5 Useful filters for Tekla structures you must know

In Tekla Structures, filters are used to control the visibility of specific objects or components within a model or drawing view. Filters allow you to define criteria that determine which objects are displayed or hidden. This can be particularly useful when working with complex models or creating detailed drawings. In this blog post we will delve into 5 useful filters for Tekla structures to speed up modelling in steel detailing.

By setting up filters, you can streamline your workflow by showing only the relevant information you need at a given time. Filters can be customized based on properties such as object type, material, profile, part position, and more. They give you greater control over how the model is displayed and how information is presented in your drawings and views.

Applications of filters in Tekla structures

Here are some examples of what filters can be used for:

• To select a large number of objects: Use selection filters when you need to change a specific object property that is common for many objects. The rest of the objects will not be affected, even if you try to include them in the selection.
• To check the model: Use view filters to ensure that beams are called beams, columns are called columns, and so on. You can highlight several groups of objects, one at a time, to check that all required objects are included in a given group.
• To hide objects: Use view filters to temporarily hide the columns in a view so that it easier to select all the beams, for example.
• To find objects: You can create a selection filter to find all locations where ½” thickness plates are in the model, for example. Once the filter is active, you can make an area selection that includes the entire model. All specified plates become selected, but the other objects will not be affected.
• Setup numbering: Filters help to assign numbering series to different parts of a structural model, such as beams, columns, and other elements.

When dealing with intricate models, it’s easy to overlook details. Filters help in reducing errors by allowing you to focus on specific areas, minimizing the chances of missing critical information.

1. Filter main part and secondary parts

If you want to filter Assembly and single parts in model, then you need to use selection filter.

1. Create a new selection filter.
2. Click Add row twice to add two filter rules.
3. In the first filter rule, define that the object type must be part and in the second filter rule, define that you only want to include main parts:

Fig 1: Filter main part and secondary parts

In this context, 1 means the main parts, and 0 would mean the secondary parts. To filter secondary parts (single parts), simply change value from 0 to 1.

2. Filter bolts based on their size

Create a filter that only shows bolts of certain sizes.

1. Create a new selection filter.
2. Click Add row twice to add two filter rules.
3. In the first filter rule, define that the object type must be bolt and in the second filter rule, define that the bolt size must be ¾ or any other size.

Fig 2: Filter bolts based on their size.

If you want to filter combination of bolt sizes, then separate the strings with a blank space.

3. Filter specific profile type

To select specific type of the profile you can use template variable PROFILE_TYPE.

1. Create a new selection filter.
2. Click Add row to add one filter rule.
3. In filter rule, define the template property PROFILE_TYPE. For example, if I want to filter plates, then I must type ‘B’ in value.

Fig 3: Tekla specific profile type

4. Filter loose parts or assemblies with one part

Sometimes we want to find assemblies with one part – without any supplement parts welded to them.

1. Create a new object filter by pressing CTRL+G.
2. Click Add row to add one filter rule.
3. In filter rule, define the template property ASSEMBLY.SUPPLEMENT_PART_WEIGHT with value 0.0.

Fig 3: Filter loose parts or assemblies with one part

5. Filter part without drawings in Tekla Structures

Read our detailed guide: How to select part without drawings in Tekla Structures

In conclusion, Filters are the ways of defining criteria for displaying and selecting components in Tekla Structures. Filters let you hide or show components based on their properties, such as name, type, material, or user-defined attributes. Filters in Tekla Structures have many benefits that can help you work more efficiently and accurately with your model and drawings.