Append Models

You can append other models into the current model by choosing Append from the ‘File’ menu. This lets you have a library of common model parts that you can use later or to lets you divide projects into smaller parts and later combine them. This feature does not allow you to combine two unopened models. You must first open one of the models, and then append the second model into the first model. If you want to have an unmodified copy of the first model, you need to save the new combined model under a new file name.

You can only append files from version 6.0 and newer files. If you’ve got an older file that you want to append, you first need to open that file by itself and save it.

Your appended model will be placed in the current model using the original coordinate data that was in the appended model. The appended model is NOT moved to the origin of the current model. So, if the appended model had an X coordinate of 9.0 for all joints, then it will be placed at a X coordinate of 9.0 in the current model.

When appending, the Drawing Toolbar is already open in the model view, so you can easily adjust the placement of your appended model using the graphics editing tools. The entire original model is automatically unselected and your appended model is selected. If you're going to make several adjustments to the position of your appended model, you should probably click the Lock Unselected icon in the ‘3D View’ panel ‘Selection’ toolbar, then use the graphical editing tools to put your appended model where you want it in the current model.

You can use the labels for the Joints, Members, and Plates to help identify the parts as you append them into your current model. Use the Relabel Joints, Relabel Members and Relabel Plates options on the ‘Tools’ menu to make the label prefix unique for each of your model parts before you append them.

Note:

The appended model properties will be set to the current model properties in cases where there is a conflict. For example, if both models use the same section set label, the current model properties will be used to define the section set. The same is true for material properties, moving loads, and so on.
Loads remain in the same basic load case. For example if the appended model has loads in BLC 3 these loads will be placed in BLC 3 of the current model.
tnxTower model files may also be appended together.

For additional advice on this topic, please see the RISA Tips & Tricks webpage at risa.com/post/support. Type in Search keywords: Append.