CAD import and export formats

The table below lists the supported import and export file types.

Table 1.
Option	Import	Export	Imports from/Exports to
SDNF	✔	✔	SDNF (Steel Detailing Neutral File) is used in importing to and exporting from several different CAD systems.
HLI	✔	✔	HLI (High Level Interface). IEZ AG Speedikon software
Plantview	✔		Plantview design system
SDNF (PDMS)	✔	✔	Plant Design Management System. Aveva 3D plant design software. Data is exported as PDMS via SDNF link. Tekla Structures writes the information of finish field in the member class attribute, whereas in SDNF export it omits the class information.
XML	✔	✔	ArchiCAD modeling system. There are some limitations in the export: Conversion files are not used. Holes, bolts and welds are not exported.

In addition to the CAD import tool, also FEM import is available in the New Import Model dialog. For more information, see FEM import

Import a CAD model

Note:

Before you start an SDNF export, check that the advanced option XS_SDNF_CONVERT_PL_PROFILE_TO_PLATE has been set to FALSE in the Export category of the Advanced options dialog. This does not convert plate profiles to contour plates, but handles the profiles as beams in the import.

On the File menu, click Import > CAD.
In the New Import Model dialog, select the import type Import CAD.
Enter a new name for the import file.
Click the Properties... button to define the import settings, which depend on the selected import type.

For more information about the import-type-specific settings, see the settings and their descriptions the "CAD import settings" section below.
Click OK to apply the changed properties.
In the New Import Model dialog, click OK.
In the Import models dialog, select the import model name from the list and click Import.
In the Import model info dialog, select which version of the objects to import.
Click Accept all.

The Accept all option is used if you are importing a new model over an existing one. If you have changed the model and want to re-import it, you can also reject all changes by clicking Reject all, or accept or reject individual changes by clicking Select individual....
Tekla Structures displays the message Do you want to save the import model for subsequent imports? Click Yes.

Tekla Structures adds the imported model in the model view.
Right-click the model view and select Fit work area to entire model to ensure that the imported model is completely visible.
If parts are missing, check the Depth up and Depth down values in the View properties dialog and change them if necessary.

Note:

In the SDNF import, if you want to import information that Tekla Structures parts do not have, you can use the SDNF extension line in the SDNF file to be imported, and the REVISION_NUMBER user-defined attribute in Tekla Structures.

For more information about the SDNF interoperability, see SDNF.

CAD import settings


Setting	Description
Conversion tab
Profile conversion file Material conversion file Twin profile conversion file	Define the conversion files you want to use. The maximum conversion file path length is 255 characters. Conversion files map Tekla Structures profile and material names with names used in other software. For more information about conversion files, see Conversion files.
Parameters tab
Input file	The file that you want to import. You can also browse for the file. The default value is import.lis. The maximum folder path length is 255 characters.
Type	Define the input file or model type: SDNF, HLI, Plantview, SDNF (PDMS), XML
Origin X, Origin Y, Origin Z	Define the origin coordinates to place the file in a specific location.
SDNF tab
Pos_No	Enter a prefix and a start position number for parts. This settings relates to the Position number type setting.
SDNF version number	Set the SDNF format type to 2.0 or 3.0. SDNF 3.0 is generally the format to select. However, with StruCAD it is better to share SDNF 2.0 files.
Apply cuts and fittings	Set to Yes (default) to apply cuts and fittings in the import. These will only be included if contained within the SDNF file.
Consider offsets	Set to Yes to create offsets. In most cases you should select Yes. No (default) positions part creation points at part end points. In most cases you should select Yes. No (default) positions part creation points at part end points.
Create log file	Select Create to write a new log file and delete the previous log file each time you import the model. If the import fails, examine the log file to find out why. Check the log file even if the import seems to have succeeded. Select Append (default) to add the log file information is at the end of the existing log file. If yo do not need a log file, select No.
Display log file	Select With external viewer to display the log file in a text editor. Select On dialog to create a separate list dialog in which the file can only be viewed. If you do not want to display the file, select No.
Log file name	Enter the log file name or browse for an existing log file.
Position number type	The SDNF file contains identifiers that can be included in a part’s user-defined attributes, or used as part position numbers. Select Part position if you want the identifier to become the part’s position number. Do not use the Pos_No option with this option. Select Universal ID if you want the identifier to become a user-defined attribute for the part. For file imports from PDS or PDMS then the Universal ID option is the normal case. To make user-defined attributes visible in the dialogs, you need to add them to the objects.inp file.
Plantview tab
Material	Select the material grade.
Report tab
Create report	Set to Yes to create a report.
Display report	Set to Yes to display the report.
Report template	Select the report template.
Report file name	Enter the report file name or browse for a report file. If you do not give the report any other name, the report is saved with the name import_revision_report.rpt in the model folder.
Advanced tab
Action when objects status is (compared to)	Previous plan lists the objects in your model, compared with the objects in the file to be imported. They can be New, Modified, Deleted, or Same. Tekla Structures compares the state of imported objects with those in your model. They can be Not in model, Different, or Same. Use the options under Not in model, Different, and Same to specify the actions when importing changed objects. The options are No action, Copy, Modify, or Delete. Usually there is no need to change the defaults.

Re-import a CAD model

Sometimes you have already imported a model, but because of some changes, you need to re-import it.

The profile and material conversion files need to be the same as defined in the original model import.

Open Tekla Structures and a model where you have already imported an existing CAD model.
On the File menu, click Import > CAD.
Select the import type in the Type list.

For CAD models, this will generally be for SDNF format files only.
Enter a new name for the imported model in the Name box.

The total path and filename cannot be longer than 80 characters. If the total path is too long, a message is displayed saying "File name and path is too long. Please, place the file into another directory." Also, if you use the same name as in the original import, Tekla Structures gives the warning message "Illegal name for import model."
Click the Properties... button and ensure that the profile material conversion files on the Conversion tab are the same as adopted in the original model import.
Go to the Advanced tab and define the actions Tekla Structures takes when importing changed objects:
- The left-hand column, Previous plan, lists the state of the objects in your model, compared with the state of objects in the file to be imported. They can be New, Modified, Deleted, or Same.
- The objects can be Not in model, Different, or Same.
- Use the list boxes in the rows under Not in model, Different, or Same to specify the actions to take when importing changed objects. The options are No action, Copy, Modify, or Delete.
  
  You can select Delete only for Deleted objects. You can only use Delete to delete objects that have been deleted from your model, not from the imported model.
- Normally, default settings would be used by most users.
Create reports on the Report tab to compare the various imports.
Click OK or Apply.
Click Import in the Import models dialog to import the updated model.

Export a CAD model

Note:

Before you start an SDNF export, check that the advanced option XS_SDNF_CONVERT_PL_PROFILE_TO_PLATE has been set to FALSE in the Export category of the Advanced options dialog. This does not convert plate profiles to contour plates, but handles the profiles as beams in the export.

Open a Tekla Structures model.
On the File menu, click Export > CAD.

The Export CAD dialog opens.
Enter the paths to the required conversion files on the Conversion tab, enter the parameters on the Parameters tab, and depending on the export format, define the settings on the SDNF or XML tab.

For more information about the export settings, see the "CAD export settings" section below.

The PML format is no longer supported.
Select the parts in the model to export.
Click Apply and Create.

Tekla Structures creates the export file in the current model folder.

CAD model export settings


Setting	Description
Conversion tab
Profile conversion file Material conversion file Twin profile conversion file	Define the conversion files you want to use. Conversion files map Tekla Structures profile and material names with names used in other software. For more information about conversion files, see Conversion files.
Parameters tab
Output file	The file name of the exported file. You can also browse for the file.
Type	Select the export format: HLI, SCIA, SDNF, PDMS, SDNF (PDMS), XML
Origin X, Origin Y, Origin Z	Define the origin coordinates to place the exported model in a specific location.
PML tab: this format is no longer supported
SDNF tab
SDNF version number	Select the SDNF version to be used in the export. With StruCAD, use SDNF version 2.0.
Apply cuts and fittings	Select Yes (default) applies cuts and fittings in the export.
Position number type	The SDNF file contains identifiers, which can be included in a part’s user-defined attributes, or as position numbers. You have the following options: Part position The identifier becomes the part’s position number. Do not use the Part Pos_No fields with this option. Assembly position The identifier becomes the assembly’s position number. Universal ID The identifier becomes a user-defined attribute for the part. To make user-defined attributes visible, you need to add them to the objects.inp file.
Consider offsets	To ignore the offset records during export, select No, and to take them into account, select Yes. This setting does not affect the actual start and end point information, only the offset. Tekla Structures writes the start and end points based on the actual solid object, not on the reference line.
PDMS phase offset	PDMS phase offset defines phase offset for exported parts. For example, if the first phase in Tekla Structures model is 1 and you enter 10 for phase offset, Tekla Structures parts in another software get the phase from 11 and up.
Engineering Firm	Enter the name of the engineering company.
Client	Enter the name of the client.
Structure ID	Enter a unique identification number for the exported model.
Project ID	Enter a unique identification number for the exported project.
Revision Number	Enter an optional revision number. Tekla Structures takes the revision number from the user-defined attributes (REVISION_NUMBER) of the model. If this field is blank, Tekla Structures uses a revision number from the Export CAD dialog (Revision Number).
Issue Code	Tekla Structures writes an issue code in the header section of the output file. For PDMS, this value should always be "Tekla Structures".
Design Code	Define the design code to be used in structural design.
XML tab
Units	Specify unit conversions (MM, M, IN, FT). For example, for a Tekla Structures model created using millimeters, select IN to convert all part dimensions to inches in the output file.
XML structure ID	Unique identification number for the exported model. You must always enter the identification ID. Tekla Structures uses this value to identify the model if you re-export it.
XML structure name	The unique name of the exported model.