Does STAAD support several input files?

[ToohTaah]

I am working on a model which I have to change part of the data file very often (coordinate of joints and/or element incidence). Can I have several input files? I do not want to browse to the line I want to replace every time I update the model.

TIA

 

[structuresguy]

Not that I am aware of. Sorry.

 

[ToohTaah]

Thank you. Maybe I will try to use VBA to combine all of my input files.

 

[JanosMilos]

You can define more models in the same input file, but not more versions of the same model …. except if you define versions of your model on different coordinate locations. Then connect supports with blind unloaded beam. Formally, it is now one model.

 

[RobertoMiguel]

ToohTah, have you tried merely updating your input file in a different write/read program? Since the STAAD input file is merely a script file (aka, text file), you can tool around in it from Notepad, (Microsoft) Word, etc, etc. This way you can just hit <Ctrl> H and Replace whatever line of text (or portion thereof) in a fell swoop. Come to think of it, you can do all these operations (ie, Find, Replace, etc) in the STAAD Input Editor also.

Other than that, if you know the line number where the particular coordinate is to be found (which should be the same every time, unless the size of the model changes drastically or you renumber the nodes), you can click on the "Line x Col x" area at the bottom right corner of the Input Editor and it will bring up a nice little popup window where you can enter the line number. It'll take you directly to that line, regardless of program size. Cheers!

Roberto Sanabria

 

[ToohTaah]

Roberto,

Thank you for you suggestions. Unfortunately, when I referred to part of the input files, I was talking about 100 lines (add and/or remove members from the model, regroup them together, define the support type for added members and remove the members from support type lists). Basically, I am working on a foundation design which I have to optimize the location of the piles (vertical and battered).

 

[bylar]

Is there a way to have the node and member label stay shown.
Every time I do an analysis the labels disappear.