To do

Create a standard file and possible other pre-created attribute files for users.

Text alignment in texts and marks

• There is now text alignment available for marks and associative notes.
• Update the standard files.

New option in advanced grid labels

The Advanced grid label properties dialog box now contains a new option Align to lines. When you select Yes , the labels of vertical and skewed grid lines are rotated to align with the grid lines.

For more information about grid labels, see Customize drawing grid labels.

Dimensioning rules

You can now define different dimension line settings (Overall, Shape, Hole, Recess, Filter, Secondary parts and Grid) for each side ( Top , Bottom , Left and Right ) in the Dimensioning rule properties dialog box. To do this, clear the new Same on all sides check box. Previously, two separate settings were available (vertical and horizontal).

PDF reports

PDF report options are read from the settings files with the name report.PdfPrintOptions.xml. The settings file can be present in any location where PdfPrintOptions.xml files are normally searched for. This allows the embed fonts option to be enabled for languages that require it. If no such files are present, the default hard coded options are used.

If you want to have PDF reports to have embedded fonts for better support for special characters (or other options enabled), save the settings from the Print Drawings dialog box with the name report (creating a file report.PdfPrintOptions.xml ) and move it to an XS_PROJECT , XS_FIRM , or XS_SYSTEM folder.

For more information see Create a .pdf report template.

Analysis model properties

There are changes in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.

• Bracing member filter is a new filter. This group should contain parts that will have the Keep axis: no and Snap only to primary members setting.
• Check if the existing Secondary member filter needs to be localized.

New Tekla Structural Designer UDAs

TSD Member Type , TSD Slab Type , and TSD Wall Type UDAs have been added to Tekla Structural Designer UDA tab in \Environments\common\inp\objects.inp. You can use that file as an example if \common\inp\ is not defined in XS_INP.

\Environments\common\inp\objects.inp , with the additions in bold:

tab_page("TeklaStructuralDesigner")
{
  unique_attribute("TSD_PART_MARK", "j_Mark", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") 
  {
    value("", 0)
  }
  unique_attribute("TSD_TOTAL_STUDS", "j_No_of_Studs", integer, "%d", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") 
  {
    value("", 0)
  }
  unique_attribute("TSD_TRANS_REINF", "j_Transverse_Rebar", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") 
  {
    value("", 0)
  }
  unique_attribute("TSD_EW", "j_Effective_Width", float, "%d", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") 
  {
    value("", 0)
  }
  unique_attribute("TSD_STATUS", "j_Integration_Status", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") 
  {
    value("", 1)
  }
   unique_attribute("MBR_TYPE", "TSD Member Type", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") { value("", 2) } unique_attribute("SLAB_TYPE", "TSD Slab Type", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") { value("", 2) } unique_attribute("WALL_TYPE", "TSD Wall Type", string, "%s", no, none, "0.0", "0.0") { value("", 2) } 
}

Advanced options

Advanced options for DX visualization

• SSAO on/off: XS_SHOW_SHADOW_FOR_PERSPECTIVE is on by default.

  Controls whether shadows are shown in DX views when the perspective mode is on.

• SSAO on/off: XS_SHOW_SHADOW_FOR_ORTHO off by default.

  Controls whether shadows are shown in DX views when the orthogonal mode is on.

• FXAA (anti aliasing) on/off: XS_USE_ANTI_ALIASING_IN_DX on by default.

  Controls whether anti-aliasing is used in DX views or not. Anti-aliasing makes the edge lines smoother, but also less precise.

• Hatching for overlapping surfaces: XS_HATCH_OVERLAPPING_FACES_IN_DX on by default. The option has been renamed, the previous name was XS_OVERLAPPING_SURFACES.

  Controls whether hatching is shown in DX views for overlapping surfaces or not.

• Performance statistics: XS_SHOW_STATISTICS_IN_DX off by default.

  Controls whether performance statistics are shown in DX views or not.

Advanced option for improved mark placement

Marks are now automatically placed according to the new mark placing algorithm if the new model-specific advanced option XS_MARK_INTELLIGENT_PLACING is set to TRUE (default).

The new placement tries to avoid crossing leader lines, and also places marks otherwise more clearly. The new algorithm applies to all marks and associative notes, except weld marks.

Advanced options for construction object line type

There are new advanced options to control the construction object line type:

• XS_CONSTRUCTION_CIRCLE_LINE_TYPE

  The default value is 1.

• XS_CONSTRUCTION_LINE_LINE_TYPE

  The default value is 2.

The values range from 1 to 5: 1 = solid and 2 - 5 = dotted lines.

Other added advanced options

• XS_IGNORE_CROSSBAR_LOCATION_IN_REBAR_MESH_NUMBERING

  Use to ignore the crossbar location when considering geometrical differences between rebar meshes in numbering, for example, meshes with crossing bars above are considered equal to otherwise similar meshes with crossing bars below.

• XS_AD_ANALYSIS_PLANES_ENABLED

  The default value is TRUE.

  The method Tekla Structures uses to create analysis models has been improved in version 2018. If you open an existing model with analysis models in Tekla Structures 2018, and activate an analysis model, Tekla Structures recreates the analysis model using this new method.

  If you need to revert to the analysis model creation method used in Tekla Structures 2017i and previous versions, set the advanced option XS_AD_ANALYSIS_PLANES_ENABLED to FALSE. This advanced option is model specific.

Changes in advanced options

• XS_CS_CHAMFER_DIVIDE_ANGLE works again for sketched profiles.

Template editor

CopyField improvement

Earlier you could only get the values of sum using the CopyField command, before it was calculated. If CopyField can get a value from the same component as it is in, then that value is used.

• Now it is possible with CopyField to copy the actual output value. Previously, you could only copy the field formula and use that to calculate the value.

• If CopyField can get a value from the same component as it is in, then that value is used.

• If CopyField is used in a header or page header, then the value is searched from the subsequent components.

• If CopyField is used in a footer or page footer, then the value is searched from the preceding components.

• If CopyField is used in a row, then the value is first searched from the previous components and if not found, then the value is searched from the following components.

Advanced options available in Template editor

Add the following line into tpled.ini in \<environment>\template\settings as the last line:

@\..\..\..\common\env_global_default.ini

Miscellaneous

Compare phase in numbering

It is now possible to compare phases in numbering. Update the standard files if needed. The parts in different phases will never get the same numbers with the Phase setting selected.

Construction objects

Construction objects can now be assigned a phase, and they can be filtered by construction object type and phase. This way you can hide only some of the construction objects at a time.

Snap symbol to circle center points in drawings

• Setting XS_ADD_SNAPPING_SYMBOL_TO_CIRCLES to TRUE will now show center point snap symbols for circular part cuts in drawings.
• General arrangement drawings are not affected, as this may cause a performance hit.

Surface object attributes

Surface object attributes are now available for the IfcCovering entity type in additional property sets.