How to Create a Grid in Tekla

Defining the grid lines is one of the most important things which you should do before starting to create your model in Tekla structure program.

At the construction site, in order to build the structure, we need to specify the building axes. The axes help us to position the structural components in their exact position.

In Tekla program, these axes are modelled by grids. Grids are the lines by which the horizontal and vertical planes of the model are created and help us to place the model parts in their correct place. You can draw different types of grids line like radial, single and rectangular grids for your model according to your needs and geometric shape of the structure.

In structures, grids are shown as a combination of line and point. you can specify how far the grid lines extend from each side and also determined the name of each grid, and also by defining the magnetic capability, you can specify this capability in the structure which by moving the grids All the members that placed on that grid move too.

In the following, we will discuss how to create, modify and delete single grids and grid lines.

How to Create a Rectangular Grid Line in Tekla

After you create a model in Tekla structure program, you will see a predefined rectangular Gridline in it. You can modify that grid line by double click on it and also you can create another rectangular grid line by following these steps;

1- Click on the Edit.

2- Click on the Grid.

3- Double-click on the Rectangular Grid.

Now you can see the properties of the rectangular grid line, you should specify your desired measures for the new grid line, here we are going to explain it;

• Coordinates part;

In this part, you can specify the distance between axes in X, Y and Z direction.

• In the Label part you can specify labels name for each axe.

• In the line extensions, you can determine how far the grid lines extend in the directions Left/Below and Right/Above.

• In Origin part, you can determine the coordination of the new grid line origin compare to the work plan origin.

• Magnetic grid plan:

In this part, if you change the value to “Yes” after you move the gridline all the objects which those were bind to it will be moved with a grid line.

-Grid colour;

In this part, you can change the colour of the grid line.

• Label font size and colour;

Here you can define the font label size and colour of it.

For customizing drawing grid label you have to determine some more setting, we explained this issue in how to [customize drawing grid labels] page.

4- After you specify your desired data for the new Gridline you have two choices;

• If you click on the middle key mouse, the gridline will be placed in the coordination which you defined in the Origin section.

• You can also in the position which you want in the model and place your grid origin on that point too.

How to Create Radial Grid

Some times the plan of the structure which, you want to model it, is a radial or combination of the rectangular and radial plan in this occasion you can use radial grid.

For creating a radial grid you can define grid properties before creating a radial grid or you can create the grid and after that modify the properties.

Here we are going to explain the first method and we will explain the second method in the modifying part.

For creating a radial grid you should follow these steps;

1- Click on the Edit.

2- Click on the Grid.

3- Double-click on the radial grid.

4- Here you can specify the properties of the radial grid before it is created for that you should follow these steps;

• In the Radial part you can define the location of the curved grid line and the distance between the grid line.

• In the Angular part you can specify the distance between each straight grid line in degree.

• In the Elevations part you can determine the height of each floor which you have in your project.

You can also determine the line extensions, and label font and size of them and the colour of the grid in the next parts of the dialogue box, we explained these subjects in the Rectangular grid part.

Here you can specify the origin of the new grid line, and after the gridline was created you can compare the distance of the origin of grid line and the origin of the workplace with the values which were added in this part.

and font colour and size and colour of the grid line.

5- After you specify your desire for new Grid you have two choices;

• If you click on the middle key mouse, the gridline will be placed in the coordination which you defined in the Origin section.

• You can also in the position which you want in the model and place your grid origin on that point too.

How to Create a Single Grid Line in Tekla

If you want to have a single grid line you have a different choice, for instance, you can create a rectangular grid line and then modify its properties to convert it into single line but you can use add grid line command to create a single grid line in your model and this comment helps you to create a grid line much easier.

For creating a single Gridline you have to follow these steps;

1- Click on the Edit.

2- Click on the Grid.

3- Click on the Add Grid Line.

4- Select an existing grid line.

5- Specify the start and endpoint of the single grid line.

How to Change a Single Grid Line Name in Tekla

When you create a single grid line in Tekla the name which, it will be specified by the program, is “*”, for changing the name of it you should follow these steps;

1- Make sure the “select single grid line” command is active.

2- Double-click on the single grid line.

3- In the properties box you can specify your desired name and also other properties of the grid.

4- Click on the Modify key.

How to Modify Grid Line

For modifying grid line you should open the properties of the grid line, you can open it by double-clicking on the gridline but before that, you should be sure that you should that your grid line is selectable for that you should follow these steps;

1- Ensure that “Select grid” command in the selection switch is active.

2- Now you can select all the Gridline, Double-click on it.

3- Change the properties of the gridline as you want.

4- Click on Modify.

How to Delete Grid Line

For deleting grid line if you want to delete a single grid in the grid line, you should change the properties of it but if you want to delete a grid line completely, you should follow these steps;

1- Ensure that select grid command is active.

2- Ensure that only the gridline was selected, if you have some parts in your selection list when you press Delete key, the parts will be deleted and your grid line will remain, so for deleting grid line you must select only grid line, not more.

3- Press Delete key on your keyboard.

4- Confirm that you want to delete the grid.