Project and firm folders
Project and firm folders are meant for storing customized files. Customized files can include custom ribbons, drawing styles, profile and material catalogs, or any other settings that you want to store for future use.
You can use the same files each time you start a new model or install a new version of Tekla Structures.
Folder | Typical contents |
---|---|
Firm |
Settings that are used on the company level, such as company logo and drawing standard. Use the firm folder and its sub-folders to store customized files for the entire organization or company. The settings and files in the firm folder are meant to be used in all projects within the company. For example, let's say you regularly work for a company that has specific drawing layout standards it expects you to use. Customize the drawing templates once for the company and save them in the firm folder or in a sub-folder of the firm folder. You can then use the customized drawing templates for all future projects for that company. |
Project |
Settings that are used on a specific project. Use the project folder and its sub-folders to store customized files that are only used in a particular project. A project might consist of several models done by separate teams in different locations. You can save project-specific files and settings in the project folder, so that everyone in the project can use them. A project might also consist of one model that is shared by different companies. |
Property files are always saved in the \attributes folder under the current model folder, such as \TeklaStructuresModels\<my_building>\attributes. We recommend that you copy these files to the project or firm folder, or to user-defined sub-folders under the project or firm folder.
Benefits of the project and firm folders
Using project and firm folders to store your customized settings makes it easier to update company settings, ensure that everyone uses the same settings in a project, and upgrade to a newer version of Tekla Structures.
Tekla Structures does not replace files in the project and firm folders when you install a new version. You can retain your customized files without having to copy and paste, or export and import from the previous versions. Using project and firm folders makes upgrading faster and easier. When you store files in one place, it is also easier to update the settings and ensure that everyone in a project uses the same settings. Using project and firm folders also allows you to easily revert back to the default settings because your customized settings do not overwrite any of the system files.
Example:
In the current project, 123_project_ABC, you have set up the properties for a concrete column, and saved them as column_ABC. To make these saved settings available for everyone working in the 123_project_ABC project:
-
Copy column_ABC.ccl from the \attributes folder under the model folder to the \123_project_ABC project folder or on your file server, or to a user-defined sub-folder under the \123_project_ABC project folder.
-
Ensure that everyone in the project has the correct path for the
XS_PROJECT
advanced option in the .ini file.
Advanced options for defining the project and firm folders
Project and firm folders are defined by the XS_FIRM
and XS_PROJECT
advanced options.
To use the saved settings in a firm
and a project folder, set the path to the folder by using the XS_PROJECT
and XS_FIRM
advanced options. These advanced options should be put in the
initialization, .ini, files. You can have
several different .ini files. You can define in
the Tekla Structures shortcut which .ini files to run and which
settings to apply.
It might be useful to create a startup shortcut on your desktop that contains all necessary folders for each project.
Changing an advanced option value in .ini files located outside the model folder does not affect the existing models. You can only update advanced options in the Advanced Options dialog box or in the options.ini file located in model folder; not from an options.ini file located in folders defined for the advanced options XS_FIRM or XS_PROJECT. The .ini files are read also when you open an existing model, but only new advanced options that do not exist in options_model.db or options_drawings.db are inserted, for example, such options that are not yet in the Advanced Options dialog box but have been added in the software.
Create a project or firm folder
The firm and project folders are usually located network folders or on a shared file server that all users at the company can access.
If you use Tekla Model Sharing projects, you can use a folder in the linked Trimble Connect project as the project or firm folder.
- Create an empty project or firm folder in a shared location.
- In Tekla Structures, go to the File menu and select .
-
In the File locations category, define the path to the firm or project folder as the value of
the
XS_FIRM
orXS_PROJECT
advanced option. - Restart Tekla Structures for the change to take effect.
Example of using a firm folder
This example shows how to set up a firm folder, and set the value of the XS_FIRM
advanced option so that Tekla Structures uses
the settings in the firm folder.
Fixed sub-folders in project and firm folders
Some files need to be stored in particular, or fixed, sub-folders under project and firm folders. If the files are not stored in these folders, Tekla Structures cannot read the files. See the files which should be stored in fixed sub-folders in the following table.
XS_FIRM or XS_PROJECT sub-folder |
Further sub-folders and necessary files |
See also |
---|---|---|
|
Use this
folder to store additional property set configuration files
for IFC export in the |
|
|
Use this folder to store:
|
|
|
Use this
folder to store 2D drawing details as Note that to
see the drawing details stored in the
\Drawing Details sub-folder under a
firm or project folder in Tekla Structures:
|
|
|
This
sub-folder has the following sub-folders:
Note that
macros are primarily read from the folder defined by the
|
|
|
This
sub-folder can have the following sub-folders:
|
|
|
This folder
has the following sub-folders:
|
|
|
Use this
folder to store customized property pane layouts in the
|
|
|
Use this
folder to store:
Note that
symbols are primarily read from the folder defined by the
|
|
|
Use this
folder to store graphical templates used in drawing layouts
as Note that
templates are primarily read from the folder defined by the
In the same
way, the These advanced
options can point to any folder, not just the This folder
also contains the following sub-folders:
|