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SHEET S-01 · STEEL DETAILING AUTOMATION

Tekla & SDS2 Plugin Development

We write the plugins, connections and automation that steel detailers wish came in the box, for fabricators, manufacturers and the software vendors themselves.

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Project
Plugin development
Platforms
Tekla · SDS2 · Allplan
Clients
BlueScope · SDS2 · AmFab
Drawn by
Apps By TAP
  • 50+Tekla plugins & tools for BlueScope Steel NA
  • 4k+downloads per SDS2 NuGet template
  • < 12 sSDS2-to-Allplan connection round trip
  • 20+shop-standard connections for AmFab Steel

Two platforms, one team

Automation schedule

What we automate, laid out the way detailers read a drawing.

MarkAreaWhat we automateBuilt for
M-1ModelingCustom members, PEMB framing, BRB assembliesBlueScope, AmFab
C-1ConnectionsShop-standard connections, mass-applied across a modelAmFab, BlueScope
D-1DrawingsHeadless generation, layer cleanup, title blocks, revision stampsTekla Web Service
X-1Data exchangeSAF import/export, IFC exports, SDS2-to-Allplan syncSDS2, Allplan
S-1SchedulingOvernight batch jobs and customer-built tasksSDS2 Task Scheduler
P-1PackagingWiX installers from CI, SDS2 Toolbox and NuGet releasesAll projects
Steel beam-to-column connection with bolts and plates synced from SDS2 into Allplan

DETAIL · SDS2 → ALLPLAN

From proof of concept to an official add-on

Our SDS2-to-Allplan service brings fully detailed connections into Allplan in under 12 seconds, with a 100% match in pilot tests. Its architecture became the backbone of the commercial Allplan SDS2 Steel Connections add-on.

Read the case study →

We also teach it

We created SDS2’s developer-experience program: an 8-part YouTube series, short API fundamentals videos and NuGet project templates for WPF, WinForms and Python-hybrid plugins. Each template passed 4,000 downloads in its first year, and the playlists are now part of SDS2’s official partner onboarding.

See the DX program
SDS2 .NET API Step by Step and Tutorials playlists on YouTube

What engineering clients say

NOTE 1

“I have worked with Apps By TAP on multiple occasions. They have the ability to solve complex problems and pays close attention to detail. I would 100% recommend hiring Apps By TAP for any project. Their solutions are well thought out and scalable.”

Brandon L., SDS2

NOTE 2

“Apps By TAP quickly understood our complex engineering needs and delivered innovative solutions ahead of schedule. Their thoughtful approach and technical skill made a big impact. Highly recommended.”

Torrey D., SidePlate System

Plugin & automation projects

  • SAF Import/Export

    Effortless SAF import & export for SDS2 via a user‑friendly WPF tool—seamless model exchange without manual rework.

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  • Allplan Profile Catalog

    Allplan Profile Catalog lets SDS2 users import global beam & column shapes in seconds—secured by Toolbox license + Bimplus login, always up‑to‑date.

    Learn More

  • SDS2 Task Scheduler

    Quartz‑based Windows service & dynamic Blazor client automate SDS2 tasks—IFC exports, custom jobs—plug‑in SDK lets users add new schedulable actions in minutes.

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  • Tekla Web API

    Cloud‑based Tekla Web Service auto‑builds models, scrubs drawings —zero manual effort for BlueScope Steel NA teams.

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  • DX (Developer Experience) Development

    YouTube tutorials + NuGet templates cut SDS2 .NET API ramp‑up from hours to minutes—4 k+ downloads per template.

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  • Tekla Plugins and Apps

    50+ Tekla plugins built for BlueScope Steel NA slash PEMB modeling time and lock in VP/BMP brand standards across every project.

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  • All Plan SDS2 Connection Designer

    C# service using SDS2 API & named pipes syncs steel connections to Allplan in seconds—foundation of the official Allplan SDS2 Steel Connections add‑on.

    Learn More

  • SDS2 Plugins

    Python‑powered add‑in for SDS2 auto‑creates custom BRB members & mass‑applies connections, cutting AmFab Steel’s detailing time

    Learn More

View all projects

GENERAL NOTES

Before you start

  1. 01

    Which platforms do you develop for?

    Tekla Structures (the Tekla Open API), SDS2 (both the .NET API and the Python API) and integrations with Allplan and Allplan Bimplus. We also build the web services, installers and pipelines that support them.

  2. 02

    Can you build plugins that enforce our company standards?

    Yes. For BlueScope Steel we encoded VP Buildings and BMP standards into more than 50 plugins and connections, so detailers place complete, compliant assemblies instead of individual parts.

  3. 03

    Can Tekla run without someone at the keyboard?

    Yes. Our Tekla Web Service runs headless Tekla workers in Azure that open the right template, build the model and produce cleaned-up drawing sets on demand.

  4. 04

    Do you build SDS2 Python plugins as well as .NET?

    Both. For AmFab Steel we built a Python add-in that creates custom BRB members and mass-applies shop-standard connections; our SDS2 Toolbox apps use the .NET API.

  5. 05

    How are plugins installed and updated?

    We package them with WiX installers built by Azure DevOps pipelines on every change, and we’ve published tools to the SDS2 Toolbox and templates to NuGet.

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