Tekla Structures 2016 Open API Release Notes
Updated:
13 May 2019
This document explains new features, fixes and improvements in Tekla Open API 2016. For more examples and information, see Tekla Open API Reference Manual for version 2016.
Tekla.Structures 2016.0.0.0 Assembly
Solid faces
- Solid faces now have information about the object ID responsible for creating the face. For example, a face created by a part cut has the ID of the cutting object (that is, the anti-material object created by the part cut command). In Tekla Open API, the functionality is available as
Tekla.Structures.Solid.Face.OriginPartId.
XS_EXTENSION_DIRECTORY
- The
XS_EXTENSION_DIRECTORY
advanced option can be used for defining additional loading paths for model and drawing plug-ins.
Tekla.Structures.Dialog 2016.0.0.0 Assembly
Rebar shape catalog
ReinforcementSelectionForm
now selects the usage node on doubleclick and closes the Select reinforcing bar dialog box when the grade size is selected in Rebar shape catalog.
Reinforcing bar catalog
- The reinforcing bar catalog (
ReinforcementSelectionForm
) now opens faster than before when launched from an Open API based extension dialog box.
Plug-in dialog box and location
- .NET plug-in dialog box size and location are now stored under the Tekla Structures version in the registry.
Tekla.Structures.Model 2016.0.0.0 Assembly
New ModelHandler class
- A new class,
ModelHandler
, has been added to the Tekla.Structures.Model assembly for saving, opening and creating new single and multi-user models. OldOpen()
methods in theOperations
class have been marked as obsolete.
Slotted hole values in IFC export
- Slotted hole values are now always zero in the .NET interface if there are no slotted holes in the bolt, or if the bolt is a stud.
Tekla.Structures.Model.UI namespace
- An additional argument
Showdimensions
has been added to theSelect()
method in theModelObjectSelector
class. The default value isTRUE
. If the value is set toFALSE
, the dimensions are not drawn to the user interface when the part is selected. - A new class,
ModelObjectVisualization
, has been added to Open API for model object visualization. The class can be used for setting temporary color and transparency values for a model object in the view.
Changes in surface object API
- When setting the polymesh for surface creation, the normal of the polymesh must point to the outside of a part or pour. This improves the performance of surface creation and optimizes the database size.
The following changes have been made in the surface object API in Structures/DotNetInterface/Tekla.Structures.Model/Surface/ SurfaceObject.cs:- Public boolean
SetParent(ModelObject obj)
is called only before calling public override booleanInsert()
. CallingSetParent()
afterInsert()
may cause unexpected behavior. FacetedBrep
polymesh's normal should be pointing out from the material to optimize the performance and minimize the database size. Note that Tekla Structures uses the right-hand rule to determine the polymesh point order and polymesh normal.
- Public boolean
NC files
- There is now a new function in Tekla Open API,
GetDSTVCoordinateSystem()
, which returns the coordinate system that is used to export the part.
Dynamic strings for model objects
- It is now possible to set and get dynamic strings for model objects using the following methods:
- public boolean
SetDynamicStringProperty
(string name, string value); - public boolean
GetDynamicStringProperty
(string name, string value);
- public boolean
Tekla.Structures.Drawings 2016.0.0.0 Assembly
Drawing text objects
- The maximum number of characters allowed in drawing text objects is now 8192 both in the drawing and in Tekla Open API.
Dual dimension units
- Previously, dual dimension units were not working when accessed through the .NET interface, now they are.
A dual dimension is a special text written on the Tags tab in the dimension properties dialog box.
If you write the textDIMENSION
for one of the tags, the dimension length value is placed for that tag in its place.
When accessed through the .NET interface, using one of the tagsContainerElements
, it will contain aTextElement
with the text value ofDIMENSION
if a dual dimension value is found.
Tekla Structures 2016 Open API Release Notes 5
Note that if dual dimensions are wanted in a tag, only one element can exist in the tag and it has to be theTextElement
containingDIMENSION
.
Setting arrow head type
- When modifying marks through the drawings .NET interface, the arrow head type could not be set, now it can be set.
Note that the width and height of mark arrow heads can still not be set, as those values are defined in advanced options only, seeXS_MARK_LEADER_LINE_ARROW_HEIGHT
andXS_MARK_LEADER_LINE_ARROW_LENGTH
.
Weld marks
- It is now possible to modify the weld mark insertion point and leader line through Tekla Open API.
Layout attributes
- Previously,
Layout
andTable Layout
values were not applied correctly throughDrawing.Modify
after callingLoadAttributes
forLayoutAttributes
, now they are.