Sub structures are saved user-defined selection groups of any objects which can be of any size and mix of object types, materials etc. They can be viewed in isolation and used as filters for many areas of program operation. Using sub structures has multiple productivity benefits throughout the Tekla Structural Designer workflow, from model organization and editing through to results review, design and output.

The basic characteristics of Tekla Structural Designer sub structures are:

To create a sub structure from a Structural View

1. In the scene view, click or box around the members that you want to include in the sub structure.
2. Right click and from the context menu select Add to Sub Structure...
3. In the left hand pane of the dialog, all the selected objects are listed with on/off check boxes
   1. Uncheck any objects that you don't want to be included in the sub structure.
4. In the left hand pane of the dialog, choose an existing or new substructure, and if new, enter the sub structure name.
5. Click OK

To create a sub structure from the Project Workspace

6. In the Project Workspace open the Structure tree.
7. Expand the Sub Structures branch.
8. Right-click the Sub Structures sub branch, then in the context menu, select Create Sub Structure.
9. Review the sub structure properties in the Properties window.
10. In the Name field, type the name of the sub structure.
11. Select the color of the sub structure.
12. In the 3D view, click or box around the members that you want to include in the sub structure.
13. Press [Esc] when complete.

To create a sub structure from a Review View

14. On the status bar at the bottom of the window, click Review View.
15. On the Review tab, click Sub Structures.
16. Go to the Properties window.
17. Set Review/Update to Update Selected.
18. Set Update Sub Structure to - - New - -.
19. In the Name field, type the name of the sub structure.
20. Select the color of the sub structure.
21. In the review view, click or box around the members that you want to include in the sub structure.
22. Press [Esc] when complete.

To edit a sub structure from the Project Workspace

1. In the Project Workspace open the Structure tree.
2. Expand the Sub Structures branch, and then the Sub Structures sub branch within it.
3. Right-click the sub structure that you want to add to, or remove from.
4. in the context menu, select Edit.
5. Skip to step 7 below.

To edit a sub structure from a Review View

6. On the status bar at the bottom of the window, click Review View.
7. On the Review tab, click Sub Structures.
8. Go to the Properties window.
9. Set Review/Update to Update Selected.
10. In Update Sub Structure, select the sub structure that you want to modify.
11. In Selection Mode, select how you want to modify the structure.
12. In the review view, click or box around the members that you want to modify.

1. In the Project Workspace open the Structure tree.
2. Expand the Sub Structures branch, and then the Sub Structures sub branch within it.
3. Right-click the sub structure that you want to delete.
4. in the context menu, select Delete.

1. In the Project Workspace open the Structure tree.
2. Expand the Sub Structures branch, and then the Sub Structures sub branch within it.
3. Right-click the sub structure that you want to rename.
4. in the context menu, select Rename.
5. Enter the new name as required.

1. On the status bar at the bottom of the window, click Review View.
2. On the Review tab, click Sub Structures.
3. Go to the Properties window.
4. Set Review/Update to Review All.

   Tekla Structural Designer displays each sub structure in a different color.

1. In the Project Workspace open the Structure tree.
2. Expand the Sub Structures branch.
3. Right-click the Sub Structure Groups sub branch.
4. In the context menu, select Create Sub Structure Group.
5. Select the sub structures to be included in the sub structure group.
6. In the Properties window.
   1. In the User name field, type the name of the sub structure group.
   2. Select the color of the sub structure group.

1. In the Project Workspace open the Structure tree.
2. Expand the Sub Structures branch.
3. Double-click the sub structure.

   Tekla Structural Designer opens a 3D view of the selected sub structure.

   Tip: To open a solver view of the sub structure, right-click the sub structure, and select Open solver view.
4. Once the view has opened, a (Ghosted) button is displayed in the bottom right corner. Clicking this button toggles the display to either show just the sub structure, or the sub structure with a 'Ghosted On' view of the rest of the model.

You can toggle Ghosted on and off using the button.

Note: The Ghosted button is displayed in in the bottom corner of Sub Structure and Sub-model Views. It is also displayed in Level, Frame, and Slope Views when they have been toggled into 3D (via the 2D/3D toggle button).

• Ghosted off: the view is displayed in isolation.
  

• Ghosted on: the view is displayed in the context of the whole structure.