IMPACT Tekla Base Tools
Introduction
Tekla Base Tools is a software that transfers data from Tekla Structures to IMPACT, including element properties and geometry. This allows the elements from the Tekla Project to be planned in IMPACT Production. If you would like to know more about the possibilities of transferring data into IMPACT for planning, then visit our website: https://strusoft.com/products/impact
User Interface
1. Key Functions for Transferring Elements to IMPACT
The first three buttons represent the essential steps for transferring elements from Tekla to the IMPACT database:
- Linking the elements to TBT
- Mapping them to IMPACT definitions
- Saving them into the IMPACT database
These steps must always be followed in that order.
The Update button is used for elements that have already been saved in IMPACT but have since been modified.
The Settings button opens the configuration window, which will be covered in a later chapter.
2. Project Browser
Displays the buildings and floors of your project, pulled directly from IMPACT Project Manager (PM). To make changes, you will need to edit the buildings and floors in PM (as described earlier), and then restart Tekla Base Tools.
3. Element Properties
Shows how Tekla properties are translated into IMPACT. Ideally, there should be no differences between the two columns once the elements are saved in the IMPACT database.
4. Main Element Grid
This is where you can view, select, and filter elements along with their marks and properties. The grid populates once you begin linking elements from Tekla into TBT.
5. Message Log
Displays error messages or confirmations during the saving process to IMPACT.
6. Project Info
Ensures that the correct Tekla project file is connected to the appropriate IMPACT project in PM.
Cast-Unit/Assembly oriented
The application will actively search for the Objects Parent Assembly or Cast-Units when linking data from Tekla. Preferably, you select everything as Assemblies. By doing that, TBT (Tekla Base Tools) will no longer need to do so much guesswork and it also allows us to reach data in Tekla which was previously not available to us.
Workflow
The workflow is linear and contains three steps.
1. Linking
When a Tekla object is linked to TBT, it will be tracked by the software as it used to.
2. Mapping
Choose an IMPACT definition to represent your Tekla asembly/object.
3. Saving
This command interprets, converts and saves data to the IMPACT database.
Ribbon Commands
1. Linking
To link elements, press the Linking icon in the ribbon. Always ensure that you have selected the assemblies you want to link from Tekla. When you press Link, the following window will appear:
The highlighted window above shows where the selected elements will be assigned to a Floor, Building, and Phase in IMPACT.
This window also allows you to predefine the building, floor, and phase for your assemblies in Tekla using a User Defined Attribute (UDA). TBT reads the UDA and translates it into IMPACT information. The "Read from UDA" function will override the default values.
It is important to ensure that the values you have predefined in Tekla for building, floor, and phase also exist in the IMPACT Project Manager.
The highlighted grid provides a preview of the Tekla items you are about to link into IMPACT.
The new interface makes it easy to remove unwanted items by right-clicking and deleting them, along with their corresponding groups if needed.
If you accidentally delete some items in Tekla, the "Retake Tekla selection" command will refresh the grid with the currently selected items from Tekla Structures. Once you’ve confirmed that all the correct items are listed in the grid, press Link to complete the first step.
Mapping
There are two ways to map components in the new Tekla Base Tools, along with a new method for mapping element marks. Mapping refers to how a specific item in Tekla is interpreted and represented in IMPACT.
Automatic Mapping
Automatic profile mapping is straightforward. All linked profiles in your project will appear in the middle grid. The profile name is determined by the first general setting in the Settings grid (explained later in the article). To map profiles, select them from the middle grid, then choose the corresponding IMPACT definition from the grid on the right. Click Assign Selected to complete the mapping.
You can also save your mappings for future use by saving them as a common mapping. This mapping is stored locally on your computer and can be reused across all TBT projects, provided your Tekla profile remains consistent.
Tip: Click inside any grid and press CTRL + F to search. This shortcut works across most grids in the software.
Element Mapping
By default, items are assigned IMPACT element marks that match the Tekla assembly or profile name when saved to the IMPACT database. However, you can override this by manually assigning element marks. This is required if you intend to use manual component mappings.
The reason for this requirement is to prevent items from overwriting each other’s element data; a built-in safety feature designed to maintain data integrity.
You can access this command by right-clicking on an element in the grid.
Component Mapping
For items with manually assigned element marks, you can specify a particular IMPACT definition (such as Linked, Hollow Core, Solid Wall, etc.) that overrides the automatic profile mapping. This is useful when you have multiple objects in Tekla using the same profile but want them to be represented by different definitions in IMPACT.
You can access this command by right-clicking on an element in the grid.
Saving
Saves items to IMPACT. You can either save the selected elements on the grid or simply Save all.
You can always right-click on an element on the grid and then simply press "Save Selected"
Updating
Use this command to check for changes in Tekla and IMPACT.
Refresh does not check for any updates, it just rereads data into the main grid. Users of the Project Manager will recognize this feature.
Other
The Other button shows the About dialogue box, with build and version numbers. If you call our support, they will kindly ask you to show them this.
The Settings dialogue box will be explained further below in this guide.
Data Grid
Remember to adjust the grid by filtering or dragging the tabs on the top of the menu.
Remember to also explore the context menu by right-clicking in the grid to access additional features.
Sync Status
The Sync Status can vary during the process of creating/editing a model in Tekla. All the possible statuses are explained in the following table.
Up to Date | The item is up to date |
New/Updated | Item was either newly linked/re-linked or the object was updated with new information |
Modified in IMPACT | TBT detected changes in IMPACT since the item was last saved |
Modified in Tekla | TBT detected changes in the Tekla Model since the item was last saved |
Modified in Both | Displayed if both modified statuses occur at the same time |
Deleted in IMPACT | TBT could not find or contact the Sync IMPACT item. This also occurs if the IMPACT items are marked as deleted from IMPACT |
Deleted in Tekla | TBT could not find or contact the Sync Tekla item. This also occurs if the Tekla items are deleted in Tekla |
Deleted in Both | This status is displayed if both the deleted statuses occur at the same time |
Unknown | The object's current sync status could not be determined |
Data Grid Settings
You can show/hide data columns in the data grid settings dialogue. You access it by clicking the spanner icon in the upper right of the data grid. These settings are saved per computer and are remembered between sessions.
Data Grid Properties
Displays the properties of the selected item. If the item contains changes, these are shown in bold text with a yellow colour patch. Note that the new system also accounts for Teklas object and IMPACT model history. This way you can detect changes even if they are not part of the standard comparison set.
Teklas History is a live value, but if you modify the Tekla model without saving it, the Tekla History will not be updated. Thus, you may see at times that the properties differ, even if the modified time remains the same.
Menu Commands
Main
Opens the folder in which all TBT project files, backups and logs are stored.
Edit
Settings - General
In general, a description of each command can be found by hovering the mouse cursor over the 
The picture below represents the recommended settings that the Tekla Base tools PO (Product Owner) proposes to all the new users of TBT.
New in Q2/2024 - Parts Only (Swap Length & Height)
New in Q3/2024 - Use Mass Property (CUSTOM.ELEMENT_WEIGHT.REINFORCED)
Settings - CIM
When selecting the "Object" Setting, then the name of the CIM from Tekla will be imported in IMPACT.
When selecting the "UDA" Setting, then the user decides which value will be imported in IMPACT as the name of the CIM.
(New in Q4/2024) TBT- Lift names for multiple lifts can now be inserted in TBT settings, separated by ";".
To read in the lifts in the import you need to tick Save Part as CIM and write the start of the name.
To read in the core fillings the elements needs to be defined as Hollowcore (linked elements will not work).
For it to come in correct the section definitions for the Hollowcore needs to have the correct core location in IMPACT.
Settings - Reinforcement
There are different settings that fit different companies regarding the reinforcement import from Tekla in IMPACT. You can always test which settings are relevant for your company along with a specialist from our IMPACT team.
The below settings are recommended by the TBT PO for a first-time user of TBT.
Settings - Sandwich Wall Volume
This allows the user to map the inner-, insulation- and outer panel volume via custom properties in Tekla. By mapping the correct volume for Sandwich walls, the user ensures that it is the right values exist in the Cost estimation tools also.
Settings - File transfer
It is possible to transfer files from Tekla - directly into IMPACT.
Configure Name conventions for drawings and/or PXML. - It is possible to configure the naming of the files using the configurator. The naming convention rules that the user will select need to be followed by the .pdf/.pxml file generated from the Tekla model.
For example, if we have selected the element mark as the only factor for the drawing name, and the element mark is SW1, then the file that represents the drawing of the assembly SW1 in Tekla should be named SW1.pdf and the RC file SW1.pxml.
For the time being, only PDF and pXML files are allowed to be imported into IMPACT. Look out for updates in the future.
Settings - Status transfer
It is possible to transfer a Tekla Element "Status" from a UDA into IMPACT. It is even possible to select if a status should also mark the element in IMPACT as "Ready for production"
Settings - Plinths
This setting has been created specifically for only 1 customer and it is not relevant for anybody else. Therefore, please keep both boxes unmarked at all times, as shown in the picture below. If you do not follow that, then the results will overwrite existing TBT functionality, leading to incorrect properties and element marks!
Settings - Transport
New in Q2/2024.
New setting that allow us to pre-define a transport template in TBT according to the values of the properties.
Settings - Other info
New in (Q4/2024) Total Width, Length, and Height UDA are added.
Settings - Drawings
New in (Q4/2024) Importing shop drawing data, drawing status, and drawing revision from Tekla.
Tools
These execute the same commands as described in the Ribbon commands chapter.
The backup command creates a backup, which will be stored inside your Tekla model folder.
You can, of course, reset a Tekla Base Tools project. Do this only if you are sure that you will need this project connection again. This command is irreversible.
Please note that resetting the project ONLY affects the Tekla <-> IMPACT connection. It will not touch either your Tekla or IMPACT project. This command will give a second warning before It executes. Once committed, it will wipe the TBT project and restart itself, allowing you to start from scratch.
P.S. If you keep the same GUID in Tekla and start linking your elements from scratch, the mapping will come back, as it is dependent on the Tekla GUID.
Help
"IMPACT Wiki" Takes you to the online wiki page with information on all the IMPACT modules.
"IMPACT Support" Takes you to our online support page with telephone numbers and email addresses of our different support divisions. If you want support for Tekla Base Tools, call or email to IMPACT support.
"About" Opens a tab where you can see version information as well as supported Tekla versions.
