Custom inquiry

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Custom inquiry

You can use the Custom inquiry command to display information about the selected model object in the side pane. You can define what information you want to display.

Use the Custom Inquiry tool

  1. Click the Custom Inquiry button in the side pane.

    Alternatively, you can click the down arrow next to on the ribbon, and then select Custom inquiry.

    The Custom Inquiry window opens in the side pane.

  2. In the Report type list, select the report template you want to use for showing the object information.
  3. Select a model object.

    Tekla Structures displays the object properties in the side pane.

    If you select several objects or object types, for example parts, bolts, and reinforcing bars, Tekla Structures displays the quantity of all the selected objects, regardless of the object types, or the report template used. For the object properties that differ, Tekla Structures shows Varies.

Define what information is shown by Custom Inquiry tool

You can define what information is displayed in the Custom Inquiry side pane window. You can add and modify report templates and the attributes in them.

  1. Click the Custom Inquiry button in the side pane.

    Alternatively, you can click the down arrow next to on the ribbon, and then select Custom inquiry.

    The Custom Inquiry window opens in the side pane.

  2. Click the button.

    The Manage contents dialog box appears.

    The Attributes list contains the attributes that are available by default. In the Calculated attributes area you can create your own attribute formulas. The Contents of Custom Inquiry list contains the attributes whose values will be displayed in the side pane.

  3. Define which report templates and attributes are available.
    • To modify an existing report template, select it from the top left-hand list in the Manage contents dialog box.

    • To create a new report template, enter a name in the box next to the button, and then click .

    • To modify the default attributes, edit the InquiryTool.config file.

      For example, you can change the units of the attributes.

    • To create a new calculated attribute, click the button below the Calculated attributes area. To modify a calculated attribute, double-click a cell in the Calculated attributes area. In the Attribute cell, type the name of the attribute. In the Equation cell, use attribute names and standard mathematical symbols (+, -, *, and /) to form equations.

  4. Define which attributes are shown in the Custom Inquiry side pane window.
    • To add more attributes to the side pane, select an attribute in the Attributes or Calculated attributes list and then click the button.

    • To remove attributes from the side pane, select an attribute in the Contents of Custom Inquiry list and then click the button.

    • To change the order of the attributes, use the buttons.

    • To change the formula of an attribute, click the down arrow and select a different formula (Sum, Average, Max, or Min) from the list.

  5. Click to save the changes.

Modify the default attributes in InquiryTool.config file

Use the InquiryTool.config file to control which attributes are shown as default attributes in the Manage contents dialog box in the Custom Inquiry tool.

Note:

This section is for advanced users.

Tekla Structures searches for the InquiryTool.config file in the following folders in the following order:

  1. \attributes folder in the model folder
  2. \CustomInquiry subfolder in the folder defined by XS_​PROJECT
  3. \CustomInquiry subfolder in the folder defined by XS_​FIRM
  4. \CustomInquiry subfolder in the folder defined by XS_​SYSTEM

If you specify several folders that have \CustomInquiry as a subfolder, Tekla Structures uses the first folder it finds.

To add new attributes to the InquiryTool.config file:

  1. Open the InquiryTool.config file in any standard text editor.
  2. Copy the entire contents of [ATTR_CONTENT_??] to the end of the file.
  3. Change the position number of the new attribute.

    For example, change [ATTR_CONTENT_??] to [ATTR_CONTENT_66].

  4. Modify the NAME, DISPLAY_NAME, DATATYPE, UNIT, and DECIMAL values of the new attribute. Use the attribute names and definitions that are included in the contentattributes_global.lst or contentattributes_userdefined.lst file.
  5. Change the TOTAL_ATTR_CONTENT value to reflect the total number of attributes in the file.

    For example, change TOTAL_ATTR_CONTENT=65 to TOTAL_ATTR_CONTENT=66.

  6. Save the file.
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