Create points

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Create points

You can create points to make it easier to place model objects at positions where no lines or objects intersect.

There are many ways to create points in Tekla Structures. Which method is the most convenient at each time depends on what you have already created in the model and which locations you can easily pick.

When you create points, Tekla Structures always places them according to the work plane coordinate system. Points located on the view plane are by default blue and points outside the view plane are by default red. You can change the color of points in the point properties.

Create points on a line

You can create points at equal intervals along a line that is defined by two points.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > On line.

    The Divided Line Points dialog box appears.

  2. Define the number of points to be created.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Pick the start point of the line (1).
  5. Pick the end point of the line (2).

Create points on a plane

You can create several equally spaced points in the desired area in the model. The points are created in relation to the picked origin position.

A point array consists of several points in a rectangular xy(z) pattern relative to the current work plane. The x, y, and z coordinates of the points define the array pattern. The x and y coordinates are relative distances between the points on the work plane. The z coordinates are absolute distances perpendicular to the work plane.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > On plane.

    The Point Array dialog box appears.

  2. Define the array point coordinates.

    Use positive or negative values to define the direction of the array.

    Use a zero at the beginning of the row to represent a point in the array origin. Separate multiple values with spaces.

  3. Pick the origin of the array in the view.

    Alternatively, you can define the origin in the Point Array dialog box.

  4. Click OK.

Create points parallel to two points

You can create offset points that are parallel to a line between two points you have picked.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Parallel to two points.

    The Point Input dialog box appears.

  2. Define the distances at which the points are created.

    If you want to create multiple pairs of offset points, enter multiple values separated with spaces.

  3. Click OK.
  4. Pick the start point of the line (1).
  5. Pick the end point of the line (2).

    The picking order of the start point and the end point defines the offset direction of the new points.

    When you look from the start point to the end point, Tekla Structures creates the new points to the left of the picked points. If you enter negative values to the Point Input dialog box, Tekla Structures creates points to the right of the picked points.

    When you pick points, Tekla Structures uses arrows to indicate the offset direction.

    For example, if you enter 500 500 to the Point Input dialog box, the first pair of new points is created at a 500 mm distance from the picked points, and the second pair of points is created at a 500 mm distance from the first pair of points.

Create points along the extension line of two points

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Along extension of two points.

    The Point Input dialog box opens.

  2. Define the distances at which the points are created.

    Separate multiple values with spaces.

  3. Click OK.
  4. Pick the start point of the line (1).
  5. Pick the end point of the line (2).

    For example, if you enter 500 100 100 to the Point Input dialog box, the first point is created at 500 mm distance from the end point of the line, and the second and the third point are each created at 100 mm distance from the previous point.

Tip:

Enter a negative value to the Point Input dialog box to create a point between the start point and the end point.

Create projected points on a line

You can project a point onto a selected line or its extension.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Projected points on line.
  2. Pick the first point on the line (1).
  3. Pick the second point on the line (2).
  4. Pick the point to be projected (3).

Create points along an arc using center and arc points

You can create points along an arc.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Along arc using center and arc points.

    The Arc Points dialog box appears.

  2. Select either Angles or Distances and enter the angles or distances between the points along the arc.

    Give the angle values in degrees.

    Separate multiple angle and distance values with spaces.

  3. Click OK.
  4. Pick the center point.
  5. Pick the start point of the arc.

    Tekla Structures creates the arc points counterclockwise from the start point.

Create points along an arc using three arc points

You can create points as an extension of an arc.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Along arc using three arc points.

    The Arc Points dialog box appears.

  2. Select either Angles or Distances and enter the angles or distances between the points along the arc.

    Give the angle values in degrees.

    Separate multiple angle and distance values with spaces.

  3. Click OK.
  4. Pick three points along the arc (1-3).

Create points tangent to a circle

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Tangent to circle.
  2. Pick the center point of the circle (1).
  3. Pick a point on the circle to define the radius (2).
  4. Pick the end point of the tangent (3).
  5. Pick a side to indicate the side on which Tekla Structures creates the tangent point (4).

(1): Tangent point

Create points at any position

Note:

Snap switches determine the positions you can pick.

You can also use temporary reference points and numeric snapping to create a point, for example, to a certain distance from an existing corner or a point.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > At any position.
  2. Pick the intersection of two part edges (1), or the corner of a part (2).

Create bolt points

You can create points on the view plane at the center points of single bolts and bolt group bolts.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > Bolt points.
  2. Select a bolt or a bolt group.

Create points at the intersection of two lines

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > At intersection of two lines.
  2. Pick the start point of the first line (1).
  3. Pick the end point of the first line (2).
  4. Pick the start point of the second line (3).
  5. Pick the end point of the second line (4).

Create points at the intersection of a plane and a line

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > At intersection of plane and line.
  2. Pick three points to define the plane.
  3. Pick the first point of the line.
  4. Pick the second point of the line.

Create points at the intersection of a part and a line

You can create points where a line intersects with the surface of a part.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > At intersection of part and line.
  2. Select the part.
  3. Pick the first point of the line.
  4. Pick the second point of the line.

Create points at the intersection of a circle and a line

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > At intersection of circle and line.
  2. Pick the center point of the circle (1).
  3. Pick a point on the circle to define the radius (2).
  4. Pick the first point on the line (3).
  5. Pick the second point on the line (4).

(1): New points

Create points at the intersection of two part axes

You can create points where the axes of two parts intersect, and project the points onto the axis of the part that you select first.

  1. On the Edit tab, click Points > At intersection of two part axes.
  2. Select the first part (1).
  3. Select the second part (2).

    Tekla Structures projects the point onto the axis of the first part.

Import points

Note:

This is for advanced users.

You can import points to specific locations in an open Tekla Structures model using the Point Creation Import (8) component. You need to specify the point coordinates in a text file. In some cases this file is generated by another software package.

  1. Create a point import file.
    1. Create a text file that consists of single lines for each point.

      Use commas or tabs as delimiters for the three point coordinates on a line. For example:

      100,500,1000

      300,700,1500

    2. Save the file.
    Note:

    During the import process, Tekla Structures ignores all lines in the import file which do not consist of valid values delimited by tabs or commas.

  2. Click the Applications & components button in the side pane to open the Applications & components catalog.
  3. Enter point in the Search... box.
  4. Click Point Creation Import (8).
  5. Enter the ASCII file name.

    Include the full path and the file name extension (for example .txt). If you do not specify the path, Tekla Structures looks for the file in the current model folder.

  6. Define the origin of the imported points by entering the coordinates.
  7. Click Create.

Point properties

Use the Point properties to view and modify the properties of a point.

If you have customized the property pane layout, the list of properties may be different.

Setting Description

General

Color

Change the color of the points.

Note that if you change the point color, the changed color is not applied the next time you create points. The points are created using the default point color.

Location

X

Y

Z

The local (work plane) and global x, y, and z coordinates of a point. Indicates the correct location of the point.

Tip: You can change the point size in Adjust the display settings.
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