1 (25)

June 26th, 2014

TEKLA STRUCTURES PDMS INTEROPERABILITY

PDMS Import/Export
User

Company

Just testing

Big models

In real projects

Table of Contents
I. Tekla Structures PDMS interoperability...................................................................... 2
II. Overview...................................................................................................................... 2
III.
Prerequisities............................................................................................................. 2
A. Installation steps in PDMS......................................................................................... 3
IV.
Export from PDMS application................................................................................... 8
A. Create export instance.............................................................................................. 8
B. Export instance......................................................................................................... 9
C. Edit export instance................................................................................................ 10
V. Import to PDMS application........................................................................................ 12
A. Create import instance............................................................................................ 12
B. Import Instance....................................................................................................... 13
C. Edit import instance................................................................................................ 15
D. Update import instance........................................................................................... 16
VI.
Mapping of profiles, materials and attributes (UDAs) .............................................. 19
A. Profile mapping....................................................................................................... 21
1. Instruction how to get correct syntax for mapping file when different standards
(e.g. UK) used in PDMS:.............................................................................................. 22
B. Material mapping.................................................................................................... 22
C. Attribute mapping................................................................................................... 22
VII. Feedback................................................................................................................. 24
VIII. Open comment area............................................................................................... 25

2 (25)
June 26th, 2014

I.

Tekla Structures PDMS interoperability

Tekla Structures PDMS interoperability has been using SDNF and/or DGN formats. Tekla aims to
improve the interoperability with new development. The new link works with Tekla Structures 19.1, 20.0,
20.1, 21.0 and PDMS 12.1 , 12.0.
Tekla has created an extended IFC file format for the link.

II. Overview
Prerequisites
In order to use the link, both Tekla Structures and PDMS require an installed application.
Tekla BIMsight (http://www.teklabimsight.com) needs to be installed and needed attributes
available in PDMS in order to use the update model functionality in PDMS. Not needed any more
with newest link versions.
Limitations

In older PDMS link version (20th January 2015 and before) parts that are not extrusion parts (e.g.
poly beams/panels, twisted parts) are not imported to PDMS. Importing these objects requires
other format that is currently .dgn .
Newest PDMS link version can import also BREP (surface) format parts as polyhedron objects.
Tekla Structures version 21.0 can export also poly beams / panels as extrusion format.

Currently the link does not support

o Bolts, nuts, washers
o Welds
o Reinforcement
o Surface treatments

III. Prerequisities

3 (25)
June 26th, 2014

A. Installation steps in PDMS

Run the installer.

o Installer installs Imports from Tekla application to C:\TS_PDMS\version.
Edit DesignAddins.xml and set reference to Tekla Interoperability .dll (TS_PDMS).

Start PDMS.
Create a dialog box entry for the application by right-clicking on the main dialog box in PDMS
and select Customize.
Select a level for the menu creation. Normally you create it for User.

Note: Edited file named in PDMS is related to module you are running. So
PDMS Design --> DesignAddins.xml
Marine,Outfitting --> OutfittingAddins.xml
PDMS Draft --> DraftAddins.xml
The company setup might read files from different locations (e.g. can be read from a server
based on company setup). If so contact your PDMS support to get the modifications done
correctly. Problem can be that edited DesignAddins.xml file is not read at all.

4 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Create new Menu.

Modify Menu and set Caption to Tekla Structures.

Create new Button.

5 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Modify Button and set Caption to Tekla Interoperability.

Add

Command to Button.

If the TS.Pdms option is not visible in the Command dialog, TS_PDMS.dll is not properly

6 (25)
June 26th, 2014

installed.

Add Button to Menu.

After installation the toolbar is visible in PDMS Tekla Structures.

7 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Create the attributes that are needed for updating a model from Tekla Structures:
o :TEKLA_GUID
o :TEKLA_IFCGUID
o : TEKLA_VERSION
are used to find and update deleted and modified parts in PDMS. If these attributes
are not present in PDMS, the items will not be found and a new instance is created.
Necessary PDMS UDAs are described in a description document, see
attachment :\TS_PDMS\version\TS_INTEROPERABILITY_UDA.datal
Recommended other attributes are in TS_INTEROPERABILITY_UDA.datal.

Installation

Comments
Yes

No

Problems?

Other comments?

8 (25)
June 26th, 2014

IV. Export from PDMS application

A. Create export instance

Open PDMS model

Click menu item Tekla Structures Tekla Interoperability

Dialog opens, select Export tab:

Browse for directory to store exported model ()

Select hierarchy item for the model. Default is selected hierarchy item in Design
Explorer and it is the preferred selection choice. The selected item in Design Explorer
can be any hierarchic object from FRMW to SITE (structural model).

With newest link with PDMS 12.1 also e.g. pipes, equipments can be exported from
PDMS

9 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Press Add to load export settings into datagrid

Create export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Logic is understandable

Problems?

Easy to learn?

Other comments?

B. Export instance
Prerequisite Create export instance

Select instance or instances from rows in datagrid and press Export

10 (25)
June 26th, 2014

IFC package(s) will be created in given folder with IFC package name in addition to
UTC (Version).

Exported model can be opened in Tela Structures and Tekla BIMsight.

Export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Problems?

Other comments?

C. Edit export instance

Prerequisite Create export instance

Change export folder by picking

Open export folder by picking

Remove instance by clicking

11 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Edit export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Problems?

Other comments?

12 (25)
June 26th, 2014

V. Import to PDMS application

A. Create import instance

Open a PDMS model.

Click on the menu Tekla Structures Tekla Interoperability.

A dialog box opens, select Import tab.

Browse for a file created with Tekla Structures ().

Select STRU for the model. Default is selected hierarchy item in Design Explorer and it is the
preferred selection choice. The selected item in Design Explorer must then be a STRU.

If the model contains FRMW that has the same name as the imported model, the default
FRMW name needs to be changed.

13 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Click Add to load the model to the datagrid.

Create export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Logic is understandable

Problems?

Easy to learn?

Does this functionality

improve your productivity?

Other comments?

B. Import Instance
Prerequisite: Create import instance

Select an instance or instances in the datagrid and click Import.

14 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Instance(s) will be created in PDMS under selected STRU and with a given FRMW name.
Note that the name must not exist in a PDMS model.

If a model created in Tekla Structures includes parts that cannot be exported as extrusion
objects but as BREP (surface) format objects, such as polybeams (before version 21.0), the
model has those objects in a .dgn file that can be imported to PDMS. Model exists in
model.ifcZip folder or .tcZip folder in Tekla Structures version 21.0. Note that if the project
origin is moved for the export in Tekla Structures, this .dgn model needs to be manually
moved to the right location. Note: also Tekla Structures parts which have IFC export type
UDA definition as Brep instead of Auto will be included in a .dgn file
Note: Newest PDMS link version can import also BREP (surface) format parts as polyhedron
objects. Tekla Structures version 21.0 can export also poly beams / panels as extrusion
format.
In new PDMS link version dialog has more integrated behavior. Also It can be docked in
PDMS GUI:

15 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Logic is understandable

Problems?

Easy to learn?

Does this functionality

improve your productivity?

Other comments?

C. Edit import instance

Prerequisite: Create import instance

Change import folder by clicking

Open import folder by clicking

Remove instance by clicking

16 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Edit export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Logic is understandable

Problems?

Easy to learn?

Does this functionality

improve your productivity?

Other comments?

D. Update import instance

Prerequisite: Create import instance

In order to update model.

When the dialog box is opened in PDMS, the application checks if a new update for the
model exported from Tekla Structures is available. If an update exits, the row is marked as
yellow.

Select the row and click Import.

17 (25)
June 26th, 2014

When importing, ADDED, MODIFIED and DELETED items will be instanciated.

The ADDED items will be shown in green color.
The MODIFIED items will be shown in YELLOW color.
The DELETED items will be removed from model.

Colors are set by turning off the auto coloring in PDMS. Auto coloring is
automaticly turned on again after the import. An update of the view will show all
items in the colors defined in representation rules.

18 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Update import instance

Comments
Yes

No

Logic is understandable

Problems?

Easy to learn?

Does this functionality

improve your productivity?

Other comments?

19 (25)
June 26th, 2014

VI. Mapping of profiles, materials and attributes (UDAs)

Prerequisite: Create import instance

Click Mapping to open the Mapping dialog box

The dialog box shows mapping settings for profiles, materials and attributes (UDAs).

Only profiles and materials present in an instance (model) will be shown in the dialog box.

Mapping files are stored in a project folder under TS-PDMS/Mapping.

Profile mapping
: ProfileMapping.txt
Material mapping
: MaterialMapping.txt
Attribute (UDA) mapping
: AttributeMapping.txt (from Tekla)
Attribute (UDA) mapping
: PDMSAttributeMapping.txt (from PDMS)

If mapping is not set for a profile or a material that exists in the model, the row will be marked as red
in the Mapping dialog box.

If All check box is selected, all rules are listed.

20 (25)
June 26th, 2014

It is possible to open and save the mapping rules by clicking the Rules buttons. The mapping file is
opened with a default text editor. All mapping files can be opened with Microsoft Excel.

21 (25)
June 26th, 2014

A. Profile mapping

There are multiple ways to create rules for profile mapping. All rules need to be mapped to
ProfileMapping.txt file.
o Mapping in rule file is Tekla Structures profile;PDMS profile
o Library profile mapping:

L75*75*5;DIN-SPEC/L75x7

o Parametric mapping:

L:B:*:H:*:T;DESPAR_SPEC/L:B:H:T or

o Profile to parametric profile mapping:

L200*100*10;DESPAR_SPEC/L:200:100:10

It is possible to do a library profile to library profile mapping on dialog only.

22 (25)
June 26th, 2014

If a mapping is missing (empty) the part will be imported as a plate that is extruded from the
object start to end with some small exceptions *).
In case of a wrong mapping (mapping to undefined specification), the SCTN will be created
but no profile geometry will be present.
*) For example double ledge beams cannot be currently exported as extrusion parts.

Rules can be edited only by text editor

1. Instruction how to get correct syntax for mapping file when different standards (e.g.
UK) used in PDMS:
If you set the spref on a SCTN and query the spref for the SCTN you will see the exact text for
the spref. That string is going into mapping file. If you write complete spref name in command
window (/BS-SPEC/xxxxx) you should get to spref element in PDMS.

B. Material mapping

Material mappping is direct Tekla Structures material;PDMS material mapping.

C. Attribute mapping

Attribute (UDA) mapping is set by the user.

Note that to get the mapping in PDMS the UDA to set must exist. If a UDA is not defined in
PDMS, the attribute value will not be set to the PDMS object.

Attribute mapping is between PropertySet Property and PDMS UDA. PropertySet property is
defined in Tekla Structures and it can be a report field or a UDA. A property needs to be

23 (25)
June 26th, 2014

mapped as PropertySet.Property. It is preferred is to create PropertySet for PDMS and use it

like PDMS.MATERIAL;String;:MATERIAL;String

If Tekla Common.Name is BEAM, it appears in attribute list after import.

There is a separate mapping file PDMSExportAttributes.txt for Export from PDMS to IFC. It
needs to also at project folder under TS-PDMS/Mapping. Note: UDAs for mechanical objects
(pipes, equipments) can be exported only in PDMS 12.1 version

PDMSExportAttributes.pdf is a description document that shows the use of mapping file with
examples

24 (25)
June 26th, 2014

Edit export instance

Comments
Yes

No

Logic is understandable

Problems?

Easy to learn?

Does this functionality

improve your productivity?

Other comments?

VII. Feedback

Yes

No

Logic is understandable
Problems
Easy to learn
Does this functionality improve your
productivity?
Other comments

Yes

Did you find bugs?

Have you noticed issues that would
prevent usage of this functionality?
Would you suggest this functionality
to others?
Did this functionality have any
problems with other functionality in
Tekla Structures?

Comments

No

Comments

25 (25)
June 26th, 2014

VIII.Open comment area

Please feel free to add additional comments below;

Thank you very much of your feedback.