What is this?

Extension methods for Tekla's Open API.

But why?

The old way

ModelObjectSelector Selector = model.GetModelObjectSelector();

// The Old Way
foreach (ModelObject MO in Selector)
{
            Beam B = MO as Beam;
            if (B != null)
            {
            Solid solid = B.GetSolid();
            }
}   

Why force yourself to deal with enumerators? And to then sift for what you want? Try this instead:

The New Way:

            List<Solid> solids = Selector.GetAllObjects()
                                         .ToTeklaList<Beam>()  // voila!
                                         .Select(b => b.GetSolid())
                                         .ToList();

The Ability To Transform via Matrices:

CoordinateSystem cs1 = getCoordinateSystem1();
CoordinateSystem cs2 = getCoordinateSystem2();

// move by operation
Beam beam = beamFactory(startPointFactory(), endPointFactory(), "1"); // we need factory methods because the same points mutate
beam.Insert();
Operation.MoveObject(beam, cs1, cs2);
beam.Select(); // gray       

But who wants to formulate a transformation by hand via coordinate system changes in your head.

What you really want to do is apply a matrix:

Beam beam2 = beamFactory(startPointFactory(), endPointFactory(), "2"); // 
beam2.Insert();

Matrix matrix = BeamExtensions.FromObjectToObjectTransformationMatrix(cs1, cs2);
beam2.TransformByMutation(matrix);  // apply a matrix transformation
beam2.Modify();
beam2.Select(); // update memory                        
model.CommitChanges();

But you could apply any transformation that you wanted!

Matrix matrix = new Matrix().RotateBy(Math.PI / 2, VectorExtensions.YAxis) 		    	              
                       .ThenDisplaceBy(new Vector().ToXaxisWCS());     // curry matrix operations

beam2.TransformByMutation(matrix);  // apply a matrix transformation

It's easy to craft matrix operations to do what you want.

Matrix m = new Matrix().RotateBy(Math.PI / 2, VectorExtensions.YAxis) 		    	              
                       .ThenDisplaceBy(new Vector().ToXaxisWCS());     // curry matrix operations

Point origin = new Point(1,0,0).Transform(m);

Did you catch that? You can apply the transformation to the point, rather than the point to the matrix:

Point newPoint = new Matrix().Transform(new Point(1,0,0));

// but I prefer calling the point, rather than the matrix e.g.
origin.Transform(m);

Ever wanted a simple projection?

 Vector diagonal = new Vector(1, 1, 0);
 Vector xVector = new Vector(1, 0, 0);

 Vector projectionVector = diagonal.ProjectOnto(xVector);

.... and a whole host of other helpers, particularly if you want to use matrices to transform objects.

Further handy helpers if you want to use text strings from users, in order to create grid lines.

Or if you wanted the "X Axis" of the "World Coordinate System" (WCS) - a unit vector all you have to do is:

Vector x = new Vector().ToXaxisWCS()
Vector anotherX = VectorExtensions.XAxis;  // same thing

You can even manipulate CoordinateSystems() if you wish.

i.e. if you want to rotate a beam 90 degrees around the Y axis you could do this:

CoordinateSystem rotatedCS = new CoordinateSystem().WithRotationBy(- Math.PI / 2, VectorExtensions.YAxis);  // negative value

Did you catch that? Because we are using a coordinate system, when applying Operation.MoveObject(new CoordinateSystem(), rotatedCS) you will need to make sure you apply the negative value of the angle.

Enjoy!

Installation

// .net CLI
dotnet add package Tekla.ExtensionMethods

// PMC (Package Manager Console)
NuGet\Install-Package Tekla.ExtensionMethods 

Contributions

Contributions welcome!

If required, add a test.

Notes for the Maintainer: Packing Instructions

• Build the solution
• Update: the assembly version in the csproj file.
• Update the GitHub tag matching the same. and push the tag.
• Update:

In Powershell:

D:\\Documents\\repositories\\TeklaProjects\\Tekla.ExtensionMethods\\Tekla.ExtensionMethods> nuget pack -Symbols -SymbolPackageFormat snupkg

• Then drag and drop into Nuget at the following package link.
• Create a new release on the GitHub project and do the same.