Help Center — TPT Macros
Tekla Structures 2023 / 2024 / 2025 / 2026 · All macros in one place
Welcome
This page guides you step by step through each TPT macro. Use the left bar to navigate quickly, or the search field to find what you need.
Each macro remembers your last settings automatically, so you won't have to re-enter everything each time.
Tip: before first use, read the Common conventions section — it describes the behaviors shared by every macro (header, picking, Esc, subscription, help).
Common conventions common to all TPT plugins
The essentials to get the most out of the 16 macros without surprises.
The top bar of every window
All TPT windows share the same dark-blue bar, draggable with the mouse. From left to right:
- The macro name — window title, reminds you which macro is active.
- ? — help button. Opens this page directly at the section for the current macro.
- 👤 — subscription button. Shows your subscription status (Active, Trial, Warning, Expired), your email, the due date and the days remaining. Gives access to the "Buy" / "Renew" and "Sign out" buttons. It also lets you choose the interface language (Auto / Français / English) — the change takes effect when Tekla restarts.
- 📌 — pin. Remembers the window position: the next time it opens, it reappears in the same place.
- ✕ — closes the window.
The "Close" and "Apply" buttons
At the bottom of each window you will find two buttons:
- Close (grey) — closes the macro. If a picking is in progress, it is cancelled.
- Apply (blue) — validates the entered settings and starts (or restarts) picking in Tekla. Click it whenever you change a setting or a reference type during use.
Prior selection ("pre-selection")
Most macros accept a pre-selection: you select the parts in Tekla before launching the macro. The status then shows "N part(s) pre-selected" and passes them on through the flow without asking you to re-pick them.
Esc key
During picking, Esc stops the pick loop. The TPT window stays open; the status shows "Interrupted — click Apply to resume." To resume the macro, click Apply.
If the window is focused, Esc closes it.
Saved settings
The settings you enter (gap, reference type, options, etc.) are kept for the whole current Tekla session: you don't have to re-enter them from one use to the next. However, they are not saved in the model — when you close and reopen Tekla, each macro starts again from its default values.
Bisector Beam
Create a bisector beam between two selected planes in two clicks.
What it's for
Bisector Beam automatically places a beam exactly on the plane that bisects the angle between two faces.
How to use it
- Fill in the settings.
- Pick the first face, then the second face.
- The beam is created instantly.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Part name. Default: POUTRE. |
| Profile | Tekla profile. Default: IPE200. |
| Class | Part class number. Default: 1. |
| Material | Drop-down list fed by the Tekla catalog. Default: S235JR. |
Tips
- The beam is centered on the bisector (
Position.Plane = MIDDLE) and oriented tangent to the bisector. - The beam length is computed to span the envelope of the two parts whose faces you picked.
Plate on Face
Place a plate on any face in a single click.
What it's for
Create a contour plate that follows the outline of a face (or of a polygon you pick point by point), with a configurable inset, offset to the face and thickness.
How to use it
- Fill in the settings.
- Pick the target face (the plate then follows the face outline).
- The plate is created. Picking restarts immediately so you can place another plate.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Plate profile (e.g. PL6, PL10). Default: PL6. |
| Name | Part name. Default: PLAT. |
| Class | Class number. Default: 1. |
| Material | Part material. Default: S235JR. |
| Inset | Offset of the outline toward the inside, applied uniformly on all edges (mm). Default: 0. |
| Gap | Distance between the plate and the picked face (mm). Lets you lift the plate off the face. Default: 0. |
| Position | Position of the plate relative to the picked face: Front, Middle, or Behind. |
| Arc interpolation | ON/OFF switch. When enabled, the macro detects sequences of at least 4 picked points that follow the same circle (tolerance 0.2 mm) and replaces them with a true Tekla arc. Only has an effect when you trace the outline point by point — no effect on a face picked in a single click. Default: OFF. |
Tips
- The inset is uniform on all four sides (or all edges of the polygon).
- The Gap can be negative if you want the plate to dig into the reference part.
- Arc interpolation only acts on an outline traced point by point: pick at least 4 points along the desired curve and the macro merges them into a native Tekla arc. No snapping to standard radii — the arc follows the picked points exactly.
L Polybeam
A perfectly-angled L polybeam in three clicks, centered automatically.
What it's for
Creates an L-shaped polybeam that adapts automatically to the angle between two picked faces. The macro computes the three handles, orients the profile correctly and can create a section view to finalize the modeling. Ideal for placing, in three clicks, a base for a complex angled polybeam.
How to use it
- Fill in the settings.
- Pick the first face, then the second face, then a point that indicates the position of the L.
- The L is created, centered automatically on that point, and oriented toward the inside of the angle.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Profile | Tekla profile of the plate to bend (e.g. PL6*100). Default: PL6*100. |
| Branch length | Length of each branch of the L in mm. Default: 150. |
| Create view | ON/OFF switch. When enabled, a section view perpendicular to the L is created automatically after insertion (handy for adjusting the handles manually). Default: ON. |
Tips
- The branch direction is oriented automatically toward the inside of the angle formed by the two faces.
- The point picked in step 3 is projected onto the intersection line of the two faces — you can pick anywhere nearby and the macro will do the projection.
Bent Plate Creator
Bend two parts into a cylindrical bent plate in two clicks.
What it's for
Turns two parts into a cylindrical bent plate. The macro computes the inner bisector of the two planes, slides the relevant handles along their edges to follow the bend, then creates the BentPlate with an automatic central radius (1.5 × thickness). An Intermediate control mode lets you preview the bend before performing it.
The two parts can be two contour plates, a plate + an already-bent plate, or two bent plates: you can thus chain several bends and progressively shape a U, Z, etc. profile.
How to use it
- Select the two parts to bend — contour plates and/or already-bent plates (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. Choose the mode by clicking one of the two buttons:
- Final bend — performs the bend and creates the
BentPlate. - Intermediate control — draws the bisector and the 4 target points on screen so you can visually validate the bend before performing it, without leaving the 3D view.
- Final bend — performs the bend and creates the
- Click Apply, then pick the 2 plates if needed.
- To switch from Intermediate to Final mode, click Final bend then Apply: the
BentPlateis created and the control markers are removed automatically.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode | Final bend — computation + plate adjustment + creation of the BentPlate. Intermediate control — adjusts the plates and draws the control markers. |
| Imposed bend radius | ON/OFF switch, OFF by default. Disabled: automatic radius — the inner radius equals the plate thickness (i.e. 1.5 × thickness at the neutral fiber). Enabled: the Inner radius (mm) field becomes active and imposes the radius of your choice. |
| Inner radius (mm) | Active only when Imposed bend radius is enabled. This is the inner radius of the bend (not the neutral fiber). If the bend fails, increase this value. |
| Pick by faces | ON/OFF switch, OFF by default. Disabled: you designate the 2 parts and the macro chooses the edges to bend itself. Enabled: you pick the edge face (the thickness) of each plate, at the edge to bend — you designate the facet and the edge yourself. ⚠️ Pick the edge face, not the main face. |
Exploding a bent plate
The Explode button does the opposite of bending: it splits a bent plate into independent plates, one per flat facet. The cylindrical zones (the bends) disappear with it.
- Select the bent plate(s) to explode before clicking (otherwise the macro asks you to pick one).
- Click Explode.
- Each facet becomes an independent contour plate and the original bent plate is deleted. The macro then resumes its normal cycle.
Tips
- The points created in intermediate mode are the orthogonal projections of the edges onto the inner bisector.
- By default (radius not imposed), the inner radius equals the plate thickness — i.e. 1.5 × thickness at the neutral fiber. Enable Imposed bend radius to enter your own inner radius.
- Chained bends: for a multi-bend profile (U, Z…), first bend two plates, then relaunch the macro selecting the resulting bent plate + a new plate (or another bent plate). The new bend is added without deforming the previous ones.
- Explode keeps the handles and chamfers of each facet identical — the resulting plates have exactly the shape of the original facets.
- On explode, bolts and cuts are reassigned to the relevant facet; a cut straddling several facets is duplicated on each.
- The two parts to bend must have the same thickness — otherwise the bend is refused, with a message showing both thicknesses.
- If the bend fails, increase the radius: the bend has no room to form.
- On explode, the welds of the bent plate are deleted — to be redone if needed.
AI Bolt
A bolt group placed and optimized automatically in two clicks — then adjustable down to the single bolt.
What it's for
Places a bolt group between two parallel faces without worrying about planes and orientations. The macro determines the common zone of the two faces and automatically computes the number and position of the bolts according to your maximum spacing and your edge distance. Ideal for roughing out a bolting, bolting a large plate or any lap connection. Once the group is created, you can adjust it column by column / row by row without redoing everything.
Automatic part detection
You only need to pick the two faces: the macro automatically detects all the parts caught between them (the ones the bolts must go through) and bolts them together. No need to select the parts beforehand. Detection is on by default.
- A part is kept when the common zone of the two faces fits entirely within the part: the part may extend beyond the zone, but never be smaller — so every bolt actually goes through it.
- If you select parts before launching the command, your selection takes priority (manual mode for that cycle).
- To bolt only the two parts of the picked faces, turn off automatic detection.
How to use it
- Launch the macro and fill in the settings.
- Pick face 1 — it determines the orientation plane of the group.
- Pick face 2 (parallel to face 1). The macro detects the parts to bolt, determines the common zone and places the bolt group at its center.
- The created group is re-selected in the model. The ± buttons of the Layout section become active: adjust the NxM if needed.
- The macro chains automatically: pick the two faces of the next bolting directly (no need to click Apply in between). Press Esc to stop.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic part detection | On by default. Detects and bolts all the parts caught between the two faces (see above). Turn it off to bolt only the manually selected parts. |
| Diameter | Bolt diameter. The choice list is fed by the Tekla catalog and adapts automatically to the chosen standard. |
| Standard | Standard list from the Tekla bolt catalog (8.8, 10.9, HR, etc.). |
| Tolerance | Hole clearance (mm). Default: 2.0. |
| Search length | Bolt search depth — rule: must be ≥ 2 × stack + 5 mm, otherwise the macro shows a red warning. Default: 100.0. |
| Max spacing | Upper limit of the spacing between two bolts (mm). Default: 150.0. |
| Edge distance | Minimum distance between a bolt and the edge of the zone (mm). The macro slightly adjusts the edge distance to obtain a whole-number spacing. Default: 25.0. |
Adjusting the layout after creation
Once the group is created, the Layout section of the window becomes active with two rows:
- Column — shows
N = X (Sp. Y mm). The − and + buttons remove / add a column along X. - Row — shows
M = X (Sp. Y mm). The − and + buttons remove / add a row along Y.
The buttons are automatically greyed out when the operation is not possible (minimum spacing reached, 1×1 layout). The spacing always stays a whole number, and the outer edge distances are preserved (the layout footprint does not change — only the bolts inside spread apart or move closer).
Tips
- The application plane of the bolt group is the first picked face.
- Spacings are always whole-number values — so the edge distances may be slightly larger than the value you entered.
- If the zone is too small, a single bolt is placed at the center.
- If the common zone is not convex (L, T, U shape, with a notch…) and a grid would place a bolt outside the material, the macro places a single bolt at the center and reports it in the status. For a real grid, split the bolting into convex zones.
- You can pick the same face twice if you simply want to mark a bolt at a precise spot without a common-zone computation.
- Changing the Standard or Diameter during use: then click Apply for the new values to take effect.
- The two faces must be parallel. Otherwise no bolt is created and the status shows "Faces are not parallel".
- If the Search length value is too short relative to the stack of parts to clamp (rule:
Search ≥ 2 × stack + 5 mm), a red warning "⚠ Insufficient search depth" appears. The bolt is created but does not pass correctly through the stack — increase the Search length for a better result. - The macro checks for clashes: if a bolt (or its nut) bites into a part outside the assembly of the two faces — for example a profile web — a red warning "⚠ N bolt(s) clashing with material" appears. The group is still created: check and adjust if needed.
Rebolt
Automatically attach forgotten parts to an existing bolt, and clean up ghost parts — in a loop.
What it's for
Instead of going through Tekla's "bolted parts" function and redefining the bolting manually, the macro detects the parts that should be crossed and attaches them automatically. It can also detach ghost parts (attached but not crossed by the bolt — typical of a copy mistake). The macro loops automatically until Esc.
How to use it
- Set the Search zone and tick or untick Check parts already attached.
- Launch the macro. The current selection is cleared (pre-selected bolts are not picked up) and picking starts: Rebolt forces a deliberate choice, one bolt group at a time.
- Pick a bolt group. The macro analyzes the zone around its handles, attaches the parts actually crossed and removes the ghost parts (if the option is ticked).
- The processed bolt is re-selected (visual feedback), then the macro restarts immediately: pick the next bolt.
- Press Esc to finish. If you change a setting, click Apply to resume picking with the new value.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Search zone (mm) | Analysis depth around the bolt handles for attaching neighboring parts. Recommended value: 50. |
| Check parts already attached | Ticked by default. Detects ghost parts (attached but not crossed by the bolt) and removes them automatically. |
Tips
- The search uses two successive filters — only the parts actually crossed by the bolt are added.
- If the search depth is too large, unrelated neighboring parts could be detected: start at 50 mm and increase only if needed.
- The Search zone also sets the bolt's "Search length" (Tekla parameter), fixed at 2 × the zone: the zone is a radius, whereas the search length spreads on either side of the handles. With the default value 50, the search length is therefore 100 — i.e. the Tekla default, no surprise reduction.
- Tekla does not allow removing the main part of a bolting without breaking the bolt — a red warning "Main part not crossed — reassign manually." is shown in that case. The fix remains manual.
Extend
Lengthen or shorten several parts toward a reference, in a loop, keeping the direction.
What it's for
Extends or shortens a group of beams, polybeams, contour plates or bent plates (Bent Plate) up to a face, a line or the axis of a beam, with a configurable gap. Extend moves the handles of the parts without changing their directions. Perfect for extending a group of joists, adjusting a contour plate or lengthening the branch of a polybeam.
How to use it
- Select the parts to modify (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. In the Reference section, choose the type: Face, Line or Axis.
- Set the Gap and, if needed, enable the Avoid collisions with reference switch.
- Click Apply, then pick the reference in the model.
- All selected parts are adjusted on their nearest end. The macro loops automatically: pick the next reference or click another type to switch.
- Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Reference type | Face — plane of a picked face. · Line — picked line (2 points). · Axis — axis of a picked beam. |
| Gap (mm) | Final distance between the handle and the reference. A negative value creates an overlap. |
| Avoid collisions with reference | ON/OFF switch. When enabled, the macro computes the real profile envelope (material) and places the handle so the material is tangent to the reference (with the requested gap). When disabled, it is the handles of beams, polybeams and contour plates that are placed at the requested distance. Available for beam, polybeam, contour plate and Bent Plate. Default: OFF. |
| Plumb projection of the reference | ON/OFF switch, OFF by default. Only available in Line or Axis mode (greyed out in Face mode). Disabled: the handle aims at the reference — it stops at the closest point to the line / axis. Enabled: the handle stops on the vertical plane containing the line / axis — useful to stop parts plumb with a grid line, even when the reference is higher up or sloped. |
Tips
- Extend does not create a cut — it moves the handles. To fit or cut a part, use Fit, Cut or Adjust Beam to Face.
- The Avoid collisions with reference switch is validated on all standard profiles and on asymmetric profiles (L, T, Z) — the end of the part always lands at the determined distance from the reference.
- On a Polybeam, the switch takes into account the envelope of the 1st picked segment (the one whose end is closest to the reference).
- On a Contour plate, the switch automatically corrects the gap so the material lands at the requested distance from the plane.
- On a bent plate (Bent Plate), Extend extends all the facets at once toward the reference (the bends stay consistent). If the shape is too complex or the extension too large, the part is refused with a red message (to be adjusted manually).
Adjust Beam to Face
Adjust the ends of a group of beams to a picked face — 90°, single or double cut.
What it's for
Adjusts the end of a group of beams (Beam or Polybeam) relative to a picked face with a defined gap, choosing the cut orientation: 90°, single or double. You keep full control over the gap and the cut geometry. Perfect for adjusting beams to a sloped plane or a concrete wall.
How to use it
- Select the beams to adjust (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. Choose the Mode: Fit (Fitting) or Cut (Cut plane).
- Choose the Cut type: 90°, Single or Double.
- Set the Gap.
- Click Apply, then pick the reference face.
- The operation is applied to each beam. Face picking restarts for the next operation.
- Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode | Fit — adds a Fitting (shortens/lengthens the end to the plane, does not modify the part). · Cut — adds a Cut plane (physical cut, equivalent to "Cut part"). |
| Cut type | 90° — cut perpendicular to the beam axis. · Single — a single cut angle, the end tilts according to the face angle. · Double — cut parallel to the face (the end becomes a copy of the face). |
| Gap (mm) | Final gap between the beam end and the picked face. Default value: 0. Negative value = overlap. |
Tips
- You can chain Fit + Cut on the same beam to get a double adjustment (the end meets two faces).
- Fits and cuts are computed to always give the real gap relative to the picked face, including on asymmetric profiles.
- In Cut mode, the removed side is always the shorter one (measured part by part).
- The report of the last operation (success, or red rejection / out-of-plane messages) stays displayed continuously — blended into the next pick's prompt — until the next operation. You have all the time you need to read it, with no blocking and no auto-dismiss.
- This macro only accepts beams (Beam or Polybeam). Any other type (Contour plate, Assembly, etc.) is rejected with a red message "Adjustment impossible — use TPT-Extend".
- In Cut mode, a beam that does not physically cross the picked face is ignored silently (no stray Cut plane). The final summary reports the number of out-of-plane beams.
Fit
Fit several beams to a face, a line or an axis — in a loop, without moving the handles.
What it's for
Fit the end of a group of beams relative to a face, a line or a beam axis without moving the part handles. The macro stays open to chain several successive references on the same selection. Ideal for fitting a group of joists or a group of studs.
How to use it
- Select the beams to fit (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. Choose the Type: Face, Line or Axis.
- Set the Gap.
- Click Apply, then pick the reference.
- The fit is applied to each part. Reference picking restarts for the next one.
- Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Face — plane of a picked face. · Line — 2 picked points. · Axis — axis of a picked beam. |
| Gap (mm) | Final gap between the part and the reference. Negative value = overlap. |
Tips
- A beam that does not cross the reference is lengthened up to the plane via its nearest end (instead of being ignored). Typical use case: a beam that is too short, to be lengthened up to a border plane.
- The macro stays open: chain several successive references without having to re-select the beams each time.
- This macro only accepts beams (Beam). Polybeams are refused (message "PolyBeam not supported"). Contour plates are flagged in red "X plate(s) ignored — use TPT-Extend". To adjust a plate, use Extend (moves the outline handles).
Cut
Cut several parts relative to a face, a line or an axis — in a loop.
What it's for
Cuts the end of a group of beams, polybeams or contour plates relative to a face, a line or a beam axis. The macro automatically chooses the side to remove: by default, always the shorter one. Ideal for fitting a group of joists to a wall, cutting a plate on a slope, or aligning a stud.
How to use it
- Select the parts to cut (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. Choose the Type: Face, Line or Axis.
- Set the Gap and, if needed, enable the Keep smaller part toggle.
- Click Apply, then pick the reference.
- The cut is applied to each part. Reference picking restarts for the next one.
- Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Face · Line · Axis — as for Fit. |
| Gap (mm) | Final distance between the cut and the reference. Negative value = overlap. |
| Keep smaller part | ON/OFF switch, OFF by default. When disabled (standard behavior), the macro always removes the shorter side (= keeps the larger part). When enabled, the macro reverses the decision: it removes the larger part and keeps the offcut. Useful when you need to recover the cut-off piece. |
Tips
- The removed side is decided part by part, never globally — each beam/plate may be cut on a different side within the same cycle.
- Parts that do not physically cross the reference are ignored silently (no stray Cut plane outside the part).
- Enable the Keep smaller part toggle to recover an offcut (beam stub, piece of plate) instead of the larger part.
- Cut accepts all types: Beam, Polybeam, Contour plate. It is the macro to use when Fit or Adjust Beam to Face refuse your plates.
Multi Split
Split a beam, polybeam or plate relative to a point, a line or an axis — with automatic reassignment of sub-objects.
What it's for
Splits the selected parts in two relative to a point, a line or a beam axis, with an optional gap between the two pieces. On Beam/Polybeam, the gap is applied on each side of the cut (gap/2). Sub-objects (single-part bolts, BooleanPart cuts) are automatically reassigned to the correct half. Cuts that straddle the split line are duplicated on both pieces. Ideal for splitting purlins on portal frames, splitting joists on beams, or splitting decking on all the joist axes in a single operation.
How to use it
- Select the parts to split (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. Choose the reference Type: Point, Line or Axis.
- Set the Gap and tick or untick Reassign bolts and cuts.
- Click Apply, then pick the reference.
- Each part is split. The resulting parts stay selected and the macro is ready for a new split — you can pick another reference without re-selecting.
- Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Point — a picked point (projected onto the part axis). · Line — 2 picked points. · Axis — axis of a picked beam. |
| Gap (mm) | Total space between the two pieces after the split. For Beam/Polybeam, a bilateral shortening of gap/2 on each piece. For a Contour plate, an exact kerf between the two plates. Default: 0 (no gap). |
| Reassign bolts and cuts | Ticked by default. When ticked, moves single-part BoltGroups and BooleanParts to the correct piece after the cut. BooleanParts that overlap the cut line are automatically duplicated on both resulting pieces (instead of being assigned to only one). |
Tips
- Cumulative selection: at each cycle, the selection grows with the newly created pieces (instead of replacing it). You can cascade-split decking on several axes, or re-split the pieces on another axis, without ever re-selecting manually.
- Straddling cuts: if a user cut (polygonal BooleanPart) crosses the split line, it is automatically duplicated on both pieces — you no longer have to redo the cut on each half-part.
- On Beams and Polybeams, the split uses Tekla's native
Operation.Split. On Contour plates, it is an internal polygonal clipping (Sutherland-Hodgman) to guarantee an exact kerf even with a gap of 0. - Unticking Reassign bolts and cuts is not recommended: the children will stay attached to the original part.
- Bent plates (Bent Plate) cannot be split by this command: they are set aside with a red message ("N Bent Plate(s) cannot be split…"). If your selection mixes splittable parts and Bent Plates, only the splittable parts are processed and the summary flags the ignored Bent Plates in red.
Combine Plates
Merge several coplanar plates into one, with automatic handling of holes and cuts.
What it's for
Combines N coplanar contour plates into a single plate with an automatic polygonal union. The macro checks coplanarity (tolerance 0.1 mm / 0.1°) and contact between plates, preserves the plate identity, and reassigns the bolts and cuts of the absorbed plates to the host. Cuts that straddle the joint between two plates are merged into a single unified hole.
How to use it
- Select the plates to merge (or select them after launching). You need at least 2.
- Launch the macro.
- Click Apply. If there is no pre-selection, pick the plates one by one (middle-click to validate the multi-pick selection). The first picked plate (or the largest one in case of a pre-selection) becomes the host.
- The macro checks coplanarity and contact, then merges the outlines into a single polygon. The other plates are deleted.
- The host plate is re-selected and the macro is ready for another merge (you can pick other plates to merge into the same host).
- Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
No functional parameter — the macro is driven entirely by your selection.
Tips
- If you want to keep the properties of one plate in priority, launch the macro without a pre-selection and pick your host plate first. Its properties (number, UDA, position) are preserved.
- The plates can be edge-to-edge (shared edge) or in partial overlap — both cases are handled.
- The internal holes formed by the union (e.g. 2 C-shaped plates that form an O once combined) are materialized by a cut.
- All bolts that pointed to the absorbed plates are automatically reassigned to the host.
- Cuts straddling a joint: if a user cut crosses the joint between two plates being merged, the two resulting Tekla BooleanParts are automatically reunited into a single unified hole in the final plate. No need to redo the cut by hand.
- The plates must be strictly coplanar (tolerance 0.1 mm / 0.1°). If a plate is on a different plane, the message reads "Contour plates lie on different planes, use TPT-Project" — first use Project to bring them onto the same plane.
- The plates must be in contact (edge-to-edge or overlapping). Otherwise the message reads "No contact between parts (contact or overlap required)".
- The chamfers of the previous outline are lost — the unioned polygon has different vertices that cannot be remapped deterministically. To be reapplied manually after combine if needed.
Project
Project the handles of your objects onto a plane or a line — direction of your choice, optional copy.
What it's for
Moves the handles of the selected objects onto a picked plane or line, in the direction of your choice. 5 accepted object types: Beam, Polybeam, Contour plate, Bolts and polygonal Cut. 4 directions: Normal, Vertical, Horizontal and Vector. Beams can additionally be reoriented so their face follows the picked reference (plane or line), and a single handle can be projected (Start or End). A Copy parts switch lets you clone the parts at the projected position instead of moving them. Ideal for aligning purlins on a hip, laying a bolt group flat on a surface, or duplicating a group of beams onto another plane.
How to use it
- Select the objects to project (or select them after launching).
- Launch the macro. In the Reference section, choose the type: Plane or Line.
- In the Projection direction section, choose: Normal, Vertical, Horizontal or Vector.
- For beams: in the Beam handles moved section, choose Start, Both (default), or End.
- In the Options section: set the Gap, toggle Keep orientation ↔ Align to reference, and enable or not Copy parts.
- Click Apply, then pick the reference. If you chose Vector, then pick an additional line that defines the projection direction.
- The macro loops automatically. Press Esc to finish.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Reference type | Plane — projection onto a picked face. · Line — projection toward a line (2 points). |
| Direction |
Normal — perpendicular to the plane / shortest foot of perpendicular toward the line. Vertical — strictly vertical displacement (Z) onto the reference. Horizontal — strictly horizontal displacement (XY) onto the reference. Vector — displacement along an additional line you pick after the reference. Universal fallback for degenerate cases (horizontal face, vertical line…). |
| Beam handles moved | Beam only. Three positions: Start (projects StartPoint only, EndPoint unchanged), Both (default — classic behavior), End (projects EndPoint only, StartPoint unchanged). Polybeam, Contour plate, BoltArray and BooleanPart ignore this setting. |
| Gap (mm) | Final distance between the projected handle and the reference. Negative value = beyond. |
| Align to reference | Switch Keep orientation ↔ Align to reference. Beam only: if enabled, reorients the part so its nearest face (flange or web) follows the reference — Plane mode: face parallel to the picked plane; Line mode: faces aligned with the line direction (e.g. columns on a skewed gridline, the Rotation field follows the line). Maximum rotation ±45° — never an unwanted 90° or 180° flip. |
| Copy parts | ON/OFF switch, OFF by default. OFF: the macro moves the parts (standard behavior). ON: the macro clones Beam, Polybeam and Contour plate at the projected position — the sources stay intact. BoltArray and BooleanPart are not copyable (they would be orphaned): they are ignored in Copy mode with a dedicated counter. |
Tips
- Vector direction: useful for imposing your projection direction toward a reference. You pick a line after the reference and the macro projects along that direction.
- Copy instead of move: enable the Copy parts switch to duplicate a group of beams onto another plane without touching the originals.
- A single beam handle: useful for stretching a single end of a group of beams up to a plane, without touching the other.
- On polybeams, each handle is projected individually — the result may produce skewed polygons if the projection plane is not suitable.
- In Vector direction, the vector must be neither parallel to the reference line nor perpendicular to the reference plane. The projection would be impossible (red message).
- For Plane + Horizontal mode, the picked face must not be horizontal (otherwise the horizontal displacement would be undefined). Use Vector in that case.
Sections View
A section view perpendicular to a beam, at a precise point — in a loop or on multiple beams.
What it's for
A function that complements Tekla Structures' native "create edge surface view" command. What was missing was the ability to create a view on the section of a beam at a chosen spot. TPT-Sections View simply fills that gap, and does it in a loop or on N pre-selected beams.
Also works on polybeams: for a straight beam, the view is perpendicular to the axis; for a polybeam, it is oriented parallel to the common plane of its handles and covers the whole polybeam, offset to the point you pick.
How to use it
- Optionally select one or more beams or polybeams to section (or select nothing).
- Launch the macro and set the Depth.
- Click Apply.
- If N beams are pre-selected: the macro iterates over each one. Pick 1 point on each beam — a view is created at each point. The status shows "Cut position for beam X / N".
- If no beam is selected (or once the list is exhausted): pick the beam first, then a point on the part to indicate the cut position. The macro loops until Esc.
- Each section view opens automatically, zoomed on the part.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Depth (mm) | View depth on each side of the cut plane (applied symmetrically before/after). Default: 250 mm. |
Tips
- Multi-beam pre-selection — first select N beams in Tekla, launch the macro, then click each part at the desired position: N views are created in a few clicks, ideal for quickly documenting several sections on the same portal frame.
- The work plane is placed parallel to the last view created — you can immediately chain other operations in the section coordinate system.
- The point you pick is projected automatically onto the beam axis: you can pick anywhere nearby.
- The view width is computed automatically from the part bounding box + 150 mm of margin.
- Polybeams — the view is oriented parallel to the average plane of the polybeam handles and covers the whole polybeam (a "flat" view of the bent element), instead of being perpendicular to an axis as for a straight beam. The picked point sets the plane position; the Depth applies on either side.
Selection & Control PART
Inspect every part of your selection: 28 columns, 9 warnings, advanced sorting and filters.
What it's for
A complete control table to inspect your Tekla selection part by part, bolt by bolt, hole by hole. All key properties are shown across 28 columns, and the macro automatically flags common anomalies via 9 filterable warnings. Ideal as a quality-control tool before sending a model to fabrication or before numbering.
How to use it
- Select the objects to analyze in Tekla (parts, bolts, holes).
- Launch the macro.
- Click Analyze selection. The table fills in and the counters at the top update.
- Check the warnings at the bottom — click one to filter the table and select the relevant rows in Tekla.
- Untick Select in model if you don't want a click in the grid to select the elements in Tekla.
Window zones and functions
| Zone | Content |
|---|---|
| Zone 1 — Counters | The Analyze selection button, and 6 counters: Total, Mains, Secondaries, Singles, Bolts, Holes. |
| Zone 2 — Search & filters | 3 action buttons (Show all, Show only selected rows, Refresh selected rows), Select in model checkbox, Zoom to elements checkbox, free search field (with a choice of column or "all"), Clear column filters button (visible when filters are active). |
| Zone 3 — Table (28 columns) | Type, Name, Profile, Material, Finish, Part prefix, Part no., ASS prefix, ASS no., Part mark, ASS mark, Info 1–4, Shortening, Dx Orig., Dx End, BL Ø, BL Standard, BL Tolerance, BL Length, BL Slot X, BL Slot Y, BL Extra length, BL Washers, BL Info 1, GUID. Rows colored by type (Main light blue, Secondary white, Single pale green, Bolt pale yellow, Hole pale pink). |
| Zone 4 — Quick selection | 2 groups of mutually crossable buttons: Parts (All / Mains / Secondaries / Singles) × Type (Profiles / Plates / Polybeams / Bent plates) — tip: hold Ctrl to cross the two filters. Plus 2 standalone buttons: Bolts / Holes. |
| Zone 5 — Warnings (9) | 9 green buttons to automatically filter on each warning (see list below). |
Sorting and filtering
- Sorting: click a column header to sort. Hold Shift to combine up to 5 sort levels.
- Excel-like filters: click the 20 px on the right of a column header to open a menu with the distinct values (checkboxes). The ▼ triangle turns orange when a filter is active.
- Free search: type text in the search field, choose a column or "all". Accent-insensitive / case-insensitive search, wildcards
*and?accepted. - Dynamic column hiding: useless columns are hidden automatically depending on the content. If you only analyze parts, the bolt-specific columns (BL Ø, BL Standard…) disappear. Conversely, if you only analyze bolts, the part-related columns (Profile, Material, Mark…) are hidden.
- Roll-up: click the ─ button in the bar to collapse the window to its header only (animated transition 0.5 s). Click again to restore it.
- The window is resizable (bottom-right border). Minimum size 840×640, default 980×760.
9 smart warnings
- Unwelded single parts without holes or bolts
- Beams over 12 m
- Parts with shortening
- Bolt attached to a single part (excluding HILTI)
- Bolts outside parts
- Holes outside parts
- HR bolts without washers
- Bolts with extra length
- Hole of type "no hole"
- Clicking a warning filters the table AND selects the matching rows in Tekla. Click Show all to return to the full display.
- Part mark =
Prefix+StartNumberof the numbering series, or assigned mark (whichever is available). - The Refresh selected rows button reloads only the data of the selected rows (objects modified since the analysis) — faster than re-analyzing everything.
- The Zoom to elements checkbox automatically frames the view(s) on the selected elements when you click or navigate in the table. It is independent of Select in model: you can zoom without changing the Tekla selection, or vice versa.
Selection & Control ASS
Visualize the full hierarchy of your assemblies — table, interactive tree, and 3 business warnings.
What it's for
Displays the full hierarchy of the selected assemblies: main part, secondaries, sub-assemblies, nested assemblies, USER_FIELD and numbering properties. A visual tree in a dedicated column lets you navigate the nesting at a glance. Ideal for checking the composition of a complex assembly, spotting a part lost in a sub-assembly or checking the USER_FIELDs before export.
How to use it
- Select assemblies or parts in Tekla.
- Launch the macro.
- Click Analyze selection. The macro climbs up to the root assemblies, expands the whole hierarchy and displays it in the table with a visual tree.
- Click a row to select the matching object in Tekla (if the Select in model box is ticked).
- Pin the window to keep it in front of Tekla while you check.
Window zones and functions
| Zone | Content |
|---|---|
| Zone 1 — Counters | The Analyze selection button, and 5 counters: Total, Assemblies, Mains, Secondaries, Singles. |
| Zone 2 — Search & filters | Buttons Show all with hierarchy tree, Show only selected rows, Refresh selected rows, Restore hierarchy tree (visible when filters / sorts break the tree), Clear column filters. Free search with a choice of column. |
| Zone 3 — Table | Columns: Level, Type, ASS mark, ASS prefix, ASS no., Name, Part/ASS mark, Profile, Material, Finish, UF1–4, Phase, Weight, GUID, and the Hierarchy order column (visual tree in monospace: ├─ ├─ └─). The Name column shows the assembly name on assembly rows, and the part name on part rows (main, secondary, single). Rows colored by level (nested assembly / levels 1–4 / main / secondary / single). |
| Zone 4 — Quick selection | 2 rows of buttons: With parts (Nested assemblies / Assemblies / Main parts / Secondary parts / Single parts) AND Assemblies only (Nested assemblies / Assemblies). In Assemblies only mode, part details (main, secondary) are hidden, but single parts belonging to an assembly remain visible — a single part is a one-part assembly holding its own node in the hierarchy. |
| Zone 5 — Warnings (3) | Parts of the same assembly on different phases · Secondary part finish ≠ main · Hierarchy level > 2. |
Sorting and filtering
- Sorting: click a column header to sort. Hold Shift to combine up to 5 levels. The Restore hierarchy tree button appears when sorting breaks the structure — click it to return to the tree order.
- Excel-like filters: click the 20 px on the right of the header to filter (popup with checkboxes).
- Roll-up: the ─ button in the bar collapses the window to its header only (animated transition 0.5 s).
- The window is resizable. Minimum size 840×640, default 980×760.
Tips
- The
USER_FIELD1 to 4 are read directly on theAssembly— they appear even if the main part has a different value. - Finish does not exist on an Assembly — the column stays empty for Assembly rows, this is not a bug.
- Nested assemblies (assemblies containing other assemblies) are identified automatically: their "main part" row is hidden because it is not relevant at that level.
- Single parts (single-part assembly without a sub-assembly) take the place of the ASS in the tree — no redundant Assembly row.