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Upload a Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project

Tekla Structures
Modified: 15 Apr 2024
2024
Tekla Structures

Upload a Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project

You can upload the current Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project folder as a read-only .tekla file. The .tekla file can then be used as a lightweight reference model with Tekla Structures or any Trimble Connect product. The .tekla reference models list and visualize model objects, parts, rebars, bolts, welds, surface treatment, surface objects, slotted holes, assemblies, and grids.

Before you upload your model to Trimble Connect, note the following:

Object colors

Object colors in the .tekla reference model might be different than in the Tekla Structures model.

Profiles

Profiles are exported with high solid accuracy, meaning that the rounding on profiles is visible.

High solid accuracy affects Tekla Structures performance. If you do not want to use the high solid accuracy, set the advanced option XS_HIGH_ACCURACY_TRIMBIM_EXPORT to FALSE.

Assemblies

To include assemblies in the .tekla reference model, ensure that the assembly export is enabled in the conf.json file.

  1. Go to ...\TeklaStructures\<version>\Environments\common\system\UploadToConnect.
  2. Copy the conf.json file to the \attributes sub-folder under the model folder.
  3. Open the conf.json file in a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad.
  4. Check that "assemblies" is set to "true".
  5. Save the conf.json file.
Pours

If you want to include pours and pour units in the .tekla reference model instead of cast units and cast unit parts, enable pour management.

If you want to include cast units and cast unit parts instead of pours and pour units, disable the pours in the conf.json file.

  1. Go to ...\TeklaStructures\<version>\Environments\common\system\UploadToConnect.
  2. Copy the conf.json file to the \attributes sub-folder under the model folder.
  3. Open the conf.json file in a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad.
  4. Change "pours" : "model" to "pours" : "false".
  5. Save the conf.json file.
Layers

Layers are available in .tekla models. Tekla Structures objects are grouped to different layers according to a template attribute or a user-defined attribute. Use the part.epr file to include layers in .tekla upload.
Template attributes and user-defined attributes

If you want to define which template attributes and user-defined attributes are uploaded with the .tekla model, use the part.epr file.

  1. Go to ...\TeklaStructures\<version>\Environments\common\system\UploadToConnect.
  2. Copy the part.epr file to the \attributes sub- folder under the model folder.
  3. Open the part.epr file in a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad.
  4. For each supported object type, define the template and user-defined attributes using the following syntax. Note that to include layers, you need to add a line for the layers in the following format: "layer": ["TEMPLATE_FIELD"].
    {
"part": ["PART_POS", "NAME", "USERDEFINED.USER_FIELD_1"],
"assembly": ["ASSEMBLY_POS", "USERDEFINED.PRELIM_ASSEM_MARK"],
"bolt":["NAME","BOLT_STANDARD", "DIAMETER"],
"rebar": ["REBAR_POS", "NAME", "GRADE", "SIZE", "LENGTH", "WEIGHT"]
"layer": ["ASSEMBLY_POS"]
"weld": ["WELD_SIZE1", "WELD_SIZE2", "WELD_TYPE1", "WELD_TYPE2", 
"LENGTH", "WELD_ASSEMBLYTYPE", "WELD_EDGE_AROUND", 
"WELD_INTERMITTENT_TYPE"] 
}

    Note that you cannot change the units that are used for attributes.

  5. Save the part.epr file.

To upload a Tekla Structures model to a Trimble Connect project:

  1. On the File menu, go to Settings > Advanced options.
  2. In the Advanced options dialog box, find the XS_CONNECT_UPLOAD_MODEL_FOLDER option.
  3. Type or paste a file path to the Trimble Connect folder where you want to upload the Tekla Structures model.

    The default file path is Structural\Tekla models.

  4. Click OK to save the folder path.
  5. Go to the Trimble Connect ribbon tab, and click Upload model .
  6. To confirm saving the model and uploading the entire model folder to the attached Trimble Connect project, click Save and upload.

As a result, the Tekla Structures model is uploaded as a .tekla file to the Trimble Connect project folder that you defined.

An error message is displayed if the model upload to Trimble Connect fails. In case of upload errors, see the PublishToTrimbleConnect.log file, which you can find in the /logs sub-folder under the model folder.

If needed, you can later attach the .tekla file to your model as an overlay model.

Note that if you want to move the model to another folder after uploading it, you need to do so manually in Trimble Connect.

To upload a Tekla Model Sharing model to a Trimble Connect project:

The Upload model button does not upload Tekla Model Sharing models to a Trimble Connect project. Instead, use the XS_UPLOAD_SHARED_MODEL_TO_CONNECT advanced option to select if and when a Tekla Model Sharing model is uploaded to a Trimble Connect project folder.

In the Advanced options dialog box, set the value of XS_UPLOAD_SHARED_MODEL_TO_CONNECT to one of the following:

  • BASELINE = The Tekla Model Sharing model is automatically uploaded to the set Trimble Connect project folder each time a user creates a new baseline.

  • WRITEOUT = The Tekla Model Sharing model is automatically uploaded to the set Trimble Connect project folder after each successful write out.

  • If you do not want to upload the model to a Trimble Connect project folder, clear the Value field.

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