
: Navigate to Catalogs > Define Profiles > Using DWG file . Link your DWG cross-section, assign a profile name, and select two points in the model to generate the profile and add it to the catalog.
The is not merely a dropdown list of steel shapes; it is the DNA of your structural model. Whether you are a junior detailer trying to figure out why your beam weights don't add up, or a BIM manager setting up a multinational standard, mastering the catalog saves hours of rework and prevents costly shop drawing errors.
Always double-check the cross-sectional area and weight factors when creating custom profiles. Incorrect values lead to faulty weight calculations in billing reports.
If a standard profile is missing, you can create your own using several methods: tekla structures profile catalog
The Tekla Structures Profile Catalog offers several benefits to users:
To export a single profile or a specific folder branch, select the item, right-click, and choose .
Predefined shapes following global standards (e.g., AISC, EN, JIS). : Navigate to Catalogs > Define Profiles > Using DWG file
catalog = CatalogManager.open("company_profiles.xml") profile = catalog.create_profile("CU_B100x50") profile.set_geometry(flange_width=100, web_height=50, flange_thickness=8, web_thickness=6) profile.set_metadata(material="S355", weight_per_m=12.4, supplier_code="CUST100") catalog.save("company_profiles.v2.xml")
If you have ever struggled with incorrect weight calculations on a Bill of Materials (BOM) or received an IFC model where steel beams turned into generic extrusions, the root cause was likely a misconfigured Profile Catalog.
Allows you to add, modify, delete, import, or export profiles. 3. How to Create and Modify Profiles Whether you are a junior detailer trying to
In simple terms, the Profile Catalog is a centralized database of parametric shapes within Tekla Structures. Unlike a standard "library" that stores static 2D blocks, the Profile Catalog is dynamic. It stores mathematical definitions of cross-sections—from standard I-beams and channels to complex polygonal plates and parametric tapered sections.
: This indicates a syntax error in the profile name (e.g., using an incorrect separator like RECT_400x300 instead of the required parametric syntax RECT400*300 ), or the profile shape definition inside the binary catalog has been corrupted. Correct the string value in the part property pane. Issue 3: Duplicate Profile Entries