Conversion files

Conversion files (.cnv) map Tekla Structures profile, twin profile, and material names with names used in other software.

Conversion files are simple text files, containing the Tekla Structures name in the first column, and the name used in the other software package in the second column. Columns are separated by a space. All parametric profiles must be entered in the profile conversion file.

You can use the same conversion file both when importing and exporting models, and you can specify the location of conversion files in most of the import and export tools.

If you enter a conversion file name without a path, Tekla Structures searches for the file in the current model folder. If you leave the box empty, Tekla Structures searches for the file indicated by the advanced option XS_PROFDB in File menu > Settings > Advanced options > File locations. This is also the case, if the tool does not allow you to define the path and conversion file.

Tekla Structures has several conversion files in the standard installation, and you can also create your own. Standard conversion files are located in the \profil folder under the environment folder ...\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments\ folder. The exact location may vary depending on your environment. All conversion files have the .cnv extension.

Note that these instructions do not apply to all export and import types. If a tool has specific instructions regarding the conversion files, the instructions are included in the export or import instructions.

Create conversion files

You can create your own conversion files if the ones that come with Tekla Structures installation do not suit your needs.

Open an existing conversion file using any standard text editor.

By default, conversion files are located in the \profil folder under the environment folder...\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments\. The exact location may vary depending on your environment.
Save the file with another name.

If the export/import tool allows you to define the path to the conversion file, you can save the file where you like. If this is not the case, save the file in a location defined by the advanced option XS_PROFDB in File menu > Settings > Advanced options > File locations.
Modify the file: enter profile names recognized by Tekla Structures in the first column, and the corresponding name recognized by the other software in the second column.
While modifying, ensure that:
- You do not have blank material definitions (" ", empty quotation marks).
- You do not have spaces in the profile position strings. For example, enter "Hand_ Rail" not Hand Rail".
Save your changes.
Note:
- All the three files (profile, twin profile and material) are not needed if the differences in the profile name is just concerning * X or x formats, because these are normally handled automatically. For example, if you wanted to import UC254x254x73 to be UC254*254*73, the lower case "x" is automatically changed to "X" so the format of the conversion file would be UC254*254*73 254X254X73.
- If you have problems importing the model, check any error messages in the Tekla Structures log file, and check the conversion files.

Example

Below are some examples of conversion files:

SDNF

! Profile name conversion Tekla Structures -> SDNF

!

! If Converted-name does not exist, it will be the same

! as Tekla Structures-name.

! Tekla Structures-name Converted-name

C10X15.3 C10X15.3

C10X20 C10X20

C10X25 C10X25

C10X30 C10X30

C12X20.7 C12X20.7

C12X25 C12X25

C12X30 C12X30

C15X33.9 C15X33.9

C15X40 C15X40

C15X50 C15X50

C3X4.1 3X4.1

DSTV

! Profile name conversion Tekla Structures -> DSTV

!

! If Converted-name does not exist, it will be the same

! as Tekla Structures-name.

! Tekla Structures-name Converted-name

C10X15.3 C10X15.3

C10X20 C10X20

C10X25 C10X25

C10X30 C10X30

C12X20.7 C12X20.7

C12X25 C12X25

Below there is first an example of an incorrect conversion file and then of a correct one, errors are highlighted:

00100782 4 0 2 "brace" "Tread 4" 1 "TREAD4.5" "" 0.000000 0 0 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000 16.250000 13.154267 3.857143 15.500000 13.154267 3.857143 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

00100782 4 0 2 "brace" "Tread_4" 1 "TREAD4.5" "A36" 0.000000 0 0 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000 16.250000 13.154267 3.857143 15.500000 13.154267 3.857143 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Twin profile conversion files

Tekla Structures contains separate conversion files for twin profiles, and it reads the twin profile conversion file before the profile conversion file, so you must include the profiles from the original model in the import.

The twin profile conversion file is a text file containing the profile prefix (characters only) and the distance between the profiles in mm, separated by a space. Tekla Structures converts all profiles with the specified prefix to twin profiles.

The twin profile conversion file could be named twin_profiles.cnv and it could contain lines such as the one below:

DL 20

The distance between the profiles is the same for all profiles with the same profile prefix. For example, profiles with the prefix DL will always have the same spacing. If you want different spacing values, then you need to use a different profile prefix.

You also need to add the twin profile to the profile conversion file to get the DL profile converted to L-profile:

L200*20 DL200/20-20

Limitations

Twin profile conversion cannot be used for profiles that start with a number. This means that you cannot define double angles as 2L. Instead, you need to use DL as the prefix for a twin profile, for example: DL200/20-20.
Twin profile conversion does not work for FEM import. We recommend that each angle is modeled separately rather than as twin profiles, as SP3D does not control the gaps between members in the same way as Tekla Structures and there are, for example, various conversion and mapping difficulties. Ii is easier to convert members that are modeled as two members.