Create drawings using rule sets or wizards in Master drawing catalog

Tekla Structures
2024
Tekla Structures

Create drawings using rule sets or wizards in Master drawing catalog

In the Master drawing catalog, you can create single-part, assembly and cast unit drawings using predefined rule sets, and multidrawings using predefined wizards. You can also create your own rule sets.

Limitation: In the Master drawing catalog, you can create multidrawings only by using file-based wizards and general arrangement drawings using saved settings. You cannot create rule sets for multidrawings or general arrangement drawings.

For more information about adding master drawings to Master drawing catalog, see Customize Master drawing catalog.

Create drawings using a rule set or wizard

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Master drawing catalog.
  2. Select a rule set or a wizard file from the list.
  3. If needed, modify rule set properties or wizard file contents by double-clicking the rule set or wizard.
  4. If needed, edit the drawing properties of the master drawing connected to the rule set. To do this, double-click the rule set, select the master drawing from the list and click Properties... > Edit drawing properties.... Remember to save your changes.
  5. Select the whole model or desired parts.
  6. Do one of the following:
    • If you selected parts, click Create drawings (Alt+C).

    • If you selected the whole model, click Create drawings for all parts (Alt+A).

  7. Number the model if you are asked to do so.

Tekla Structures creates the drawings and adds them in the Document manager. Click the Document manager button on the Master drawing catalog toolbar to open the Document manager.

Note:

If you already have a drawing with the same type and mark, Tekla Structures will not create a new one.

Example - Create a new rule set and drawings for all parts

The following example will go through creating a basic rule set that will create assembly and single part drawings based on the names of the parts in the model.

The model used here is a very simple model consisting of two columns with a beam in between, base plates and end plates. The parts are named BEAM, COLUMN and PLATE.

Before setting up a rule set in the Master drawing catalog, you need to have some saved settings (drawing properties) and some selection filters that link the drawing properties to the parts in the model.

Create selection filters

You need to have filters that select the beams, columns and plates.

  1. Click the selection filter button on the Selecting toolbar or press Ctrl+G to open the Object Group - Selection Filter dialog box.

  2. Click Add row and add a selection filter for the beams as shown below, saving it as DRAWING_BEAM.

  3. In the same way, create selection filters for columns and plates, saving them as DRAWING_COLUMN and DRAWING_PLATE.

    The new filters are displayed in the selection filter list.

  4. Close the Object Group - Selection Filter dialog box by clicking Cancel.

The new filters will be saved in the model folder. If necessary, copy them to the necessary folders, for example, to the firm or project folders.

Create saved settings (drawing properties)

Next you need to modify the drawing properties and save them so that they are displayed as saved settings in the Master drawing catalog. The saved settings are created separately for single-part drawings and assembly drawings.

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > Assembly drawing and create properties for a beam and a column drawing.
  2. Give a descriptive name for the drawing in the Name box, for example, BEAM for the beam properties and COLUMN for the column properties.
  3. Save the properties as DRAWING_BEAM and DRAWING_COLUMN.
  4. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > Single-part drawing and create some single-part drawing settings for a beam shaft, column shaft and plates.
  5. Give a descriptive name for the drawing in the Name box, for example, BEAM SHAFT for the beam shaft properties, COLUMN SHAFT for the column shaft properties and PLATE for the plate properties.
  6. Save the settings as DRAWING_BEAM_SHAFT, DRAWING_PLATES and DRAWING_COLUMN_SHAFT.

Create a rule set

Now that you have created the necessary selection filters and saved settings, you can create a rule set that automatically creates single-part and assembly drawings for beams, columns and plates.

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Master drawing catalog.
  2. Click the Define rule set button on the toolbar.
  3. In the Define Rules for Creating Drawings dialog box, select the drawing types you want to create with the rule set and click Next.

    In this example, select Single-part drawings and Assembly drawings.

  4. In the Define Rules - Single-Part Drawings dialog box, click Add group and select the filters and the corresponding single-part drawing saved settings.
  5. Under Object group select the three new filters, and under Master drawing, select the three new saved settings.

    The (S) after the master drawing name indicates that its type is saved setting.

  6. Click Next.
  7. In the Define Rules - Assembly Drawings dialog box, Add group and select the filters and the corresponding assembly drawing saved settings.

  8. Under Object group select the two new filters, and under Master drawing, select the two new saved settings.

  9. Click Next.
  10. Give the rule set a name (Rule Set: Column+Beam+Plate), description and keywords.

  11. Use Browse next to Preview Image and add a sample image for the master drawing.
  12. Click Finish when you are done.

Create all drawings using the rule set

Now you can create drawings using the new rule set.

  1. In the Master drawing catalog Search view, enter your search criteria in the box next to the Search button and click the button.

    In this example, column beam plate is entered. Tekla Structures finds the newly created rule set.

  2. Right-click the rule set and select Create drawings for all parts.

    Tekla Structures starts creating the drawings. When the drawings have been created, a message is displayed indicating the number of created drawings, in this case six drawings were created.

  3. To check which drawings have been created, click the Open drawing list toolbar icon to open the Document manager.

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