How to transfer custom material databases between computers?

Tekla Structural Designer
Not version-specific
Tekla Structural Designer
Custom section
custom material
template
new
Environment
Not environment-specific

Question:
I needed a section and material that is not in the Tekla Structural Designer database so I created my own material database item. However these new items are needed across all models within my company, how can we include these custom items in all databases without having to create them from scratch on all machines?

Answer:
The solution to this problem is simple and requires only a one time creation and modelling of the items in Tekla Structural Designer.

  1. One person creates the custom items within a model (preferably a new model for this purpose)
  2. Create different members with characteristics set to the new material items

Example 1

If you create:

  • A concrete grade
  • A steel section, and
  • Two new steel grades

You will need:

  • A concrete member with the new concrete grade
  • A steel member with the new steel section and one of the new steel grades
  • A steel member with the second steel grade (any steel section)

  1. Save the model
  2. Send this model to the target machines
  3. Open the model on the target machines
  4. Under the Home tab navigate to Materials and select Model
  5. Tick Show only objects not saved in the database
  6. Select Add to Database  

The newly created database items will now be available to use on all the targeted computers for current and future projects.

 
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Example 2

You can also use a template to create new models and the template can include the custome material grades and sections.
  1. Create a new model containg the following
    • A concrete grade
    • A steel section, and
    • Two new steel grades
  2. Click Save As
  3. Save the file with the file extension .tsmdt (template file) using the Save As Type dropdown menu
  4. Distribute the template file to all users for them to save to their local machines or if preferred save to a local network location


When creating new projects click the dropdown menu under New and select the template. This will open your template and will include all your custom sections and grades. This can then be saved as a new project and your custom sections and grades can be selected when modelling.
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