Import changes from Tekla Structural Designer to an analysis model

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Import changes from Tekla Structural Designer to an analysis model

When you use Tekla Structural Designer as the analysis application, and you have analyzed, designed, and modified a model in Tekla Structural Designer, you can import the changes to Tekla Structures.

You can import the new parts created in Tekla Structural Designer, profile and material changes, design intent reinforcement, and other analysis results.

The location of the existing parts does not change in the Tekla Structures model even if you have moved the corresponding parts in Tekla Structural Designer.

If you want to import reinforcement, you need to have compatible versions of Tekla Structures and Tekla Structural Designer installed on your computer and access to the original Tekla Structural Designer file (.tsmd).

  1. Open the Tekla Structures model to which you want to import.
  2. On the Analysis & design tab, click A&D models.
  3. In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box:
    1. Select the analysis model to which you want to import.
    2. Click Get results.
  4. In the Tekla Structural Designer Import dialog box:
    1. Click the ... button next to Import file to browse for and select the file exported from Tekla Structural Designer.

      To import reinforcement, select the original Tekla Structural Designer model file (.tsmd). Rebar sets can be created for pad footings, strip footings, beams, columns, and walls. Meshes are not transferred.

    2. Select among the following grid options:
      • Import grids from import file: The grid lines from the import file will be imported into the Tekla Structures model. A grid line pattern will be created, and all the imported grid lines will be attached as individual grid planes to this pattern.
      • Delete existing Tekla Structures grids: Import will remove all grid lines/planes from the current Tekla Structures model.
    3. If you want to remove slab and wall openings in the Tekla Structures model that were previously imported from Tekla Structural Designer, select the Remove previously imported openings check box.
    4. Open the Location section and define to which location you want to import the model. Do one of the following:
      • In the X, Y, and Z boxes, enter offsets for the imported model from the global origin of the Tekla Structures model.

      • Click Pick and then pick a location for the import model datum point in the Tekla Structures model.

      You can also define a rotation.

    5. In the Rebars section, define whether the reinforcing bars are imported, and how they are imported.

      Note that the Rebars section and its options will become available only when you have selected a .tsmd file as the import file.

    6. To check the proposed profile, material grade, and rebar grade conversions, open the Conversions section and click the preview buttons.

      The import uses an internal conversion list containing the standard profiles and grades. If the profile or grade of any part cannot be converted using the internal conversion, the Tekla Structures name will be replaced with the following text in the Conversions tables:

      --- NO MATCH ---

    7. If the text --- NO MATCH --- is displayed, or if you want to override the standard conversion, you can convert the profiles, materials, and rebar grades in the following way:
      • Create a profile, material, and/or rebar grade conversion file in a text editor using the file name extension .cnv.
      • In the text file, enter the Tekla Structural Designer profile, material, or rebar grade name, for profiles the # symbol and the profile code, then the equal sign (=), and the corresponding Tekla Structures name.

        You may need help from your local Tekla support with this.

        In the rebar grade conversion file, list the size mappings for the grade on the rows underneath the grade name in the same way, indented by a tab.

      • In the Profile conversion file, Material conversion file, and/or Rebar conversion file boxes, specify the conversion files that you want to use for mapping profiles and grades.

        The Rebar conversion file box is only available if you have a compatible version of Tekla Structural Designer installed and a .tsmd import file selected.

      If the conversion files are not used, the parts with profiles or material grades that cannot be converted will still be created but they will use the import file profile or material grade that may be invalid.

    8. Select the Show model comparison tool check box at the bottom of the dialog box.
    9. Click Import.

      Model Comparison Tool shows all parts that are flagged as Added, Updated, Deleted, or Unchanged.

  5. In Model Comparison Tool, accept or reject changes as follows:
    1. Go to an appropriate tab: Added, Updated, Deleted, or Unchanged.
    2. To display the properties of an object, select the object from the list on the left.

      If the selected object has been updated or deleted, or has not been changed, the object is also highlighted in the model.

    3. To append the Tekla Structures object ID to the object name in the comparison tool list, select the Display part IDs check box.
    4. To reduce the amount of information displayed about the objects that have been updated, select the Only display changed fields check box.

      Only the values that have been changed are displayed instead of all the object properties.

    5. On the Added, Updated, and Deleted tabs, ensure that the check box after the object name is selected for each object (or object type) that you want to import or update.
    6. On the Updated tab, for each object to update, select the object from the list on the left, and then in the list of properties, select the Apply updates check box for each object property whose value you want to update.
    7. If you want to exclude the objects that did not previously exist in the Tekla Structures model but that are in the import file, clear the Add new objects check box.
    8. If you want to delete objects that currently exist in the Tekla Structures model but that are not in the import file, select the Delete current objects check box.

      If you clear this check box, no objects will be deleted.

    9. Click Accept changes to use the current settings and complete the import.

    The result of the import is shown in Process log in the Tekla Structural Designer Import dialog box, for example, the number of parts that have been imported, and any warnings or errors related to the import.

  6. Close the Tekla Structural Designer Import dialog box.
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