Spreadsheet Operations

Powerful spreadsheets can be used to view, sort and edit the input data and results. The spreadsheets and model views are synchronized. As you edit a model graphically the spreadsheets are automatically updated. As you make changes in the spreadsheets the model views reflect these changes immediately.

The input data may be accessed from the Explorer panel or from the Data Entry icon (shown in the following image) on the Spreadsheets ribbon.

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You can edit the data or you can add new data. You can also paste data from another application directly into the spreadsheet via the Windows clipboard. Any changes made to the input spreadsheets may also be viewed graphically.

After solving the model, results are recorded in spreadsheets for browsing. These spreadsheets can be accessed from the Explorer sidebar or the various result spreadsheet icons (Envelope, LC, and Dynamic) found on the Results ribbon (as shown in the following image).

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You can sort the results in order to find maximums and exclude data that is not important. You can also copy this data to the Windows clipboard and use it in another application.

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

What do you want to do?

Move and scroll in a spreadsheet
Select cells in a spreadsheet
Edit a spreadsheet
Fill a block of cells in a spreadsheet
Perform math on a block of cells

What do you want to know?

What special spreadsheet functions are available?
What keyboard commands are available in the spreadsheets?

Move and Scroll

To move between cells in a spreadsheet, click any cell or use the keyboard arrow keys. When you move to a cell it becomes the active cell. To see a different area of the spreadsheet use the vertical scroll bars on the right side of the spreadsheet.

To Scroll	Do This
One row up or down	Click the arrows on the vertical scroll bar.
One column left or right	Click the arrows on the horizontal scroll bar.
One page up or down	Click above or below the scroll box in the vertical scroll bar.
One page left or right	Click to the left or right of the scroll box in the horizontal scroll bar.
A large distance	Drag the scroll box to the approximate relative position.

Note:

The size of a scroll box indicates the proportional amount of the spreadsheet that is visible. The position of a scroll box indicates the current location relative to the spreadsheet.
The mouse wheel is also an excellent tool for scrolling up and down in spreadsheets or graphics. Roll the wheel or click and drag to move around.

Spreadsheet Keyboard Commands

The following keyboard commands are available:

Key	Function
Arrow Keys	Move the active cell one location
TAB	Move right one cell
ENTER	Move to the first column of the next line. Adds new line if necessary.
PAGE UP	Move the active cell one full page up.
PAGE DOWN	Move the active cell one full page down.
HOME	Move to the first line of the spreadsheet.
END	Move to the last line of the spreadsheet.
F3	Insert new line below current line and repeat the current values in the new line.
F4	Delete current line.
F8	Add new row to end using values from row above.

Select Spreadsheet Cells

Before you can carry out commands or tasks in a spreadsheet, you must select the cells that you want to work with.

To Select	Do This
A single cell	Click the cell, or press the arrow keys to move to the cell.
A range of cells	Click the first cell of the range, and then drag to the last cell.
An entire row	Click the row heading.
An entire column	Click the column heading.
Adjacent rows or columns	Drag across the row or column headings

Note: To cancel a selection of cells, click any single cell in the spreadsheet.

Undo Operations

RISA-3D provides you with virtually unlimited ‘Undo’ capability so that you can easily correct mistakes or just back up to try different possibilities. Simply click the Undo button as many times as you wish to go back a step.

Another option is ‘Multiple Undo’, accessed by the down arrow next to the Undo button. This lets you go back to a specific previous action that you would like to Undo.

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The model view and the spreadsheets visually display the "undoing". Remember that graphic edits are undone as well.

Redo Operations

RISA-3D provides you with virtually unlimited ‘Redo’ capability so that you may reapply actions that were previously undone. Simply click the Redo button as many times as the Undo button was used just prior.

Another option is Multiple Redo, accessed by the drop-down arrow next to the Undo button. This lets you go back to a specific previous action that you would like to Redo.

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The model view and the spreadsheets visually display the "redoing". Remember that graphic edits are redone as well.

Edit Spreadsheets

The spreadsheets have been specifically developed for the input and editing of structural models. There are many ways to edit the spreadsheets allowing you to quickly build your model. You can copy and move data from other locations or other files. You can also fill large blocks of cells automatically and perform math on these cells.

Change BLC in a Load Spreadsheet

To change Basic Load Cases (BLC) in a Load spreadsheet:

Use the drop down load list (as shown in the following image) or the adjacent buttons on the window toolbar, to control the basic load case in a load spreadsheet.

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Fill Selected Cells

To fill selected cells:

Select the cells you wish to fill.
Click the Block Fill icon on the Spreadsheets ribbon.

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Type the value you wish to apply.

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Click OK.

Perform Math on Selected Cells

To perform math on selected cells:

Select the desired cells.
Click the Block Math button.

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Specify the value and the operation you wish to apply.

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Click OK.

Cancel or Undo Editing

To cancel or undo editing:

To cancel an entry before you press ENTER, press ESC.
To undo a completed entry, click the Undo button.

Edit Cell Contents

To edit cell contents:

Click the cell that contains the data you want to edit.
Make any changes to the cell contents.
To enter your changes, press ENTER.
To cancel your changes, press ESC.
Note:
- To replace the contents of a cell, click on the cell and type the new entry.
- To edit the contents of a cell, double-click on the cell and use the arrow keys to locate the cursor and perform the edit.

Inserting, Deleting and Clearing Cells

To insert cells you must insert an entire row. When you delete cells you must delete an entire row. The row is removed from the worksheet and shifts the lower cells to fill the space. When you clear cells, you remove the cell contents but leave the blank cells on the spreadsheet.

Insert Rows

To insert rows:

Click a cell in the row immediately above where you want the new row.
To insert a blank line, click the Insert Row icon.

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To have the values of the current line copied in the new line, click the Add Row icon.

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Clear Cell Contents

To clear cell contents:

Select the cells, rows or columns you want to clear.
Press the DELETE key.

Delete Rows

To delete rows:

Select the rows you want to delete.
Click the Delete Selected Rows icon .

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The lower cells will shift up to fill the space.

Note: Some spreadsheets do not allow you to delete lines. For example the Member Design spreadsheet has one line for each member defined. You may leave these lines blank but can not delete them.

Move and Copy Cell Contents

Standard Windows cut, copy and paste functions are fully supported. By using the clipboard you may move or copy any spreadsheet data to another location in the same spreadsheet, or to another spreadsheet (provided it fits). You may also copy data to or from another model or any other application that supports copy and paste such as a word processor or spreadsheet.

Move / Copy Cell Content

To move or copy cell content:

Select the cells you want to move or copy.
Do one of the following, depending on what you want to do.

To copy the cells: Click the Copy icon on the Spreadsheet ribbon.

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Click on the cell you wish to place the data in and click the Pasteicon.

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Move / Copy Cells between Existing Cells

To move or copy cells between existing cells:

Select the cells you want to move or copy.
To copy the cells selectthe Copy icon from the Spreadsheet ribbon.

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Select a cell on the row above where you want to place the data.
Click the Insert Row iconfor each new line that is needed.

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Click on the upper left cell you wish to place the data in and click the Pasteicon.

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Move / Copy Cells to Another File

To move or copy cells to another file:

Select the cells you want to move or copy.
To copy the cells selectthe Copy icon from the Spreadsheet ribbon.

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Open the file you wish to copy the data to.
Click on the cell you wish to place the data in and click the Paste button.

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Note:
- Your data stays in the clipboard until you cut or copy new data. You may repeat step 4 to move or copy data to multiple locations.
- When you copy information, you have the option to Copy or Copy with Headers. This is helpful if you are copying information to a spreadsheet-type program. See the Customizing RISA topic for more information on this.
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Sorting and Finding in Spreadsheets

Sort a Spreadsheet by a Column Value

You can sort spreadsheets by the values in most any column.

To sort a spreadsheet by a column value:

Click in the column you wish to sort.
Click on the Sort icon

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Choose the sorting method from the Sort menu.

You can relabel the nodes, members, plates, or solids after sorting them by using the options in the Tools Menu.

Find a Specific Element in a Spreadsheet

To locate or find a specific element while in a spreadsheet:

Click the Find & Replaceicon on the Spreadsheets ribbon.

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A Find and Replace window opens.

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Enter the element .
Click Find Next.

Default Spreadsheet Data

Many of the spreadsheets provide the option to save the current data as the default and every new file subsequent to the save will already have that data. This way the office standards that you might use in most of your models are already entered and available in new models. This feature is available in the following spreadsheets: Materials, Design Rules,Footings, and Load Combinations.

To save default data simply click the Save as Defaults icon when you are ready and the current data in the spreadsheet will be used in each new file that you create.

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The data is saved for the current, active, spreadsheet only and affects no other open or closed spreadsheets.

Export to Excel Spreadsheet

For all Results spreadsheets, the program is capable of exporting them to Excel Spreadsheets.

To export a Results spreadsheet to an Excel spreadsheet:

Right Click and choose the Export to Excel option.

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Choose if you want to export the current spreadsheet tab or all tabs.

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Select Excel file name and file save location and export.

Note: The Export to Excel can also be used by clicking the button on ribbon.

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Special Spreadsheet Functions

There are special functions that help you with a particular spreadsheet. For example you may generate K factors for members on the Member Design Parameters Spreadsheet. These features may be accessed on the Window Toolbar or you may right click your mouse on the spreadsheet and choose the feature on the Shortcut Menu.

Member Design Spreadsheet

Click to approximate the K factor for the current member or all of the members. See K Factors (Effective Length Factors) learn more about this feature.

Basic Load Case Spreadsheet

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Click to copy loads from one basic load case to another. You may choose certain load types such as distributed loads and point loads. Once you have created a copy you can use the spreadsheet tools to quickly modify the loads.

Click to clear loads from a basic load case.

Load Combinations Spreadsheet

Solution options are easily available while working in the Load Combinations spreadsheet.

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You can click LC Generator button to have the program generate load combinations based on a variety of Building Codes. See Generating Building Code Combinations for more information.

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Selecting Items in the Model View

In certain results spreadsheets there is the capability to have elements selected graphically.

The process is as follows:

Open the desired results spreadsheet.
Highlight the lines from your spreadsheet that you wish to view graphically, by clicking on the number of those lines on the far left.
Click the Select icon in the Graphical Highlight section of the Spreadsheet ribbon.

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Only those elements highlighted will be selected graphically.

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Note:

The inverse process can be used with the Unselect in the Graphical Highlight section.

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