Tekla Structures Profile Catalog ((free)) Jun 2026

Organizes shapes hierarchically by material type (Steel, Concrete, Timber) and cross-section geometry (I-profiles, L-profiles, Tubes).

Choose either (manually picking points in the model) or Define Using DWG File .

If you are a structural engineer, detailer, or modeler, you know that the backbone of any accurate Building Information Modeling (BIM) project is the raw data that defines its components. In Trimble’s Tekla Structures, that foundational data lives in one critical place: .

: Custom shapes created using the Sketch Editor for irregular geometry. tekla structures profile catalog

: For complex shapes, you can import a cross-section from an AutoCAD DWG file by going to File > Catalogs > Define profiles > DWG import .

In the dialog box, enter the dimensions. Use standard naming conventions (e.g., MyWideFlange-400x200 ).

Customize the profile catalog - Trimble User Assistance - Tekla In the dialog box, enter the dimensions

# Create a new custom profile entry (pseudocode) from tekla import CatalogManager

: For large-scale data entry, some users use Excel macros to generate

If you have a supplier's catalog (e.g., NSCP steel sections) as a text file: In the dialog box

Profile Catalog Interface └── Profile Tree (Left Pane) └── Structural Types (I-profiles, L-profiles, etc.) └── Sub-types (UC, UB, HEA, HEB) └── Specific Sizes (e.g., HEA200) └── Profile Properties (Right Pane) └── General Tab (Name, Type, Weight per unit) └── Analysis Tab (Cross-sectional area, Moments of inertia, Torsional constants)

To keep your models running efficiently and minimize fabrication errors, implement these structural catalog practices:

For irregular, non-standard shapes like custom concrete precast panels or complex aluminum extrusions, you can define a profile using a polygon sketch: Go to .