Create a New Weld Symbol

Learn how to create a new weld symbol using the Management Tools application.

In this example a Y weld type will be created. To create a new weld symbol, follow these steps:

1. Open the Management Tools application and check the default where the weld symbol template DWG name is specified.

   Open (Management Tools) Defaults category Drawing-General General Default weld template file name:

   
   
   
   Note: In this case, the weld symbol template file is WeldTemplate.dwg. This file may differ from one installation to another (e.g. different languages).
2. Open the "WeldTemplate.dwg" located in ...\ProgramData\Autodesk\Advance Steel 2022\[INSTALLATION LANGUAGE EXTENSION]\Shared\Support\Symbols
   Important: It is strongly recommended that you modify the "WeldTemplate.dwg" in plain AutoCAD®. Make sure that Advance Steel is not loaded.
3. Open the Layer Manager and create a new layer.
4. First, create the weld main symbol for the new "Y" weld type. The new layer name should contain the "WM_" prefix followed by the desired name (for example, "WM_customY").
   
   
   
   Note: Starting with Advance Steel 2016, each weld symbol has its own layer.

   "WM_","WD_", "SM_","SD_","PM_","PD_" are acronyms for Weld Main, Shape Main, Preparation Main etc. They are not mandatory but are recommended for organizational purposes.

5. Turn off all the other layers that are associated with weld main symbols, to avoid overlapping of symbols.
   
   
   
6. Turn on the new layer (WM_cutomY) and set it as the current layer.
   
   
   
7. Draw the desired symbol (be sure to draw on the correct layer).
8. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for weld double symbol of the new "Y" weld type.
9. Once the drawing process is done (the weld main and weld double symbols associated with the new weld symbol are drawn), save and close the "WeldTemplate.dwg".
10. Start Advance Steel and access the Management Tools application.
11. In Management Tools, start the Table editor.
12. Click the Open ODBC icon and select AstorBase.
    
    
    
13. Open the WeldType table.
14. Fill in the description for the new weld on the last free line:
    • Key = next available number.
    • MainSymbolLayer=The name for main weld symbol layer from "WeldTemplate.dwg", for example, WM_customY.
    • DoubleSymbolLayer=The name for double weld symbol layer from "WeldTemplate.dwg", for example, WD_customY.
    • ShapeLayerSuffix= Leave empty if the new symbol doesn't require a special shape symbol, if it does. see How is a surface shape symbol exception for welds created in Advance Steel.
      
      
      
15. Close the Management Tools and use (Update defaults), located on the Home tab Settings panel.

• The new weld type is now available in the Weld dialog: