You have the option to use Excel in connection design for all steel components
that have a Design tab in their component properties dialog box.
Tekla Structures includes sample spreadsheet for connection design and a template spreadsheet
you should use to create your own spreadsheet applications to use with Tekla Structures
components.
Topics
Setting up Excel files
Sample implementation
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Setting up Excel files Page 1 of 1
Visual Basic script file linking Tekla Structures with external software.
Excel spreadsheet containing calculations.
Connection specific result file, which displays the modified connection properties is stored to
model folder.
This file is created automatically from the Calculation sheet of the spreadsheet.
The file is updated each time you modify the connection.
Calculation results can be stored as Excel spreadsheet, HTML or PDF format, depending on
how calculation spreadsheet is configured.
1. File named "component_ + number or name + .xls", from the current model folder:
..\*model folder*\exceldesign
XS_EXTERNAL_EXCEL_DESIGN_PATH (=%XS_DIR%\environments\country-
independent\exceldesign\) + "component_" + number + ".xls"
By default, the result file is stored in the model folder, and named with component ID (For
example, component_9502_res.xls).
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Sample implementation Page 1 of 2
Sample implementation
Below is descibed the contents of an Excel spreadsheet which is used for End plate (144)
connection:
When user clicks Modify in the End plate (144) properties dialog box, Excel.vb file calls Excel
spreadsheet named component_144.xls.
Contents
The sample spreadsheet includes the following sheets:
Tekla Structures transfers the component properties from the component properties dialog box
to this sheet.
Component
Tekla Structures transfers the component geometry and information on the main and secondary
parts (for example, part profiles) into this sheet. The component attributes in the spreadsheet
are the same as in the corresponding .inp file.
See more about .inp files in Input files.
This sheet includes calculations (the calculations can be as Visual Basic macros in the sheet).
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Sample implementation Page 2 of 2
Calculation
Summary of calculation is collected to the Calculation sheet. This page or full Excel
spreadsheet can be stored as a report of the calculation.
Outputs
Excel adds the modified values to the Output sheet. These values are tranferred back to the
connection and connection in the model is modified accordingly.
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Indicating component status Page 1 of 1
To do this, include the error attribute on the Output page of the Excel spreadsheet for the
component. The possible values are:
Value
Color Status
Passes the connection design check using the UK and US design codes
embedded in the system.
2 Yellow Edge distance(s) are insufficient according to the value in the Coefficients
properties in the Options dialog box (Setup > Options).
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Using Excel with custom components Page 1 of 1
For custom components, you need to add the property Use external design to the custom
component dialog box:
1. Select the component, then right-click and select Edit custom component.
2. In the custom component editor, click to open the Variables dialog box.
3. Click Add and enter the following information:
4. Save the component and close the custom component editor. The custom component dialog
box now contains the Use external design property.
Spreadsheet location
The template spreadsheets are located in folder ..\TeklaStructures\11.2
\environments\country_independent\exceldesign.
By default, Tekla Structures searches for the spreadsheet in the following order:
Spreadsheet name
The name of the file must be component_*component name*.xls. For example
component_custom1.xls for a custom component named custom1.
For more information on the required Excel files, file locations and how to perform the connection
check with Excel, see Using Excel in connection design .
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