Tekla Structures Profile Catalog [2021] May 2026

The Tekla Structures Profile Catalog is a foundational database that stores all available cross-sections for steel, concrete, and timber elements within the Trimble Tekla ecosystem. Overall Rating: High-Utility Efficiency Tool

The profile catalog is highly regarded for its precision and customizability, making it a critical asset for structural engineers and detailers who require accurate geometric data for large-scale, complex projects. Key Performance Highlights

Extensive Standard Libraries: By default, it contains a vast array of standard, environment-specific, and generic parametric profiles, reducing the need for manual setup.

Parametric Flexibility: Users can define their own parametric profiles, allowing for high levels of project-specific customization and "smart" geometric behavior.

Analysis Integration: The catalog can store analysis values (like sectional properties) that structural analysis applications can read directly, ensuring consistency between the physical model and engineering data.

Seamless Collaborative Mapping: During IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) imports or exports, the catalog acts as the primary reference point to map foreign profiles to standard Tekla sections, maintaining model integrity during multi-software workflows. User Experience Considerations

Learning Curve: While powerful, the "Modify Profile Catalog" interface can be intimidating for beginners due to the deep level of technical detail required for custom profile definitions.

Centralized Management: Because information is stored in the profdb.bin file, it is easy to share across models, but users must manage this file carefully to ensure consistency across entire design teams.

Customize the original profile catalog - Tekla User Assistance

12. Conclusion

The Tekla Structures Profile Catalog is a robust, essential tool for accurate structural modeling. Its flexibility in handling standard, parametric, and custom shapes, combined with search efficiency and analysis property management, makes it far superior to simple shape libraries. Proper use of cloning, custom properties, and import/export ensures that models remain accurate, standards-compliant, and fabrication-ready.


Report compiled for internal use or client reference. Last updated based on Tekla Structures 2024 feature set. tekla structures profile catalog

Tekla Structures , the Profile Catalog acts as a central library containing all the cross-sections (like I-beams, L-profiles, and plates) available for your project. This guide covers how to navigate, use, and customize it. 1. Accessing the Catalog

You can open the catalog by navigating to the File menu and selecting Catalogs > Profile catalog. From here, you can view the entire tree of available profiles organized by type. 2. Standard vs. Parametric Profiles Profiles are generally split into two categories:

Standard (Fixed) Profiles: These have predefined dimensions (e.g., HEA120). You cannot change their specific dimensions once selected from the tree.

Parametric Profiles: These allow you to manually input dimensions (e.g., a "B*H" wood profile or a "D" circular section). These are often denoted by a specific prefix (like PL for plate or D for diameter). 3. Assigning a Profile to a Part To change the profile of an existing beam or column: Double-click the part to open its Properties. Click Select… next to the Profile field.

Choose a profile from the tree. You can use the Show details checkbox to see additional properties like weight per meter or cross-section area. Click Apply or OK. 4. Customizing the Catalog

If a standard profile is missing, you can add your own in several ways:

User-Defined Rules: You can create new categories (like "Historical Profiles") by right-clicking the tree and selecting Add Next Level Rule.

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

Material Association: You can control which profiles appear for specific materials (e.g., only showing L-profiles for steel parts) by right-clicking a profile type and selecting Material > Steel or Concrete.

Watch this step-by-step tutorial on how to import custom cross-sections from DWG files directly into your Tekla Profile Catalog: Create Profile from DWG in Tekla Structures Tekla Software YouTube• Jan 16, 2018 5. Managing Profiles in IFC Conversions The Tekla Structures Profile Catalog is a foundational

When importing external models (like IFC files), Tekla uses the Profile Catalog to map incoming names to native profiles. If a name matches perfectly, Tekla uses that profile; if not, it attempts to find a match based on parametric values.

Do you need help defining a new parametric profile using the Sketch Editor, or are you looking to export your catalog to another environment?

Customize the original profile catalog - Tekla User Assistance

The Tekla Structures Profile Catalog is a central database used to define and manage the cross-sectional shapes (profiles) of parts within a BIM model. It contains standard, environment-specific, and user-defined profiles, storing this information in the profdb.bin file. Core Catalog Functions

Hierarchical Organization: Profiles are organized in a tree structure based on rules (e.g., grouping by I-profiles or HEA subtypes).

Management Tools: Users can add, modify, delete, and copy profiles to create custom libraries tailored to specific project needs.

Import/Export: Facilitates sharing between models and versions using .lis (standard profiles), .uel (sketched), and .clb (parametric) file formats.

Conflict Resolution: During import, the "Review import items" feature allows users to leave, merge, or replace duplicate profiles to maintain database integrity. Profile Types The catalog supports five distinct item types:

Fixed Profiles: Profiles with static dimensions (e.g., standard AISC steel sections).

Parametric Profiles: Shapes where size is determined by user-defined parameters (e.g., a rectangular beam defined by width and height). Report compiled for internal use or client reference

Sketched Profiles: Custom shapes created using the Sketch Editor for irregular geometry.

User-Defined Parametric Profiles: Advanced shapes defined via .clb files.

Rule Sets: Logic that determines how profiles are displayed and grouped in the catalog tree.

Customize the original profile catalog - Tekla User Assistance

Mastering the Tekla Structures Profile Catalog: The Ultimate Guide

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: The Profile Catalog.

Understanding how to navigate, modify, and manage the Tekla Structures Profile Catalog is essential for ensuring your model’s accuracy, streamlining your workflow, and preventing costly fabrication errors.

Here is a comprehensive guide to understanding and mastering the Tekla Structures Profile Catalog.


Appendix B — Example Tekla Open API Snippet (pseudo-Python)

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

How to Merge Two Catalogs

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

  1. Open profitab.inp in Notepad++.
  2. Copy the supplier's block of code.
  3. Paste it below your current **STEEL I PROFILES** header.
  4. Run Tools → Check and Fix Catalog in Tekla to rebuild the index.

Method A: Parametric (Organic) Custom Profile

Use this for shapes that are variations of standard types (e.g., an I-beam with a sloped inner flange).

  1. In the Profile Catalog, right-click a similar profile and select "Copy."
  2. Rename it (e.g., MY_WIDE_300).
  3. Edit the parameters. Change h from 300 to 350, tw from 10 to 12.
  4. Click "Modify." Tekla automatically recalculates all section properties.

Mastering the Tekla Structures Profile Catalog: The Ultimate Guide to Customization and Efficiency

In the world of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for structural engineering, Tekla Structures by Trimble stands as the gold standard for precision detailing and constructible models. At the very heart of this precision lies a powerful, often underutilized tool: The Tekla Structures Profile Catalog.

Whether you are detailing steel connections, modeling cast-in-place concrete, or designing complex composite beams, the Profile Catalog is your gateway to geometric accuracy. This article dives deep into what the Profile Catalog is, how to navigate it, how to customize it for global standards, and the best practices to supercharge your workflow.