Tag: Tekla Open API

  • How to Set Up a Tekla API Project (Tekla API Application)

    Work faster with the Tekla API

    The object of a Tekla Application is to ensure that things go smoothly on the construction site. You can see the organised chaos that is here. Avoid the real chaos. Plan ahead. 

    For the newbie this post shows how to set up a Tekla Project.

    Let us assume that you are creating a WPF desktop Application. You could also just as easily create a console application – I often do this if I simply want a quick and dirty way to test code.

    1. Go to Visual Studio.
    2. Create a new WPF project.

    Follow this gif:

    Setting up a Tekla Project
    How to Set up a Tekla WPF Application
    1. Next you need to add references to Tekla DLLs. They are contained at this location on my PC. C:\Program Files\Tekla Structures\19.1\nt\bin\plugins\ .They may be in a different version on yours. You can also download these dlls using Nuget in your Visual Studio.
    2. If you are using 19.1i version – then you can download Trimble’s nuget package named thus: 2019.1.50434

    Follow this Gif:

    Adding Tekla References

    Shows how to add references to a Tekla API WPF Project.

    1. The fourth and final step is to add directives and to then get coding.

    Some common directives and aliases that I use:

    I hope this post helps you!

  • Showing an Assembly in the Model via a Tekla Drawing (Part II) Tekla Open API + Code snippets

    We are revisiting a post I made earlier.

    Here’s the problem. You are viewing a Tekla drawing. But you have no idea what you are looking at, or where it is. This macro will take you to that very assembly in the model. It’s actually quite handy. And here is the previous post where I made allusion to the facility (you’ll find a video demonstrating its use):

    http://www.tek1.com.au/tekla-plug-in-2-viewing-an-assembly-in-the-model-from-an-assembly-drawing/

    This post marks the release of the code which does the job! Enjoy!

  • AutoCAD-Tekla Interoperability (AutoCAD .net)

    Tekla – AutoCAD Interoperability Tool

    Tekla licenses are pricey. About $30k + maintenance per license. What if I told you that you needed 30-50% less licenses than you currently hold. That’s a huge cost saving, isn’t it?

    If you only need 5 licenses (as opposed to 10), then you’ve saved $150k instantly, plus maintenance.

    AutoCAD licenses are significantly cheaper.

    But if only the work you did in AutoCAD could be transferred into Tekla? That would save you some licenses. That’s just what I’ve done here in my latest project. Now a significant portion of any modelling job can be done in AutoCAD and simply imported into Tekla.

    You can check it out here:

    Tekla – Autocad Interop. from Tek1 on Vimeo.

    Human Resources Problem

    Interoperability will also help improve the quality of your work: it’s tough finding people who are highly skilled in Tekla. What if I told you that you could use an AutoCAD draftsperson instead of someone well versed in Tekla, to do the same job? Now you have a potentially infinite pool of candidates to draw from.

    Tools

    Click here to download

    Interested In more?

    I’d love to be able to help. Just call or email us.

    How to Download Tekla Catalogues (or Catalogs):

    You need to download the catalogue because the interop DLL connects to the catalog. Without it, we cannot verify that your profiles actually exist in Tekla.

    Here is the cataloge download link: 

    https://github.com/benkoshy/Acad-Tekla-Interop

    Trouble Shooting

    • Ensure you are using the “Steel Detailing” license.
    • Ensure you have AutoCAD 2023, or 2024. Do not use 2025 because this tends not to connect with Tekla.