TplEdUsers Guide

Version 3.31February 2009

Copyright 2009 Tekla Corporation

2009 Tekla Corporation and its licensors. All rights reserved.

This Software Manual has been developed for use with the referenced Software. Use of the Software, and use of this Software Manual are governed by a License Agree-ment. Among other provisions, the License Agreement sets certain warranties for the Software and this Manual, disclaims other warranties, limits recoverable damages, defines permitted uses of the Software, and determines whether you are an authorized user of the Software. Please refer to the License Agreement for important obligations and applicable limitations and restrictions on your rights.

In addition, this Software Manual is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction, display, modification, or distribution of this Man-ual, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be

prosecuted to the full extent permitted by law.

Tekla, Tekla Structures, Xcity, Xengineer, Xpipe, Xpower, Xsteel, and Xstreet are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Tekla Corporation in the European Union, the United States, and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned in this Manual are or may be trademarks of their respective owners. By referring to a third-party product or brand, Tekla does not intend to suggest an affilia-tion with or endorsement by such third party and disclaims any such affiliation or endorsement, except where otherwise expressly stated.

Portions of this software:

Copyright 2000 Marc Alexander Lehmann

Copyright 1988-1996 Sam Leffler

Copyright 1991-1996 Silicon Graphics, Inc.

Copyright 1995-1998 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler

This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. Copyright 1991-1998, Thomas G. Lane.

DWGdirect, DGNdirect and OpenDWG Toolkit/Viewkit libraries 1998-2009 Open Design Alliance. All rights reserved.

Elements of the software described in this Manual may be the subject of patents and/or pending patent applications in the European Union and/or other countries.

Tekla Technology Tools and Kits are property of Tekla.

ContentsTPLED USERS GUIDE 5

Preface....................................................................................................... 17Audience ..................................................................................... 17Using this guide ........................................................................... 17New in this version ....................................................................... 18Related documentation................................................................. 19Style conventions......................................................................... 19Organization ................................................................................ 20

61 Introduction to Templates....................................................................... 231.1 What are templates? .............................................................................. 23

Graphical templates...................................................................... 24Textual templates ......................................................................... 24Output options.............................................................................. 24Using symbols and presentations in templates ................................ 25TPLED USERS GUIDE

How Tekla products use templates................................................. 251.2 Using data from a Tekla product.............................................................. 26

Content types............................................................................... 26Global attributes ........................................................................... 26Value field meanings .................................................................... 27

1.3 Template components and objects .......................................................... 27Template components .................................................................. 27Template objects .......................................................................... 28What are properties? .................................................................... 29

1.4 Using templates in Tekla products ........................................................... 30Template output process............................................................... 30From template file to material listing ............................................... 30From template file to map label ...................................................... 33From template file to hierarchical listing .......................................... 34

2 Using TplEd ............................................................................................... 352.1 Installing and running TplEd ................................................................... 35

Installation ................................................................................... 35Start TplEd .................................................................................. 36Start TplEd with advanced command line options ........................... 36Exit TplEd.................................................................................... 37TPLED USERS GUIDE 7

2.2 Introducing the TplEd user interface ........................................................ 38Main window................................................................................ 39Workarea .................................................................................... 40Content Browser .......................................................................... 40Preview Pane .............................................................................. 41Toolbars...................................................................................... 41Status bar.................................................................................... 44Pop-up menus ............................................................................. 44

2.3 Using the Content Browser..................................................................... 44View or hide the Content Browser.................................................. 44Float or dock the Content Browser................................................. 44Move in template hierarchy in the Content Browser ......................... 45Set object visibility in the Content Browser ..................................... 45Selecting components and objects in the Content Browser .............. 46Edit template through the Content Browser..................................... 46

2.4 Working with template windows .............................................................. 46Arrange template windows ............................................................ 47Pan............................................................................................. 47Zoom in or out ............................................................................. 47Restore original view .................................................................... 48

2.5 Setting drawing options .......................................................................... 48Draw several objects running with the same tool ............................. 48Draw with the grid ........................................................................ 49

2.6 Setting program preferences .................................................................. 49General preferences..................................................................... 50Workarea preferences .................................................................. 51File Location preferences.............................................................. 52

2.7 Selecting items in TplEd......................................................................... 55

8Selecting multiple components or objects ....................................... 55Selecting partially affected components or objects........................... 55

2.8 Using a presentation .............................................................................. 55

3 Working with Templates.......................................................................... 57TPLED USERS GUIDE

3.1 Creating a template................................................................................ 573.2 Creating, opening & saving template files................................................. 58

Create a new template file............................................................. 58Open an existing template file........................................................ 59Close a template file ..................................................................... 59Save a template file ...................................................................... 60Save template file with different name or location ............................ 60Work with multiple templates ......................................................... 61

3.3 Selecting templates, components & objects.............................................. 61Select template for editing ............................................................. 61Select component or object for editing ............................................ 61Select multiple components or objects............................................ 62Deselect templates, components or objects .................................... 62

3.4 Editing template properties ..................................................................... 62Open the template page property dialog ......................................... 63Edit page and margin settings ....................................................... 64View and add information .............................................................. 64Change template type................................................................... 65Set grid density ............................................................................ 65

3.5 Editing the output of a template ............................................................... 66

4 Working with Template Components ................................................... 694.1 Working with components ...................................................................... 704.2 Insert a component ................................................................................ 704.3 Working with a header and a footer ......................................................... 71

Use a header or footer.................................................................. 71Edit header or footer properties ..................................................... 71TPLED USERS GUIDE 9

4.4 Working with page headers & page footers .............................................. 71Use a page header or page footer ................................................. 72Edit page header or page footer properties..................................... 72

4.5 Working with rows ................................................................................. 72Use a row.................................................................................... 72Edit row properties ....................................................................... 74Filter unwanted lines out from output ............................................. 75Sort output lines........................................................................... 76Arrange rows ............................................................................... 76Use row hierarchy ........................................................................ 77

4.6 Editing template components.................................................................. 77Edit component properties ............................................................ 77Cut, copy or paste component....................................................... 78Delete a component ..................................................................... 78Crop template components ........................................................... 78Change the component type ......................................................... 79

4.7 Editing component properties ................................................................. 80Open the component property dialog ............................................. 80Edit name.................................................................................... 80Edit height ................................................................................... 80Edit the output options of component ............................................. 81Edit the content type of the row ..................................................... 81Edit the sort type of the row........................................................... 82Edit the visibility of the row ............................................................ 83Edit the column settings................................................................ 83Edit a row rule.............................................................................. 85Edit free attributes ........................................................................ 85

10

5 Working with Template Objects............................................................. 875.1 Insert an object ...................................................................................... 875.2 Drawing objects ..................................................................................... 88

Draw a line .................................................................................. 89Draw a polyline ............................................................................ 89Draw an arc ................................................................................. 90

5TPLED USERS GUIDE

Draw a circle ................................................................................ 90Draw a rectangle .......................................................................... 90Edit drawing object properties........................................................ 91

.3 Symbols and pictures ............................................................................. 91File formats TplEd can use ............................................................ 91Set default directories for symbols and pictures............................... 92Insert a symbol or picture .............................................................. 92Edit symbol properties .................................................................. 93Edit picture properties ................................................................... 94

5.4 Texts .................................................................................................... 95Insert text .................................................................................... 95Edit text properties ....................................................................... 96Edit text string .............................................................................. 97

5.5 AutoCAD and MicroStation files .............................................................. 97File versions TplEd can import....................................................... 97Import AutoCAD or MicroStation file ............................................... 97Edit imported images .................................................................... 99Set the way TplEd imports fill types ................................................ 99Set the way TplEd imports fonts................................................... 100Limitations in AutoCAD and MicroStation file imports ..................... 100

5.6 Value fields ......................................................................................... 101Insert a value field ...................................................................... 101Edit value field properties ............................................................ 103Get data from your Tekla product database .................................. 103Get data from other value fields ................................................... 104Set the data type of value field..................................................... 105Set sort order of a value field ....................................................... 105Set sort priority of value fields ...................................................... 106

Sum field values automatically .................................................... 106Edit value field formula ............................................................... 107Set output properties of a value field ............................................ 108

5.7 Graphical fields ................................................................................... 109Insert a graphical field ................................................................ 109Edit graphical field properties ...................................................... 110TPLED USERS GUIDE 11

Edit graphical field attribute ......................................................... 1115.8 Editing template objects ....................................................................... 112

Edit object properties.................................................................. 112Cut, copy or paste object ............................................................ 112Delete an object......................................................................... 112Duplicate an object..................................................................... 113Group or ungroup objects ........................................................... 113Align objects .............................................................................. 114Move an object .......................................................................... 114Resize or reshape an object........................................................ 115Rotate object ............................................................................. 116Align object to grid...................................................................... 116

5.9 Editing object properties....................................................................... 116Open the property dialog ............................................................ 117Set properties for new objects ..................................................... 117Edit name.................................................................................. 117Edit size .................................................................................... 118Edit line color, type and width ...................................................... 119Edit fill color and type ................................................................. 119Edit font color, type and dimensions............................................. 120Edit angle of text, value field or symbol ........................................ 121

5.10 Free attributes ..................................................................................... 122Add free attributes...................................................................... 122Edit free attributes ...................................................................... 124Delete free attributes .................................................................. 124

12

6 Working with Formulas and Rules ...................................................... 1276.1 Value field formulas ............................................................................. 127

Formula Contents dialog ............................................................. 128Check syntax ............................................................................. 129Cut, copy and paste text ............................................................. 130

6.2 Row rules............................................................................................ 130TPLED USERS GUIDE

Rule Wizard dialog ..................................................................... 131Rule Contents dialog .................................................................. 132Conditional structure................................................................... 135Comparison operators ................................................................ 136Logical operators........................................................................ 137Control functions ........................................................................ 137

6.3 Data functions ..................................................................................... 139Attribute functions....................................................................... 139Value field functions ................................................................... 140

6.4 Mathematical operations....................................................................... 142Arithmetic operators ................................................................... 142Trigonometric functions............................................................... 142Miscellaneous functions .............................................................. 143Statistical functions..................................................................... 144Data type conversions ................................................................ 145

6.5 String operations.................................................................................. 1466.6 Common tasks with functions................................................................ 148

Create a property listing .............................................................. 148Calculate total and intermediate sums .......................................... 149Output a row under a condition .................................................... 151

7 Template Conversion ............................................................................ 1557.1 Convert old template file....................................................................... 1567.2 Converting a folder of templates ........................................................... 157

Convert template folder .............................................................. 158Runtime messages .................................................................... 158Command line options ................................................................ 159TPLED USERS GUIDE 13

7.3 Conversion log file ............................................................................... 1597.4 Backup files ........................................................................................ 1607.5 When do warnings and errors occur? .................................................... 1607.6 Template conversion warnings ............................................................. 161

Template warnings..................................................................... 161Rules warnings .......................................................................... 161Margin setting warnings .............................................................. 162Object warnings ......................................................................... 163

7.7 Template conversion errors .................................................................. 164General errors ........................................................................... 165Corrupted files ........................................................................... 166Object errors.............................................................................. 166

7.8 Troubleshooting conversions ................................................................ 166What to do when you receive conversion warnings ....................... 167What to do when you receive conversion errors ............................ 167Symbols in template conversion .................................................. 167Mapping colors or presentation pens in template conversion.......... 168Mapping attribute names and properties in template conversion ..... 169Mapping fonts in template conversion .......................................... 170

14

8 Menu Reference ...................................................................................... 1738.1 File menu commands ........................................................................... 174

New........................................................................................... 174Open... ...................................................................................... 174Close ........................................................................................ 174Close All .................................................................................... 175TPLED USERS GUIDE

Save ......................................................................................... 175Save As... .................................................................................. 175Save All ..................................................................................... 175Template > Type... ..................................................................... 175Template > Page... ..................................................................... 176Recent files................................................................................ 176Exit ........................................................................................... 176

8.2 Edit menu commands........................................................................... 177Undo ......................................................................................... 177Redo ......................................................................................... 177Cut............................................................................................ 177Copy ......................................................................................... 177Paste ........................................................................................ 178Delete ....................................................................................... 178Group........................................................................................ 178Ungroup .................................................................................... 178Sort and Draw Order > Up........................................................... 178Sort and Draw Order > Down ...................................................... 179Sort and Draw Order > Row Level Up .......................................... 179Sort and Draw Order > Row Level Down ...................................... 179Crop > Template Left Side .......................................................... 180Crop > Template Right Side ........................................................ 180Crop > Component Top .............................................................. 180Crop > Component Bottom.......................................................... 180Crop > Component Height........................................................... 180Change Type... .......................................................................... 181Duplicate... ................................................................................ 181Move... ...................................................................................... 181

Align > Lefts .............................................................................. 181Align > Rights ............................................................................ 182Align > Tops .............................................................................. 182Align > Bottoms ......................................................................... 182Align to Grid .............................................................................. 182End Action................................................................................. 182TPLED USERS GUIDE 15

Properties... ............................................................................... 1828.3 View menu commands ......................................................................... 184

Pan........................................................................................... 184Zoom In .................................................................................... 184Zoom Out .................................................................................. 184Restore ..................................................................................... 185Toolbars > File........................................................................... 185Toolbars > Component ............................................................... 185Toolbars > Object....................................................................... 185Toolbars > Zoom........................................................................ 185Content Browser > Visible........................................................... 185Content Browser > Drawing Objects ............................................ 186Content Browser > Texts ............................................................ 186Content Browser > Symbols........................................................ 186Content Browser > Pictures ........................................................ 186Content Browser > Groups.......................................................... 186Content Browser > Fields............................................................ 187

8.4 Insert menu commands........................................................................ 188Component > Header ................................................................. 188Component > Page header ......................................................... 188Component > Row ..................................................................... 188Component > Page footer ........................................................... 189Component > Footer .................................................................. 189Line .......................................................................................... 189Polyline ..................................................................................... 189Arc............................................................................................ 190Circle ........................................................................................ 190Rectangle.................................................................................. 190Text .......................................................................................... 191

16

Symbol... ................................................................................... 191Picture... .................................................................................... 191File... ......................................................................................... 192Value Field ................................................................................ 192Graphical Field........................................................................... 194

8.5 Window menu commands..................................................................... 194TPLED USERS GUIDE

Cascade .................................................................................... 194Tile Horizontally.......................................................................... 194Tile Vertically ............................................................................. 195Arrange ..................................................................................... 195

8.6 Options menu commands ..................................................................... 195Continuous Action ...................................................................... 195Grid > Snap ............................................................................... 196Grid > Visible ............................................................................. 196Grid > Density... ......................................................................... 196Pick > Multiple............................................................................ 196Pick > Partially ........................................................................... 197Keyboard Input........................................................................... 197Preferences... ............................................................................ 197

8.7 Help menu commands ......................................................................... 198Contents.................................................................................... 198About TplEd ............................................................................... 198

8.8 Pop-up menu commands...................................................................... 198Workarea pop-up menu commands ............................................. 198Content Browser pop-up menu commands ................................... 199

Glossary .................................................................................................. 201

Index......................................................................................................... 211

Preface

Audi

UsinTPLED USERS GUIDE 17Preface

This is the TplEd Users Guide, a guide for creating and editing template defini-tions for Tekla products. In this chapter you will find instructions on how to use this guide and information on new features in this version of TplEd.

enceThis guide is for those who want to create or customize template definitions in their Tekla products. You should be familiar with your specific Tekla product.

g this guideThis guide is meant to be both a textbook and a reference guide depending on your needs and level of familiarity with TplEd. In all cases, you should be famil-iar with your Tekla product and how templates are used in it.

If you are new to TplEd, start with Chapter 1, Introduction to Templates. Pro-ceed with Chapter 2, Using TplEd to learn more about the TplEd interface.

If you are familiar with the previous versions of TplEd, start with Related docu-mentation (p. 19). Refer also to your Tekla products release notes to review any changes in template usage since the previous version.

If you have the basics and want to get started with creating and editing templates, go to Chapter 3, Working with Templates.

In some Tekla products TplEd is also referred to as Template Editor or TempEd.

Refer to your Tekla product documentation for more on using templates in your product.

18

If you want information about TplEd menu commands, see Chapter 8, Menu Reference.

If you are viewing this document in PDF, you are able to navigate through it eas-ily by clicking on cross-referenced items. For example if you see a heading with a page number, you can jump to that section by clicking on it.

New TPLED USERS GUIDEPreface

in this versionNew features in version 3.31 are listed in the following table:

Changes in TplEd versions 3.0-3.30 are listed in the following table:

Feature For details see...BMP pictures can be used in TplEd

File formats TplEd can use (p. 91)

You can use BMP pictures in templates if your Tekla product supports them.

Feature For details see...New user interface Introducing the TplEd user inter-

face (p. 38)Multi-document viewing and editing Work with multiple templates

(p. 61)New template file format Template Conversion (p. 155)Picture file use Symbols and pictures (p. 91)AutoCAD and MicroStation file use AutoCAD and MicroStation files

(p. 97)Improved access to Tekla product data

Using data from a Tekla product (p. 26)

Row editing extension: you can filter unwanted data out by using row con-tent types

Content types (p. 26),Filter unwanted lines out from out-put (p. 75)

Row editing extension: you can cre-ate hierarchical listings by using subrows

Use row hierarchy (p. 77)

Improved row rule editor Rule Contents dialog (p. 132)New functions for row rules Data functions (p. 139),

Control functions (p. 137), Mathematical operations (p. 142)

Relat

StyleTypefa

Value field formulas Get data from your Tekla product database (p. 103),Get data from other value fields (p. 104)

Integrated HTML Help Help menu commands (p. 198)

Feature For details see...TPLED USERS GUIDE 19Preface

ed documentationYou need to be familiar with your Tekla product documentation with regards to using templates.

If your Tekla product uses Symbols (p. 208) or Presentation (p. 207) files, you may also be able to use them in templates. In this case you may find useful back-ground information in:

the SymEd Users Guide (the guide for symbols) the PresEd Users Guide (the guide for presentations)

conventionsces Different typefaces mark special items in this guide:

User interface items and how to use them are in the following format:

Select File > New... means that you should open the File menu and select the New... option.

Free attributes Free attributes (p. 122)CopyField function CopyFieldRules wizard Rule Wizard dialog (p. 131)Automatic template conversion upon opening an old template

Convert old template file (p. 156)

Crop template components Crop template components (p. 78)Additional output options for page headers and page footers

Edit the output options of compo-nent (p. 81)

Change component type and retain the information in the component

Change the component type (p. 79)

Specify line length and angle with the number pad when inserting

Draw a line (p. 89)

Preview an object position before you accept the new settings

Move an object (p. 114)

Save rules for later use Predefined rules (p. 134)

20

User input appears in "quotation marks". This is any text that you type into the user interface. For example:

Type "romsim" into the Font name field.

Function names appear in the following format:

Use the GetValue function to get values. You can click the function name to jump to its definition.

Notebo

OrgaTPLED USERS GUIDEPreface

New terms appear in italic bold, and other information that needs to be emphasized in italics. Terms and concepts also appear as links, for example:

Each Value field (p. 209) in the template must contain a formula. You can click the underlined words to jump to the definition.

All terms are defined in the Glossary (p. 201).

xes Noteboxes denote information that is important for you to know for one of sev-eral different reasons:

nizationThis document is divided into the following chapters:

Tips introduce a shortcut or an alternative way of doing things.

Notes draw your attention to details that you may overlook and also remind you that information is in other areas of the document.

Read important notes and warnings because they help you avoid making time-consuming mistakes.

Highly technical information is usually for advanced and technically-oriented users.

Chapter 1: Introduction to TemplatesThis chapter provides an overview of graphical and textual template types. It pre-sents template components and objects and provides examples of templates in Tekla products.

Chapter 2: Using TplEdThis chapter introduces TplEd and the user interface. It also discusses setting TPLED USERS GUIDE 21Preface

TplEd drawing options and program preferences.

Chapter 3: Working with TemplatesThis chapter covers the use of template files and setting template properties.

Chapter 4: Working with Template ComponentsThis chapter discusses the use of template components, starting from inserting the template components and progressing to editing the output of the template. Most of the sections discuss the row component, as it has the most versatile set of output options.

Chapter 5: Working with Template ObjectsThis chapter covers inserting and editing template objects.

Chapter 6: Working with Formulas and RulesThis chapter covers using TplEd functions in value field formulas and row rules. It also provides examples of common tasks accomplished with formulas and rules.

Chapter 7: Template ConversionThis chapter gives instructions on converting old templates to the new template format. This chapter also covers dealing with possible conversion warnings and errors.

Chapter 8: Menu ReferenceThis chapter covers the menu commands in TplEd. Pop-up menus are also pre-sented.

GlossaryThe glossary provides definitions for the central terms and concepts used in this guide. You might find it useful to look through the glossary before consulting other parts of this document.

22 TPLED USERS GUIDEPreface

1 Introduction to Tem-

Introdu

Prereq

Organi

1.1

scale or date.TPLED USERS GUIDE 23Introduction to Templates

Templates are either textual or graphical, depending on their contents. Each Tekla product defines what kind of output options are available for different types of templates.plates

ction TplEd is the tool for creating, editing and managing template definitions in Tekla products. This chapter introduces textual and graphical templates and covers how to use data from your Tekla product in templates. This chapter also presents tem-plate parts, which you need to be familiar with when you design templates. Examples of templates appear at the end of the chapter.

uisites You must be familiar with basic Windows applications and your Tekla product.

zation This chapter is divided into the following sections:

What are templates? (p. 23) Using data from a Tekla product (p. 26) Template components and objects (p. 27) Using templates in Tekla products (p. 30)

What are templates?Templates are used for a variety of different purposes, for example to print a list of parts used in a construction assembly, to denote the legend on an electrical net-work map, or to provide statistics on the contents of the map such as city area,

24

Graphical templatesGraphical templates are used in all Tekla products and they generally display map legends and labels, or project and company information. In addition to text, they can contain graphics, such as table outlines, pictures or symbols. Graphical templates can also use different font types and settings.

Graphical template definitions have the file extension .tpl.

Textu

Outp

Screen

Printer

File ou

See alsTPLED USERS GUIDEIntroduction to Templates

al templatesTextual templates only contain text. They are primarily used for creating reports or listings of application area specific objects, for example in material lists of steel construction assemblies in Tekla Structures.

The text can be output like newspaper columns. Even though TplEd lets you use different font types and settings, they do not appear in the output template.

Textual template definitions have the file extension .rpt.

ut optionsYou create templates with TplEd and output them with your Tekla product. The output options of templates may vary between different Tekla products. Basically templates can be output on the screen, to a printer or to a file.

output The screen output of a graphical template, for example a map legend, is handled in the Tekla product as an imported picture. It can be placed, for example, on top of a background map or within a drawing. Textual templates appear as text lines, usually in a separate window.

output Screen output can also be directed straight to a printer.

tput Screen output can also be saved to a file, for example an HTML or RTF file. The available file formats depend on the Tekla product.

For more information on output options please refer to your Tekla product docu-mentation.

o Using data from a Tekla product (p. 26)

Using templates in Tekla products (p. 30)

If you want to use specified font types, you have to use a graph-ical template even if the template contains only text.

Using symbols and presentations in templatesTplEd supports symbol library files and presentation files from your Tekla prod-uct. You must define the default file locations for both file types in TplEd before using them.

See also Symbols and pictures (p. 91)

How TPLED USERS GUIDE 25Introduction to Templates

Set default directories for symbols and pictures (p. 92)

Using a presentation (p. 55)

Tekla products use templatesTekla products use templates in a variety of ways.

Tekla Structures uses both textual and graphical templates to produce reports and create lists of component assemblies, see From template file to material listing (p. 30) for an example.

Tekla Xcity and Tekla Xpipe use templates to make map labels. The example label below is from Tekla Xpipe.

Tekla Xpower uses templates to make map labels used to display information about electricity networks. See From template file to map label (p. 33) for an example.

For more specific information on the use of templates in your Tekla product, please refer to the product documentation.

26

1.2 Using data from a Tekla productBoth textual and graphical templates can get data from the Tekla product. This section introduces the different types of product-specific information that you can use in templates:

Content types - database object types that you can handle in templates

Cont

See als

GlobTPLED USERS GUIDEIntroduction to Templates

Global attributes - database object properties that you can list in templates Value field meanings - formatting options for global attributes

TplEd cannot access the Tekla product or its database, so the Tekla product pro-vides TplEd with definition files that contain listings of what kind of data can be gathered. The Tekla product adds the actual data to the template during output.

ent typesA content type is an object type in the Tekla product database.

The content type definition file contains the list of all available object types. The listing is available when editing the row components of a template, so you can filter out unwanted object types from the output.

The definition file is set in TplEd File Location preferences (p. 52).

o Filter unwanted lines out from output (p. 75)

al attributesA global attribute is a property of an object in the Tekla product database. It can also refer to graphical data such as a symbol or a picture in the Tekla product.

The global attributes definition file contains the list of available properties. Tem-plates use field objects for getting the data. Value fields get textual data, and graphical fields are area reservations for Tekla product graphics or texts. Each field refers to the Tekla product by using one or more global attributes.

All definition files are Tekla product-specific. Please refer to your Tekla product documentation for advice on using content types, global attributes and value field meanings.

TplEd checks attribute names when formulas and rules are cre-ated. All unknown attributes are reported to the user. If no glo-bal attribute file is specified, then this check is skipped.

The definition file is set in TplEd File Location preferences (p. 52).

See also Value fields (p. 101)

Graphical fields (p. 109)

Value field meanings

See als

1.3

TempTPLED USERS GUIDE 27Introduction to Templates

The value field meanings are formatting options that are related to Global attributes (p. 204). The Tekla product applies formatting when the template is output.

For example, a value field meaning Weight might add a unit postfix such as kg or lbs to the field value.

The definition file is set in TplEd File Location preferences (p. 52).

o Set output properties of a value field (p. 108)

Template components and objectsThis section gives a brief overview of the building blocks of a template. Tem-plate layout is designed with template components. Template objects are then placed inside template components to add either graphical or textual data. The properties of components, objects and the template itself determine the final appearance.

late componentsTemplates can be made up of five different component types, but not all compo-nents have to be present to build a template. The components are:

For each value field meaning a set of available units and preci-sions can be defined. For example the meaning Length might have units like mm, cm, inch, ft and the unit 'ft' might have pre-cisions like 1/4, 1/2, 1/8 and 1/12.

28

See als

Temp

Component DescriptionHeader A header appears once at the beginning of a template. It

may contain, for example, the heading of the template.Page header A page header appears at the beginning of template page.

There are many different options for specifying the output policy, see Edit the output options of component (p. 81).TPLED USERS GUIDEIntroduction to Templates

o Working with Template Components (p. 69)

late objectsThe template type determines what kind of objects can appear inside template components. You can only use graphics in graphical templates.

The following template object types are available:

Row A template can have multiple rows. A row defines the things that are listed in the template, each row usually representing an object from the Tekla product database. Rows contain Field objects (p. 29) that define the Attributes (p. 201) to get from the database.

For a detailed description on how template rows are pro-cessed during output, see Template output process (p. 30).

Page footer A page footer is output at the end of template page. There are many different options for specifying the output pol-icy, see Edit the output options of component (p. 81).

Footer A footer appears at the end of a template.

See als

What

Object type DescriptionDrawing objects Drawing objects are basic geometric shapes such as

lines, rectangles and circles.Text objects Text objects display static texts such as headings or

title line texts.Symbols You can insert symbols from your Tekla product TPLED USERS GUIDE 29Introduction to Templates

o Working with Template Objects (p. 87)

are properties?Properties determine things such as the size, color, font and output options of an item. You can edit properties through item-specific property dialogs.

Below are links to detailed property descriptions:

symbol libraries.Pictures You can insert pictures from raster format files.Imported files You can import AutoCAD and MicroStation files.Field objects Fields contain textual or graphical data that is gath-

ered from the Tekla product. For more information see Value fields (p. 101) and Graphical fields (p. 109).

Item For property description see...Template Editing template properties (p. 62)Header Edit header or footer properties (p. 71)Page header Edit page header or page footer properties (p. 72)Row Edit row properties (p. 74)Page footer Edit page header or page footer properties (p. 72)Footer Edit header or footer properties (p. 71)Drawing objects Edit drawing object properties (p. 91)Symbols Edit symbol properties (p. 93)Pictures Edit picture properties (p. 94)Texts Edit text properties (p. 96)Value fields Edit value field properties (p. 103)Graphical fields Edit graphical field properties (p. 110)

30

1.4 Using templates in Tekla productsThis section describes how templates are processed in Tekla products when they are used to create listings or labels. It also provides examples of different kinds of templates: material listings, map labels and hierarchical material listings.

Temp

See als

FromTPLED USERS GUIDEIntroduction to Templates

late output processThe output process of a template starts when you use the template in your Tekla product. It consists of the following phases:

1. Based on the Content types (p. 202) and Global attributes (p. 204) used in the template, the Tekla product prepares a list of object identifiers. The list contains an id for all objects that are to be processed. This phase does not appear for the user.

2. The header and an optional page header are output.

3. The first object in the identifier list is chosen for processing.

All rows in the template are output, and value field references to Global attributes (p. 204) are resolved using this first object. Each row appears as a line in the output template.

If a row has a hierarchy, the subrows are processed before continuing to the next row. For details, see Use row hierarchy (p. 77).

If a new page is needed, page headers and page footers are printed according to their output policies.

4. Step 3 is repeated for all objects in the identifier list.

5. The footer and an optional page footer are output.

o From template file to material listing (p. 30)

From template file to map label (p. 33)

From template file to hierarchical listing (p. 34)

Editing the output of a template (p. 66)

template file to material listingThis example illustrates a textual template that creates a listing of selected parts of a steel building.

The picture below displays the steel structure. A set of steel beams on the roof and along the wall are selected for processing. The selected parts appear in white. The listing contains the type, count, length and weight of selected beams, and the total weight of all selected parts.

--------------------------------------CONTRACT NO:100-2050CONTRACT:--------------------------------------TPLED USERS GUIDE 31Introduction to Templates

The listing is based on the following template:

The template consists of the following components:

1. The header component at the top of the template prints the contract informa-tion and the title line of the listing. It contains the following objects:

dashed lines (text objects) texts "Mark", "Profile" "No.", etc. (text objects) data from the Tekla product: project number and name (value

field objects)

2. The row component defines the listing of the steel beams. It has value fields that get the type, count, length and the weight of selected objects.

Duplicate lines, that is, similar objects in the product database, are combined in the output by default. You can also choose to output duplicate lines. See Sort output lines (p. 76).

Mark Profile No. Length Weight--------------------------------------1 IPE550 2 12840 1350.62 IPE450 8 5773 447.8

--------------------------------------Total for 6283.4

--------------------------------------

32

3. The page footer at the bottom of the template contains the following objects:

total sum of weights of all processed steel beams (value field) text "Total for" and dashed lines (text objects).

The references to the Tekla product data are made by using Global attributes (p. 26) in value fields.TPLED USERS GUIDEIntroduction to Templates

From template file to map labelIn addition to textual data, graphical templates may also contain graphics. This example template creates a simple map legend.

The template output is a map legend, that can be inserted on a background map. The legend, for example, contains the district name, scale and important dates.TPLED USERS GUIDE 33Introduction to Templates

The legend is based on the following template:

The template has only a header component that contains the following objects:

title texts "Energy Utility", "City", "Area", "District", etc. (text objects) table outlines (line objects) data from the Tekla product: name of the city and area, etc. (value

fields).

34

The references to the Tekla product data are made by using Global attributes (p. 26) in value fields.

From template file to hierarchical listingThis section introduces an example of how to use row hierarchy to create hierar-chical material listings, concentrating on the use of row hierarchy.

See alsTPLED USERS GUIDEIntroduction to Templates

The picture below shows the objects in the Tekla product database. The listing describes each cylinder object and its parts hierarchically.

The listing is based on the following template:

The template consists of the following components:

1. Cylinder_row describes an object in the Tekla product database.

After this row is output for the first main object, the processing continues to its parts.

2. Part_row is a subrow and describes a part of the object.

The subrow is output repeatedly so that all parts of the main object are pro-cessed. Then processing continues to the next row.

3. Summary_row outputs the number of parts.

The output process continues to the next main object and to the first row of this template.

o Use row hierarchy (p. 77)

Cylinder 1Part APart BPart C

Count 3 parts-------------------------------------

Cylinder 2Part A

Count 1 part-------------------------------------

2 Using TplEd

Introdu

Organi

2.1Overvie

InstaTPLED USERS GUIDE 35Using TplEd

llationTplEd is delivered with your Tekla product package. Depending on the product, TplEd is either embedded in the product or is delivered as a stand-alone program with the product. In either case no special installation is required.ction This chapter gives an overview of working with TplEd. It covers installing and starting TplEd and introduces the TplEd user interface. Program options, prefer-ences and using a presentation are introduced.

zation This chapter is divided into the following sections:

Installing and running TplEd (p. 35) Introducing the TplEd user interface (p. 38) Using the Content Browser (p. 44) Working with template windows (p. 46) Setting drawing options (p. 48) Setting program preferences (p. 49) Selecting items in TplEd (p. 55) Using a presentation (p. 55)

Installing and running TplEdw This section covers how to install and run TplEd. This depends on which Tekla

product you use, so you will find more detailed instructions in your Tekla prod-uct documentation.

36

Start TplEdHow you start TplEd depends on your Tekla product. You likely can start it in more than one way too. Please refer to your product documentation for details.

Here are some examples.

Tekla Structures TplEd is embedded in Tekla Structures and can be opened in one of two ways:

Tekla X

Tekla X

Tekla X

StartTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

Start it in the TS drawing editor by selecting Tools > Templates.... Start it in the TS modeling editor by selecting Drawings & Reports >

Template Editor.

You can also create a separate icon for starting TplEd and add it to your custom-ized toolbar.

city TplEd can be open and running without Tekla Xcity. Start TplEd by clicking on TplEd in the Tekla Xcity Start menu..

pipe TplEd can be open and running without Tekla Xpipe. Start TplEd by clicking on TplEd in the Tekla Xpipe Start menu.

power TplEd can be open and running without Tekla Xpower. Start TplEd by running the batch file TplEd.bat.

TplEd with advanced command line optionsThis section lists the advanced options that you can use with TplEd when you start it from the command line. This section is for the administrator level users who can, for example, utilize these features when users start TplEd through a batch file.

You can use the following command line arguments:

Exit T

Argument Function-L Allows you to select the language for the TplEd

user interface. is a three-letter language identifier. Available languages depend on your Tekla product. Please refer to your Tekla product documentation for information on avail-able languages.TPLED USERS GUIDE 37Using TplEd

All arguments are case insensitive, so uppercase letters are equal to lowercase letters.

plEdDo one of the following to exit TplEd:

Select File > Exit. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Q. Click Close in the upper right hand corner of the main window.

If you have open template files that you have not saved, TplEd asks for confir-mation before exiting:

Click Yes if you want to save the changes before exiting. Click No to exit without saving the changes. Click Cancel if you want to continue the current session.

-i Allows you to set the TplEd initialization file that holds the information on where TplEd searches for certain definition files. refers to an ASCII format initialization file named with the extension -ini. This is an exam-ple of such a command line option:

-i C:\My Documents\Tekla\Tem-plates\mysettings.ini

Select Options > Preferences... to edit the default file location preferences. See File Location preferences (p. 52).

-w Allows you to set the work folder for TplEd. This folder is, for example, is the base folder for file open and save operations.

38

2.2 Introducing the TplEd user interfaceThis section introduces the parts of the TplEd user interface.

Menu commands are explained in Menu Reference (p. 173).TPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

Main windowWhen you start TplEd the main window opens. The picture below shows the main window when a template is open.

The main window consists of the following parts:TPLED USERS GUIDE 39Using TplEd

1. Workarea (p. 40) - This is where you add and edit template components and template objects.

2. Content Browser (p. 40) - Here you can select items for editing and edit the position and hierarchy of row components.

3. Preview Pane (p. 41) - You can check the properties of the selected tem-plate, component or object here.

40

4. Toolbars (p. 41) - Use the icons on the toolbars to quickly access the most common file and editing operations. Icons appear grey and are disabled when you cannot use them, for example if no templates are open or nothing is selected for editing.

5. Status bar (p. 44) - The status bar shows information on the selected tool or command.

Work

See als

Cont

Activattemplacompoobjects

See alsTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

areaThe Workarea is the primary area where you edit templates. It shows the selected template, so you can insert components and objects. You can customize the appearance of the Workarea to your liking, for example, the background and component outline colors. For details, see Workarea preferences (p. 51).

If you have multiple templates open, each of them appears in its own window. See also Work with multiple templates (p. 61).

If you right-click the mouse in the Workarea, a pop-up menu opens access the most common viewing and editing operations. For details, see Workarea pop-up menu commands (p. 198).

o Working with template windows (p. 46)

ent BrowserIn the Content Browser you can see a folder list that describes the contents of the open template(s). Each template appears in it as a top-level folder. Template components appear as sub folders, each of them containing a list of included template objects. Template components and objects are identified by their TplEd names which do not appear in the final template.

ing tes, nents and

If you select a template, a component or an object in the list, it is also activated in the Workarea and vice versa.

You can also select multiple template components and objects if you hold down the Ctrl key at the same time. You can see how many components and objects you have selected in the Status bar (p. 44).

If you right-click in the Content Browser, a pop-up menu opens access to the most common viewing and editing operations. For details, see Content Browser pop-up menu commands (p. 199).

o Using the Content Browser (p. 44)

View or hide the Content Browser (p. 44)

Float or dock the Content Browser (p. 44)

Move in template hierarchy in the Content Browser (p. 45)

Set object visibility in the Content Browser (p. 45)

Edit template through the Content Browser (p. 46)

Preview Pane

Toolb

File anbarTPLED USERS GUIDE 41Using TplEd

The Preview Pane is a read-only table within the Content Browser. It shows the properties of the selected template, component or object.

If you want to edit the properties, you must open the property dialog for the selected item. You can do that by selecting Edit > Properties....

arsYou can select the most common file and editing operations easily through the toolbars of the TplEd main window. For additional information see View menu commands (p. 184).

d Edit tool- The File and Edit toolbar contains the following icons:

To view or hide the toolbars, select View > Toolbars.

The check mark in front of the toolbar name indicates that it is visible. TplEd saves and maintains toolbar visibility set-tings across sessions.

Rough icon

Stylized icon

Description Menu command

Creates a new tem-plate.

File > New... (p. 174)

Opens an existing template.

File > Open... (p. 174)

Saves the selected template.

File > Save (p. 175)

Cuts the selected items.

Edit > Cut (p. 177)

Copies the selected items.

Edit > Copy (p. 177)

Pastes the cut or cop-ied items.

Edit > Paste (p. 178)

42

Compobar

Object

Deletes the selected items.

Edit > Delete (p. 178)

Ends the current action so you can select items.

Edit > End Action (p. 182)

Rough icon

Stylized icon

Description Menu commandTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

nent tool- The Component toolbar contains the following icons:

toolbar The Object toolbar contains the following icons:

Undoes the latest operation.

Edit > Undo (p. 177)

Redoes the undone operation.

Edit > Redo (p. 177)

Rough icon

Stylized icon

Description Menu command

Inserts a header.

Insert > Component > Header (p. 188)

Inserts a page header.

Insert > Component > Page header (p. 188)

Inserts a row. Insert > Component > Row (p. 188)

Inserts a page footer.

Insert > Component > Page footer (p. 189)

Inserts a footer. Insert > Component > Footer (p. 189)

Rough icon

Stylized icon

Description Menu command

Inserts a line. Insert > Line (p. 189)

Inserts a polyline. Insert > Polyline (p. 189)

Inserts an arc. Insert > Arc (p. 190)

Zoom t

Inserts a free form area.

Insert > Polyline (p. 189)

Inserts a circle. Insert > Circle (p. 190)

Rough icon

Stylized icon

Description Menu commandTPLED USERS GUIDE 43Using TplEd

oolbar The Zoom toolbar contains the following icons:

Inserts a rectangle. Insert > Rectangle (p. 190)

Inserts a filled circle. Insert > Circle (p. 190)

Inserts a filled rectan-gle.

Insert > Rectangle (p. 190)

Inserts a text object. Insert > Text (p. 191)

Inserts a symbol. Insert > Symbol... (p. 191)

Inserts a picture. Insert > Picture... (p. 191)

Inserts a value field. Insert > Value Field (p. 192)

Inserts a graphical field.

Insert > Graphical Field (p. 194)

Rough icon

Stylized icon

Description Menu command

Pans as you click or drag.

View > Pan (p. 184)

Zooms in as you click or drag.

View > Zoom In (p. 184)

Zooms out as you click.

View > Zoom Out (p. 184)

Fits template in its window.

View > Restore (p. 185)

44

Status barThe status bar shows information on the selected tool or command and is dis-played on the bottom left side of the main window.

Pop-up menus

2.3

View

FloatUndockwindowTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

You can open context sensitive pop-up menus in the main window by right-click-ing the mouse. The commands vary depending on which area in the TplEd main window you click.

The Content Browser pop-up menu commands (p. 199) contain the most com-mon editing operations and allow you to change the location or hierarchy of row components, customize the view in the browser or access properties of the selected item. Some of the commands are also available in the Sort and Drawing order toolbar.

The Workarea pop-up menu commands (p. 198) contain the most common editing operations, zooming, panning and setting TplEd drawing options. You can also open the properties dialog of the selected template, component or object.

Using the Content BrowserIn the Content Browser you can select templates, components and objects for editing and move or copy components within a template or across templates. Here you also view and edit the Hierarchy tree (p. 205) and Sort order (p. 208) of row components.

or hide the Content BrowserTo view or hide the Content Browser, select View > Content Browser > Visible.

The check mark in front of the option means that the browser is visible.

or dock the Content Browser the If you want to turn the Content Browser into a floating window, drag the browser

move handle outside of the TplEd main window.

You can also double-click the move handle.

Dock the window To dock the browser window again, double-click the title bar of the Content Browser.

The browser docks to the location where it previously was docked. If you want to change the docking location, you must maximize the TplEd main window first and then drag the browser move handle so that the browser window touches either side of the main window.

Move

Set o

StepsTPLED USERS GUIDE 45Using TplEd

in template hierarchy in the Content BrowserTo view or hide the hierarchy of a template folder in the Content Browser:

Click the + sign in front of the folder to reveal contents. The sign turns into a - sign.

Click the - sign in front of the folder to hide contents. The sign turns into a + sign.

You can move in the hierarchy with the keyboard arrow keys (up and down keys). The hierarchies open as you move. Note that as you select an item in the browser it is also highlighted in the Workarea.

bject visibility in the Content BrowserYou can view / hide objects of the hierarchy tree in the Content Browser:

1. Select View > Content Browser.

You can also access this command from the browser pop-up menu: right-click in the browser and point to the Content Browser option in the opening pop-up menu.

2. This displays the object type list where you can select a type to change its visibility:

Drawing objects (p. 203) Texts (p. 209) Symbols (p. 208) Pictures (p. 207) Groups (p. 205) Fields (p. 204)

A check mark in front of the object type name indicates that it is visible in the browser.

If the Content Browser docks elsewhere than the left or right side of the main window, TplEd resets it to the left side after you exit and restart the program.

46

Selecting components and objects in the Content Browser

See als

Edit

2.4

See als

This option does not affect the output of a template. Use it for example, to hide other object types in the hierarchy tree, when you want to arrange value fields. For details, see Set sort prior-ity of value fields (p. 106).TPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

You can select multiple template components and objects in the Content Browser if you hold down the Ctrl key at the same time. You can see how many compo-nents and objects you have selected in the Status bar (p. 44).

You can apply different editing operations to the selected components / objects, such as Cut, Copy or Paste.

o Selecting items in TplEd (p. 55)

Select component or object for editing (p. 61)

Cut, copy or paste component (p. 78)

Cut, copy or paste object (p. 112)

template through the Content BrowserCommon template editing tasks in the Content Browser include:

Select template for editing (p. 61) Select component or object for editing (p. 61) Cut, copy or paste component (p. 78) Arrange rows (p. 76) Use row hierarchy (p. 77) Set sort priority of value fields (p. 106)

Working with template windowsWindow operations include arranging template windows in the Workarea and focusing and zooming in a template window.

o Introducing the TplEd user interface (p. 38)

Window menu commands (p. 194)

Arrange template windowsIf you open multiple templates for editing, you can arrange the template win-dows by using the Window menu commands (p. 194). This menu also contains a list of open templates. If you select a template name from the list, TplEd brings the corresponding template window to the front and activates it.

Pan

Steps

Zoom

StepsTPLED USERS GUIDE 47Using TplEd

You can use panning to focus the view to a selected point or to move the template around the Workarea.

To pan in a template window:

1. Select View > Pan, or click the Pan icon on the Zoom toolbar.

2. You can use panning in three ways:

Click to center the view around the selected point. Drag to move the template around the Workarea. Drag with the middle mouse button (this is often the same as the

scrollbar button)

3. Repeat step 2 to continue panning. Press Esc to stop panning.

in or out

To zoom on a template window:

1. If you want to magnify the template, select View > Zoom In, or click the Zoom In icon on the Zoom toolbar.

If you want to reduce the template to see more of it, use the Zoom Out icon instead.

2. Click to zoom to the next preset percentage. The display centers around the point you click.

You can also drag to center the display around the selected area.

3. Repeat step 2 to continue zooming. To stop zooming, press Esc.

When you use a wheel mouse just spin the wheel to zoom in and out quickly.

48

Restore original view

To fit and display the whole template in its window, do one of the following:

Select View > Restore.

Click the Restore view icon on the Zoom toolbar.

Right-click in the window and select Restore from the pop-up menu.

2.5

Draw

Set conaction

End dractionTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

Setting drawing optionsIn TplEd you can use the continuous drawing mode and the drawing grid to speed up your work with templates.

several objects running with the same toolYou can draw several objects with the same tool without having to reselect it when the continuous action mode is on. It applies to all drawing tools in the Object toolbar (p. 42) except the ones that are inserted from other files: sym-bols, pictures and AutoCAD or MicroStation files. TplEd maintains the selected mode across sessions.

tinuous on or off

To set the continuous action on for all tools, do one of the following:

Select Options > Continuous Action. Right-click in the Workarea to open the pop-up menu and select Con-

tinuous Action.

A check mark in front of the option indicates that it is on.

awing When the continuous action mode is on, you must end drawing opera-tions manually in one of the following ways:

Click the End Action icon. Press Esc. Select Edit > End Action. Right-click and select End Action from the pop-up menu.

To set the continuous action mode on temporarily for one tool only, double-click the tool.

If you want to continue drawing with another tool, you do not have to end the current action. You can just select another drawing tool.

See also Insert an object (p. 87)

Draw with the grid

Activat

Show o

2.6TPLED USERS GUIDE 49Using TplEd

The grid is an aid for drawing and positioning template objects. When the grid is active, all clicks during drawing operations align to the nearest grid point as if the grid point had been clicked. The grid can be visible or hidden.

e grid You can activate (or deactivate) the grid in one of the following ways:

Select Options > Grid > Snap. Right-click in empty area in the Workarea and select Grid > Snap from

the pop-up menu.

The check mark in front of the option indicates that the grid is already activated.

r hide grid Activating the grid does not automatically make it visible. Note that the grid may also be visible without being active.

To show (or hide) the grid in one of the following ways:

Select Options > Grid > Visible. Right-click an empty area in the Workarea and select Grid > Visible

from the pop-up menu.

Setting program preferencesThis section describes the program preferences that you can edit in TplEd.

The distance between grid points is template-specific. For details, see Set grid density (p. 65).

If you have drawn objects before activating the grid, you can align them to the active grid later on. See Align object to grid (p. 116).

50

General preferencesGeneral preferences allow you to choose the measurement unit of graphical tem-plates, show different icons, set message preferences and optionally use True-Type fonts.

Steps 1. Select Options > Preferences.... The General tab is active by default.TPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

2. Edit the settings to your liking. You can edit the following fields:

Field DescriptionGraphical units Sets the measurement unit for graphical templates to

millimeters or inches.

All size-related information (for example height and width of components or objects) is displayed using the selected unit. In textual templates the unit is always character (char(s)).

Work

Always ask for import method

Select this option if you want the Select Import Method dialog to appear whenever you import AutoCAD or Microstation files.

If you leave the option unchecked, you will have to double-click for the Select Import Method dialog to appear. See Import AutoCAD or MicroStation file

Field DescriptionTPLED USERS GUIDE 51Using TplEd

3. Accept with OK or select Cancel to discard the changes.

area preferencesWorkarea preferences allow you to change the appearance of the Workarea to your liking. These settings do not affect the output template in any way.

(p. 97) for more information.Show TrueType fonts

Select if you want to use TrueType fonts in TplEd. If unselected, you can use only Tekla fonts.

Icon display Use stylized icons instead of classic Windows icons in TplEd Toolbars (p. 41). You must exit and restart TplEd for changes to take effect.

Reset messages to visible

Resets the user messages setting so that all messages are displayed again.

52

Steps 1. Select Options > Preferences... and click the Workarea tab.

File L

StepsTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

2. Edit the color and line width settings. You can edit the following fields:

3. Accept with OK or select Cancel to discard the changes.

ocation preferencesFile location preferences define the default work directory and locations where TplEd searches for pictures and Tekla product-specific Definition files (p. 203).

To add or edit the default file locations:

Field DescriptionBackground Sets the Workarea background color.Grid Sets the grid color.HeaderPage headerRowPage footerFooter

For each template component you can change:

color of component frame (if you use a presenta-tion, you select from pen names)

line thickness (in pixels).

1. Select Options > Preferences... and click the File Locations tab. The list of editable file locations is in two columns.

The Type column contains the definition file type and cannot be edited. The Location field contains the path for the definition file or directory and can be edited.TPLED USERS GUIDE 53Using TplEd

2. To set a definition file, click on the line that you want to edit and click the Select File button. This opens the standard file selection dialog.

You can set the following definition files:

Definition file DescriptionValue field meanings Sets the definition file for Value field meanings

(p. 210).Row contents Sets the definition file for row Content types

(p. 202).Global attributes Sets the definition file for Global attributes

(p. 204).

If this setting is missing, no attribute name check is performed. See also Global attributes (p. 26).

Predefined Rules Sets the .pdr file where user rules are stored and loaded from. See also Predefined rules (p. 134).

54

Presentation Sets the presentation file from which the pen and color settings are loaded. See Using a presenta-tion (p. 55).

Note: Tekla Structures does not use presenta-tions.

Definition file DescriptionTPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

3. To set a directory (*), click in the Location field on the line that you want to edit, and type in the directory path, for example "C:\Program Files\Tekla Product\symbols".

You can set the following directories:

4. Click OK to accept or Cancel to discard the changes.

Conversion fonts Sets the font map file to use in template conver-sion.

Conversion colors Sets the color map file to use in template conver-sion.

Conversion attributes Sets the attribute map file to use in template con-version.

Fill import Sets the fill import map file to use in template conversion and in AutoCAD and MicroStation file importation.

Color Map Sets the colormap file to use.

Directory DescriptionWork directory (*) Sets the initial working directory for TplEd.

When opening or saving template files it is auto-matically active in the file selection dialog.

This setting can be overridden with the com-mand- line argument -w. See Start TplEd with advanced command line options (p. 36).

You must exit and restart TplEd for changes to take effect.

Symbols, pictures (*) Sets the directories where you can insert symbols and pictures from.

You can define several directories by separating them with semicolons (;).

Fonts (*) Sets the directories containing Tekla font files.

You can define several directories by separating them with semicolons (;).

2.7 Selecting items in TplEdThis section covers the program options in TplEd that affect selecting template components and objects in the Workarea.

Selecting multiple components or objects

Pick M

See als

Selec

Pick Pa

See als

2.8TPLED USERS GUIDE 55Using TplEd

In TplEd you can specify whether you can select multiple template components or objects or only one.

ultiple Select Options > Pick > Multiple.

The check mark next to the menu option indicates that option is activated, and you can select multiple items in the Workarea.

o Selecting partially affected components or objects (p. 55)

Select multiple components or objects (p. 62)

ting partially affected components or objectsIn TplEd you can specify how area selection works. You can choose to select all template components or objects that are either completely or partially inside the drag frame, or just the ones that are completely inside.

rtially Select Options > Pick > Partially.

The check mark next to the option indicates that the option is on, and items that fall only partially inside the drag frame are also selected.

o Selecting multiple components or objects (p. 55)

Select multiple components or objects (p. 62)

Using a presentationIf your Tekla product does not use presentations, you can skip this section.

If you use presentations in your Tekla product, you can also use them in TplEd. The pens and colors of the presentation file replace the TplEd color, line type and line width. This means you specify the color, line type and line width for a TplEd item that has these properties by selecting a pen.

56

Steps To use a presentation file and related colormap in TplEd:

1. Select Options > Preferences... and click the File Locations tab.

2. Click in the Presentation line and then click Select File. Select the presenta-tion file to use and click OK.

3. Click in the Color Map line and then Select File. Select the color map file to use and click OK.TPLED USERS GUIDEUsing TplEd

4. Click OK to apply the changes and close the Preferences dialog.

The pens of the presentation are available in the template object property dialogs and also for customizing the colors in the TplEd Workarea.

You cannot edit the presentation pens in TplEd. If you want to edit pens or colors of the presentation, you must do it with PresEd.

You can, however, change the way pens are mapped in tem-plate conversion. See Mapping colors or presentation pens in template conversion (p. 168).

For details on using a presentation in your specific product, refer to your Tekla product documentation.

3 Working with Tem-

Introdu

Organi

3.1Steps

with Template Components (p. 69).TPLED USERS GUIDE 57Working with Templates

4. Insert texts and graphics inside template components. If you need to print information from your Tekla product database, use field objects too. See Working with Template Objects (p. 87).

5. Edit the template output, if needed. See Editing the output of a template (p. 66).plates

ction This chapter gives an overview on creating a new template. It also covers work-ing with template files and describes the template properties that you can edit. Methods of editing template output are covered in the last section.

zation This chapter is divided into the following sections:

Creating a template (p. 57) Creating, opening & saving template files (p. 58) Selecting templates, components & objects (p. 61) Editing template properties (p. 62) Editing the output of a template (p. 66)

Creating a templateTo create a new template:

1. Create a new template file (p. 58).

2. Edit the size and other properties of the template to suit your needs. See Editing template properties (p. 62).

3. Design the template structure by adding template components. See Working

58

6. Save the template. See Save a template file (p. 60).

You need to output the template in your Tekla product to assure that it works properly. For details on outputting a template, refer to your product documenta-tion.

3.2

Crea

Steps

See alsTPLED USERS GUIDEWorking with Templates

Creating, opening & saving template filesThis section covers the basic file operations such as creating, opening and saving files. You can access these operations through the File menu commands (p. 174) or the File and Edit toolbar (p. 41).

te a new template file

To create a new template:

1. Select File > New... or click the New icon.

TplEd displays a dialog for choosing the template type.

2. Choose the file type:

Graphical template - if you want to use graphics or specific font settings. If you want to use specific fonts or draw table out-lines, you need to use a graphical template.

Textual template - if you use only textual data and do not need font effects.

3. Click OK.

An empty template opens in the Workarea and you are ready to begin work-ing with the template.

o Creating a template (p. 57)

Open an existing template file

Steps To open an existing template:

1. Select File > Open... or click the Open icon.

This opens the standard file selection dialog.

See als

ClosStepsTPLED USERS GUIDE 59Working with Templates

2. Select the file y