Tiled surface treatment

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Tiled surface treatment

Tekla Structures includes complex tile and brick surface treatment options, such as basketweave and herringbone patterns. Tiled surface treatment options are based on repeating tile patterns that are stored in XML format.

The tile pattern surface treatment are available in Surface treatment properties if you have set the Type to Tile surface.

Note:

This section is for advanced users.

Define a new tile pattern

  1. Copy the TilePatternCatalog.xml file to your firm, project, or model folder.
    The file is located under the \ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments folder. The exact file location may vary depending on the folder structure of your environment files.
  2. Open the copied file using any text editor.
  3. Add a new <TilePattern> element to the file.

    The <TilePattern> element must have <HOffset> and <VOffset> elements and at least one <Tile> element. Other elements are optional.

    Tip:

    You may find it easier to copy one of the existing elements, and then modify it to suit your needs.

  4. Repeat adding <TilePattern> elements for all the patterns you want to define.
  5. Save the TilePatternCatalog.xml file.

Example tile pattern definition

This example explains how the Basketweave tile pattern is defined in the TilePatternCatalog.xml file.

The Basketweave pattern block is made up of eight tiles:

(1) Tile width

(2) Mortar width

(3) VOffset

(4) HOffset

(5) Red marks indicate TileOrigin. Angle value for vertical tiles is 90.

(6) Tile height

(7) Mortar height

The pattern is repeated in the x and y direction of the surface treatment, starting from the origin of the surface treatment. You can run the pattern in different x directions:

In the TilePatternCatalog.xml file, the pattern is defined as follows:

(1) Name of the pattern

(2) Size of the pattern block in the x direction, after which the pattern repeats

(3) Size of the pattern block in the y direction, after which the pattern repeats

The definition file uses the same symbols as the Surface treatment properties:

Tile pattern definitions

The predefined tile patterns that are available in the Surface treatment properties are stored in the following files:

File Description

TilePatternCatalog.xml

  • Contains the tile pattern definitions.
  • Located under the \ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\environments folder.

TilePatternCatalog.dtd

  • Document Type Declaration (DTD) file that defines the elements allowed in the TilePatternCatalog.xml file.
  • Located in the same folder as the TilePatternCatalog.xml file.

Thumbnail images

  • The images that appear in the Pattern section in the Surface treatment properties.
  • Located in the ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\Bitmaps folder.
  • File names identify the pattern types. For example, herringbone.bmp illustrates the herringbone pattern type.

Tile pattern elements

The TilePatternCatalog.xml file can contain the following elements:

Element Description

TilePatternCatalog

The container for tile patterns. Required.

TilePattern

Tile pattern element. Required. This element can contain the following elements listed in this table.

HOffset

Horizontal offset of the tile pattern. Required.

VOffset

Vertical offset of the tile pattern. Required.

Tile

The individual tiles used in a tile pattern. At least one required.

Color

Color of the tile or mortar, defined by the RGB values (0–255). Optional.

Parameter

Creates an attribute for any element in the TilePattern. Optional.

Label

The label that identifies a parameter in the Surface treatment properties. Optional.

TileOrigin

The origin of an individual tile, defined from the origin of the pattern. Optional.

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