This example shows how to create a nested custom connection that consists of an end plate, a bolt group, welds, and two Stiffeners (1003) components. The stiffeners are optional, which means that you can choose whether or not to create them when using the component in a model.

1. Add an End plate (144) component to the model.

   

2. Explode the end plate component.
3. Add two Stiffeners (1003) components.

   

4. Create a nested custom component that contains the stiffeners and the end plate objects.
   1. Click the Applications & components button in the side pane to open the Applications & components catalog.
   2. Click the Access advanced features button and select Define custom component....
   3. From the Type list, select Connection.
   4. In the Name box, enter End plate with stiffeners.
   5. Click Next >.
   6. Make an area selection (from right to left) to include the following objects in the nested component: the column, the beam, the stiffener components, and all the end plate objects.

      

   7. Click Next >.
   8. Choose the column as the main part of the nested component, and then click Next >.
   9. Choose the beam as the secondary part of the nested component, and then click Finish.

      Tekla Structures creates the nested custom component.

      

5. In the model, select the nested custom component you just created.
6. Right-click and select Edit custom component.
7. On the Custom component editor toolbar, click the Display variables button.

   The Variables dialog opens.

8. To create two new parametric variables, click Add twice.
9. Modify the first parametric variable P1 as follows:
   1. In the Value type list, select Yes/No.
   2. In the Label in dialog box box, enter Create stiffener 1.
10. Modify the second parametric variable P2 as follows:
    1. From the Value type list, select Yes/No.
    2. In the Label in dialog box box, enter Create stiffener 2.

    

11. Link the parametric variables to the Creation property of the two stiffeners:
    1. In the Custom component browser, browse for the uppermost Connection.
    2. Right-click Creation and select Add equation.
    3. Enter P1 after the equal sign, and then press Enter.
    4. Browse for the second Connection.
    5. Right-click Creation and select Add equation.
    6. Enter P2 after the equals sign, and then press Enter.

       

12. Save the custom component.
13. Close the custom component editor.
14. Select the custom component in the model, and open the custom component dialog.

    The option to create stiffeners is visible in the custom component's dialog.