Customize the property pane layout
Tekla Structures shows the model object properties in the property pane. Use the Property pane editor to customize the property pane to better suit your needs. You can select separately for each object type which properties you wish to see in the property pane. You can show, hide and organize the settings in the property pane, and add your most needed user-defined attributes (UDAs) directly to the property pane.
To open the Property pane editor, click .
With the Property pane editor, you can
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organize properties to a suitable order or to suitable groups
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remove properties you do not use or need
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create your own groups for properties that you find relevant, including user-defined attributes (UDAs)
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add properties, including user-defined attributes (UDAs), to an existing group
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create nested property groups
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rename properties or groups
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save the customized property pane layouts
The customized property pane layouts are saved to the PropertyTemplates.xml file in the ..Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\UI\PropertyTemplates\ folder. If you cannot find the folder, ensure that you are able to view the hidden files and folders on your computer.
Company administrators can distribute the customized property pane layouts to the whole organization, in the same way as customized ribbons or customized tabs.
Alternatively, you can use the visibility settings in the property pane to control which properties are shown without customizing the property pane layout.
Add a property or a property group
The Property pane editor has three columns:
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Object type list on the left. The list shows all the objects which have a property pane. Select from the list the object type whose property pane layout you want to modify.
Each object type's tooltip shows the source from where the object type definition is loaded: the default source, your environment, or a user-defined customization.
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Property list in the middle. The list shows all the available properties and user-defined attributes (UDAs) for each object type. You can add these properties and UDAs to the property pane layout as regular properties. Properties which are already in use cannot be added for a second time but you can reorganize them in the property pane layout. Properties which are incompatible with the selected object type cannot be added.
- Property pane layout on the right. It shows the current layout of the property pane for the selected object type.
To | Do this |
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Select the object type whose property pane layout you want to modify |
In the object type list on the left, browse through the list or use the Search box to filter content. |
Add a new property to the property pane layout |
|
Add a new group to the property pane layout |
You can create a new group, or insert a new group inside an existing group to create nested groups. You can reorganize the existing groups by dragging them. |
Add the User-defined attributes button to the property pane layout |
If you have accidentally removed the User-defined attributes button from the property pane layout, you can add it back to the property pane layout.
Note that the User-defined attributes button cannot be added for some object types, such as components. |
Some object types have user-defined attributes that are part of an attribute group and/or hidden in the Property pane editor. For example, the Bottom concrete cover belongs to the Concrete covers for rebar sets group. If you need to use these attributes individually, you can find them by entering __ (double underscore) in the middle column's search box. You can also use these attributes in templates. For example, to add the Bottom concrete cover to a report template, use the value field formula GetValue("USERDEFINED.__CovThickBottom").
Change the name of a property or a property group
To | Do this |
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Rename a property or a property group |
Alternatively, right-click the name of the property or the property group and select Rename.... |
Restore the original name of a property or a property group |
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Copy properties from one object type to another object type
You can copy properties from one object type to another object type, for example, from steel beam to steel plate. If needed, you can copy several property groups at one go.
Set the default visibility for a property group
You can define whether selected property groups are by default visible or hidden in the property pane.
Note that visibility changes in the property pane override these default settings.
Remove a customization
To | Do this |
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Delete a property or a property group |
Alternatively, right-click a property or a property group, and select Delete. |
Discard changes |
Click the Revert all button to discard changes and to revert to the previous save. |
Remove a single customization |
Click the Restore button to remove the customization of a selected object type's property pane. Alternatively, right-click the selected object type and select Restore to default. |
Remove all customizations |
Click the Restore all button to remove the customization of all property pane layouts. |
Save the changes
When you are happy with the changes, save the customized property pane layout.
- Click the Save all button.
- When you return to Tekla Structures, Tekla Structures asks if you wish to reload the changed property pane templates. Click Yes to take the customized property pane layout in use.
User-defined attributes (UDAs) in the customized property pane
In the property pane, the User-defined attributes button in the More property group opens the user-defined attributes (UDAs) dialog box. If you customize the property pane, you can add your most important UDAs directly to the property pane, so that you do not need to open separate UDA dialog boxes.
Note that the User-defined attributes button is not available for some object types, such as components.
When you create or modify model objects, UDAs are automatically applied together with all the other object properties. UDAs are automatically applied regardless of them being in the property pane or in the UDA dialog boxes.
UDAs with the following unit types are supported and work correctly if they are added in the property pane:
Option
,
String
,
Integer
,
Float
,
Date
,
Distance
,
Weight
,
Force
,
Moment
,
Angle
,
Factor
, and
Area
. UDAs with other unit types need to be used through the UDA dialog boxes.
You can control the visibility of UDAs in the property pane also without customizing the property pane layout. Use the property visibility options and search in the property pane.
Example: How to add IFC related user-defined attributes to the property pane layout and copy them to another object type
This example shows how to add a group of IFC related user-defined attributes (UDAs) to the steel column property pane layout, and copy the group to the steel beam property pane layout.