IES ShapeBuilder User's Guide
Exporting
Shapes can be exported to the IES Shape Database or to a DXF/DWG file and the results can be exported to a text file or copied into another program. Watch the Importing & Exporting video for an example of how to export shapes and results.
Click to saves the current shape (outlines and holes) as an CAD file. The file is written in inches.
Click to save the current simple and advanced analysis results into a tab-delimited text file. The command will also place text results and graphics onto the Windows Clipboard that you can Paste or Paste Special into another program.
Click to export the shape for later use in ShapeBuilder or other IES applications such as VisualAnalysis. The following provides details on the options provided in the dialog box.
Database: Define a name for your new database, or select an existing database location for your custom shape.
Category: Define a name for your new category, or select an existing category for your shape. It is a good idea to group shapes with similar properties or configurations into the same category.
Shape Name: Provide a descriptive name for your shape. This is how you will find it and the name that will appear in most reports.
Analysis Blob is the standard Shape Type used for any shape that can be analyzed in VisualAnalysis but not designed. For design checks, choose the correct Shape Type from the drop-down menu and provide the required properties for the profile. IES does not recommend that you try to "fool" the system by selecting a Shape Type that is not accurate. Most built-up or custom shape profiles will not be shapes that VisualAnalysis can design. For example, a wide flange shape with a cover plate is not a wide flange shape and you will likely get unreasonable design checks for such a shape.
Default Material: The material used for the shape when exporting.
Dimensions and other Required Properties: Based on the selected Shape Type, additional dimensions or other properties might be needed for the database. Depending on how your shape was created, ShapeBuilder need to provide additional values before continuing.
Optional Properties: You may optionally define "Shear Areas" for your shape, these are normally left at zero, but if you wish to explicitly include shear deflections during an analysis in VisualAnalysis you must define these values. This is not a commonly used feature and requires the advanced level of VisualAnalysis as well as additional settings in that product.
Database Categories: Categories can only contain one shape "design" type. Selecting an existing category dictates the current shape's type. If you would like to export this shape using a different type, select a different category or create a new category.
Composite Shapes: Shapes are exported as a single-material shape, with transformed section properties, and are seen in other IES products as a single shape with these transformed properties. You must define your shape parts with one material before the export will be permitted.
Cold-Formed Shapes: You cannot export cold-formed steel shapes from ShapeBuilder for design unity checks in VisualAnalysis. The only way to get custom cold-formed shapes into VisualAnalysis is to import a CFS file, as more data is required for design checks.
Not all custom shapes can be designed in VisualAnalysis. In order to get design-checks your exported shapes must satisfy all of the following requirements: