Lesson15 System Custom Is At Ion
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Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Password File 2 Plotter Database 3 Standard files – Save Defaults 5 Save Defaults Command 5 Other Standard Files 6 Batch File & Icon setup 7 Icon Setup 7 Batch File 7 Profile, Material & Bolt Databases 8 Autosave – Setting interval & Recovering etc.. 10 Setting Interval 10 Recovering the Autosave file 10 Customised files – Storage and system placement 11 Xsteel Storage Directory File Structure 13
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-1
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Password File Your Xsteel hardware lock is linked directly to the Xsteel password file (xswrk.dat) located in your “bin” directory (C:\Xsteel\6.0\nt\bin). The password file can be edited using any text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad. Also ensure that you install the “Sentinel” driver supplied on the Xsteel installation CD for the hardware lock to function.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-2
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Plotter Database The standard installation of Xsteel contains examples of plotter configurations in the Xsteel Plotter database. The plotter database can be accessed by going to the File pull-down menu in the modeling environment and selecting Database – Plotters. The following example show a typical network accessed plotter configuration.
Printer aliases
A free alias for a plotter
Printer
This field points to the plotter either locally or on the network e.g. \\”Server ID”\”Share Name”. If the plotter is connected locally, just type the Plotter’s Name as given in Window’s Printers Control Panel
Paper Size
For a “Large Format” plotter (A1, A0 etc..) this is set to “By Plot Area”, but for an A3, A4 plotter choose the correct size.
File extension
You can define the file extension for each plotter or leave it blank. This field is used when creating DXF files. See the example DXF file plotter.
Plot Area h*b
Maximum Plotting area
Color
Choose either Black/White or Color
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-3
Xsteel Training Course
Pen Map
Lesson 15 – System Customization
This configures which pen number is used for each color. The thickness of each pen number depends on the plotter driver, but the range is 1 being the thinnest, to 5 being the thickest. Note: also environment variable XS_BASE_LINE_WIDTH=0.1 controls the pen thickness. Pen Map value is multiplied with constant given in this variable.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-4
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Standard files – Save Defaults When starting a new project or just simply setting up Xsteel to suit your particular style of work, you may wish to create a set of “standard” files that can be placed into your Xsteel “system” directory so that all models worked on will use the same standard files. You may have noticed by now that most dialogue boxes with a “Save” option in them (Beam Properties, Macros etc..) have a “standard” setting in the “Load” Window.
This “standard” file is the default file that Xsteel will read and use when applying the command
Save Defaults Command The Save Defaults command from the Setup pull-down menu in the modeling environment, saves a set of approximately 16 modeling environment user interface standard files such as Beam Properties, Column Properties, Setup Preferences, Project Properties etc.. The user should check each of these dialogue boxes and once satisfied with their content, choose Save Defaults from the Setup pull-down menu. This will place the standard files listed below into the current model directory. If these files are required for all Models, they can be copied into Xsteel’s “System” directory. E.g. C:\Xsteel\6.0\countries\euro\system The list of the standard file names and dialogue boxes are as follows: standard.asv Autosave standard.bcc Bolt Clash Check standard.clm Column Properties standard.cpl Contour Plate standard.crs Beam/Orthogonal Beam Properties standard.dia Twin Profile Properties standard.fms Plotting Frames standard.fpl Folded Plate standard.ler Layer Properties standard.mvi Model View Properties standard.num Setup - Numbering standard.prf Project - Properties standard.prt Beam Properties Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-5
Xsteel Training Course
standard.scr standard.stp standard.wld
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Bolt Properties Setup – Preferences Weld Properties
Other Standard Files Other standard files may include saved macros in the modeling environment and drawing editor standard files such as standard text size, dimension colors, weld symbol colors etc.. To change the “standard” files for any of the above, simply set up the properties of the file as required and then save this file as “standard” (Ensure that it is Lower Case). These “standard” files will be placed in the current model directory. If they are required for all models, they can be copied into Xsteel’s “System” directory. E.g. C:\Xsteel\6.0\countries\euro\system.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-6
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Batch File & Icon setup Icon Setup When installing Xsteel, a Xsteel start up icon will be created and can be placed onto your Windows desktop. It is advisable to check that the “Start in” directory of the icon is pointing to the directory, directly above where you will be placing your Xsteel models. For example, if you were going to place your models under the C:\Xsteel_Models directory, ensure that the “Start in” directory of the icon is pointing to this directory also. This will be the directory where Xsteel places the Xsteel log file (xsteel.log) and any other temporary files. Note: To check the “Start in” directory of the icon, first highlight the icon, then right click on the mouse and select Properties and go to the Shortcut Page where you will see the “Start in” field.
Batch File The Xsteel start up batch file contains many environment variables that can be configured to suit your standards. The batch file (xsteel_eng_euro.bat) is located e.g. to directory C:\Xsteel\6.0\bat\. Refer to the online help for more up to date information. One line in the batch file that may need altering from time to time is the “Runpath” line. This is the line that nominates the default directory for Xsteel to look for existing, or to create new models. For instance, you may set up different Xsteel batch files for different projects and have the “Runpath” line pointing to different directories etc.. to keep the models separate. The Runpath line in the Xsteel start up batch file is as follows: set XS_RUNPATH=c:\xsteel_models The portion highlighted in bold is what can be modified. Note: The easiest way to edit the batch file is to highlight the Xsteel icon on the desktop, right click on the mouse and select Edit. It could also be opened using any text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-7
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Profile, Material & Bolt Databases Xsteel comes standard with a range of available Profile, Material and Bolt Databases for different world markets. The default databases will depend on which version you have installed – European, US Imperial etc.. Normally you will find that these standard databases will contain enough information for normal day to day work in Xsteel, but there may be cases where new profiles/materials/bolts need to be added. These databases can be accessed from the File pull-down menu. E.g. File – Database – Profiles – Modify
In most cases it is simply a case of completing the required section properties and then picking Add/OK to add the new profile. You will then be asked to either save the database in the Working or Global Directory. The Working Directory is the current model directory and the Global directory is the “system” directory for the databases (e.g. C:\Xsteel\6.0\countries\euro\profil\system). Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-8
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Note: You would copy the revised database to the Global directory if this new profile etc.. was required in other models.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-9
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Autosave – Setting interval & Recovering etc.. Setting Interval The interval for the Autosave can be set by picking Autosave from the Setup pull-down menu. The numbers represent the number of times commands are picked from the menus. e.g. A setting of 30 in the model means that after 30 menu picked commands, an Autosave will be performed
Recovering the Autosave file Every Xsteel model will have the following database files: Model.db1 Model.db1.bak Model.db1_user Model.db1_user.bak Model.db2 Model.db2.bak Model.db2_user Model.db2_user.bak
Current database Database at last save Database at last autosave Database at previous autosave
Db2 files contain some numbering information (maximum used numbers in each group) relative to the equivalent db1 files. This information used to be kept in the db1 files but has been moved since the introduction of the multi user database. When opening a model Xsteel automatically recognizes if the previous session crashed, and asks whether to continue with the autosaved model or the original one.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-10
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Customized files – Storage and system placement Xsteel File Structure Xsteel startup batch files e.g. xsteel_eng_euro.bat objects.inp file - This file controls the list of variables in the “More” dialogue box of any member properties dialogue box. Xsteel Symbol files e.g. xsteel.sym Default “system” database files: profdb.bin (Profile Database) profcs.bin (Profile Cross Section database) matdb.bin (Material database) screwdb.db (Bolt database) assdb.db (Assembly Bolt database) FLTPROPS file - This file lists the available Flat bar sizes that the macros will automatically use This is the “system” directory for the version specified. The “system” directory typically contains: - drawing template files - report template files - drawing presentation files - plotter database (plotdev.bin) - saved joint macro files - wizard files - standard.* files - various other saved files that you wish to use as your defaults. “bin” directory - xswrk.dat - Dongle password file
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-11
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Note: With the default batch file settings Xsteel looks for files that it requires firstly in the model directory that you are currently working in. If the files that it requires are not there it then looks for these files in the “system” directory (6.0\countries\euro\profil or 6.0\countries\euro\system). Therefore we recommend that you place all files that are required as the default for all projects into the “system” directory and then files that are unique to a project are placed in the model directory. It is possible to place template files (report templates and drawing templates) in the model directory but this is not recommended. It only takes one template to be missing from the model directory and the result will be that all drawing templates will be missing from the drawings. It will also make updating your system difficult if changes are needed to the title block etc.. as all models will need to have these files updated, whereas if the templates were stored in the “system” directory, only this directory would need updating.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-12
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Xsteel Storage Directory File Structure You can also use environment variables XS_PROJECT and XS_FIRM to define directories where attributes (the settings on the dialog boxes, i.e. standard files and user-saved properties of joints, parts, drawings etc.) are sought. The advantage of using these variables is to retain your customized attributes when updating to a new Xsteel version. When you Save new attributes they are always saved in the model directory, but after that they can be copied or moved, for example, to the project directory, where they are also available to other projects. To use e.g. XS_PROJECT variable you need first manually to create the project folder to somewhere and then set the XS_PROJECT variable pointing to that folder in question. See the example below.
set XS_PROJECT=%XS_DIR%\countries\euro\project\
Attributes are now first searched for in the current model directory, and then in the directories defined by the environment variables. See the search order below: 1. Current model directory 2. XS_PROJECT 3. XS_FIRM 4. XS_SYSTEM
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-13
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
If the file is found, the search will not continue to the next level, so if there are files with the same name in separate directories, the file in the highest directory according to this search order is used. This is not the case, if the files have different names. For an extensive description of the files that can be read in the directories defined with XS_PROJECT and XS_FIRM refer the Xsteel help file. Templates and reports are searched for in the directory defined by the environment variable XS_TEMPLATE_DIRECTORY. They are also sought in the directories according to the search order mentioned above, but the search stops at the directory, where the first template/report file is found and the search of other templates does not go any further.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-14
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Password File 2 Plotter Database 3 Standard files – Save Defaults 5 Save Defaults Command 5 Other Standard Files 6 Batch File & Icon setup 7 Icon Setup 7 Batch File 7 Profile, Material & Bolt Databases 8 Autosave – Setting interval & Recovering etc.. 10 Setting Interval 10 Recovering the Autosave file 10 Customised files – Storage and system placement 11 Xsteel Storage Directory File Structure 13
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-1
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Password File Your Xsteel hardware lock is linked directly to the Xsteel password file (xswrk.dat) located in your “bin” directory (C:\Xsteel\6.0\nt\bin). The password file can be edited using any text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad. Also ensure that you install the “Sentinel” driver supplied on the Xsteel installation CD for the hardware lock to function.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-2
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Plotter Database The standard installation of Xsteel contains examples of plotter configurations in the Xsteel Plotter database. The plotter database can be accessed by going to the File pull-down menu in the modeling environment and selecting Database – Plotters. The following example show a typical network accessed plotter configuration.
Printer aliases
A free alias for a plotter
Printer
This field points to the plotter either locally or on the network e.g. \\”Server ID”\”Share Name”. If the plotter is connected locally, just type the Plotter’s Name as given in Window’s Printers Control Panel
Paper Size
For a “Large Format” plotter (A1, A0 etc..) this is set to “By Plot Area”, but for an A3, A4 plotter choose the correct size.
File extension
You can define the file extension for each plotter or leave it blank. This field is used when creating DXF files. See the example DXF file plotter.
Plot Area h*b
Maximum Plotting area
Color
Choose either Black/White or Color
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-3
Xsteel Training Course
Pen Map
Lesson 15 – System Customization
This configures which pen number is used for each color. The thickness of each pen number depends on the plotter driver, but the range is 1 being the thinnest, to 5 being the thickest. Note: also environment variable XS_BASE_LINE_WIDTH=0.1 controls the pen thickness. Pen Map value is multiplied with constant given in this variable.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-4
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Standard files – Save Defaults When starting a new project or just simply setting up Xsteel to suit your particular style of work, you may wish to create a set of “standard” files that can be placed into your Xsteel “system” directory so that all models worked on will use the same standard files. You may have noticed by now that most dialogue boxes with a “Save” option in them (Beam Properties, Macros etc..) have a “standard” setting in the “Load” Window.
This “standard” file is the default file that Xsteel will read and use when applying the command
Save Defaults Command The Save Defaults command from the Setup pull-down menu in the modeling environment, saves a set of approximately 16 modeling environment user interface standard files such as Beam Properties, Column Properties, Setup Preferences, Project Properties etc.. The user should check each of these dialogue boxes and once satisfied with their content, choose Save Defaults from the Setup pull-down menu. This will place the standard files listed below into the current model directory. If these files are required for all Models, they can be copied into Xsteel’s “System” directory. E.g. C:\Xsteel\6.0\countries\euro\system The list of the standard file names and dialogue boxes are as follows: standard.asv Autosave standard.bcc Bolt Clash Check standard.clm Column Properties standard.cpl Contour Plate standard.crs Beam/Orthogonal Beam Properties standard.dia Twin Profile Properties standard.fms Plotting Frames standard.fpl Folded Plate standard.ler Layer Properties standard.mvi Model View Properties standard.num Setup - Numbering standard.prf Project - Properties standard.prt Beam Properties Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-5
Xsteel Training Course
standard.scr standard.stp standard.wld
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Bolt Properties Setup – Preferences Weld Properties
Other Standard Files Other standard files may include saved macros in the modeling environment and drawing editor standard files such as standard text size, dimension colors, weld symbol colors etc.. To change the “standard” files for any of the above, simply set up the properties of the file as required and then save this file as “standard” (Ensure that it is Lower Case). These “standard” files will be placed in the current model directory. If they are required for all models, they can be copied into Xsteel’s “System” directory. E.g. C:\Xsteel\6.0\countries\euro\system.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-6
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Batch File & Icon setup Icon Setup When installing Xsteel, a Xsteel start up icon will be created and can be placed onto your Windows desktop. It is advisable to check that the “Start in” directory of the icon is pointing to the directory, directly above where you will be placing your Xsteel models. For example, if you were going to place your models under the C:\Xsteel_Models directory, ensure that the “Start in” directory of the icon is pointing to this directory also. This will be the directory where Xsteel places the Xsteel log file (xsteel.log) and any other temporary files. Note: To check the “Start in” directory of the icon, first highlight the icon, then right click on the mouse and select Properties and go to the Shortcut Page where you will see the “Start in” field.
Batch File The Xsteel start up batch file contains many environment variables that can be configured to suit your standards. The batch file (xsteel_eng_euro.bat) is located e.g. to directory C:\Xsteel\6.0\bat\. Refer to the online help for more up to date information. One line in the batch file that may need altering from time to time is the “Runpath” line. This is the line that nominates the default directory for Xsteel to look for existing, or to create new models. For instance, you may set up different Xsteel batch files for different projects and have the “Runpath” line pointing to different directories etc.. to keep the models separate. The Runpath line in the Xsteel start up batch file is as follows: set XS_RUNPATH=c:\xsteel_models The portion highlighted in bold is what can be modified. Note: The easiest way to edit the batch file is to highlight the Xsteel icon on the desktop, right click on the mouse and select Edit. It could also be opened using any text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-7
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Profile, Material & Bolt Databases Xsteel comes standard with a range of available Profile, Material and Bolt Databases for different world markets. The default databases will depend on which version you have installed – European, US Imperial etc.. Normally you will find that these standard databases will contain enough information for normal day to day work in Xsteel, but there may be cases where new profiles/materials/bolts need to be added. These databases can be accessed from the File pull-down menu. E.g. File – Database – Profiles – Modify
In most cases it is simply a case of completing the required section properties and then picking Add/OK to add the new profile. You will then be asked to either save the database in the Working or Global Directory. The Working Directory is the current model directory and the Global directory is the “system” directory for the databases (e.g. C:\Xsteel\6.0\countries\euro\profil\system). Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-8
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Note: You would copy the revised database to the Global directory if this new profile etc.. was required in other models.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-9
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Autosave – Setting interval & Recovering etc.. Setting Interval The interval for the Autosave can be set by picking Autosave from the Setup pull-down menu. The numbers represent the number of times commands are picked from the menus. e.g. A setting of 30 in the model means that after 30 menu picked commands, an Autosave will be performed
Recovering the Autosave file Every Xsteel model will have the following database files: Model.db1 Model.db1.bak Model.db1_user Model.db1_user.bak Model.db2 Model.db2.bak Model.db2_user Model.db2_user.bak
Current database Database at last save Database at last autosave Database at previous autosave
Db2 files contain some numbering information (maximum used numbers in each group) relative to the equivalent db1 files. This information used to be kept in the db1 files but has been moved since the introduction of the multi user database. When opening a model Xsteel automatically recognizes if the previous session crashed, and asks whether to continue with the autosaved model or the original one.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-10
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Customized files – Storage and system placement Xsteel File Structure Xsteel startup batch files e.g. xsteel_eng_euro.bat objects.inp file - This file controls the list of variables in the “More” dialogue box of any member properties dialogue box. Xsteel Symbol files e.g. xsteel.sym Default “system” database files: profdb.bin (Profile Database) profcs.bin (Profile Cross Section database) matdb.bin (Material database) screwdb.db (Bolt database) assdb.db (Assembly Bolt database) FLTPROPS file - This file lists the available Flat bar sizes that the macros will automatically use This is the “system” directory for the version specified. The “system” directory typically contains: - drawing template files - report template files - drawing presentation files - plotter database (plotdev.bin) - saved joint macro files - wizard files - standard.* files - various other saved files that you wish to use as your defaults. “bin” directory - xswrk.dat - Dongle password file
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-11
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Note: With the default batch file settings Xsteel looks for files that it requires firstly in the model directory that you are currently working in. If the files that it requires are not there it then looks for these files in the “system” directory (6.0\countries\euro\profil or 6.0\countries\euro\system). Therefore we recommend that you place all files that are required as the default for all projects into the “system” directory and then files that are unique to a project are placed in the model directory. It is possible to place template files (report templates and drawing templates) in the model directory but this is not recommended. It only takes one template to be missing from the model directory and the result will be that all drawing templates will be missing from the drawings. It will also make updating your system difficult if changes are needed to the title block etc.. as all models will need to have these files updated, whereas if the templates were stored in the “system” directory, only this directory would need updating.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-12
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
Xsteel Storage Directory File Structure You can also use environment variables XS_PROJECT and XS_FIRM to define directories where attributes (the settings on the dialog boxes, i.e. standard files and user-saved properties of joints, parts, drawings etc.) are sought. The advantage of using these variables is to retain your customized attributes when updating to a new Xsteel version. When you Save new attributes they are always saved in the model directory, but after that they can be copied or moved, for example, to the project directory, where they are also available to other projects. To use e.g. XS_PROJECT variable you need first manually to create the project folder to somewhere and then set the XS_PROJECT variable pointing to that folder in question. See the example below.
set XS_PROJECT=%XS_DIR%\countries\euro\project\
Attributes are now first searched for in the current model directory, and then in the directories defined by the environment variables. See the search order below: 1. Current model directory 2. XS_PROJECT 3. XS_FIRM 4. XS_SYSTEM
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-13
Xsteel Training Course
Lesson 15 – System Customization
If the file is found, the search will not continue to the next level, so if there are files with the same name in separate directories, the file in the highest directory according to this search order is used. This is not the case, if the files have different names. For an extensive description of the files that can be read in the directories defined with XS_PROJECT and XS_FIRM refer the Xsteel help file. Templates and reports are searched for in the directory defined by the environment variable XS_TEMPLATE_DIRECTORY. They are also sought in the directories according to the search order mentioned above, but the search stops at the directory, where the first template/report file is found and the search of other templates does not go any further.
Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000
Page 15-14
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