This section explains how to use the user-defined coordinate system and how to position, modify, copy, and move drawing objects.
Property Description
Scaling type Options:
X: Pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the file. You can only set the drawing scale in the x direction.
XY: Pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the file. You can set the drawing scale in both x and y directions.
Scale to fit: Pick the left upper and bottom right cor- ners of the frame to size and create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the file to fit the frame.
Best fit: Pick the left upper and bottom right corners of the frame to size and create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the file to fit, maintaining its orig- inal aspect ratio.
Scale in X Check this to scale the file in the x direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, e.g. 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The scaling type must be set to X or XY.
Scale in Y Check this to scale the file in the y direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, e.g. 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The scaling type must be set to XY.
User-defined coordinate system (UCS)
The UCS is a user-defined local coordinate system you can use in a drawing view. It makes it easier to place graphical objects, because you place objects rel- ative to a user-definable point of origin, or base point in the drawing view.
Example Place the UCS at the point where you want Tekla Structures to create one object.
See Defining the UCS (p. 199). The coordinates for this object are 0,0 on the UCS. Now you have a visible reference point for the UCS. Place other objects relative to the first object.
UCS Symbol
Tekla Structures shows the UCS symbol in the current drawing view, when you create, copy, move, or modify graphical objects.
To position an object using the global coordinate system, you need to calculate the coordinates of the object from the point of origin of the drawing.
Defining the UCS
You can define a different point of origin for the UCS for each drawing view, and change the UCS point of origin as often as you like.
Example This example shows several views, each with their own UCS.
You have two options when defining or re-defining a UCS:
• Set the point of origin (0,0) for the UCS.
• Set the point of origin (0,0) for the UCS and the direction of the x axis.
UCS commands You can use the following UCS commands and shortcuts:
Setting the UCS
You can set the UCS using the mouse, or by specifying a new origin point.
To set the point of origin of the UCS using the menu:
1. Open a drawing.
2. Click Setup>UCS>Set UCS origin. Tekla Structures displays the UCS sym- bol with a crosshair marking the center point.
3. Position the UCS symbol, and then click to set the point of origin of the UCS in the current drawing.
Pop-up menu To set the point of origin of the UCS using a pop-up menu:
1. Open a drawing.
2. Right-click and select UCS to access the UCS commands. Tekla Structures displays the UCS symbol with a crosshair marking the center point.
3. Position the UCS symbol, and then click to set the point of origin of the UCS in the current drawing.
Command Shortcut Description
Set UCS origin U See Setting the UCS (p. 200).
Set UCS by two points Shift+U See Setting the UCS (with x axis direction) (p. 201).
Toggle orientation Ctrl+T Using the Toggle orientation com- mand you can switch between two USC’s having the same point of ori- gin:
• the UCS following the axes of the drawing view (1)
• the oriented UCS you have defined (2)
Reset current 1 Resets the UCS to its original posi- tion in the current view.
Reset all 0 Resets the UCS to its original posi- tions in all views.
Setting the UCS (with x axis direction)
To set the UCS using two points:
1. Click Setup>UCS>Set UCS origin by two points. 2. Pick the point of origin for the UCS.
3. Pick a point to indicate the x direction of the UCS.
Numeric snap
Use the Enter a numeric location toolbar to snap to exact locations by specifying their coordinates.
Tekla Structures automatically displays the toolbar when you start typing coordi- nates from keyboard.
For more information, see Snapping in the Modeling Manual.
Positioning drawing objects
Tekla Structures includes several tools to help you manually position drawing objects. You may also find it useful to read the following:
• Snap switches in the Modeling Manual
• User-defined coordinate system (UCS) (p. 198)
• Numeric snap (p. 201)
Using coordinates
Specify coordinates in the Enter a numeric location toolbar to place objects exactly.
To place an object using relative coordinates:
1. Open a drawing.
2. Select the object to position.
3. Activate a command to position the object (e.g. click Edit>Move).
4. Pick a point from the object to specify the start point for moving.
5. Click Setup > Enter numeric location > Relative (or click shortcut R). Tekla Structures displays the Enter a numeric location toolbar with relative coordi- nate symbol @.
6. Then type in relative coordinates to x and y direction, for example @10, 20.
7. Click OK.
Free place
You can also use the Freeplace command to position drawing objects. Tekla Structures positions the objects using the drawing type protection properties and the placing properties of each object type.
To position selected drawing objects so that they do not overlap other objects:
1. Open the properties dialog box for each object type, and then click Place... to set the placing properties. See also Placing (p. 117) (for marks and welds) and Place (p. 105) (for dimensions).
2. In the drawing, select the drawing objects you want to position.
3. Click Edit>Freeplace.
Manipulating drawing objects
Many graphical drawing objects (such as line, arc, circle, polyline, polygon, rect- angle, cloud, text file, hyperlink, DWG/DXF) have handles. You use these han- dles to drag, reshape, and resize objects.
@
Using handles
Click a drawing object to activate its handles. Drag individual handles to move, shape, and resize the object. Tekla Structures indicates the drag direction with a line and pointer.
Example 1 To resize a rectangle, or the frame around text file, hyperlink, or DWG/DXF, drag the handles as indicated below:
Example 2 To change a line, drag the handles as indicated below:
Example 3 To resize or move a circle, drag the handles as indicated below:
Modifying fill types
Use the object properties dialog box to modify fill types for closed drawing objects.
To scale a fill type:
• Use the One factor option to scale the pattern in relation to the original size.
• Use the Two factors option to use different scales in the x and y direc- tions.
increase width
increase height
increase
width and height
change line to arc
lengthen (left) lengthen (right)
To move the circle, drag in any direction
Drag to increase diameter of circle
To rotate a fill type, enter the angle of rotation in the Angle field.
To preview the scaled and rotated patterns, hold down the Shift key and click the Select... button.
Copying and moving drawing objects
The following table lists the commands for copying and moving drawing objects.
To copy or move drawing objects:
1. Select the object(s) to copy, or move.
2. Use one of the commands in the table above.
3. Pick a point to copy or move from.
4. Pick a point to copy or move to.
Drag and drop You can also use drag-and-drop feature to copy and move objects.
To move objects, select the objects and drag them to the new position.
To copy objects, select the objects, hold down the Ctrl button, and drag the objects to the new position.
Pull-down menu Shortcut Pop-up menu
Edit > Copy C Right-click and select Copy. Edit > Move M Right-click and select Move.
Use the UCS and Numeric snap toolbar to position objects exactly. See also Positioning drawing objects (p. 201).