Layout Point Applicator

Not version-specific

Tekla Structures

Environment

United States (Imperial)

United States (Metric)

Purpose and description

This tool allows users to automatically add layout to Tekla objects and grid intersections. The user can create settings based on filters to allow layout points to be added. The tool will handle both edges and openings so slab openings can be handled differently than slab edge.

System requirements

Environments: Default, Usimp, Usmet
Languages: English

Installing Layout Point Applicator

To install the application:

Have Tekla Structures closed during installation.
Run the msi installation package downloaded from Tekla Warehouse.
Open Tekla Structures once installation is complete
Before version 2016:A new toolbar icon which will launch the tool should now be visible. 2016 version and newer: a new thumbnail under Ungrouped items in the Applications and components side pane will appear.

Using Layout Point Applicator

Part Geometry Tab

To use the application:

Click on the icon/thumbnail to open up the dialog box.
Create and Save or Choose saved settings from the dropdown.
On the Settings tab set up the corresponding fields as they should appear in the Layout Manager and how the layout points will be displayed in the model for that specific set of layout points.
On the Part Geometry tab define the desired settings
Choose the Conditions where you want to have the layout points added; options are either edges, openings, both or center.
On the Part Geometry tab choose what Part Face you want to have the layout points added; the options are Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Start, End or All. We will show some examples below.
Choose the Selection Filter that you may need to use. This allows you to have a filter created so there isn’t any need to select all of the objects to add layout points too. These filters are based off of your model selection filters.
On the Settings tab there is an option to allow duplicates so Tekla looks to see if there is already a layout point at each location. This will prevent doubling up of layout points. On the Settings tab there is an option to “Create Single Point”. This will manually create a layout point by clicking any location in the model using the layoutsettings currently applied.
Last option is to select to have the layout points created From Selected or From All. This gives you the option to create layout points on certain objects instead of all from a filter.
1. Slab Edges:
  
  Image
2. Slab Openings:

Anchor Bolts:

Pad Footings:

Strip Footings:

Rebar/Rebar Groups:

Grid Intersections

To use the application:

Click on the icon to open up the dialog box.
Create and Save or Choose saved settings from the dropdown.
On the Settings tab set up the corresponding fields as they should appear in the Layout Manager and how the layout points will be displayed in the model for that specific set of layout points.
On the Grid Intersections tab define the desired settings
1. Grid Separator – Value that separates the two grid labels. A dash ”-” is set by default. Users can leave it blank. Note if users use a /, it will not be exported from the Layout Manager into the export files. There are a limited number of special characters that can be used with point names. They are: _ ~ % ! @ # . = + -
2. Point Configuration – This dropdown provides three options for clustering points around a grid point location.
  1. Single – defines single point at grid point and gets labeled as the grid point (ie, A-1, B.1-1.3, etc). A point label suffix can be added into the interface if desired by entering text in the “Top” field.

Square – adds points at 4 corners around the grid point axis. A point label suffix can be added into the interface if desired using the “Top Left”, “Bottom Right”, “Bottom Left” and “Top Right” options. The Point Offset X, Y, and Z values are used to define the offsets.

Crossing – adds points at 4 sides around the grid point axis. A point label suffix can be added into the interface if desired using the “Top”, “Right”, “Left” and “Right” options. The Point offset X, Y, and Z values are used to define the offsets.

Offset X – offset from centerline in the X direction
Offset Y – offset from centerline in the Y direction
Offset Z – offset from the picked Z elevation.

Select grid system. Note that single grid lines are recognized, including the grids created from the polar grid array plugin and direct modification
If desired input an Offset Z elevation.
Points will be added to the grid intersections and labeled per the grid labels and suffixes set in the dialog box. The points can be viewed in the Layout Manager or in the model by adding the PointLabel text field into the View Properties>Display.NOTE – On the settings tab there is an option to define the “Name” which is the prefix of the point in the Layout Manager. The points will not get a number until you launch the Layout Manager. The Layout Manager will then number the points and if the view is refreshed, the new point labels will be visible.

Points appear as desired in model and in Layout Manager.

Additional information

The tool uses the Selection Filter from your model selection filters.
The tool can be used to create layout points on embeds, plates, columns, beams or anything that needs layout points. Working with all the faces and conditions will be able to speed up the process of inserting Layout Points.
If points are renumbered in the Layout Manager, they will overwrite the numbers applied with this application.
User can apply more than one scenario to a given grid system. For example if grid points are desired at the intersection and at quadrants, the tool can be applied twice with the different layout settings.
Grid Separator values set as a ”/” will not be exported from the Layout Manager to the .txt or .cnx export files. There are a limited number of special characters that can be used with point names. They are: _ ~ % ! @ # . = + -