscale or the Parts rendered option.

  1. Ensure that the Snap to geometry lines / points snap switch is active.

    This allows you to pick along an edge to define the direction.

  2. Click the Applications & components button in the side pane to open the Applications & components catalog.
  3. Click the arrow next to Applications to open the applications list.
  4. Double-click Create surface view wEdge to start the macro.
  5. Select the surface of the part.

    When you hover the mouse pointer over the part edges, a yellow arrow symbol is displayed to indicate the possible edges you can align the view to. The head of the arrow represents the positive direction of the x axis. The view will be rotated in this direction to form the flat horizontal edge of the view. The origin of the view and work plane will be at the start of the arrow snap line.

  6. Pick the desired edge.

    Tekla Structures creates a new temporary view, and the selected edge forms the x axis of the view. You can model in the surface view and see your modeling work being done in your original 3D view at the same time.

  7. Press Esc to stop the macro.
  8. To return the work plane back to the origin:
    1. Repeat steps 2–3 to open the Applications list.
    2. Double-click the Work plane global macro.

      The work plane returns back to the origin and is aligned with the global x,y, and z planes of the model.

Was this helpful?
Previous
Next