1. Tekla Structures User Meeting 2008 Custom Components By: Glen Hutchinson

2. Custom Component Quiz A. Column to Spandrel B. Column to IT Beam C. Spandrel to Double TeeD. Pad Footing to Column Position Type Endend Plane Middle Plane Collision Plane Box Plane

3. Answers

4. Custom Components Quiz Middle Plane A. Column to Spandrel

5. Custom Components Quiz Box Plane B. Column to IT Beam

6. Custom Components Quiz Collision Plane

7. Custom Components Quiz Endend Plane

8. Custom Components Agenda CC’s and Database Size ASCII Files Create an ASCII file CC.INP Backup CC Location Best Practices

9. CC’s & Database Size V13.1 < NameFormulaValueValue TypeVariable TypeVisibilityLabel in dialog box P11/2" LengthParameterShowJoint P24" LengthParameterShowLeft Side P31" LengthParameterShowRight Side D16" LengthDistanceHideD1.WS_DT_Right_Plates.CUTPART D26" LengthDistanceHideD2.WS_DT_Right_Plates.CUTPART2 D3=P31"LengthDistanceHideD3.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D4=P31"LengthDistanceHideD4.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D5=P24”LengthDistanceHideD5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D6=P11/2”LengthDistanceHideD5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL D7=P11/2”LengthDistanceHideD5.CUTPART.SHEAR_WALL x 2,000= 20,000 attributes

10. CC’s & Database Size V14.0 > On average, 5 are not default Store 10,000 Attributes 50% less

11. ASCII Files ASCII simple text file American Standard Code for Information Interchange Tab delimited Columns

12. ASCII Files NameThicknessWidthLength P1000.37544 P2000.37566 P3000.37588 P4000.544 P5000.566 P6000.588 Scenario 6 Plates, varying in size.dat

13. ASCII Demo

14. Parameters vs. ASCII Parameters = 11, Dist. = 2, Tot. = 13 ASCII = 6, Dist. = 2, Tot. = 8

15. Benefits of using ASCII Modifying the CC is much Easier Don’t have to mess with the.inp files Adding Variables, much easier The R&C are organized, table Less attributes in the model

16. Custom Component.INP Save a Custom Component an.inp Also a.inp.bak Useful when creating CC’s that contain pictures in them..inp.inp.bak

17. CC Location Model folders contain CustomComponentsDialogFiles All CC.inp and.inp.bak are stored

18. Best Practices Keep It Light Only Bind objects that you have to Keep intelligence to a minimum Keep It Simple Don’t detail every little thing Model only what you have to, so you can understand what the object is in the drawings.

19. Tips and Tricks Add a line separating the variables CC Edit the ***.inp located in CustomComponentsDialogFiles Change number Save ***.inp Reopen the Model

20. Tips and Tricks Protect CC’s with a Password Name = Password Type =Text Value = Your Password Cannot be edited without the Password

21. Thank You