Modify a construction object

You can modify construction points, lines, circles, arcs, polycurves, and planes using direct modification.

Before you start:

To show (or hide) construction objects in model views, adjust their visibility in the Display settings.
Ensure that the Direct modification switch is active.
Select the construction object. Use the following selection switches:
, ,
Tekla Structures displays the handles and dimensions that you can use to modify the construction object.
When you select a handle and move the mouse pointer over , Tekla Structures displays a toolbar with more modification options. The available options depend on the type of the construction object you are modifying.

To modify a construction object, do any of the following:


To	Do this	Available for
Set a reference point to move in one, two, or any direction	Select the handle in the reference point. To define in which directions the handle can move, select an option from the list on the toolbar: You can also press Tab to cycle through the options. To move the handle parallel to a certain plane only, click and select the plane.	Construction points, lines, circle center points, planes
Move a point, a point on a line, circle, arc or polycurve, or a plane corner	Drag the handle in the reference point to a new location.	All construction objects
Move a circle or arc	Drag the handle in the center point to a new location.	Construction circles, arcs
Move a line or a plane edge	Drag the line handle to a new location.	Construction lines, planes
Move a plane	Drag the plane to a new location.	Construction planes
Show or hide diagonal dimensions	Select a handle. On the toolbar, click . Click the eye button to show or hide orthogonal and total dimensions:	Construction lines, planes
Change a dimension	Drag a dimension arrowhead to a new location, or: Select the dimension arrowhead which you want to move. To change the dimension at both ends, select both arrowheads. To change the radius of a circle or arc, select the outer arrowhead. Using the keyboard, enter the value with which you want the dimension to change. To start with the negative sign (-), use the numeric keypad. To enter an absolute value for the dimension, first enter $, then the value. Press Enter, or click OK in the Enter a Numeric Location dialog box.	Construction lines, circles, planes Arcs (numeric input only)
Chamfer a polycurve corner	Select a corner handle. On the toolbar: Click to create a rounded chamfer, and then enter the chamfer radius. Click to create a straight chamfer, and then enter the chamfer dimensions X and Y. Press Enter to confirm the chamfer dimensions.	Polycurves
Change an arc to a line Make a curved segment straight	Select the arc or segment midpoint handle (with an arc symbol) and press Delete.	Arcs, curved polycurve segments
Change a line to an arc Make a straight segment curved	Drag the arc symbol at the midpoint of the line or segment.	Lines, straight polycurve segments
Add a corner point and an intermediate segment to a polycurve	Drag a segment midpoint handle to a new location.	Polycurves
Remove a corner point and the two connected segments	Select the corner point handle and press Delete.	Polycurves
Remove the last polycurve segment	Select the end point handle and press Delete.	Polycurves
Change the radius of an arc and keep the end point locations	Click the radius dimension, enter a new value, and press Enter.	Arcs
Change the radius of a polycurve segment and keep the end point locations	Drag the arc symbol at the segment midpoint handle.	Curved polycurve segments
Change the angle or length of an arc	Drag the start or end point to a new location.	Arcs
Copy a construction object using offset	See Copy a construction object with offset.	Lines, circles, arcs, polycurves
Change the modeling direction of the selected construction object	On the contextual toolbar, click Swap ends. This may be needed when you create lofted plates or lofted slabs by using construction objects and if the geometry of the plate or slab would become self-intersecting.	Lines, arcs