Type Manager

The Type Manager can be used to define and edit column section types. Section Types can also be referred to within the software and the help documentation as Design Groups. Section Types allow users to define groups of columns with the same design criteria including:

The user can Create Section Types Manually through the Type Manager dialog window and then Assign the Section Type to columns. Additionally, the user can have the program Create and/or Assign Section Types Automatically for existing columns. Section Types can also be defined upon creation of the columns when using DWG/DXF Import and Transform Column.

The Type Manager window can be accessed through Column Design>Type Manager.

Type Manager Dialog:

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With the Type Manager open and no Section Type selected or defined, the window will display Type Manager Settings for the assignment of columns. The Type Manager Settings are applied to columns only when columns are created by transforming them from a DWG/DXF file. Click the + sign below to expand a table describing each setting that can be applied within the type manager dialog window when no section type is selected.

Setting Description
Columns

Allows the user to set the auto-assignment of columns at creation. Available options are listed below:

Assign Existing at Creation

Program will assign the column to an existing section type upon creation based on the column dimensions. If a section type does not exist for a column, the program will create a new section type.
Assign New at Creation Program will assign the column to an new section type based on the column dimensions. If a section type exists with the same dimensions as the column the program will create a new group with (#), where # is a number to designate the group differently.
Do Not Assign Types Program will not create or assign columns to a section type at creation.
Beams

Allows the user to set the auto-assignment of beams at creation. Available options are listed below:

Assign Existing at Creation

Program will assign the beam to an existing section type upon creation based on the beam dimensions. If a section type does not exist for a beam the program will create a new section type.
Assign New at Creation Program will assign the beam to an new section type based on the beam dimensions. If a section type exists with the same dimensions as the beam the program will create a new group with (#), where # is a number to designate the group differently.
Do Not Assign Types Program will not create or assign beams to a section type at creation.
Enable column auto-assignment round-up

Allows the user to set if the program should round-up dimensions of the column to the nearest user defined unit.

When Yes is selected a Roundup Amount property will become available where the user can set the tolerance for rounding up the column dimensions at creation.

Once created, Section Types are listed in the Library panel of the Type Manager dialog. Clicking on a section type, the user can view and edit the properties that can be assigned to the section type. Alternatively, editing of most section type properties can be done within the Column Section Type Editor.

Type Manager Dialog with Section Type Selected:

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Click the + sign below to expand a table listing the properties that can be modified within a section type along with a description of the property.

Setting Description
Component

 

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  • Type - Defines the component type (Column or Beam) of the Section Type.

  • Shape - Defines the shape (Rectangular, Square, Circular, or Generic) of the Section Type.

  • Material - Defines the concrete material of the Section Type.
General  

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  • Geometry Units - Defines the units used to specify the geometry of the Section Type.

  • Rebar Units - Defines the units used to specify the reinforcement of the Section Type.

  • A - Defines the dimension of the Section Type in the local r-axis dimension.

  • B - Defines the dimension of the Section Type in the local s-axis dimension. B dimension only applicable to Section Types with a rectangular shape.

  • Clear Cover - Defines the concrete cover to the tie or link measured from the outermost perimeter of the section.

  • As Vertical - Displays the total area of vertical reinforcement in the Section Type. Not editable.

  • Rho - Displays the calculated reinforcement ratio for the Section Type. Not editable.

Vertical Bars

 

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  • Vert Bar Size - Defines the bar size to use for the vertical reinforcement in the Section Type.

  • # Face Bars - Defines the number of bars along the A face (face along the local r-axis) of the Section Type.

  • # Rows - Defines the number of rows of bars along the B face (face along the local s-axis) of the Section Type.

  • # Layers - Number of layers of vertical bars in the Section Type.

  • Vert Bar Material - Defines the material to be used for the vertical reinforcement.

Horizontal Bars

 

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  • Horiz Bar Size - Defines the bar size to use for the horizontal reinforcement in the Section Type.

  • Vert Spacing - Defines the centerline spacing of horizontal ties along the column length.

  • # Legs - Defines the number of stirrup legs.

  • Horiz Bar Material - Defines the material to be used for the horizontal reinforcement.

Creating and Assigning Section Types

For detailed instructions on creating and assigning Section Types for columns, click the + sign below that corresponds with the process you want to perform.

To manually create Section Types:

  1. Go to Column Design>Type Manager and click on the Define Section Type icon to open the Type Manager dialog.

  2. In the Type Manager window, in the Library section, select the New(Insert) icon.

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  3. Type in a label for the new Section Type and click enter on your keyboard to accept the name.

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    Note: Bold italicized text in the type manager denotes items that have been modified during the current session in the Type Manager. Once the user clicks OK to close out of the Section Type Manager, the changes will be accepted and applied to the Section Type(s).

  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to enter additional Section Types.

  5. Select a Section Type to bring up the properties for the section type and modify the properties as needed. Alternatively, the user can use the Column Section Type Editor to modify most section type properties or to edit multiple section types at once.

  6. Click the OK button to close the Type Manager window.

To manually assign columns to section types:

  1. Select all columns belonging to a single section type.

  2. In the General section of the Properties Grid, change the Section Type drop-down menu to the Section Type you want to use.

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  3. Optional: Open the Section Type Manager and select a section type to bring up the properties of the section type for modification as needed. Alternatively, the user can use the Column Section Type Editor to modify most section type properties or to edit multiple section types at once.

To automatically assign existing columns to section types:

  1. Select all columns you want to assign to a section type.

  2. In the General section of the Properties Grid, change the drop-down menu next to Section Type to one of the Auto assign options.

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    Assign to Existing will assign columns to an existing column section type based on the dimensions of the column, where no section type exists the program will create a new section type.

    Assign to New Group will assign columns to a new section type based on the column dimensions. If a section type already exists the program will create a new section type with the same name appended with (#), where # is a numerical digit.

    Assign new individual will assign columns to new section types based on the column dimension. Each column segment will be given a new section group with the same name as other columns of the same dimension appended with (#), where # is a numerical digit.

  3. Optional: Open the Section Type Manager and select a section type to bring up the properties for the section type for modification as needed. Alternatively, the user can use the Column Section Type Editor to modify most section type properties or to edit multiple section types at once.

To define and assign section types using DWG/DXF import:

  1. Go to Column Design>Type Manager and click on the Define Section Type icon to open the Type Manager dialog.

  2. Under Type Assignment, verify Columns is set to Assign existing at creation.

    Note: If the Type Assignment options are not visible, unselect all current section types in the Type Manager Library to show the Type Assignment Options.

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  3. Optional: Enable column sizes to round up. Choose yes in the drop down menu in the Value column next to Enable column auto-assignment roundup and select a Roundup amount.

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  4. Import a DWG/DXF file.

  5. Select all columns and go to Model>Transform>Transform Columns.

  6. Go to Column>Type Manager>Define Section Type to view the automatically created column Section Types.

  7. Optional: Select a section type to bring up the properties of the section type for modification as needed. Alternatively, the user can use the Column Section Type Editor to modify most section type properties or to edit multiple section types at once.