You can insert a link to a text file inside a frame in a drawing. First you create a .txt or .rtf file, and then add a link to it in a Tekla Structures drawing. Tekla Structures adds the text using some basic formatting settings you can set in the file itself, and the text properties in the property pane.

1. Create the text file.

   You can add basic formatting to the file, such as bold, italics, underline, strikethrough, subscript, and superscript, use indent and tabs, and set a specific font. You can add bulleted lists with hyphens and circular bullets, and numbered lists, and nest the lists. Simple tables are also supported.

   When you add the text link, Tekla Structures preserves the formatting settings.

   Note that the text links do not support hyperlinks or images.

   Tekla Structures colors will always be shown correctly. If you use in the .rtf file a color that is not supported in Tekla Structures, then the closest Tekla Structures color will be used.

2. Open the drawing where you want to add the text file.
3. On the Annotations tab, click Rich text.
   You can also select Rich text from the property pane object list.
4. In File name, browse for the text file.
5. Set the desired font color, font type, and font height.
   These can only be defined for .txt files. You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
6. Define the desired scale.

   The scale can only be defined for .rtf files.

   The Scale tells how much the .rtf content should be scaled. If you define 1 as the scale, the letters will keep the same size as the letters in the original .rtf file.

7. Define Scaling:
   • No scaling: Tekla Structures adjusts the object size to fit the frame. The text wraps when you change the size of the frame by dragging the handles. The minimum width of the box is defined by the longest word.
   • Scale to fit : Tekla Structures inserts the object in its original size. In this case, when you change the text frame size by dragging from the handles, the text does not wrap, and the font scales automatically.
8. Set the frame line type and color.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
9. Pick a position for the upper left corner of the text frame.

You can insert a link to another drawing in a frame in a drawing. Tekla Structures adds the link to the drawing using the properties in the drawing link properties.

1. Open a drawing where you want to add the link.
2. On the Drawing tab, click Link > To another drawing.
   You can also select Drawing link from the property pane object list.

   

3. In the Drawing list, select the drawing to link to.

   The drawings on the list are from the current model.

4. If you want to display text for the link instead of the drawing name, enter the text in the Text box.
5. Modify the font color, font type, font height, and effect.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
6. Select if you want to scale the link. If you select No scaling, Tekla Structures inserts the link in its original size.

   If you select Scale to fit, Tekla Structures adjusts the object size to fit the frame.

7. Modify the frame line type and color.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
8. Pick two points to define the frame and add the link.

You can add hyperlinks to internet addresses (URLs) or files within a frame in a drawing using the current hyperlink properties.

1. Open a drawing where you want to add a hyperlink.
2. On the Drawing tab, click Link > Hyperlink.
   You can also select Hyperlink from the property pane object list.

   

3. In the File or URL box, define an internet address or an HTML file path.

   To browser for the HTML file, click Browse....

4. If you want to display text for the hyperlink instead of the hyperlink, type the text in the Text box.
5. Modify the text font, font color, font height, and effect.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
6. Modify the frame line type and color.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
7. Select if you want to scale the link.

   If you select No scaling, you only need pick the upper left corner of the frame when you insert the link. Tekla Structures inserts the link in its original size. If you select Scale to fit, you need to pick two points to define the frame. Tekla Structures adjusts the link size to fit the frame.

8. Pick one or two points in the drawing depending on your Scaling selection.

You can insert a DWG or DXF file inside a frame in a drawing as a link. Tekla Structures adds the DWG or DXF file link using the DWG/DXF properties. If you modify the original file, Tekla Structures also modifies all the linked DWG/DXF file instances in drawings.

1. Open the drawing where you want to insert a link to a DWG/DXF file.
2. On the Drawing tab, click DWG/DXF.
   Alternatively, you can select DWG/DXF from the drawing property pane object list.
3. In File name, browse for the DWG or DXF file you want to use.
4. Set the scaling options:
   • Scaling:

     • X: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the file. You can only set the drawing scale in the X direction.

     • XY: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the file. You can set the drawing scale in both the X and Y direction.

     • Scale to fit: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper and bottom right corners of the frame to size and create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the file to fit the frame.

     • Best fit: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper and bottom right corners of the frame to size and create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the file to fit, maintaining its original aspect ratio.

   • Scaling in X direction:

     • Scales the file in the X direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, for example, 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The Scaling type must be set to X or XY.

   • Scaling in Y direction:

     • Scales the file in the Y direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, for example, 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The Scaling type must be set to XY.

5. Select the line type and color for the frame.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
6. Pick one or two points in the drawing to place the frame where the linked file will be added.

You can insert an image as a link inside a frame in a drawing. Tekla Structures adds the image link using the properties defined in the image properties. When you modify the original file, Tekla Structures also modifies all the linked instances in drawings.

1. Open the drawing where you want to insert a link to an image.
2. On the Drawing tab, click Image .
   You can also select Image from the property pane object list.
3. In File name, browse for the image file you want to use.
4. Select the scaling options:

   • Scaling:

     • No scaling
     • X: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the image. You can only set the drawing scale in the X direction.
     • XY: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the image. You can set the scale in both the X and Y directions.
     • Scale to fit: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper and lower right corners of the frame to size and create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the image to fit the frame.
     • Best fit: When you use this setting, you need to pick the left upper and lower right corners of the frame to size and create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the image to fit, maintaining its original aspect ratio.

   • Scaling in X direction

     Scales the file in the X direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, for example, 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The scaling type must be set to X or XY.

   • Scaling in Y direction

     Scales the file in the Y direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, for example, 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The scaling type must be set to XY.

5. Select the link frame line type and color.
   You can use a standard color or a custom RGB color.
6. Pick the points in the drawing to place the image frame.

   Tekla Structures adds a link to the image inside a resizable frame in the drawing.