IES Shape Databases

IES installs a number of proprietary shape databases such as those from AISC, NDS, or ADM that cannot be modified. Feel free to suggest libraries of shapes for IES to incorporate into VisualAnalysis to IES Technical Support.

Custom Shape Databases

The custom shape database is a set of Data Files defined directly, imported, or created with ShapeBuilder.  Custom shapes will be available in VisualAnalysis, ShapeBuilder, and other IES products. The system is flexible and extensible, but outside of VisualAnalysis.

Limitations

Composite shapes are not stored in the database. Not all custom shapes will be checked using the design features in VisualAnalysis, see ShapeBuilder for details. The minimum properties needed for analysis are: area, moments of inertia, section modulii, and a torsion constant. Shapes with minimal properties are deemed custom blobs.

Format

The database consists of XML data files. XML is a text based format which is commonly used for data-exchange and can be edited easily using a simple text editor (NotePad++ is recommended since it is freeware and offers XML syntax highlighting). Microsoft Word and similar programs are not recommend as they have a tenancy to corrupt the format.

Shape Management

Look for instructions and examples, in the Customer\Shapes folder. Database files can be copied to other computers where IES products are installed. Files that are no longer needed can be deleted. Files can be edited to change data or to remove shapes or shape categories. Make sure to backup the customized files.

Legacy .DBS Database Files

IES began creating custom shapes in the new database starting with ShapeBuilder 7.0. Shapes created using ShapeBuilder 6.0 or directly from VisualAnalysis 12.0 (or prior versions) cannot be read in VisualAnalysis 17+ (i.e. files located in the AppData\Local\IES\Data\Shapes folder). Since the old database does not contain enough information about principal section properties, there is currently no automated way to import legacy .dbs files into the new system and a new custom shape file will need to be manually created. Contact Technical Support for assistance in converting old data files.