Tekla Open API

Do Van Cuong
Technical Consultant

Agenda
What is Tekla Open API used for?
What you need to get started

Where to go to get help

Tekla Extensions
Case Study

[Date]

Tekla Open API

Launched in 2006
Over 200 extensions developed

Tekla Open API

A key product strategy for Tekla
Tekla Structures as the Open BIM solution

Tekla Open API

A key product strategy for Tekla
Tekla Structures as the Open BIM solution
Case: Structural analysis and design link with SAP2000

Demo

Tekla Open API

A key product strategy for Tekla
Use of modern development technology
Securing development resources is easier for Tekla
Shorter development lifecycle
Easy delivery of updates and fixes
Possibilities for country and segment specific development

Tekla Open API

A key product strategy for Tekla
Possibility of add-on development
Mini Toolbar

Insert PDF Reference Model

Task Manager

Demo

Tekla Open API

Third Party Solutions
CNC Scribing
Developed by Steel Projects /
Ficep
Enable scribing data and automatic
status feedback
Scribing the drill head marks
(Plate weld lines, fitting marks, plate

pa114
pa114

marks, burn lines, holes)

gp225
gp225

Tekla Open API

Third Party Solutions
Developer: Tocoman
Provider of quantity and construction cost software and services

Purpose
Interactively read quantity information directly from the model to the
Tocoman Server
Create cost estimation based on recipes

Tocoman_iLink

Tekla Open API

Third Party Solutions
PEB specific development
Plugins for PEB details, connections,
and structures
Drawing tools for specific PEB
needs
Links from Tekla Structures to ERP
and A&D
Model checking, approval, and
process tools

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Tekla Open API

Third Party Solutions
Tekla Structures Extensions

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Tekla Open API

Developed on Microsoft .NET Framework
A core strategy for Microsoft
Support for multiple programming languages

Security (Automatic memory managment)

Object oriented programming
Modern development tools and environments

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Tekla Open API

Assemblies: Design principles of classes:
Object initialization is similar to object creation in Tekla Structures
Field naming in object classes follows dialog field name in Tekla
Structures
Dim MyBm As New Tekla.Structures.Model.Beam
MyBm.Profile.ProfileString = "UB406*140*39"
MyBm.Material.MaterialString = "S275"
MyBm.Class = 3
MyBm.Name = "BEAM"
MyBm.AssemblyNumber.Prefix = "B"
MyBm.PartNumber.Prefix = "M"
MyBm.AssemblyNumber.StartNumber = 1
MyBm.PartNumber.StartNumber = 1

Demo

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Tekla Open API

Assemblies
Tekla.Structures.dll
Contains basic common types shared in model and drawings

Tekla.Structures.Model.dll
Consists of classes and methods used when connecting and manipulating model objects

Tekla.Structures.Drawings.dll
Functionality to inquire, insert, select, modify or delete drawing objects

Tekla.Structures.Plugins.dll
Functionality to create plug-in into Tekla Structures
Tekla Open API Reference

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Tekla Open API

Assemblies
Tekla.Structures.Analysis.dll
Contains classes used for accessing Analysis & Design information

Tekla.Structures.Catalogs.dll
Functionality to access catalog information such as profiles, bolts, materials, rebars,
meshes and printer

Tekla.Structures.Datatype.dll
Contains data type used to pass data to and from Tekla Structures and between other
assemblies

Tekla.Structures.Dialog.dll
Enables dialog creation and data connection for plug-ins

Tekla Open API Reference

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Tekla Open API

Development Type
Application
Executed in separated process from Tekla Structures
Started from Tekla Structures if embedded to a macro
Development samples:
.NET application
COM application
VBA macro

Plug-ins
Loaded inside Tekla Structures process
Model plug-ins starts from Component Catalog
Drawing plug-ins starts from toolbar
Intelligent, modifiable and associated to input objects.
Demo

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Tekla Open API

Development Pre-Requisite
Tekla Structures license

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

Demo

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Tekla Open API

Development Pre-Requisite
Basic understanding of Tekla Structures
Model creation basics
Part creation, alignment, and operations
Understanding of Tekla Structures objects

Understanding/Experience with .NET/COM programming

language
C#, VB.NET, J# etc.
English documentation

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Tekla Open API

Development Resources
Tekla Open API Developer Startup Package

Available from the extranet

Sample Visual Studio solutions & documents
API help reference
FAQ, How to, Release notes, Self learning, etc.

Demo

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Tekla Open API

Development Support
Open API Forum

Demo

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Tekla Open API

Sample Application Development

Demo

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Tekla Open API

Sample Plug-In Development

Demo

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Sample Plug-in Development

Gettings data from user interface into plug-in

Public Class StructuresData

<TSPlugins.StructuresField(C1)> Public C1 As Double
End Class

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Case Study

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Mammut Building System

Website: http://www.mammutgroup.com/mammut_building_systems.html
Capacity: 10000 tons steel per month

Biggest Tekla Customer (by 2007) with over 200 license

Developed an application for generating complete
building model in Tekla from various design inputs.
With this application, an average complex steel
building can be modeled in 10 minutes which will take
nearly 3 days to model manually. This program is
developed in C# language using Tekla, Excel API.

Raju Dinagaran
Senior Design Engineer

Developed an automation program which can read

TEKLA report and send information to Machine
directly for the production of Z-Sections with holes.
This program has reduced manual errors and
increased production considerably.

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Component by HSD Vietnam

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Thank you!