Tekla StructuresRelease Notes

Product version 21.1August 2015

©2015 Tekla Corporation

Contents

1 Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes...............................................................31.1 New user interface language: Korean.................................................................................... 41.2 Contacting Tekla Support - new features..............................................................................41.3 New Applications and Components catalog...........................................................................41.4 Macros, applications and plugins available in Applications and Components................... 81.5 Locking and unlocking model objects using Phase Manager............................................... 91.6 Improvements in numbering.................................................................................................. 101.7 New option for showing welds in model views....................................................................101.8 Improvements in connecting analysis parts......................................................................... 111.9 Text file improvements in drawings...................................................................................... 111.10 Feet - new unit in drawing dimensions................................................................................121.11 View-level dimensioning improvements...............................................................................131.12 New Copy > Linear... command in drawings........................................................................141.13 Drawing snapping improvements.......................................................................................... 151.14 Hidden part hatches in drawings.......................................................................................... 151.15 Pour drawing improvements.................................................................................................. 151.16 Revision mark improvements in drawings............................................................................171.17 Copy with offsets - new shapes supported..........................................................................181.18 Changes in printing settings files and their search order.................................................. 181.19 Organizer improvements........................................................................................................ 181.20 Task Manager improvements.................................................................................................221.21 Reference model improvements............................................................................................ 221.22 NC files - new options........................................................................................................... 241.23 IFC improvements................................................................................................................... 251.24 New version of Sketchup reference model import............................................................. 261.25 Tekla Structural Designer integrator in Tekla Structures installation..............................261.26 BVBS export changes............................................................................................................. 261.27 Unitechnik export (79) - new options and other improvements...................................... 271.28 Template attribute changes...................................................................................................281.29 Advanced option changes...................................................................................................... 311.30 New extensions available in the Applications and Components catalog..........................321.31 Concrete component improvements..................................................................................... 331.32 New and improved product guides....................................................................................... 35

2 Tekla Structures 21.1 Fixes............................................................................36

2

1 Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes

Reading tip: You can browse the release notes by using the table of contents or downloadthe release notes as a PDF in Tekla User Assistance.

Tekla Structures version 21.1 is an intermediate version, and contains many new features andfixes.

To see the fixes released in Tekla Structures 21.1, see Fixes in Tekla Structures 21.1 andService Releases.

Compatibility

We suggest that you complete any unfinished models using your current Tekla Structuresversion.

WARNING Several different versions of Tekla Structures may coexist on your computer.When you create or save a model in Tekla Structures 21.1 , you can only open itin Tekla Structures 21.1, not in older versions of Tekla Structures.

Installing

Tekla Structures setup creates a new subfolder for Tekla Structures 21.1.

You need Windows Administrator rights to install Tekla Structures 21.1.

NOTE Tekla Structures 21.1 uses .NET Framework 4.5.1, which will be installed on thecomputer together with Tekla Structures if it is not already installed. .NETFramework 4.5.1 can also be installed from Microsoft Download Center.

Tekla Open API Release Notes

To learn about the improvements in Open API development, see the Tekla Open API ReleaseNotes that are included in the Tekla Open API Startup Package. You can download the TeklaOpen API Startup Package from Tekla Warehouse.

Extensions

You can use extensions to expand the capabilities of Tekla Structures. These tools can bedeveloped and enhanced rapidly. The extension helps are available through the Extensionspage in Tekla User Assistance. You can browse and download extensions in Tekla Warehouse(requires login).

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 3

1.1 New user interface language: KoreanTekla Structures is now available also in the Korean language.

To change the language of the user interface, click Tools --> Change Language . Afterchanging the language, restart Tekla Structures for the change to take effect.

1.2 Contacting Tekla Support - new features

The Contact Tekla Support tool now always contains the Model Sharing category in thesubject list on the Message tab. You can now log files both from within the model folder andelsewhere. Log Files was added as a new category in the Files list on the Attachment tab.

The following files are now included:

TeklaStructures_<username>.logTeklaStructures_<username>.errUserFeedbackLog.txt

1.3 New Applications and Components catalogThe Component Catalog has been renewed in Tekla Structures 21.1. The new Applicationsand Components catalog is located in the Tekla Structures side pane. The Applications andComponents catalog contains all system components and custom components, and themacros, applications and plugins that were previously located in Tools --> Macros . Sketchedprofiles are now located in the Profile Catalog.

Click the Applications and Components button in the upper-right corner of the TeklaStructures main window to open the Applications and Components catalog. You can alsopress Ctrl + F.

What is included in the Applications and Components catalog

The Applications and Components catalog is organized to two different types of groups. Thegroups are shown against different background colors in the catalog.

• Default groups are automatically available:

• Recent contains the 12 components and applications that have most recently beenused in the model.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 4 New user interface language: Korean

• Ungrouped items contains the components and applications that are not in anypredefined group.

Ungrouped items can be, for example, imported components that have not beenmoved to any other group yet.

• Applications contains applications, macros and drawing plugins.

• Connections contains connections and seams.

• Detailing contains detailing components.

• Details contains details.

• Parts contains custom parts.

• Legacy catalog shows the folder structure of the Component Catalog used inprevious Tekla Structures versions if Component Catalog catalog definition files arefound in the standard folder search paths.

• Depending on your environment, the catalog may also contain predefined groups forspecific usage, such as Steel > Beam to Beam connections. You can create your owngroups according to your needs, for example, your own favorite connections.

Working with the Applications and Components catalog

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 5 New Applications and Components catalog

1 Default groups are automatically available and they cannot be modified.

You can hide and show the groups and their content in the catalog.

If you create your own macros, you can add them to the Applications group.

2 Predefined groups depend on your environment. You can create more groups andsubgroups, and add content to the groups.

• To create a group, right-click on the groups in the catalog and select New group.

• To add content to a group, select a component and drag it to the new group orright-click a component, click Add to group and select the target group.

3 You can search in the catalog using component numbers, names, descriptions, andtags, and combinations of these.

4Click to change the view to the thumbnail view.

The button changes to in the thumbnail view. Click to changeback to the list view.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 6 New Applications and Components catalog

5Click to change the view between the normal view and the compact view.

6 Click Show selected to show the Selected components group that contains thecomponents that are selected in the model.

To hide the group, click the Show selected button again.

7 You can show and hide groups and individual components in the catalog.

1. Right-click a group or a component and select Hide / Unhide.

2. To view the hidden group or component again, select the Show hidden itemscheck box at the bottom of the catalog.

This shows the hidden item as dimmed.

3. To show the hidden group or component normally, right-click it and select Hide /Unhide.

8 The message log shows a list of errors and warnings. The Display message log buttonis shown only if there are errors or warnings, for example, in the catalog definitionfiles.

9Click to access the advanced features. You can undo and redo catalog changes,expand and collapse groups, add and record macros, and import .uel files.Administrators can also modify catalog definitions.

Adding descriptions, tags and thumbnails for components

Each component has an information box that shows the type of the component, the groupsthe component belongs to, and a default thumbnail image that shows a typical situationwhere the component can be used. You can add a description for the component and tagsthat can be used in the search. To show the information box, select a component in the

catalog and click the small arrow on the right. Click to add tags.

Components can have multiple thumbnail images. To add a thumbnail, right-click acomponent in the catalog and select Thumbnails.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 7 Macros, applications and plugins available in Applicationsand Components

1.4 Macros, applications and plugins available in Applications andComponentsMacros, applications and plugins that were previously located in Tools --> Macros are nowlocated in the new Applications and Components catalog in the Tekla Structures side pane.

To work with applications:

1. Click the Applications and Components button in the upper-right corner of theTekla Structures main window to open the Applications and Components catalog.

2. Click the arrow next to Applications to open the applications list.

• You can run an application by double-clicking it in the Applications group.

• By right-clicking an application you can do some of the following, depending on the typeof the application, and whether the application is a system application or a userapplication:

• Move an application to another group in the Applications and Components catalog.

• Rename an application or save the application with another name.

• Add or change an application thumbnail.

• Delete an application.

• Hide an application.

• Edit a macro.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 8 Macros, applications and plugins available in Applicationsand Components

• You can add a new macro or record a macro by clicking the Access advanced features

button and using the command New macro or Record macro.

1.5 Locking and unlocking model objects using Phase ManagerIn Tekla Structures 21.1, you can lock model objects by using Phase Manager. This is usefulwhen you want to protect model objects from being accidentally modified or deleted.

The Phase Manager dialog box now has two new buttons, Lock objects and Unlock objects.You can use these buttons to lock and unlock objects, such as parts, bolts, welds, andreference models according to their phase in a Tekla Structures model.

When you click the Lock objects button, Tekla Structures sets the user-defined attributeLocked to Yes for the objects in the selected phases.

When an object is locked, you cannot modify its properties or delete it. You can only changethe object’s user-defined attributes that do not affect numbering. If you try to modify ordelete a locked object, Tekla Structures displays the following warning message:

"There are locked objects, see report. The operation could not be performed."

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 9 Locking and unlocking model objects using Phase Manager

1.6 Improvements in numberingThe numbering of objects in overlapping numbering series has been improved.

When numbering series overlap, Tekla Structures no longer allocates same numbers todifferent objects. In Tekla Structures 21.1, only one of the objects that would haveoverlapping numbers is numbered, and the other objects are left unnumbered.

Tekla Structures warns you about series overlaps. View the numbering history log to checkwhich numbers overlap, and then adjust the numbering prefixes and start numbers so thatthe series will not overlap anymore.

1.7 New option for showing welds in model viewsTekla Structures 21.1 introduces a new option that you can use when you define how weldsappear in model views.

In addition to Fast and Exact, you can now select Exact - no weld mark for welds in theDisplay dialog box.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 10 Improvements in numbering

The Exact - no weld mark option shows welds as solid objects but does not display the weldsymbols, nor the weld marks when you select welds.

1.8 Improvements in connecting analysis parts

Tekla Structures now connects two parts in an analysis model, even when the correspondingphysical parts do not collide or when there is no connection between them, if both of thefollowing criteria are met:

• Either of the parts uses the physical part reference line as the analysis axis (theReference axis option).

• The analysis axes of the parts intersect.

Also, when Connectivity is set to Manual for an analysis part, the tolerance for finding partsto be connected has now been increased.

1.9 Text file improvements in drawings

Rich text support

You can now import files in the .rft format with the command Annotating --> Add Text--> From Text File . Previously, only .txt files were allowed.

The following formatting settings used in the text file are preserved in Tekla Structures:

• You can use basic formatting in the text: colors, bold and italics.

Tekla Structures colors will always be shown correctly. If you use in the text file a colorthat is not supported in Tekla Structures, then the closest Tekla Structures color will beused.

• You can change the font of the whole text or a part of the text.

• You can use bulleted lists and numbered lists. Nested lists are not supported.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 11 Improvements in connecting analysis parts

Adjustable text object frame

You can adjust the size of the text object frame by dragging the handles on the frame:

• If you select Scale to fit as the scaling type and change the text frame size by draggingfrom the handles, the text does not wrap, and the font size changes automatically sothat the text fits the frame.

• If you select No scaling as the scaling type, the text wraps when you change the size ofthe frame by dragging the handles, so that it fits the frame. The font size does notchange. The minimum width of the box is defined by the longest word.

1.10 Feet - new unit in drawing dimensions

The unit feet is now available in drawing dimension properties. This improvement applies tothe following dialog boxes:

• Units list in object level dimension properties dialog boxes in drawings

• Units list in the properties dialog boxes of manual dimensions in drawings

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 12 Feet - new unit in drawing dimensions

• Dimensions in tags: Units list on the Drawing dimensions page of the Options dialogbox

• Units list in general arrangement dimension properties on drawing and view level

• Units list in the Level dimension properties dialog box

You can also save dimension properties using feet, and use the saved properties in certainviews in single-part, assembly and cast unit drawings.

1.11 View-level dimensioning improvements

Dimensioning surface treatment

You can now dimension surface treatment using the Filter dimensioning method. First youneed to create a drawing view filter using the following criteria, for example: Object -Object type - Equals - Surface treatment , and then create a Filter dimensioning ruleusing the created surface treatment filter.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 13 View-level dimensioning improvements

Hole and recess dimensioning

Hole and Recess dimensioning methods earlier regarded a hole or recess being a round onewhen the cut was created using part profile D. Now also cut parts created with profiles ELD,ROD, EPD, O, PD and TUBE are treated as round cuts.

1.12 New Copy > Linear... command in drawingsNow you can create multiple copies of an object in the same linear direction also in drawingsusing the new Copy > Linear... command. Using this command you can copy rectangulars,lines and circles, for example. You can give the direction for copying and the number ofcopies.

The new Copy --> Linear... command is located on the Edit menu in drawings, and alsoselectable from a pop-up menu when you have selected a drawing object that can be copied.To create multiple copies linearly, you need to:

1. Select a drawing object.

2. Click Edit --> Copy --> Linear... .

3. Pick two points in the drawing, or enter the coordinates in the dX and/or dY boxes.

4. Enter the number of copies to create.

5. Click Copy.

6. To stop copying, press Esc.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 14 New Copy > Linear... command in drawings

1.13 Drawing snapping improvements

Snapping to dimensions and marks

A new snap switch was introduced in drawings to differentiate annotation geometry andpart geometry. The new snap switch snaps to annotation geometries only, for example,dimension lines, frames, and texts.

Removed snap switches

Snapping options 3d/Plane/Auto and View plane/Work plane were removed from drawingsnap switches, because they only have effect on the model.

Perpedicular snapping

Perpendicular snapping now also works while you are dragging objects.

1.14 Hidden part hatches in drawings

Drawing hatches have been improved in the following ways:

• Part face hatches that are hidden behind other part faces are no longer drawn.

• You can use the new advanced option XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_FACES ( Tools --> Options--> Advanced Options --> Drawing Properties ) to control whether you want to drawhidden hatched faces or not. Set this advanced option to TRUE to draw hidden hatchedfaces. The default value is FALSE.

1.15 Pour drawing improvementsIn version 21.1, the Tekla Structures general arrangement drawings are able to present pourobject geometry. Previously, you could only show parts and pour breaks. The pour drawingscan be used for communicating the sequencing of the pours, and the properties of the pourobjects and pour breaks. Tekla Structures now allows you to use different colors and fills inthe different pour objects, and add marks and associative notes to pour objects. You canselect and inquire the pour objects, and produce pour reports.

Like before, pours are enabled in a model if the advanced optionXS_ENABLE_POUR_MANAGEMENT is set to TRUE. In the default environment, pours are onlyenabled in the Concrete Contractor role.

WARNING All users in a project must have the same settings when sharing a model withother users in multi-user mode or through Tekla model sharing. If the pours areenabled in the model, do not disable the pours using XS_ENABLE_POUR_MANAGEMENT, especially in the middle of the project.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 15 Hidden part hatches in drawings

This may cause problems if you have drawings containing pours, and if you aresharing your model. The pours and pour breaks in the model and in thedrawings may get invalid, and you may lose pour-related modeling work.

Pour objects

The geometry of the pour objects is presented as monolithic concrete. The pour objects canbe presented in plan, section and 3D drawings. Tekla Structures shows the pour objectgeometry in general arrangement drawings exactly like it has been modeled: overlaps andextra outlines vanish if the parts collide, have the same concrete material grade, have Cast inplace as the Cast unit type, and have the same pour phase.

To show pour objects in an open general arrangement drawing:

1. Double-click the drawing background to open the drawing properties dialog box.

2. Click View to open the view properties dialog box.

3. On the Attributes tab, set the new option Show pours in drawing to Yes.

4. Click Modify.

The general arrangement drawing properties and view properties dialog boxes also contain anew button Pour object for controlling pour objects.

You can define and modify pour object properties on drawing, view and object level. You canuse different colors, line types and fills in different pour objects.

Pour object marks

The general arrangement drawing properties and view properties dialog boxes now contain anew button Pour object mark for controlling pour object marks.

Using the new pour object marks, you can show information related to pour objects, forexample, pour number, pour type, material grade, planned pour start date and the name ofthe pour team. You can add automatic pour marks before creating the pour drawing, and addand modify pour object marks also in an open drawing on view and object level.

Predefined pour drawing properties and templates

In the default environment, the Concrete Contractor role now contains some predefineddrawing properties, a couple of traditional report templates, and an organizer report templatefor pours. Your own environment may also contain some predefined drawing properties, andtemplates for pours. For examples of pour drawings and pour reports, see Examples of pourdrawings and pour reports.

Examples

In the image below, you can see two pour objects colored differently, each having a pourobject mark. The pour break can be seen between the pour objects, it is represented by asymbol. In this example, the pour break is marked with an associative note.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 16 Pour drawing improvements

1.16 Revision mark improvements in drawings

• Drawing revision marks now have a new mark type Without Arrow.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 17 Revision mark improvements in drawings

• Now all the revision mark frame types work correctly. Previously only part of the frametypes worked.

1.17 Copy with offsets - new shapes supported

The Copy with offsets command on the Drawing tools toolbar ( Applications andComponents --> Applications ) now supports also polylines, polygons and rectangles. Earlieronly lines and circles were supported.

1.18 Changes in printing settings files and their search order

Tekla Structures now searches for <user>_PdfPrintOptions.xml from the<model>\attributes folder and for PdfPrintOptions.xml from folders definedfor the advanced options XS_PROJECT, XS_FIRM and XS_SYSTEM, in that order, anduses the first file found. Changes that you make in the printing dialog box are saved in the<user>_PdfPrintOptions.xml in the model\attributes folder to handlemultiuser mode.

1.19 Organizer improvements

Using colors to visualize the content of Object Browser groups in the model

You can now use colors to visualize the content of Object Browser groups in the model. Thecolors are included in color sets that you can create and modify on the Colors tab in

Organizer Settings . You can include a color set in a property template so that theproperty template always uses certain colors.

Note that the color visualization is for viewing purposes. You cannot save the colors in themodel or in Object Browser.

1. In Object Browser, first click and select Group to show the grouping row.

2. Then drag the needed properties to the grouping row.

3. Click again and point the Color set option.

4. Select a suitable color set to assign colors to the groups.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 18 Copy with offsets - new shapes supported

The objects are visualized in the model using the assigned colors.

Creating automated subcategories in Organizer

You can now define automated subcategories for custom categories in the categoryproperties dialog box. The dialog box has a separate section for automated subcategory rules.

You can also create automated subcategories by right-clicking a custom category inCategories and selecting Create automated subcategories. The command opens the

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 19 Organizer improvements

category properties dialog box with the section for automated subcategory rules opened.Previously, the command was named Create tree by property.

Define the subcategory rules in the Automated subcategories section:

• Add property template columns or properties to the rule boxes. Once you add a column ora property to a rule box, Organizer adds a new empty subcategory level to the properties.

• Use the grouping shown in Object Browser:

a. Click in Object Browser and select Group.

b. Drag the needed properties to the grouping row.

c. Then click Grouping in Object Browser in the category properties.

If you use Object Browser grouping to create subcategories, you cannot add anyproperty columns or properties to the rule boxes.

Organizer creates the subcategories when you save the category properties.

Managing manual changes in categories

You can now view in Object Browser how each object has been included in the category, orwhy it is not included. Objects can be included in categories either automatically based oncategory rules, or you can add and remove them manually.

1. Select a custom category to show the objects of the category in Object Browser.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 20 Organizer improvements

2. Click and select Manage manual changes.

Organizer places a purple frame around Object Browser and Categories, and adds aStatus column to Object Browser. Each object in the category has a status icon thatshows the status of the object in the selected category. The object may have a differentstatus in another category.

•

The object has been automatically added to the category based on the category rules.

•

The object has been automatically added and manually removed from the category.

•

The object has been automatically added to the category and manually added to thecategory.

•

The object has been manually added to the category.

•

The object has been manually removed from the category.

You can change the status of the object. Right-click the object in Object Browser and selectto add or remove the object, or to remove the manual changes of the object.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 21 Task Manager improvements

1.20 Task Manager improvements

Default values in Task Settings

You can now define, save and load default values for the scheduling mode, tracking mode

and dependency settings in > Task Settings. The default values are used for all newtasks. You can change the default values in the task properties of individual tasks.

New option for Tracking mode

The Tracking mode setting has a new option, Automatic:

• If there are no objects in the task, Automatic works in the same way as the Manualtracking mode.

When you use the Manual mode, define the actual schedule and the task completenessfor the task in Task Manager.

• If there are objects in the task, Automatic works in the same way as the Linked toobjects tracking mode.

When you use the Linked to objects mode, define the actual start and end date ofindividual objects in the object properties. Task Manager calculates the task length andthe task completeness.

1.21 Reference model improvements

Reference assembly filtering category

A new category was added to filtering: Reference assembly. It inspects the filtered objectand all the objects above it in the reference hierarchy to find matches for the wantedproperties. If any level matches, the object passes the filter.

There is one difference to native objects: if you have an Assembly filter and you filter a part,the part's properties are not included in the filter. For instance, you may have set the partFabrication Date to 9 May 2015 and the assembly Fabrication Date to 15 May 2015. If youfilter for assemblies whose Fabrication Date is 9 May 2015 and you give the part to the filter,it will not accept the part. However, in reference objects the part itself is included and thefilter would accept the part.

LandXML - new import format

You can now import LandXML reference models to Tekla Structures. The supported contentsof LandXML files are terrain models, line alignments of roads and railways, and rain watersystems. You can export files in .xml format from applications like Bentley InRoads,Autodesk Civil, and Trimble Business Center, and import the .xml files in Tekla Structures asreference models.

An example of an imported LandXML reference model:

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 22 Reference model improvements

An example of layers in a LandXML reference model:

Faster drawings

In version 21.1, it is significantly faster to create and open drawings that contain referencemodels.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 23 NC files - new options

1.22 NC files - new options

Number of decimals in NC files

The new option Number of decimals on the Advanced Options tab in the NC File Settingsdialog box controls the number of decimals shown in the exported NC files. This optionimproves the accuracy when converting the values between imperial and metric units.

Curve detection

New options Curve detection and Chord tolerance are now available on the AdvancedOptions tab in the NC File Settings dialog box. When Curve detection is set to Yes, TeklaStructures checks the edges against a virtual curve described by the edges to see if the edgesare curved or straight based on the Chord tolerance value. The chord tolerance is given inmillimeters, and the default value is 10.

Placing hard stamps

• You can now select the side on which to place the hard stamps using the new optionSide. The possible values are Auto, Front, Top, Behind and Bottom.

• You can also place the hard stamps by orientation mark by setting the new Byorientation mark to Yes. This changes the default face from bottom (u) to top (o) for L-profiles, rectangular tubes, and round bars. This option replaces the advanced option XS_HARD_STAMP_BY_ORIENTATION_MARK.

Changing the contour curve radius sign

There are two new options for changing the contour curve radius sign on the AdvancedOptions tab in the NC File Settings dialog box:

• Change external contour (AK block) radius sign on top (o) and back (h) faceschanges the AK block curve radius signs for top (o) and back (h) faces.

• Change internal contour (IK block) radius sign on top (o) and back (h) faces changesthe IK block curve radius signs for top (o) and back (h) faces.

These two options can now be set differently for certain profiles only. They were earlieravailable as advanced options XS_DSTV_CHANGE_AK_BLOCK_RADIUS_SIGN and XS_DSTV_CHANGE_IK_BLOCK_RADIUS_SIGN that you could set in an .ini file.These advanced options have been removed.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 24 NC files - new options

Below is an example, where the Change external contour (AK block) radius sign on top (o)and back (h) faces is not selected.

Below is an example, where the Change external contour (AK block) radius sign on top (o)and back (h) faces is selected.

Edge distance in contour marking

The Contour marking settings now include a new option Edge distance. This option definesthe minimum distance from a contour mark to the edge of the main part. Tekla Structuresdoes not create contour marks inside this distance.

1.23 IFC improvements

IFC import

The most important improvements in version 2.21 of the IFC import plugin are listed below:

• The B-rep import is faster than before.

• The IFC import now supports the entity type ifcSectionedSpine, which enablesthe import of tapered parts.

• New checks and error handling have been implemented.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 25 IFC improvements

• Mapped openings are now imported.

• If the body geometry creation fails, it is shown as wire frame.

• The import no longer consumes as much memory as before.

• Openings that have multiple bodies are now imported.

• Parser string encoding was fixed.

IFC export

There are three new entity types in the the Property Set Definitions dialog box: IfcRamp, IfcRoof and IfcStair.

1.24 New version of Sketchup reference model import

The Sketchup import plugin for reference models has a new version 1.29. The most importantimprovement is that the Sketchup reference models are now drawn with textures. The newversion also includes other miscellaneous fixes.

1.25 Tekla Structural Designer integrator in Tekla Structuresinstallation

In Tekla Structures 21.1, Tekla Structural Designer integrator is a part of the Tekla Structuresinstallation. This means that you no longer need to download the Tekla Structural Designerintegrator from Tekla Warehousw when you select start the import or export by selecting File--> Tekla Structural Designer --> Import from or File --> Tekla Structural Designer -->Export to for the first.

1.26 BVBS export changes

BVBS export has been changed so that bars that have bendings with two or more variableradius values are exported fully conforming to the BVBS specification.

Earlier, the BVBS export has been writing the specific/larger radius (r###) bending and theleg length value (l###) combined into one bending operation. The most recent rendition ofthe BVBS specification says that radius element and leg elements are to be written separatelyand should never appear combined.

If this new interpretation of the BVSB standard causes compatibility issues within your ownenvironment and other tools using the BVBS files, you can still go back to the older way of

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 26 New version of Sketchup reference model import

exporting by setting the advanced option XS_BVBS_EXPORT_ARC_COMPATIBLE_TO_OLDER_METHOD to TRUE.

1.27 Unitechnik export (79) - new options and other improvements

Dialog box size

The Unitechnik export (79) dialog box is much smaller now. Earlier you could have problemswith showing the whole dialog box on laptops with smaller resolution, for example.

Main tab

• There is now one more option available for setting the name of the exported file.

• In Output file structures, you can now select the Combined, n slabdate, 1 part optionfor combined export. The export can contain more than one cast unit.

• In Create from, you can now select the cast units for export from a list using the Castunits in list option.

TS configuration tab

With the new option Export project coordinates: Yes, with swapped X axis and Y axis youcan swap the X and Y axis of the exported project coordinates.

Data specification tab

You can now export several UDAs at once in the SLABDATE block Info text options. You canuse the plus sign as a separator but you can also leave it out, for example:

commentcomment + ACNcomment ACN

comment + "-" + ACN + "text"comment + '-' + ACN + 'text'

Line attributes tab

Using the option Export angle of 1st and last vertical border you can now export an angleof cut at the first and last vertical border. The angle is exported in the SLABDATE block.

Reinf. data specification tab

You can now define which information will be exported for meshes exported as embeds. Youcan define the information in the Meshes block Info 1..2 text options.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 27 Unitechnik export (79) - new options and otherimprovements

Pallet tab

In the new Placing on pallet option, you can set the placing from the start or end on thepallet.

Project UDA

Project UDA is now available for the File name options on the Main tab, and for the Nameof order, Name of component, and Drawing number HEADER block options on the Dataspecification tab.

Template attributes

New options were added to export Template attributes in the Mesh, CAGE, SLABDATE andMOUNTPART blocks.

User-defined drawing attributes

Now the template fields also support user-defined drawing attributes, for example DRAWING.USERDEFINED.dr_comment.

1.28 Template attribute changesTekla Structures 21.1 contains some new template attributes, and improvements in theexisting ones.

New template attributes

CUSTOM.ELEMENT_WEIGHT

This new custom template attribute sums up net weights of all cast unit and subassemblyparts. It ignores all subassemblies whose main part MATERIAL_TYPE is STEEL. The CAST_UNIT.WEIGHT attribute takes into account the weight of all embeddedsubassemblies, such as lifting anchors and cable loops, which CUSTOM.ELEMENT_WEIGHT ignores.

The same weight is wanted to be reported

• Early in the project when only sample elements are detailed but the great majority of theelements is not.

• In the final stage of the project when all elements have been fully detailed.

CUSTOM.MESH_LENGTH_NET, CUSTOM.MESH_WIDTH_NET, CUSTOM.MESH_SIZE_NET

The following new template attributes are available for reinforcement meshes:

• CUSTOM.MESH_LENGTH_NET (distance)

• CUSTOM.MESH_WIDTH_NET (distance)

• CUSTOM.MESH_SIZE_NET (text)

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 28 Template attribute changes

All these attributes are calculated based on the mesh wires considering all cuts. The netlength is always the longer dimension of the mesh and the net width is the shorter. The netsize is always expressed based on net length and net width including the text for sizes andspacings. These attributes provide accurate results, whereas LENGTH, WIDTH and SIZE didnot do that in certain situations.

In Template Editor these custom attributes are located in the CUSTOM subfolder in theAttributes dialog box.

We recommend that you use these attributes instead of any other mesh attributes for sizecalculations in reports, templates, drawing mars and associative notes.

The difference between the new set of attributes and can be seen below.

Tekla Structures length inquiry gives the whole length, whereas the MESH_LENGTH_NETgives the length of the mesh itself:

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 29 Template attribute changes

Tekla Structures size inquiry gives the size so that it gives the height first and the width last.The new attributes will consider the longest side of the actual bars as the length direction,and the order of the bars in MESH_SIZE_NET is consistent. MESH_SIZE_NET reportsthe longest side first, for example, 20/8-100/200-5950/2950:

New perimeter template attribute

Added the template attribute perimeter for polygon plate parts.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 30 Advanced option changes

1.29 Advanced option changesThe changes in advanced options in Tekla Structures 21.1 are listed below.

New advanced options

XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_FACES

You can use the new advanced option XS_DRAW_HIDDEN_FACES ( Tools --> Options -->Advanced Options --> Drawing Properties ) to control whether you want to draw hiddenhatched faces or not. Set this advanced option to TRUE to draw hidden hatched faces. Thedefault value is FALSE.

XS_REBAR_USE_ALWAYS_METHOD_A_FOR_90_DEGREE_HOOK_DIMENSIONS

When set to TRUE, the SHLB/EHLB hook properties will have the same values as the SHLA/EHLA properties in case the hook angle is approximately 95 degrees or less. This advancedoption can be set in initialization files.

XS_COMPONENT_CATALOG_COMPACT_THUMBNAIL_SIZE

You can use this advanced option to adjust the size of thumbnails to between 16 and 96pixels in the compact view in the Applications and Components catalog. The default is 40pixels.

XS_COMPONENT_CATALOG_DO_REPORT_LEGACY_FILE_ISSUES

When set to TRUE, this advanced option enables the reporting of legacy component catalogissues to the message log in the Applications and Components catalog. This advancedoption is system-specific and is read from teklastructures.ini.

XS_COMPONENT_CATALOG_ALLOW_SYSTEM_EDIT

When set to TRUE, this advanced options enables you to edit the Applications andComponents catalog definition files that are located in the XS_SYSTEM folders.

Changed advanced options

XS_COMPONENT_CATALOG_THUMBNAIL_SIZE

You can now use this advanced option to adjust the size of thumbnails to between 16 and 96pixels in the normal view in the Applications and Components catalog. The default is 96pixels.

XS_REBAR_POSITION_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING

The XS_REBAR_POSITION_NUMBER_FORMAT_STRING advanced option now supportsthe following options:

• %PART_PREFIX%: The prefix of the position number of the part that contains thereinforcing bar.

• %PART_START_NUMBER%: The start number of the position number of the part thatcontains the reinforcing bar.

• %REBAR_PREFIX%: The prefix of the position number of the reinforcing bar.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 31 Advanced option changes

• %REBAR_SERIAL_NUMBER%: The position number without the prefix of thereinforcing bar.

• %REBAR_POS%: Use %REBAR_SERIAL_NUMBER% instead. Same as %REBAR_SERIAL_NUMBER%.

• %CAST_UNIT_PREFIX%: The prefix of the position number of the cast unit thatcontains the reinforcing bar.

• %CAST_UNIT_START_NUMBER%: The start number of the position number of thecast unit that contains the reinforcing bar.

Removed advanced options

XS_COMPONENT_CATALOG_COLLECTION_NAME_LENGTH

This advanced option was used to adjust the length of component names in the ComponentCatalog in previous Tekla Structures versions.

XS_PLOT_UNPLOT_BUFFER_SIZE

The XS_PLOT_UNPLOT_BUFFER_SIZE advanced option was removed because the plotbuffer size is no longer limited. All 3D view updates are now done at the end of operationsregardless of the amount of the objects changed. This improves the performance inoperations involving lots of objects, such as reference model insertion.

XS_THUMBNAIL_FONT

This advanced option was used to control the font used in the thumbnails in the ComponentCatalog in previous Tekla Structures versions.

XS_DSTV_CHANGE_AK_BLOCK_RADIUS_SIGN andXS_DSTV_CHANGE_IK_BLOCK_RADIUS_SIGN

These two advanced options have been replaced by the following new options in on theAdvanced Options tab of the NC File Settings dialog box: Change external contour (AKblock) radius sign on top (o) and back (h) faces and Change internal contour (IK block)radius sign on top (o) and back (h) faces.

XS_HARD_STAMP_BY_ORIENTATION_MARK

This advanced has been replaced by the new option By orientation mark on the Hard stamptab of the NC File Settings dialog box. This option allows you to place the hard stamps byorientation mark.

1.30 New extensions available in the Applications and Componentscatalog

The following extensions are now available in the Applications and Components catalog.

Rebar Coupler and Anchor Tools is a set of components that help to model and managereinforcing bar couplers that connect two bars and end anchors that are devices at theunreserved end of the bar:

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 32 New extensions available in the Applications andComponents catalog

• Rebar coupler

• Rebar end anchor

• Split rebar and add coupler

• Rebar end trimming

• Rebar Coupler and Anchor Tools: Update rebar attributes

In addition, the following precast extension are available in the Applications andComponents catalog.

• Wall to wall connection

• Wall groove seam detail

1.31 Concrete component improvements

Mesh Bars and Mesh Bars by Area

• You can now create splices on the new Splicing tab.

107202

• There is a new option Use bar end conditions around holes on the Bar end conditionstab.

• Yes: hooks are created around holes.

• No: hooks are created only to outer edges of the concrete slab or wall panel.

109793

• There are two new end hook types on the Bar end conditions tab:

• Free angle

• Double bent hook

108664, 106312

• On the Picture tab, there is a new option By direct modification arrow to manuallydefine the direction of the primary bars.

111856

• On the Detailing tab, there are new options to define the bar behavior at cuts.

109927

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 33 Concrete component improvements

• Height of the reinforcing bar hook is now selected correctly.

113408

• Reinforcing bars are now distributed correctly when you use the target spacing valueoption.

113405

• Reinforcing bar groups are now created as tapered only when necessary.

113406

Floor Layout

• When you add a new break line, it is considered as a polyline instead of a polygonalopening. The modification and the behavior of the new break line is slightly differentcompared to a polygon:

• You can modify the break line location by dragging the point handles of the breakline.

• You can modify the break line by dragging the line segments.

• You can delete an existing break line by selecting the line and pressing Delete or byclicking the delete icon on the toolbar.

• You can add new break lines by selecting the Add break line tool and picking thepoints of the line. Stop picking and click the middle mouse button to create the breakline.

• You can copy an existing break line by dragging the break line and holding down Ctrlwhile dragging and/or ending the drag.

• Break lines have additional offsets on both sides of the line. These offsets can bemodified similarly as the offsets at any edges of the exterior and/or openingboundary.

• You can change the numerical value of the offset by first selecting all the edges youwant to change and then right-clicking one of the selected edges. After clicking theOK button in the offset toolbar, the offset at all selected edges will be changed.

106475

• When you set the Create layer as option to Custom parts, you can now also select aplug-in or a system component that has two input points. Note that the rotation andpositioning options do not work in the same way as with parts or custom parts. The plug-in or system component attributes have to allow the control of correct positioning. Thepart width is controlled parametrically using the WIDTH property.

112664

Rectangular column reinforcement (83)

• There are new options for creating intermediate closed stirrups on the Intermediatestirrups tab. You can now also create stirrups as small as possible.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 34 Concrete component improvements

113152

• Rectangular column reinforcement (83) can now be used in wall objects.

113129

1.32 New and improved product guides

The following improvements have been made in the Tekla Structures product guides:

• In the Advanced Modeling Guide, the Task Manager instructions have been reorganizedand partly rewritten.

• The licensing guides Licensing Administrator's Guide, License Borrowing Guide andLicensing Quick Guide, have been updated, reorganized and partly rewritten.

Tekla Structures 21.1 Release Notes 35 New and improved product guides

2 Tekla Structures 21.1 Fixes

Fixes released in Tekla Structures 21.1:

Tekla Structures 21.1 release notes fix list

Fixes released in Tekla Structures 21.1 service releases and progress versions:

Tekla Structures 21.1 Fixes 36 New and improved product guides