Frameworks Plus: Tutorial

FrameWorks Plus
Tutorial
Version 2011 (V12)

June 2011
DFWP3-PP-200003H
Copyright
Copyright 1991-2011 Intergraph Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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contains confidential and proprietary information of Intergraph and/or third parties which is protected by copyright law, trade secret
law, and international treaty, and may not be provided or otherwise made available without proper authorization from Intergraph
Corporation.
Code parameter descriptions for the ASD9, BS5950, LRFD1, NR83, and Tower2 codes are pulled directly form the GTSTRUDL
User's Guide, Revision N copyright 1978, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 by Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Georgia Institute of
Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355. Used with permission.
Code parameter descriptions for the AISC-ASD and AISC-LRFD codes are pulled directly from the STAAD-III Reference Manual,
copyright 1995 by Research Engineers, Inc. 22700 Savi Ranch, Yorba LInda, California 92687-4608. Used with permission.
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Contents
Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................. 7
Projects and Seed Models .......................................................................................................................... 9
Create a Project ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Edit the config.dat File .......................................................................................................................... 11
Edit the attributes.dat File ..................................................................................................................... 11
Create a Seed Model ............................................................................................................................ 12
Create Three-Dimensional Views ......................................................................................................... 13
Create Plan Views ................................................................................................................................ 14
Create Grid Lines .................................................................................................................................. 15
Create Elevation Views ......................................................................................................................... 17
Place Elevation Grids ............................................................................................................................ 18
Modify View Styles ................................................................................................................................ 21
Define Member Settings ....................................................................................................................... 22
Define Load Cases ............................................................................................................................... 24
Define Load Combinations .................................................................................................................... 26
Copy Seed Model.................................................................................................................................. 27
Building Basics .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Open Linear Model ............................................................................................................................... 29
Place Individual Columns ...................................................................................................................... 30
Place Multiple Columns ........................................................................................................................ 33
Place Single Beams .............................................................................................................................. 34
Copy Members Using Selection Sets ................................................................................................... 36
Copy Beams to Another Floor ............................................................................................................... 39
Change the Beams Section Size .......................................................................................................... 41
Place Columns on the Second Floor .................................................................................................... 42
Place Horizontal Braces ........................................................................................................................ 43
Use the Selection Filter ......................................................................................................................... 46
Place Horizontal Chevron Braces ......................................................................................................... 47
Place Vertical Braces ............................................................................................................................ 48
Modify Additional Attributes .................................................................................................................. 50
Create Named Groups .......................................................................................................................... 51
Add Members to a Named Group ......................................................................................................... 52
Define Named Group Symbology ......................................................................................................... 52
Arcs and Tapered Members ..................................................................................................................... 55
Change Default Settings ....................................................................................................................... 55
Place Arc Members ............................................................................................................................... 57
Copy Arc Members ............................................................................................................................... 59
Place Bracing between the Trusses ..................................................................................................... 60
Create User Sections ............................................................................................................................ 61
Create Arbitrary Section ........................................................................................................................ 63
Create Custom Section Table ............................................................................................................... 66
Place Tapered Members ....................................................................................................................... 67
FrameWorks Plus Tutorial
Contents
Model Manipulation ................................................................................................................................... 71
Compute Planar Cutbacks .................................................................................................................... 71
Apply Work Point Offsets to Vertical Braces ......................................................................................... 72
Apply Work Point Offsets to Horizontal Braces .................................................................................... 73
Define User Cutbacks ........................................................................................................................... 74
Define SmartCuts .................................................................................................................................. 76
Apply Fireproofing to Members ............................................................................................................. 78
Modify Fabricator .................................................................................................................................. 80
Place Slabs, Walls, and Holes .................................................................................................................. 81
Open the Solids Model .......................................................................................................................... 81
Attach a Model to Another Model.......................................................................................................... 82
Modify the Foundation Views ................................................................................................................ 82
Place a Slab on the Ground Floor......................................................................................................... 83
Place a Slab on the Second Floor ........................................................................................................ 84
Place Footings ...................................................................................................................................... 85
Place a Shear Wall ............................................................................................................................... 87
Place a Doorway ................................................................................................................................... 88
Place Holes in Slabs ............................................................................................................................. 89
Generating Reports ................................................................................................................................... 93
Define a Report Format ........................................................................................................................ 93
Create the Linear Member Material Report .......................................................................................... 94
Create Solid Member Reports .............................................................................................................. 94
Drawing Extractions .................................................................................................................................. 95
Create a View with a Drawing Scale ..................................................................................................... 95
Create the Frozen Views ...................................................................................................................... 99
Compose Drawings ............................................................................................................................. 100
Perform an Associative Move ............................................................................................................. 104
Update a Drawing ............................................................................................................................... 104
Create a File for SmartPlant Review .................................................................................................. 105
Analytical Commands ............................................................................................................................. 107
Place the Live and Dead Loads .......................................................................................................... 107
Place Wind Loads ............................................................................................................................... 109
Place Load by Point ............................................................................................................................ 111
Set Member Releases ........................................................................................................................ 111
Modify Supports .................................................................................................................................. 113
Create Mapping File ............................................................................................................................ 114
Create Analysis Input Deck ................................................................................................................. 114
Place Stairs ......................................................................................................................................... 115
Now What? ............................................................................................................................................... 117
Index ......................................................................................................................................................... 119
Preface
FrameWorks Plus is the structural engineering package from Intergraph Process, Power &
Marine. It is a three-dimensional product that is MicroStation based.
This tutorial demonstrates the various aspects of a structural project using FrameWorks Plus. This
tutorial is not intended to be a comprehensive reference document for FrameWorks Plus, refer to
the FrameWorks Plus Reference Guide for detailed information on FrameWorks Plus commands.
To learn about the concepts and features in FrameWorks Plus, refer to the FrameWorks Plus
Overview.
SECTION 1
Getting Started
What is FrameWorks Plus?
FrameWorks Plus is a MicroStation -based structural modeling application from Intergraph .

FrameWorks Plus is designed to improve the efficiency of structural engineers, designers, and
drafts people by automating the modeling, design, and drafting processes.
Using FrameWorks Plus, you can model three-dimensional structural steel and concrete buildings
and generate construction documents, such as structural framing plans, elevations, and material
reports.
The structural model can be displayed as an annotated line drawing or with three- dimensional
surfaces. The 3-D model allows you to do a visual interference check, as well as provide realistic
renderings of your proposed designs for customer presentations.
FrameWorks Plus can also be used to create input for and read the results from structural analysis
and design programs such as STAAD or GTSTRUDL.
What will I do?

Following step-by-step exercises, you will create, build, and load a simple structural model. The
project is executed from start to finish -- from layout to the creation of construction drawings and a
material take-off. While working through this manual you will learn how to:
Create plan and elevation views
Place columns, beams, braces, slabs, and walls
Copy and move members
Place member cutbacks
Place and label loads
Compose a drawing to be plotted
Create an input file for the STAAD or GTSTRUDL analysis program
Getting Started
What am I building?
When you are finished working through this tutorial, your model will look similar to the following:
Continue to the first activity.
SECTION 2
Projects and Seed Models

In this section, we will create a FrameWorks Plus project, a seed model, and define the default
settings and view in the seed model. When you are finished, you will know how to:
Create a FrameWorks Plus project
Create a FrameWorks Plus model
Create plan, elevation, and 3D views
Create view grids
Define basic member, view, and analytical settings
In This Section
Create a Project ..............................................................................9
Edit the config.dat File ....................................................................11
Edit the attributes.dat File ...............................................................11
Create a Seed Model ......................................................................12
Create Three-Dimensional Views ...................................................13
Create Plan Views ..........................................................................14
Create Grid Lines ...........................................................................15
Create Elevation Views ..................................................................17
Place Elevation Grids .....................................................................18
Modify View Styles .........................................................................21
Define Member Settings .................................................................22
Define Load Cases .........................................................................24
Define Load Combinations .............................................................26
Copy Seed Model ...........................................................................27
Create a Project
The FrameWorks Plus Manager Utilities > Create Project command creates FrameWorks Plus
projects. A FrameWorks Plus project consists of several directories and files. To organize and
manage these files, FrameWorks Plus uses a directory structure to store the various file types. A
project can contain one or several individual models.
1. Click Start > Programs > FrameWorks Plus > FrameWorks Plus.

2. In the FrameWorks Manager dialog box, change directories to c:\users. If you do not have a
c:\users directory, or you want to put the project elsewhere on your computer, you can select
any directory to which you have read and write access. Just remember where you put your
project.
3. Click Utilities > Create Project.

4. Type myproject for the Project name.
FrameWorks Plus project names can be up to 14 characters long and contain the
underscore (_) character. No other special characters are allowed in project names.
5. Click Create.
6. Click OK to acknowledge that the project was created.
7. Double-click myproject in the directories list to open the project.
Here is a quick review of the project directory structure.
\data - The data folder contains the project's config.dat file. The config.dat file contains the
project's customized environment variable settings. The config.dat file is copied automatically
from ..\fwplus\data (the product folder) when the project is created. For more information about the
environment variables in the config.dat file, see Customizing FrameWorks Plus in the
FrameWorks Plus Reference Guide.
\drw - The drawing folder contains 3D design files used in drawing composition. Drawings can be
composed in any 3D design file, including the FrameWorks Plus model file itself. If a separate
drawing file is used, it should be stored in this subfolder.
\esl - If special nonstandard steel or concrete sections are used on a project, they can be created
and stored in a user section library. These user section libraries are stored in this subfolder. If you
are creating arbitrary sections, the cell library file (ist.cel) is stored here also. The ist.cel file is
copied from the ..\fwplus\esl folder to this project folder when the project is created.
\frz - When saving frozen views to a separate design file, those design files are stored in this
subfolder. This folder is also used to store files generated for the SmartPlant Review product and
to store the interference envelope files generated for the project.
\int - This is the interface subfolder where files used for interfacing FrameWorks Plus to other
structural engineering products are stored. These interface files include input files for analysis
packages such as GTSTRUDL and STAAD and the Common Structural Database (CSD) files.
10

Additionally, FrameWorks Plus creates map files in this folder that are used in the analysis
interface process.
\mod - All structural model design and database files for the project are in this subfolder.
\rpt - The report subfolder is used to store all reports created for models in the project.
Continue to the next activity.
Edit the config.dat File

When you open a model in myproject, FrameWorks Plus reads the config.dat in the project's data
folder, which the software copied there from the ..\fwplus\data folder when you created the project.
In this activity, we are going to edit the myproject's config.dat file to use project specific grade.dat
and attributes.dat files.
1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Copy grade.dat, attributes.dat, and all the .rsc files from ..\fwplus\data to the
c:\users\myproject\data folder. The default installation location for FrameWorks Plus is
c:\win32app\ingr.
3. Using Notepad, or another ASCII editor, open c:\users\myproject\data\config.dat.
4. Edit FW_DATA=$(PROD)DATA\ to read FW_DATA=c:\users\myproject\data\
5. Save and exit the config.dat file.
Now when you open a model in myproject, FrameWorks Plus reads the grade.dat and
attributes.dat files in the ..\myproject\data folder instead of in the ..\fwplus\data folder.
Edit the attributes.dat File

FrameWorks reads the attributes.dat file for certain member attribute values that you can
customize. In this activity, you are going to edit the project's attributes.dat file.
1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Using Notepad, or another ASCII editor, open c:\users\myproject\data\attributes.dat.
3. Scroll down through the file until you find the Fabricator Name entries.
4. Change "ABC" to "Huntsville Steel".
5. Change "XYZ" to "Jones Steel".
6. Save and exit the attributes.dat file.
7. Right-click the attributes.dat file, and then select Properties.
8. Make attributes.dat read-only.
9. Click OK.
If you plan to write a Steel Detailing Neutral File (SDNF) from a project, you must take
administrative action to safe guard the attributes.dat file from unauthorized editing. FrameWorks
Plus writes the code listed value (1, 2, 3, and so forth) of the attribute value to the SDNF, not the
text string. Because the code listed values are written to the SDNF, you must send the
attributes.dat file with the SDNF so that the receiving party can correctly interpret the SDNF. After
the SDNF has been written, you cannot edit existing values in the attributes.dat file. The only edits
to the attributes.dat file that would be okay would be to add values to a list.
11
Create a Seed Model

Seed models provide a terrific and time saving way to ensure that all your models in the same
project have the same basic settings and views. For the rest of this chapter, we will be defining a
seed model. In our seed model we will:
Create the standard views we will be using to create the tutorial model.
Define grids in those views.
Define member and model settings.
Create standard load cases and load combinations.
1. In FrameWorks Plus Manager, browse to the myproject\mod folder.
2. Click Utilities > Create Model.
3. Type seedmodel for the Model Name. Model names can be up to 10 characters long.
4. Select Feet for the Units.
5. Select KIPS for the Force Units.
6. Select AISC for the Standard Section Table.
7. Select None for the User Section Table.
8. Leave Third Party Software set to STAAD and the Design Code set to AISC-ASD.
9. Click OK.
FrameWorks Plus creates the model seedmodel.

10. Click OK to acknowledge the model was created.
11. Double-click the mod folder.
12. Double-click the seedmodel.mod file to open the seed model.
12
Create Three-Dimensional Views

There are three types of Model Views in FrameWorks Plus: Plan, Elevation, and 3D. In this
activity, we will create a 3D isometric view and a 3D dimetric view.
A 3D view is the most generic of the three view types and can be defined in any orientation, such
as isometric, but can also be defined in an orthogonal orientation (top, south, and so forth).
Members can be placed in a 3D view, but unlike plan and elevation views, there is no active depth
or working plane associated with the view definition. Using a 3D view is sometimes necessary for
structures with intricate bracing, such as transmission towers, or irregular structure geometry.
Like the other views, you can define specific member display symbology for the 3D Model Views.
The surface representation is frequently used in 3D views.
The first view you create in a FrameWorks Plus model should always be a 3D Isometric
view. The PDS and FrameWorks Plus batch propagation routines use the first 3D view defined in
a FrameWorks Plus model to generate the propagated view.
1. Click View > Create.
2. Set View Type to 3D.
3. Set View Orientation to Standard ISO.
4. Type Isometric in the View Name field.
5. Type Default 3D Isometric View in the Description field.
6. Set Fitted View Border Widths Left/Right and Top/Bottom fields to 1:0:0.
7. Click Apply, and identify a MicroStation view.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new view named Isometric.

8. Set View Orientation to Dimetric.
9. Type Default 3D Dimetric View in the Description field.
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10. Click OK, and identify a MicroStation view.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new view named 3D View.

Continue to the next section. If you need to exit, click File > Save FWP Settings in the
FrameWorks Plus command window and File > Save Settings in the MicroStation.
Create Plan Views

A plan view is used to lay out vertical structural columns and framing members in a 2D plan view.
Plan views are often created for each floor of a structure, both for layout purposes and for creation
of the framing plan drawings. However, plan views do not have to be horizontal. For example, a
plan view can be created in a non-horizontal orientation to create a framing plan for a sloping roof.
Plan views have an active depth and a display depth range, which control member placement and
display in the view.
We are going to create three plan views in our seed model: one at the ground or first floor
elevation (0 feet), one at the second floor elevation (15 feet), and one at the roof elevation (30
feet). Any new models we create using this seed model will have these three plan views and the
3D views you just created in them.
1. Click Tools > Views.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
14
Click Create View

on the FW Views tool box.
Type Roof Plan View for the Description.
Set View Type to Plan.
Set View Orientation to Standard Top.
For the Z field, type 30. This specifies the top-of-steel (TOS) value for this floor as 30 feet.
Notice the default view name also changes.

7. Click Apply to create the plan view.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select MicroStation view to Set.

8. Place a data point in any existing MicroStation view to view your plan view.
FrameWorks Plus creates the plan view at the defined elevation and renames the
MicroStation view to the FrameWorks Plus view name.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Type Second Floor Plan View for the description.

Type 15 for the Z field.
Click Apply, and then select another MicroStation view.
Type Ground Floor Plan View for the description.
Type 0 for the Z field.
Click OK, and then select the Isometric view.
FrameWorks Plus replaces the Isometric view with the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view. You can
activate the Isometric view later by using the View > Set command.
15. Save this setup using the File > Save FWP Settings command. Otherwise, the FrameWorks
Plus view definition is not saved when you exit FrameWorks Plus, and you will have to Set
(reactivate) the view the next time you enter the software.
Create Grid Lines

Grids are created by defining how many horizontal and vertical grid lines that you need and how
far apart the lines should be placed. Grids can be placed at any plan angle, relative to the X-axis,
so that you can generate a rotated plan if needed.
FrameWorks Plus creates a basic set of orthogonal grids. If a more elaborate grid layout is
required, you can create it by using any MicroStation command (move, copy, rotate, mirror,
extend, and so forth) on one or more FrameWorks Plus grid lines within the grid set.
We are going to place the same grid in all three plan views:
Three horizontal lines, spaced 15 feet apart, with numeric tags
Five vertical lines, irregularly spaced, with alphabetical tags
1. Click Tools > Grids.
2. Click Place Plan Grid
on the Grids tool box.
3. Select the Number of Lines field, and type 3.
4. Press Tab to move to the Spacing field, and then type 15. Press Tab again to register the
number in the field.
5. Set the Axis option to Vertical to define the vertical lines in the grid.
15

6. For the Number of Lines field, type 2.
7. Tab to the Spacing field, and then type 10.
8. Define three more lines: two at 15 feet (Number of Lines - 2, Spacing - 15) and one at 10 feet
(Number of Lines - 1, Spacing - 10).
As you define the lines, the cumulative number of lines and their spacing is shown below the
key-in fields. If you make a mistake, click Clear to erase the data and redefine the lines.
9. Click OK to create the grid.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Target View for Grid.
10. Place a data point in the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 model view.
FrameWorks Plus creates the grid lines at the view's active depth and adjusts the view range
so that the entire grid is visible.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16
Click Copy Grid.

Select the Copy Labels option on the Copy Grid settings dialog box.
Select any grid line in the grid you just placed.
Click again to accept the highlighted grid.
Place a data point in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.

16. Select any grid line on the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 view again, and then click again to
accept it.
17. Place a data point in the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view.
Now that we have the 3D and Plan views created, we are ready to create the Elevation views.
Create Elevation Views

An elevation view is used to create an elevation or section view of a model. This is typically a view
created by "passing a vertical plane" through the 3D model at a defined point. Often, elevation
views are created along an existing column grid line. Elevation views can also be used for
placement of vertical bracing in a structure. Like plan views, elevation views use an active depth
and display depth for placement and display purposes.
We will be creating four elevation views during this activity.
1. Open a fifth MicroStation view using the appropriate MicroStation command (Window >
Open/Close).
2. Click Window > Tile on the MicroStation menu so you can see all five views.
4. Set View Type to Elevation.
5. Set View Orientation to South.
6. Set Define Active Plane by to Point.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Specify point for view active depth.
7. Snap to and accept grid 1 in one of the plan views.
8. Type South Elevation View at Grid 1 for the description.
9. Click Apply.
17

10. Identify a MicroStation view to use for the elevation view. You will need one of the
FrameWorks Plus Plan views throughout this activity (Framing Plan @ TOS 0, Framing Plan
@ TOS 15-0, or Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0), so do not select one of the plan views.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named South Elevation.

11. Set View Orientation to North.
You must reset the option to Point even though it is set to Point already.
13. Snap to and accept grid 3 in one of the plan views.
14. Type North Elevation View at Grid 3 for the description.
15. Click Apply.

16. Identify a MicroStation view to use for the elevation view. Again, make sure you do not select
the Plan View that you have decided to keep.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named North Elevation.

17. Set View Orientation to West.
19. Snap to and accept grid A in one of the plan views.
20. Type West Elevation View at Grid A for the description.
21. Click Apply.

22. Identify a MicroStation view to use for the elevation view. Do not select your plan view.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named West Elevation.

23. Set View Orientation to By Grid Line.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to select the grid line.

24. Select grid line B, and then accept it.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Specify point for view direction.

25. Place a data point between grid lines B and C. This data point defines the direction that you
are looking at the elevation view as if you were standing on the grid line. In this case, looking
east.
26. Type Elevation View at Grid B for the description.
27. Click OK.

28. Identify the last MicroStation view that is not your Plan View.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named Elevation @ Grid B.

Place Elevation Grids

Now that we have the elevation views created, we need to create elevation grids using the Place
Elevation Grid command.
18

1. Click Tools > Grids.
2. Click Place Elevation Grid.
3. Click Apply to accept the default parameters.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Grid Line.

4. Select Grid 1 in the plan view, and accept it.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Elevation View for grid.

5. Place a data point in the South Elevation view.
FrameWorks Plus creates and then fits the grid in the view.
6. Click Apply on the dialog box again to accept the default parameters.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Grid Line.

7. Select Grid 3 in the plan view, and accept it.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Elevation View for grid.

8. Place a data point in the North Elevation view.
FrameWorks Plus creates the grid.

9. Click Apply again.
10. Select Grid A in the plan view, and accept it.
11. Place a data point in the West Elevation view.

12. Click OK on the dialog box.
13. Select Grid B in the plan view, and accept it.
14. Place a data point in the Elevation View @ Grid B view.

15. We do not need all five MicroStation views any more, so close the fifth view.
16. Click Window > Tile again to tile the four remaining views.
19

20
Modify View Styles

In this activity we are going to select an existing view preference, modify it, and then save it under
a new name.
These different styles can be used in other projects. The styles are saved in the
..\fwplus\data\fw.rsc file. (The drive letter, and preceding string on your machine would vary
depending on how you loaded FrameWorks Plus.) When a suitable series of view styles are
created on one computer, the fw.rsc file can be copied to other computers running FrameWorks
Plus or put on and accessed through a server. You may want to save a copy of the file in a location
other than the product delivery directory as a backup. When new FrameWorks Plus software is
loaded, the file that you modified is overwritten if it is in the product directory.
The Create View dialog box displays.

2. Click File > Load from the Create View dialog box.
The Load Preference dialog box displays.
3. Click the MP ModelDraft preference.
In this preference, members are displayed with a bold orange member line and a cross section
icon at the start of the member (end 1).
4. For the Description field on the Create View dialog box, type MP with setbacks
5. Click Symbology > Linear > Beams from the Create View dialog box.
The View Symbology - Beams dialog box displays.

6. This dialog box is used to define how members display in a view.
7. In the Graphics list, select Sparse.
The sparse representation settings appear in the Attributes part of the dialog box. The top
group of settings is for the member line, and the bottom group is for the section icon.
8. Change the Setback values for the member line (both end 1 and end 2) and for the
cross-section to 5.0.
9. Select all Setback as % Len attributes.
10. Change the line weight of the cross section to 2.
11. By changing the Setback value and the line weight, you are able to see the start and end of a
member easier because a visible gap between the member ends now exists. The
21
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
cross-section located near the analytical end 1 of the member helps you when setting
member releases or supports that are different at each end. This will also make it easier to
locate concentrated or partially distributed loads along the member's length, as measured
from end 1. The graphical setbacks do not affect the reported material centerline-to-centerline
length, or the analytical member's length.
Click Apply to save your changes.
Click Type > Columns from the dialog box.
Make the same changes to the column settings (steps 6 to 10) that you did for the beam
settings: changing the setbacks and the cross-section weight.
Click Apply to save your changes.
Modify the Vertical Brace settings and the Horizontal Brace settings the same way. Make sure
you click Apply before moving on to next member type.
When you are finished changing the view symbology, click OK to return to the Create View
dialog box.
Click File > Save As, and type MPsetback.
19. Click OK to save the new view preference.

20. Click OK on the Create View dialog box.
21. Place a data point in a view.
Define Member Settings

Now that the views and grids are defined, we can move on to the member settings. The Settings
> Defaults > Linear commands are a part of the FrameWorks Plus operating parameters. The
Save FWP Settings command stores these parameters in the model database. You can modify
the parameters with this command or by using the Settings > Member > Attributes or Settings >
Members > Orientation commands.
There are two basic member parameter categories: attributes and orientation. The attributes
relate to general properties and nongraphical information about the member such as name,
section size, class, and material. The orientation parameters define the exact geometric
placement of the structural section upon the member centerline (placement line). These
parameters include orientation vector (OV), cardinal point (CP), rotation angle, and reflection.
1. Click Settings > Defaults > Linear > Beams.
2. Verify that the default beam settings are set as follows:
Start Section is W18X65
End Section is off
Name is set to Auto
Grade is set to A36
Class is set to 0
Material is set to Steel
Priority for End1 and End 2 is 8
CP is set to 8
22
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Rotation is set to 0
Reflect is off
OV is set to Z-axis
Click More Attributes.
Select Huntsville Steel as the Fabricator Name.
Click OK.
Click Apply.
Click Type > Columns.
Type W14X74 for the Start Section size.
Click OK.
Verify that the remaining default column settings are set as follows:
End Section is off
Name is set to Auto
Class is set to 0
Grade is set to A36
CP is set to 5
Reflect is off
OV is set to X-axis
Click Apply.
Click Type > V-Braces.
Set CP to 2.
Set Rotation to 90.
23

17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Set Start Section to 2L4X4X1/4.

Click OK.
Click Apply.
Click Type > H-Braces.
Verify that the default horizontal brace settings are as follows:
CP is set to 8
Reflect is off
OV is set to Z-axis
Start Section is set to MC12X35
End Section is off
Name is set to Auto
Class is set to 0
Grade is set to A36
24. Click More Attributes.
25. Select Huntsville Steel as the Fabricator Name.
26. Click OK.
27. Click OK.
28. Click File > Save FWP Settings to save the new settings.
Define Load Cases

By defining load cases in the seed model, you save time by not having to define them in each new
model you create in the project. In addition, you can write your load cases and load combination
definitions to an ASCII file for portability between FrameWorks Plus projects. Do not save the
ASCII file to the product folder, as it will be overwritten when you re-install FrameWorks Plus.
While you can create new load cases as you are placing loads, you have more control over the
load case symbology (color, weight, level) if you create the load cases before placing loads.
1. Click Tools > Analytical.
2. Click Create Load Case.
3. Create a dead load case using the following values:
24

Load Case Name: dead
Load Case Type: Dead Load
Color: 3 (red)
Level: 21
4. Click Save to save the load case.

Now create three more load cases: Live, Wind, and Self.
Use the following values for each:
Name
Type
Color
Level
Live
Live Load
2 (green)
22
Wind
Wind Load
5 (purple)
23
Self
Self Weight
Direction
Factor
-1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click Save after defining each load case. Then click Cancel to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Settings > Symbology > Loads.
Change the load type button at the top of the dialog box to Distributed.
Set the scaling attributes to:
L1 = 1
F1 = 0.1
L2 = 2
F2 = 1
These scaling attributes control the size of the load graphic in proportion to the load
magnitude. In other words, the larger the load magnitude, the larger the load graphic.
5. Select Use Load Case Color.
6. Select Use Load Case Weight.
7. Click OK to save your changes.
8. Click File > Save FWP Settings.
25
Define Load Combinations

FrameWorks Plus can define load combinations and write those load combinations to the
analytical deck. For the seed model, we are going to create two load combinations.
1. Click Create Load Combination
The Load Combinations dialog box displays.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Type comb1 for the Load Combination Name.

Set Load Combination Type to Algebraic.
Set Global Multiplier to 1.00.
Click Dead, then the + on the keypad, and then Live.
Click Save.
Type comb2 for the Load Combination Name.
Set Load Combination Type to Algebraic.
Type 0.75 for the Global Multiplier.
Click Dead, then +, then Live, then +, and then Wind.
11. Click Save.

12. Click Cancel.
26
Copy Seed Model

All the time and effort that you have put into the seed model is about to pay off. In this activity we
are going to create two new models using your seed model. One model, called linear, contains the
beams, columns, and braces in your model. The other model, called solids, contains the concrete
or solid members of your model.
While you can model linear and solid members in the same model, using a separate model
for solid members is the recommended method.
1. Click the MicroStation File > Close command.
The graphics environment closes and the FrameWorks Manager dialog box appears.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click Utilities > Copy > Model.

Click Browse for the From field.
Select seedmodel.mod from the list, and then click OK.
Click Browse for the To field.
Type linear in the Files box, and then click OK.
7. Click OK on the Copy FrameWorks Model dialog box.

8. Click OK to confirm that you want to copy the model.
FrameWorks Plus creates a new model called Linear.mod.

9. Now create another model called solids from your seed model using the Copy Model
command.
10. Click Cancel to exit the FrameWorks Plus Manager dialog box.
27
SECTION 3
Building Basics
In this section, we will build a simple steel-frame two-story building. When you are finished, you
will know how to:
Place columns individually and in groups
Place beams
Place framing members
Place vertical braces
In This Section
Open Linear Model .........................................................................29
Place Individual Columns ...............................................................30
Place Multiple Columns ..................................................................33
Place Single Beams .......................................................................34
Copy Members Using Selection Sets .............................................36
Copy Beams to Another Floor ........................................................39
Change the Beams Section Size ....................................................41
Place Columns on the Second Floor ..............................................42
Place Horizontal Braces .................................................................43
Use the Selection Filter ..................................................................46
Place Horizontal Chevron Braces...................................................47
Place Vertical Braces .....................................................................48
Modify Additional Attributes ............................................................50
Create Named Groups ...................................................................51
Add Members to a Named Group ..................................................52
Define Named Group Symbology ...................................................52
Open Linear Model

1. Click Start > Programs > FrameWorks Plus > FrameWorks Plus.
2. In the FrameWorks Manager dialog box, change directories to c:\users\myproject\mod
If you created your project in a directory other than c:\users, substitute that directory
path for c:\users.
29
Building Basics
3. Select the model named Linear.mod
4. Click Open.
If you need to stop working through the tutorial and exit FrameWorks Plus, save the view setup
and active parameters by selecting the File > Save FWP Settings command. You should also
use the MicroStation File > Save Settings command to save the design file setup.
Place Individual Columns

Notice that the grids you created in the seed model are in this model. Though not absolutely
necessary, grids are extremely useful as references for drawing dimensions. They also help in the
modeling process by providing reference points at which you can place structural members.
In this activity you will learn how to place individual columns in a model.
1. Click View > Set.
2. Select Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 from the list of Model Views.
30
Building Basics
3. Click Set, and then place a data point in a MicroStation View.
4. Set the 3D Dimetric view. While you will be working in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view,
you have a better view of the model in the 3D view.
5. Click Cancel to dismiss the Set View dialog box.
6. Click Tools > Placement > Linear from the FrameWorks Plus menu.
7. Display the Member Attributes and Member Orientation dialog boxes. Both of these are on the
FrameWorks Plus command window under the Settings > Member command.
8. The two member parameter boxes are used to define the section size, orientation, and other
member placement parameters. These values can be changed at any time. But for now, use
the default settings to place columns on the grid.
9. Position both dialog boxes and the Place Member tool box so they do not interfere with the
grid view.
10. Click Place Column
on the Place Member tool box.
11. On the Place Column dialog box, set the top elevation to 18' and the bottom elevation to 0'.
12. Point to the grid in the plan view.
A scaled column footprint moves with the cursor. When you move close to a grid intersection,
the footprint jumps (or snaps) to the intersection. This is the AutoSnap feature of FrameWorks
Plus working.
13. Move the column footprint to grid intersection A-1, and place a data point in the design file (the
mouse's data button is usually the left mouse button).
31
Building Basics
A column is placed labeled with the column name C_1 and section W14.
14. Place two more columns at grid intersections B-1 and C-1.
32
Building Basics
Place Multiple Columns

For regular floor plans, which use the same member size and length for most or all columns, you
can place the columns all at once by using a fence. The columns are placed at all grid
intersections inside a fenced area.
1. Click Fence Shape
and place a fence around the remaining floor grid intersections.
2. Click Place Column.
An alert box displays prompting for confirmation.
33
Building Basics
3. Click OK on the Alert box to place the columns.
4. Click Fence Shape

again to dismiss the fence.
5. Click Tools > Manipulate.
6. Click Delete Member
7. Delete the column at grid intersection A-2 (should be the column named C_6). We do not
need this column.
Place Single Beams

Beams are placed by defining the beam ends using the same AutoSnap feature (the cursor snaps
to the grid intersection closest to the cursor) that was used for columns.
1. Click Place Beam.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Enter Position of End 1.

2. In the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view, place a data point at the grid intersection A-1 to define
the first beam end.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Enter Position of End 2.
34
Building Basics
3. Move the cursor toward grid intersection B-1. Notice the second beam end moving with the
cursor, lengthening and shortening the beam as you move the cursor in the view. This is
called dynamic placement mode, also known as rubber-banding.
4. Move the cursor to the B-1 grid intersection, and place a data point.
5. Notice the beam is placed, but the prompt still reads Enter Position of End 2. This is
because FrameWorks Plus allows you to place beams sequentially, from point-to-point,
between grid intersections. End 2 of one beam becomes End 1 of the next beam. However, by
pressing reset (usually the right mouse button) you can define a different beam end 1 if you
need to.
35
Building Basics
6. Continue to place beams along grid line 1. Respond to the Enter Position of End 2 prompt by
placing a data point at C-1, D-1, and E-1.
7. Right-click when you are finished placing the four beams.

Copy Members Using Selection Sets

If each column row has similar framing girders, you can quickly lay out the framing plan by placing
a single beam row (as you just did) and then copying the beams to the rest of the second floor.
As with similar MicroStation commands, all FrameWorks Plus modification and manipulation
commands work in two modes:
Single element mode
Selection set (multiple elements) mode
Selection Sets
A selection set is an element group that has been identified as a set using the Element Selection
command. This element select set can then be manipulated as one. When the Element Selection
command is chosen, the cursor changes from a cross-hair to an arrow with a circle at the end. This
element selection tool (cursor) can then be used to identify the elements you want to manipulate
or modify (such as copy, move, or edit).
To select elements one at a time with the selection tool, place a data point on the element.
Handles display at either end of the selected element to indicate that it has been selected. Add
other elements to the set by holding down the CTRL key as you place data points on the elements.
This method allows you to select random elements for the selection set. To remove a selected
element from the selection set, re-select the element and the handles disappear.
To select several elements at one time with the selection tool, use the selection tool's fence select
feature. Press and hold the data button, and drag a rectangular fence around the elements that
you want in the set. Handles display on each member in the set.
36
Building Basics
Copy the girders on grid line 1 to the rest of the second floor using the fence select feature.
1. Click Element Selection
on either the MicroStation Main or FWP tool box.
2. Press and hold the data button, and drag a fence around the beams on grid line 1. Do not
worry if the grid line and labels are included in the fence. FrameWorks Plus commands only
manipulate the elements in the set that are appropriate for the command selected and ignores
the rest. In this case, only the members (beams) are affected. The columns are not included
because they are only partly displayed and therefore not entirely inside the select set fence.
3. Click Tools > Manipulate to activate the Manipulate toolbox.

4. Click Copy Member.
Because the selection set was active when the copy command was selected, an alert box
displays, and the four beams in the selection set highlight.
5. Click OK to verify that you want to copy the highlighted beams. (If you click Cancel, you reject
the set and revert to single copy mode.)
6. Type 2 in the Number of Copies field because there are two horizontal grid lines at equal
spacing.
37
Building Basics
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Enter Point for Copy Origin.
7. Snap to the left end of grid line 1, and then place a data point to accept the tentative point.
The selected beams dynamically move as you move the cursor.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Enter Point for Copy Destination.
8. Snap to the left end of grid line 2, and then place a data point to accept the tentative point.
The beams are copied to grid lines 2 and 3.
9. Re-select the Element Selection

tool, and place a data point in any view. This
dismisses the four-beam selection set.
10. Finish placing the primary beams on the first floor (along the vertical grid lines A through E)
using the Place Beam
38
command.
Building Basics
11. Remember that you can press reset to define a new end 1 point.
When you finish placing the beams, close the open tool boxes and dialog boxes except for the
FrameWorks Plus menu. If you need to exit, do not forget to:
Click File > Save FWP Settings to save the FrameWorks Plus parameters, and
Click File > Save Settings in the MicroStation command window to save the MicroStation
setup.
Copy Beams to Another Floor

Because the primary girders on the roof are going to be similar to those on the second floor, use
the Copy Member command (in the Manipulate tool box) to quickly copy all of the girders from the
second floor to the roof.
1. Using the View > Set command, set the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 view if it is not already set.
2. Create a selection set containing the second floor beams by using the Element Selection
tool to drag a fence around all of the beams.
3. Click Copy Member
.
4. Click OK on the alert box when it displays.
5. Type 1 for the Number of Copies.
39
Building Basics
6. Specify the copy origin by identifying a reference point on the second floor grid. (Hint: Snap to
the left end of grid line 1 because you will need to identify a corresponding point on the roof.)
As you move the cursor, yellow dashed lines that represent the beams to be copied move with
the cursor.
7. Snap to the location on the roof grid that corresponds to the origin point identified on the
second floor grid (the left end of grid line 1).
40
Building Basics
8. In a 3D view, verify the correct position of the dynamic display, and press the data button to
copy the beams.
Change the Beams Section Size

You may not want the same size beams for the roof as you used for the second floor. To change
the section size for the roof beams, we will use the Modify Section command.
1. Click Tools > Modify to activate the Modify Member toolbox.
2. Click Modify Section.
3. Click Cancel on the alert box because the members in the selection set are the beams on the
second floor.
4. Type a new section size (for example, W18X40) in the Start Section box.
5. You can review the section library to see what is available. Click the Select button to display
the Select Section dialog box. Type W18* to list all available W18s. Select the section you
want from the list, and then click Select to tell FrameWorks Plus to select that section.
6. Use the Element Selection
7. Click Modify Section
and the alert box displays.
tool to drag a fence around all the roof beams.

again, and then click OK when the beams on the roof highlight
41
Building Basics
FrameWorks Plus changes the sections and updates the section labels.
8. Dismiss the selections set.

Place Columns on the Second Floor

You could copy the ground floor columns to the second floor the same way that you did the
beams. However, you will probably want the second column in the vertical stack to be a different
size and/or length than the first. Instead of copying the columns and then modifying them, placing
new columns is just as easy.
You need the Member Attributes dialog box again, so reactivate it (from the Settings menu).
1. Click Place Column.
2. Change the Top elevation to 30.0 and the Bottom elevation to 18.0.
3. In the Member Attributes dialog box, type W14X43 for the Start Section.
4. Place a regular block fence
5. Click Place Column
42
around the entire second floor grid.

again, and then click OK on the alert box.
Building Basics
The columns are placed on the second floor.
6. Click Place Fence Block
to dismiss the fence.
7. Using Delete Member

delete the second floor column at grid intersection A-2 (the
only second floor column without a first floor column supporting it). We do not need this
column.
Place Horizontal Braces

Now that all the main support columns and girders for this simple two-story building are in place,
the next step is to create intermediate framing members on the roof. In this model, we are going to
place framing members in the three right-most bays. The bay on the left end of the building
(between grid lines A and B) will not have framing members.
Before we begin, you will need:
The Place Member tool box
The Member Orientation dialog box
43
Building Basics
You need to zoom in
on the lower bays of the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 view.
1. Click Place Horizontal Brace

to define the properties for the framing members.
2. Change Delta TOS to -6" by keying in either -0:6 or -.5. This indicates that the bracing is to be
vertically offset down by six inches from the nominal TOS or elevation (in this case, down from
30 feet).
3. You can place horizontal braces individually, but because you need to frame the entire bay,
placing more than one at a time is faster. Click Place Framing Members.
This
command places equally spaced framing members between girders or supports.
4. Type 2 the Number of Members field to place two framing members between the primary
girders.
5. Select the first support beam for the framing members (the beam along grid line B between
grids 1 and 2).
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Support Girder 2.

6. Select the other support beam for the framing members (the beam along grid line C between
grids 1 and 2).
44
Building Basics
The framing members are displayed using temporary graphics. This allows you to modify
either the number of members or any of the active placement parameters.
7. Select and clear the Reflect parameter on the Member Orientation dialog box. Notice how
FrameWorks Plus changes the placement orientation of the tentative bracing.
8. Click Accept (on the Place Framing Members dialog) to permanently place the braces in the
model once you have the members oriented correctly.
9. Now place framing braces in the two bays to the right on the lower half of the roof in view
Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0.
45
Building Basics
Use the Selection Filter

You could complete the upper half of the floor by repeating the command three more times.
However, there is an easier and faster way, especially since you are creating a symmetrical
model. You can select everything on the floor to be copied and filter the unwanted elements.
When you have very large models, this is an extremely fast and efficient way to place many
identical members. This also makes it possible to manipulate and modify specific sets of members
that match defined filter criteria.
1. Click Element Selection,
and drag a fence around the entire roof grid.
2. You are going to filter everything but the horizontal braces you just placed in the bottom half of
the plan view.
3. Click Settings > Select Filter > Settings to display the Selection Filter dialog box. Using
this dialog box, you can filter members by type, name, section size, class, or named groups.
4. Click Filter On to turn on the selection filter.
5. Turn on the Type filter criterion by clicking On in the type area.
6. Make sure the Comparator is set to = and select Horizontal Brace from the option list.
7. You have specified that all FrameWorks Plus operations using the selection set should
operate only on members that match the filter criterion Member Type = Horizontal Brace, thus
filtering out everything but the horizontal braces. Conversely, you could instead specify
Member Type != Horizontal Brace (!= means not equal) to filter out all horizontal braces.
8. Click OK on the Selection Filter dialog box.
46
Building Basics
Only the horizontal braces highlight, indicating that all other members have been removed
from the selection set by the selection filter.
10. Click OK on the alert box to confirm that you want to copy the 6 members.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Enter Point for Copy Origin.

11. Snap to the left end of grid line 2 and accept.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Enter Point for Copy Destination.

12. Snap to the left end of grid line 3 and accept.
FrameWorks Plus copies the horizontal braces to the upper half of the framing plan.
Place Horizontal Chevron Braces

In this activity you will place horizontal chevron braces in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view. We
need to use a different size section for these horizontal braces, so the first step is to change the
member settings.
1. Click View > Set, and set the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
If the view description is missing in the view title bar, click Fit or Refresh to display the
view description.
Click Settings > Defaults > Linear > H-Braces.
Set CP to 8.
Set Rotation to 0.
Set OV to Z-axis.
Select the Start Section box, and then type L3X3X3/8.
Click OK.
47
Building Basics
8. Click Utilities > Keyin on the MicroStation menu.
9. In the MicroStation key-in field, type ky=4
This key-in sets MicroStation snap settings so you can snap to the mid-point of members.
10. Click Place Horizontal Brace.
11. Type -0.25 for the Delta TOS.
12. Snapping to the center of the beams, place 8 horizontal chevron braces as shown below in the
Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.
Place Vertical Braces

Now that the horizontal braces have been placed, we can move on to placing the vertical braces in
the model. You should be getting pretty good at placing members by now, so the instructions in
this activity will not be as detailed.
1. Click View > Set, and set the South Elevation, North Elevation, and West Elevation views if
they are not already active.
2. Click Place Vertical Brace.
48
Building Basics
3. Place vertical braces in the South Elevation, North Elevation, and West Elevation views as
shown below.
Figure 1: South Elevation's Vertical Braces
Figure 2: North Elevation's Vertical Braces
49
Building Basics
Figure 3: West Elevation's Vertical Braces

Continue to the next activity. If you need to exit, do not forget to click File > Save FWP Settings in
the FrameWorks Plus command window and File > Save Setting in the MicroStation command
window.
Modify Additional Attributes

In this activity, we are going to edit the design status attribute of members in the North Elevation
view to existing. You will use this attribute in a later activity to locate and then add members to a
named group.
1. Click View > Set and set the North Elevation view if it is not already active.
2. Click Settings > Select Filter > Settings.
3. Set the Type filter to be != to Vertical Brace.
4. Click OK.
5. Drag a selection set around all the members in the North Elevation view.
6. Click Tools > Modify > Modify Additional Attributes.
7. Click OK on the alert box to modify the 18 members. (All the beams and columns but not the
vertical braces.)
8. Select the Design Status check box. (Only the attributes that are selected are modified.)
9. Select Existing from the design status list.
10. Click OK.
11. Clear the selection filter settings.
50
Building Basics
Create Named Groups

FrameWorks Plus provides a feature called Named Groups that allows you to group members
based on logical associations. Named groups are tracked on a project basis instead of a model
basis allowing you to assign members in different models to the same named group. Then when
you attach models to one another, you can manipulate the named grouped members across the
project as one group for reporting and so forth. You can define up to 1,024 named groups in a
project.
In this activity we will be creating a named group called Existing Building. In the next activity we
will assign the beams and columns in the North Elevation view to the named group and change
the display symbology.
1. Click Tools > Modify to activate the Modify tool box.
2. Click Named Groups.
The Named Groups dialog box displays.
3. Click Add.
4. Type Existing Building for the name.
5. Click Add then close the Add Named Group dialog box.
6. Close the Named Groups dialog box.
51
Building Basics
Add Members to a Named Group

Now that the Named Group is created, we can assign the beams and columns in the North
Elevation view to that Named Group. Instead of individually selecting the beams and columns
however, we are going to use the Locate Element By Attributes command to find all the
members with a design status of existing.
1. Click Utilities > Locate Element > By Attributes.
2. In the Attribute Options area, select the More check box.
3. Click the More button that appears.
4. Select the Design Status checkbox to indicate that you want to search based on design
status.
5. Select Existing from the design status list.
6. Click OK on the Locate By Additional Attributes dialog box.
7. Click OK on the Locate Element dialog box to locate the members with a design status of
existing.
8. In the Results Behavior area, select Add to Named Group.
9. Click the Select button that appears.
10. Select Existing Building from the list of named groups.
11. Click Apply on the Named Groups dialog box.
12. Click OK to process the 18 members.
13. Click OK to apply the controlling named group.
14. Click Close on the Named Groups dialog box.
15. Click Cancel on the Locate Element dialog box.
16. Optional: Click Named Groups
, select the Existing Building named group, and then
click Show All to verify that all the beam and columns in the North Elevation view are in the
named group.
Define Named Group Symbology

With members assigned to the Named Group called Existing Building, we can now manipulate
those members as a group using the Selection Filter (Settings > Select Filter > Settings). You
can also change member symbology based on the Named Group to which they belong. In this
activity, we will be changing the symbology of the Existing Building Named Group in the 3D
Dimetric view.
1. Click View > Set and set the 3D Dimetric view if it is not already active.
2. Click View > Named Groups > Create.
The Named Group Symbology dialog box displays and FrameWorks Plus prompts you to
select a view.
3. Place a data point in the 3D Dimetric view.
FrameWorks Plus displays all Named Groups that have a member assigned to them in the
view and prompts you to select a Named Group.
4. Select Existing Building from the list.
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Building Basics
5. Select the Apply to all option in the Linear Members grouping. This action defines that you
want all the members in the Named Group to have the same symbology. If this option is off,
you can define different symbology for the different member types.
6. Click All.
7. Select the Surface representation.
8. Change the Color to 2.
9. Click OK on the View Symbology dialog box.
10. Click OK on the Named Group Symbology dialog box.
FrameWorks Plus changes the Surface symbology for all the beams and columns in the
Existing Building Named Group to green.
53
SECTION 4
Arcs and Tapered Members

In this section you will be raising the roof by placing arc-shaped members. You will also be placing
some tapered members (a tapered member has two different section sizes at either end of the
member). When you are finished with this section, you will know how to:
Place arc members
Create tapered members
Create a User Section Library
Open a User Section Library
Create a User Section
Review section properties
Join two members
Split a single member into two members
In This Section
Change Default Settings .................................................................55
Place Arc Members ........................................................................57
Copy Arc Members .........................................................................59
Place Bracing between the Trusses ...............................................60
Create User Sections .....................................................................61
Create Arbitrary Section .................................................................63
Create Custom Section Table ........................................................66
Place Tapered Members ................................................................67
Change Default Settings

Before we start placing arc members, we need to make some changes to the default settings for
vertical braces and beams. You could use the Member Attributes and Member Orientation
dialog boxes to make changes at placement, but because you are placing several members, it is
easier to change the default settings one time.
1. Click Settings > Defaults > Linear > V-Braces.
2. Change CP (cardinal point) to 10.
3. Change Rotation to 90.
4. Change the OV (orientation vector) to X-axis.
5. Type 2L2X2.5X1/4 for the Start Section.
55

6. Change the Class to 9.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click Type > Beams at the top of the dialog box.
9. Type WT8X22.5 for the Start Section box.
11. Click Apply.
12. Click Type > H-Braces at the top of the dialog box.
13. Change the CP (cardinal point) to 3.
14. Change the Rotation to 180.
15. Select Reflect.
16. Type L4X4X1/2 for the Start Section.
18. Click OK.
19. Click View > Set, and then set the Elevation @ Grid B view.
56
Place Arc Members

In this activity we will be placing arc members to create a rounded roof. FrameWorks Plus arc
members are created from existing generic MicroStation arcs (you need to place MicroStation
arcs or circles, and then convert them to FrameWorks Plus members). You will be placing a
vertical brace first, and then placing the actual arc member.
You will be working in the Elevation @ Grid B view throughout this activity.
1. On the MicroStation menu, click Utilities > Key-in.
2. Click Tools > Placement > Linear.
FrameWorks Plus prompts for the first end point of the vertical brace.
4. Click at grid intersection TOS 30' and grid line 2 (the top of the center second floor column).
5. Type dl=0,0,4 to define the second end 4 feet up along the Z- axis.
6. Click the MicroStation Place Arc command.

7. Change the Place Arc Method to Edge.
8. Snap to and accept the top of the top column on grid line 1 (top right corner) for the first arc
end point.
9. Snap to and accept the top of the vertical brace that you just placed for the point on the arc
radius.
57

10. Snap to and accept the top of the top column on grid line 3 (top left corner) for the second arc
end point.
11. Click the FrameWorks Plus Place Arc command.

12. Change Arc Type to Beam.
13. Select the Delete Graphics option. This will delete the generic MicroStation arc element after
creating the FrameWorks Plus arc member.
14. Select the MicroStation arc.
58

16. Place two more vertical braces from the top of the center column to the quarter- points along
the arc member. Make sure you snap to the arc member and verify that you get the correct
quarter-points.
Copy Arc Members

With one arc-shaped truss placed, we need to copy it along the top of the building. Because you
placed the truss's arc and vertical brace members with a class of 9, we can use that class setting
to filter out the rest of the building and just copy the truss. As an alternative, you could have
created a name group for the truss and filtered out the rest of the building using the named group.
1. Set the 3D Dimetric and Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 views.
3. Select the Filter On option.
4. Clear the Type option.
5. Select the Class option, and then set the Comparator equal to 9.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Element Selection.
8. Drag a selection fence around the entire model in the 3D Dimetric view.
10. Click OK on the Alert box to copy the 4 members of the arc truss.
11. Type 2 for the Number of Copies.
59

12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
In the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 view, snap to and accept grid line B.
Snap to and accept grid line C.
Type 1 for the Number of Copies.
Snap to and accept grid line B again.
Snap to and accept grid line E.
Place Bracing between the Trusses

With the arc trusses in place, we need to add some bracing between the trusses. To do that we will
use the Place Framing Members command.
1. Set the 3D Dimetric view if it is not active.
2. Zoom in on the left two arc trusses.
3. Click Place Horizontal Brace.
4. Set Delta TOS to 0:0:0.
5.
6.
7.
8.
60
Click Place Framing Members.

Type 3 for the number of members.
Select the arc on the left truss.
Select the arc on the right truss.

9. Click Accept to place the framing members.
10. Now place horizontal braces between the rest of the trusses. When you are finished, your roof
should look like the following:
The second floor braces were deleted from the picture.

Create User Sections

Now that we have finished the roof, we are ready to move on to placing a few tapered members.
However, before we can do that, we need to create a user section that we are going to be using.
User sections are saved to a User Section Library. You can create sections using any of the
standard steel or concrete shapes. You can also create arbitrary sections (where you define the
section shape) and save them to the User Section Library. To keep things simple for this activity,
we will just create a User Section Library and one custom I-section.
1. Click File > FrameWorks Plus Manager.
The FrameWorks Manager dialog box opens. The active directory is the project's \mod
directory. User Section Libraries are saved in the project's \esl directory. So, you will need to
move up to your project's esl directory before you can create the library.
61
2.
3.
4.
5.
The File > FrameWorks Manager command is not available if you run FrameWorks
Plus from PDS. However, you can still activate FrameWorks Manager from the Start menu.
Double-click myproject in the Directories list to move up one directory.
Click Utilities > Create Section Table.
Type mytable for the Section Table Name.
Make sure Units is set to Inches.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Click OK.
Click Cancel to exit FrameWorks Manager.
Click File > Section Library.
Click Attach.
Select the mytable.dat file; then click OK.
11. Click OK to exit the dialog box.

12. Click File > Save FWP Settings so that your user section library is attached automatically the
next time you open the model.
13. Click Utilities > Sections > Create.
14. Make sure Section Types is set to Steel and Shape is set to I-sections.
15. Type myI for the Name.
16. Type 18 for the Depth.
17. Type 8.02 for the Flange Width.
18. Type 0.62 for the Flange Thickness.
62

19. Type 0.35 for the Web Thickness.
20. Click Create.

21. Click Cancel to exit the dialog box.
22. Now that FrameWorks Plus has created your section, let's look at the section properties. Click
Utilities > Sections > Review.
23. Set Library to User.
24. Select I section.
25. Select MYI from the list area; then click Properties.
FrameWorks Plus displays the properties for myI.

26. Click Cancel.
Create Arbitrary Section

In addition to standard section shapes, you can also create arbitrary section shapes. Be sure to
read about the Create User Section command in the FrameWorks Plus Reference Guide for
important information regarding arbitrary sections. We will make our arbitrary section using three
standard section shapes that are placed with the Steel Detailing commands. Arbitrary sections
shapes are saved in a MicroStation cell library.
1. Click File > Change Cell File.
2. Select the ist.cel file in the project's \esl folder.
3. Click OK.
4. Click File > Save FWP Settings so the cell file will be attached automatically the next time
you open the model.
5. Click Utilities > Sections > Detailing.
6. Click Place Cross Section
63

7. Type W14X26 for the section and 8 for the cardinal point.
8. Place the cross section in a plan view.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Zoom in on the cross section for a better view.

Type C10X20 for the section.
Select 8 for the cardinal point and 270 for the rotation.
Place the channel on top of the I-section. You may need to use the MicroStation Move
command and the Midpoint snap lock to align them precisely.
13. Type L5X3X1/4 for the section.

14. Select 3 for the cardinal point, 0 for the rotation, and select the reflect option.
15. Place the angle on top of the channel on the right side. Snap to the corner of the channel for
precise placement.
16. Click Utilities > Sections > Create.

17. Make sure Section Types is set to Steel and Shape is set to Arbitrary.
64

18. Type BLT1 for the name.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Click Create.
Place a fence around the sections following the prompts.
Click Create again.
Place a data point to indicate that the I-section represents a solid area of the arbitrary section.
Place a data point to indicate that the channel represents a solid area.
Place a data point to indicate that the angle represents a solid area.
FrameWorks Plus indicates that the arbitrary section was successfully created.
25. Click Cancel to exit the dialog box.
26. Now that FrameWorks Plus has created your section, let's look at the section properties. Click
Utilities > Sections > Review.
27. Set Library to User.
28. Select Arbitrary section.
29. Select BLT1 from the list area; then click Properties.
30. Click Cancel.
65
Create Custom Section Table

Delivered with FrameWorks Plus is the Interactive Section Tables (IST) utility. You can use this
utility to edit the standard section tables delivered with FrameWorks Plus. In this activity, we will
create two new section tables using sections from an existing table. We also will combine those
two new tables to form a single new table.
Create a Table from an Existing Table

The first thing that we need to do is to create two new tables from an existing table.
1. From the FrameWorks Plus menu, click File > Interactive Section Tables (IST).
2. From the InterSect menu, click File > Open Existing Table.
3.
4.
5.
6.
For the remainder of this activity, we will be working with the InterSect menus unless
otherwise indicated.
Select the AISC.DAT table from the list, and then click OK.
Click File > Create Section Table. This dialog box is used to create new section tables.
In the Create Section Table dialog box, click File > New Table Name.
Type myIsect for the table name, and then click OK.
Note that the New Table Name field in the dialog box updates with the name that you
specified.
7. Verify that Create From is set to Existing Table.
This indicates that you want to create the new myIsect table using sections from the existing
table listed.
8. Select the Geometric Shape checkbox.
This indicates that from the existing table, you want to filter sections for the new table based
on shapes.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Select the I Shape checkbox to add only I shapes from the existing table to the new table.
Click OK.
From the Create Section Table dialog box, click File > New Table Name.
Type mypipesect for the table name, and then click OK.
Clear the I Shape checkbox, and then select the Pipe checkbox.
Click OK.
Dump Existing Tables to ASCII Files

With the two new tables, myIsect and mypipesect, created, we need to dump those tables to an
ASCII file. After the tables are in ASCII format, you can edit properties, add and remove sections,
rename sections, and any other editing that may be required. The format of the ASCII file is
documented in the Interactive Section Tables Reference Guide.
1. Click Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
2. Type cd c:\win32app\ingr\fwplus\esl to change directories to the folder where the sections
tables are delivered with FrameWorks Plus.
3. Type dir to list the folder contents. Note that your two new tables, myIsect and mypipesect,
are there.
4. Type c:\win32app\ingr\fwplus\bin\istdump.exe myIsect.dat myIsect.txt to create an
formatted ASCII file of the myIsect table.
66

5. Type c:\win32app\ingr\fwplus\bin\istdump.exe mypipesect.dat mypipesect.txt to create
an formatted ASCII file of the mypipesect table.
6. Type myIsect.txt to display the file in the default ASCII editor.
7. Close the file without making any changes.
8. Type copy myIsect.txt + mypipesect.txt mycusttable.txt to combine the two ASCII files
into a new ASCII file called mycusttable.txt. In doing so, you have merged the two section
tables into a single table.
9. Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.
Create Section Table from ASCII File

Now that the tables are merged, we need to create the .dat file from the ASCII file so that we can
use the merged table in FrameWorks Plus.
1. Go back to FrameWorks Plus and the Create Section Table dialog box.
2. In the Create Section Table dialog box, click File > New Table Name.
3. Type mycusttable for the table name.
4. Select ASCII File for the Create From option.
5. Click File > Existing Table.
6. Select mycusttable.txt from the list ASCII files, and then click OK.
7. Clear the Geometric Shape option.
8. Click OK to create the table, and then click Cancel to exit the dialog box.
9. Click File > Open Existing Table and open your new mycusttable.dat table.
10. Click Section > Review/Edit command and review the new table.
Place Tapered Members

With the user sections created, we are ready to place some tapered members. You do not need a
user section to create tapered members; you can use two different-sized standard sections as
long as they are the same type (both channels, both angle, and so forth).
1. Set the West Elevation view if it is not active.
2. Click Tools > Manipulate.
3. Click Split Member.

4. Snap to and accept the center of the W18x40 beam between grids 3 and 2.
5. Accept to split the member.
67

6. Split the other W18X40 beam between grids 2 and 1 the same way.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
68
Click Modify Section.

Type MYI for the Start Section.
Select the End Section option, and then type W10X45 for the End Section.
Select the far left beam.
Type MYI for the End Section. Keep the same Start Section.
Select the two center beams.
Type W10X45 for the Start Section. Keep the same End Section.

14. Select the far right beam.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Click Join Member.

Select and accept the left-center beam.
Select and accept the right-center beam.
Join the two W18X65 beams at the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 level.
19. Take a close look at the tapered members in the 3D Dimetric view.
69
70
SECTION 5
Model Manipulation
In this section we will be manipulating the model, including: applying planar cutbacks to a member
set, defining user cutbacks to vertical braces, and applying fireproofing to the first floor columns
and second floor beams. We will also learn how to apply a working point offset to vertical braces.
When you are finished, you will know how to:
Modify the cutback priority for a member.
Compute planar cutbacks.
Apply a working point offset.
Use the Uncut command.
Apply user cutbacks.
Apply fireproofing to members.
In This Section
Compute Planar Cutbacks..............................................................71
Apply Work Point Offsets to Vertical Braces ..................................72
Apply Work Point Offsets to Horizontal Braces ..............................73
Define User Cutbacks.....................................................................74
Define SmartCuts ...........................................................................76
Apply Fireproofing to Members ......................................................78
Modify Fabricator ............................................................................80
Compute Planar Cutbacks

In this activity we will be computing planar cutback automatically for all the model members.
Cutbacks are computed based on the parameters defined and the cutback priorities of the
member.
When a member intersects two or more members with higher priority, FrameWorks Plus performs
cutbacks to all intersecting members and selects the cutback that produces the longest cutback
length.
1. Set the 3D Dimetric view if it is not already active.
2. Click Tools > Cutbacks.
3. Click Member Priority.
4. Set End 1 Priority and End 2 Priority to 9.

6. Turn on Type filtering. Set the Type comparator to = and the type to Horizontal Brace.
7. Turn off Class filtering.
71
Model Manipulation
8. Make sure the Filter On toggle is on.
9. Click OK on the Selection Filter dialog box.
3D view.
and drag a selection box around the entire structure in the
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Click Member Priority

again.
Click OK on the Alert box to apply the new priority.
Click Utilities > Review Element.
Verify that the correct priority was applied to the horizontal braces.
Click Cancel on the Review Element dialog box.
Click Settings > Select Filter > Settings.
Click Clear on the Selection Filter dialog box to clear all the filter settings, and then clear
Filter On.
18. Click OK to dismiss the Selection Filter dialog box.
19. Click Compute Cutbacks.
20. Click Cancel on the alert box.
21. Set Scan Tolerance to 0:6:0.
and drag a selection around the entire model again.
23. Click Compute Cutbacks.

24. Click OK on the alert box to compute cutbacks.
Examine the model in the 3D view and verify that the cutbacks have been made. Then continue to
the next activity.
Apply Work Point Offsets to Vertical Braces

The Modify Work Point Offset command makes minor adjustments to the physical location of
one member end while still maintaining the original location's connectivity for analytical
considerations. A common usage of a work point offset is to apply a vertical offset to vertical
braces.
You can place work point offsets in FrameWorks Plus using one of three options: Point, Key-in, or
Rule.
The Point option graphically defines the new work point offset. You should use this option
when you can clearly define the offset point using the mouse.
The Key In option defines the new work point offset using a user-defined x, y, z coordinate
offset. Use this option when you know the exact distance you need to move the member end.
The Rule option defines the new work point offset based on a rule applicable to the selected
member type and connection. FrameWorks Plus supports rules for three types of connections:
beam-column-vertical brace; beam-vertical chevron brace; and beam- horizontal chevron
brace. Use this option when you do not know the exact value of the offset and have no good
way to graphically define the offset. When you use this option, FrameWorks Plus automatically
72
Model Manipulation
updates the work point offset whenever any member associated with the joint is modified,
such as rotation, a new cardinal point, or a new section.
1. Set the South Elevation view. In addition, you may want to zoom in on the X-bracing.
2. Click Modify Work Point Offset.
3. Select Key In for the Select New End Point By option.
4. Click the bottom end of the vertical brace that starts at grid line A, and then accept the brace.
5. Key in 0 for X, 0 for Y, and 1.5 for Z.
6. Click OK.
7. Click the bottom end of the other vertical brace. Accept the brace when it highlights.
8. Click OK to place the same work point offset on this brace end.
9. Change the Select New End Point By option to Rule.
10. Select the top end of one of the vertical braces.
11. Select 2 for the Select Point.
12. Click OK.
13. Select the top end of the other vertical brace.
14. Click OK to assign the select point to that vertical brace.
Now, using what you have learned, set the North Elevation view and apply the same work point
offsets to the vertical braces in that view. Use the Rule option and Select Point 2 for the top of the
members, and the Key In option for the bottom of the members.
Then set the West Elevation view. Use the Rule option and Select Point 3 for the top of the
members with a 1-foot offset. Use the Key In option for the bottom of each member using 1.5 for
the Z value.
Continue to the next section.
Apply Work Point Offsets to Horizontal Braces

Now that you are finished applying work point offsets to the vertical braces in the South, North,
and West Elevation views, we can apply work point offsets to the horizontal braces in the Framing
Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.
1. Set the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view and zoom in on the horizontal chevron braces.
2. Click Modify Work Point Offset.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select New End Point By:

3. Select Rule for the Select New End Point By option.
73
Model Manipulation
4. For the horizontal brace ends labeled with an A, apply a Rule work point offset of 2 feet. For
the horizontal brace ends labeled with a B, apply a Rule work point offset of 6 inches.
Define User Cutbacks

Because you have moved the vertical brace ends, the cutbacks that you applied earlier are no
longer valid. In this activity, you will delete the previously defined cutbacks on the vertical braces in
the South Elevation view and define user cutbacks assuming that these braces are framing into
the joint by means of a gusset plate.
2. Zoom in on the x-bracing on the building's south side.
3. Click Tools > Cutbacks > Uncut Member.
4. Select the two vertical braces on building's south side.
5. Click User Cutbacks.
6. Set Define Vector to Orthogonal.
7. Select the top of the brace that runs from the bottom right to top left.
FrameWorks Plus prompts for a point on the cutting plane.

8. Snap to the vertical brace's top connect point.
74
Model Manipulation
9. Type dl =,,-3
10. Select the top of the brace that runs from the bottom left to top right.
11. Snap to vertical brace's top connect point, and then type dl=,,- 3
After snapping, press Esc to activate the key-in field. Then press the up-arrow key to
recall the previous key-in.
12. Select one of the vertical braces toward the bottom of the brace.
13. Snap to the vertical brace's bottom connect point, and then type dl=,,3
14. Select the other vertical brace toward the bottom of the brace.
75
Model Manipulation
15. Snap to the vertical brace's bottom connect point, and then type dl=,,3
When you are finished, continue to the next activity.
Define SmartCuts
The SmartCut command cuts and copes a single target member to one or more support
members. Each target member can have up to twenty support members. You can create
multi-plane cutbacks for any linear member with standard or arbitrary sections. This command
does not support arc or solid members. In this activity, you are going to apply SmartCuts to the
remaining vertical braces and a beam.
1. In the 3D Dimetric view, zoom in to the vertical braces on the west and north side of the
building.
76
Model Manipulation
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click Tools > Cutbacks > SmartCut.

Clear the User Cutback Locking option if active.
Select the Automatically select support members option.
Enter a Scan Tolerance of 2:0:0.
Select each of four remaining vertical braces.
7. Select the Priority Override option.

8. Select the beam along Grid 2, between Grids A and B as the target member.
9. Zoom in to view the SmartCut on the beam more closely.
10. Keeping the Dimetric view zoomed in and active, set the West Elevation view
77
Model Manipulation
11. Using the Modify Section

command to change the section of the support beam along
Grid A to be a W21X300. While doing so, watch the Dimetric and West Elevation views as
FrameWorks Plus automatically updates the work point offset on the two vertical braces and
the SmartCuts on the vertical braces and the beam.
Apply Fireproofing to Members

To help protect some members in case of fire, we are going to put some fireproofing on the first
floor columns and beams.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click Tools > Modify > Modify Fireproofing.

Set Fireproofing to Contour, fully encased.
Set Fireproofing Length to By setback (value).
Type 1 for Setback Value End 1. We do not want fireproofing on the bottom 1 foot of the
column.
Type 3 for Setback Value End 2. We do not want fireproofing on the top 3 feet of the column.
Click Settings > Select Filter > Settings.
Select Type and set the Comparator equal to Column.
Click OK.
78
Model Manipulation
11. Drag a selection set around the first floor columns.
12. Click Modify Fireproofing

again.
13. Click OK on the Alert box to modify the 14 members.
FrameWorks Plus applies fireproofing to the first floor columns.

15. Change your Comparator equal to Beams.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Click Modify Fireproofing

again.
Click Cancel on the Alert box.
Change Fireproofing to Contour, top flange exposed.
Change Fireproofing Length to Use cutback distances.

21. Drag a selection set around the beams on the second floor.
22. Click Modify Fireproofing
again.
23. Click OK on the alert box to modify the 21 elements.
FrameWorks Plus places fireproofing on the second floor beams.

Spend a few minutes reviewing the fireproofing, and then continue to the next section.
79
Model Manipulation
Modify Fabricator
In this activity, we are going to find all the member in the model that we applied a SmartCut to, and
then modify the fabricator for these members to be Jones Steel instead of Huntsville Steel.
2. Clear all filter settings, and turn off the filter.
3. Click OK.
4. Click Utilities > Locate Element > By Attributes.
5. Select the Cutback option.
6. Select SmartCut from the Cutback option list.
7. Select Make selection set with results.
8. Click OK.
FrameWorks Plus finds 5 members with SmartCuts applied, and then creates a selection set.
9. Click Cancel to exit the Locate Element command.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Click Tools > Modify > Modify Additional Attributes.

Click OK on the alert box to modify the 5 members.
Select Fabricator Name. (Only the attributes that are selected are modified.)
Select Jones Steel from the fabricator name list.
Click OK.
Now go back to the Locate Element command and search for members that have Jones
Steel as the fabricator name. You will find the fabricator name under the More button.
80
SECTION 6
Place Slabs, Walls, and Holes

In this section, we will be using the FrameWorks Plus solid member commands to create a slab
floor for the ground and first floors, a shear wall at one end of the building, and footings under the
ground floor columns. We will also be cutting two circular holes and a block hole in the first floor
slab and placing a door opening in the shear wall. When you are finished, you will know how to:
Attach a model partition to the active model
Place slabs
Place walls
Place holes
In This Section
Open the Solids Model ...................................................................81
Attach a Model to Another Model ...................................................82
Modify the Foundation Views .........................................................82
Place a Slab on the Ground Floor ..................................................83
Place a Slab on the Second Floor ..................................................84
Place Footings ................................................................................85
Place a Shear Wall .........................................................................87
Place a Doorway ............................................................................88
Place Holes in Slabs .......................................................................89
Open the Solids Model

Before we can start laying the foundation for our building, we need to open the model for the solid
members. You can model solids in the same model as the linear members however; using a
separate model for solid members is a better method.
1. Click File > Open Model.
2. Select the solids model.
3. Click OK.
FrameWorks Plus opens the model Solids.

81
Attach a Model to Another Model

Now that you are in the solids model, we need to attach the original model with the linear members
so we can see where to put the column supports. You can attach any model in the same project to
any other model in the same project.
1. Click File > Section Library.
2. Attach the mytable user section table.
If we had created the user section library at the beginning of the tutorial and attached it
to the seed model, each time you copied the seed model the library would already be attached
to the model. But since we created the user section library in the Linear model, we need to
attach that user section library to the Solids model so when we attached the Linear model, the
user section MYI is available.
3. Click File > Attach Model.
4. Select linear from the model name list, and then click Attach.
Modify the Foundation Views

We need to modify the display depth of the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view before we start placing
solids.
1. Click View > Set and set the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view.
2. Click View > Modify.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to select the view to modify.

3. Click anywhere in the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view.
4. Change the Display Depth (-) to 4:0:0.
5. Click OK.
82
Place a Slab on the Ground Floor

We will model the slab on the ground floor first. The dimensions of the slab can be defined
interactively during placement or by key-ins. For the ground floor slab, you will define the slab's
dimensions by key-ins. For the first floor slab, you will define the slab interactively.
1. Click Tools > Placement > 3D Solids.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click Place Slabs.

Select the Length field, and type 52:0.
Select the Width field, and type 32:0.
Select the Thickness field, and type 1.
Make sure Place By is set to Block and Face is set to Bottom Face.
Change the Block Justification option to Center.
8. Place a data point at grid intersection C-2 (the center column).
83

9. Verify that the slab is being placed by bottom face, and then click to accept the placement.
Place a Slab on the Second Floor

Now that you have placed a slab with fixed dimension on the ground floor, we are going to place
another slab interactively on the second floor.
1. Set the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view if it is not already active.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
84
Click Place Slabs.

Clear the Length field.
Clear the Width field.
Select the Thickness field, and type 1.
Change the Block Justification option to Corner.

7. Make sure Place By is set to Block and Face is set to Bottom Face.
8. Place a data point at grid intersections A-1 and E-3 in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.
9. Verify that the slab is being placed by bottom face, and then click to accept the placement.
Because the slab is on top of the beams, you will probably need to look in the 3D Dimetric
view to see the second floor slab after placing it.
Place Footings
With the slabs in place, you are ready to start on the footings under the ground floor columns. You
will need the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view, so make sure it is active.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Click Place Slabs.

Select the Length, Width, and Thickness options.
Type 1:6:0 for the length, 1:6:0 for the width, and 2:0:0 for the thickness.
Set Block Justification to Center.
Set Place By to Block and Face to Top Face.
85

6. Place a footing at each column by placing a data point at each grid intersection except A-2 in
the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Now type 4:0:0 for the length, 4:0:0 for the width, and 1:0:0 for the thickness.
Set Place By to Block and Face to Top Face.
Set Block Justification to Center.
Change Delta TOS to -2:0:0, because these footings need to be below the footings you just
placed.
11. Place a footing at each column again.
86
Place a Shear Wall

Now that the slabs and footings are placed, we are going to place a shear wall at one end of the
building. When placing walls, you must define the wall's height and thickness by key- ins. You can
define the wall's length either interactively or by key-in. Walls are placed by defining the wall's
bottom location in a plan view.
1. Zoom in on the East end of the building in the Framing Plan @ TOS 0 view (grid lines D and
E).
2. You will need the MicroStation key-in field. You can find it on the MicroStation Utilities menu.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click Place Wall.

Clear the Length option so you can define the wall's length interactively.
Type 0:4:0 for the wall thickness (4 inches).
Type 29:0:0 for the wall height (height of the building minus 1 foot for the first floor slab that the
shear wall is placed on).
7. Set Place By to Orthogonal Shape and Face to Right.
8. Type 1:0:0 for the Delta TOS (to place the wall on top of the first floor slab).
9. Type xy=40,-1,0 for the first vertex in the MicroStation key-in field.
87

10. Type xy=51,-1,0 for the second vertex.
11. Type xy=51,31,0 for the third vertex.
12. Right-click to place the wall.
Place a Doorway
Now that the slabs, footings, and shear wall are in place, we can place holes in them to represent
doors, stairway openings, and other needed holes. As with slabs and walls, you can define the
size of the hole either interactively or by key-in. In this activity, you are going to be placing a 4'x7'
doorway in the shear wall.
1. Set the South Elevation view if it is not already active.
2.
3.
4.
5.
88
Click Place Holes.

Select Length, and type 4:0:0
Select Width, and type 7:0:0
Set Place By to Block and Block Justification to Corner.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Member.
6. Select and accept the shear wall in the South Elevation view.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you for the position of the vertex.

7. Type xy=48.5,0,1
FrameWorks Plus places the doorway in the shear wall.

Place Holes in Slabs

Holes in slabs are placed using the same method as the doorway. In this activity, you are going to
place one block hole (for a stairway) in the second floor slab.
In addition, we are going to place two cylinders, using generic MicroStation commands, to
represent vertical tanks. Then we are going to use the FrameWorks Plus Cutout command to
create two holes around the tanks in the second floor slab.
Place the Tanks

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
From the MicroStation Tools menu, click Tools > 3D Main > 3D Primitives.
Click Place Cylinder.
Set Type to Solid.
Set Axis to Drawing Z.
Select Orthogonal.
Select Radius, and then type 4.
Select Height, and then type 29.
Height of the building minus 1 foot for the ground floor slab.
8. Type xy=5,7.5,1 for the center point.
We know the bays are 10' x 15' and that the ground floor slab is 1-foot thick, the location of
the tank should be 5 feet east, 7.5 feet north, and 1- foot elevation.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Place a data point to define the direction of the tank to be up through the building.
Type xy=5,22.5,1 for the center point.
Place a data point to define the direction of the tank to be up through the building.
Close the 3D Primitives tool box.
89

Place Cutouts
1. Set the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 and Dimetric views if they are not already active.
2. Click Solid Cutouts.
3. Type 0:2:0 for the clearance. This specifies that you want a 2- inch gap between the edge of
the hole and the side of the tank.
4. Set Cutout Type to Group.
5. In Cutout Options, select Mstn Solids, Surfaces, and Cones
6. Select the second floor slab in any view.
Place Block Holes

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
90
Click Place Hole.

Set Place By to Block and Block Justification to Corner.
Select Length, and type 4:0:0
Select Width, and type 15:0:0
Select the second floor slab in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.

6. Type xy=46,0,0.
91
SECTION 7
Generating Reports
Now that we have the model built, we are ready to generate material take-off reports. In this
section, you will learn how to:
Define a report format
Generate a Linear Member Material Reports
Generate a Solid Member Material Reports
Generate Center of Gravity Reports
In This Section
Define a Report Format ..................................................................93
Create the Linear Member Material Report ....................................94
Create Solid Member Reports ........................................................94
Define a Report Format

Regardless of the report that you are creating, all report formats are defined using the same
method. In this activity, you will load a delivered report format and then review it using the main
report formatting dialog boxes.
1. Click File > Open Model.
2. Select Linear.mod from the list, and then click OK.
3. Click File > Attach Model.
4. Attach the solids model.
5. Click Utilities > Reports > Material > Linear.
The Linear Material Reports dialog box displays.

6. Click File > Load on the Linear Material Report dialog box.
7. Choose brief from the list. The format for brief is only 80 columns wide and has fewer items.
93
Generating Reports
8. There are three dialog boxes that control the format for each report part: header, data, and
totals. Click Formats > Header.
9. Change Project Name to read My Project.
10. Click OK.
11. Click Formats > Data.
12. Clear the Name, Unit Length, and Unit Weight options.
13. Change the Weight Starting Column to 40.
14. Click OK.
15. Click Formats > Totals.
16. Change the Total Length Starting Column to 25 and the Total Weight Starting Column to
50.
17. Click OK.
18. Click File > Save As.
19. Type My Brief Report for the preference name.
20. Click OK.
Create the Linear Member Material Report

Now that you have a basic understanding of setting report formats, we can create some reports.
1. Click OK on the Linear Material Report dialog box to create a report on your entire project.
FrameWorks Plus extracts, formats, and condenses the data, and then writes it to an ASCII
file. An alert box displays asking if you want to review the report.
2. Click OK on the alert box to display the report.
3. Close the report when you are finished reviewing it.
Reports are written to the \rpt subdirectory in the current project using the active model
name and a .txt extension by default. These files are ASCII files that can be edited and printed
using any editor that accepts ASCII files as input, like Notepad or Microsoft Excel .
Create Solid Member Reports

Solid reports are created using a similar method that was used to create linear member reports.
1. Click Utilities > Reports > Material > 3D Solid.
2. Verify that Include Attached Models is selected.
3. Type solidrpt.txt for the Report File.
4. Click OK.
5. Click OK on the alert box to display the report.
Using what you have learn, create a Center of Gravity report. The command is Utilities > Reports
> COG.
94
SECTION 8
Drawing Extractions
FrameWorks Plus creates frozen views (drawing views) that can be used by MicroStation's
Drawing Composition command or PD_Draw for construction drawing composition. In this
section, we will create a new elevation view using the Drawing Scale feature, we will then freeze
the views and create a simple drawing. After the drawing is created, we will then change the model
and automatically update the drawing.
In This Section
Create a View with a Drawing Scale ............................................. 95
Create the Frozen Views ............................................................... 99
Compose Drawings ....................................................................... 100
Perform an Associative Move ........................................................ 104
Update a Drawing .......................................................................... 104
Create a File for SmartPlant Review ............................................. 105
Create a View with a Drawing Scale

You can create FrameWorks Plus model views using a Drawing Scale. If you choose to define a
drawing scale for the view, the text and some representation sizes you enter in the View
Symbology dialog boxes are the actual size you want them to be in the drawing when plotted. For
example, you activate this option and select 1/4" : 1' as the scale. In the View Symbology dialog
boxes you enter 0.25 (1/4 of an inch) as the text size you want in the drawing. When you create the
view, FrameWorks Plus calculates that the text needs to be placed in the Model View using a text
size of 1 foot. Later, you modify the view's drawing scale to 1/2" : 1', because you still want your
text to be 1/4" high in the drawing, FrameWorks Plus recalculates and resets the text size in the
Model View to be 6 inches.
In this activity, we will create a new elevation view using a drawing scale.
2. Set View Type to Elevation.
3. Set View Orientation to By Grid Line.
4. Select and accept grid line C in one of the plan views.
FrameWorks Plus prompts Specify point for view direction.

5. Place a data point between grid lines C and D in the plan view.
95
Drawing Extractions
6. Select the Drawing Scale option, and then select 1/8" : 1' for the scale.
7. Click Symbology > Linear > Beams in the Create View dialog box.
8. For the Single Line representation, type 0.25 for the End1 and End2 Setbacks. This specifies
that you want the setbacks one-quarter of an inch on the drawing.
9. For the Double Line representation, type 0.5 for the DblLine Length. This specifies that you
want the double-line widget length to be one-half inch on the drawing.
10. Switch to the Annotation settings.
11. For the Section Size, select the Use Uniform Text Size option. By using this option, you set
all the linear member label sizes in this view once, ensuring that they are the same size.
12. Type 0.125 for the Uniform Height and Width fields.
13. Type 1 for the Font.
14. Type 50 for the Offset.
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Drawing Extractions
15. Verify the As % of Height option is selected. By setting offset to 50 and selecting this option,
the Section Size label is offset from the member half the height of the label text.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
Click Apply to save the changes to the beam symbology settings.

Click Type > Columns.
For the Single Line representation, type 0.25 for the End1 and End2 Setbacks.
For the Double Line representation, type 0.5 for the DblLine Length.
Switch to the Annotation settings.
For the Section Size, type 1 for the Font.
Type 50 for the Offset. Verify the As % of Height option is selected.
Click Apply to save the changes to the column symbology settings.
Click Type > V-Braces.
For the Single Line representation, type 0.25 for the End1 and End2 Setbacks.
For the Double Line representation, type 0.5 for the DblLine Length.
Switch to the Annotation settings.
For the Section Size, type 1 for the font.
Type 50 for the Text Position. Verify the Position as % Len option is selected. This moves
the label to the center of the member.
Type 50 for the Offset. Verify the As % of Height option is selected.
Select the Abbreviate Section option.
Type 2 for the Number of Characters.
Click OK to save your changes.
Click File > Save As on the Create View dialog box.
Type Drawing Scale for the preference name, and then click OK.
Click OK to create the view.
97
Drawing Extractions
37. Select a view to display the new elevation view in.
38. Click Place Elevation Grid

39. Select the Honor view scale for grid graphics option at the bottom of the dialog box. This
specifies that you want the grid label graphics to be scaled to the active drawing scale of the
view the grid is placed in.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
If after you place the grid you change the scale of a view, you have to delete and
replace the grid. FrameWorks Plus does not re-scale grid labels when the view's drawing
scale changes.
Set Axis to Horizontal.
Type 22 for the Extension (Left) option.
Click Symbology > Labels.
Type 0.125 for the Text Height and Text Width fields. We want the grid's horizontal line
labels to be the same size on the drawing as the member labels.
Click OK on the Grid Label Symbology dialog box.
Set Axis to Vertical.
Type 0.25 for the Bubble Radius.
Click Symbology > Labels again.
Type 0.125 for the Text Height and Text Width fields. These are the labels for the vertical
grid lines.
Set Font to 1.
Click OK on the Grid Label Symbology dialog box.
Click OK on the Place Elevation Grid dialog box.
FrameWorks Plus prompts Select Grid Line.

52. Select grid line C in any plan view.
FrameWorks Plus prompts Select Elevation View for grid.

53. Place a data point in the Elevation @ Grid C view.
54. Click View > Override Annotation.
98
Drawing Extractions
55. Select one of the beams at the TOS 15' level whose section label is overlapping the second
floor slab.
56. Place the annotation below the member.
57. Select the other beam whose label is overlapping and move the annotation below the
member.
With all the views that we need created, we are ready to freeze them. Continue to the next section.
Create the Frozen Views

In this section we will take the FrameWorks Plus model views and turn them into permanent
graphics that can be used to compose a drawing. Until now the displays of text, cross- sections
icons, surfaces, and so forth, are based on the displays out of memory from the FrameWorks Plus
database. If you were to try, you would find that a text string could not be selected and moved or
edited using a MicroStation command. The only elements really placed by FrameWorks Plus in
the design file are the dashed lines (attribute carrying elements), the grid lines, and the grid labels.
This approach allows a smaller design file, and therefore improves performance. FrameWorks
Plus consistently "drafts" the elements according to the desired office standard without the
operator placing and manipulating additional elements in a generic design file.
Changes to the model are immediately reflected in all associated FrameWorks Plus views.
However, to reflect the changes in a Frozen View you must use the Update Frozen command.
The Frozen View can be written to the model's design file or to a separate design file. The
recommended workflow is to freeze each view to its own separate design file.
1. Using the View > Set command, set the 3D Dimetric, Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0, and
Elevation @ Grid C views.
2. Click File > Save FWP Settings to save your settings.
3. Click View > Freeze.
The Freeze View dialog box displays.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select View to Freeze.
4. Place a data point in the Elevation @ Grid C view.
99
Drawing Extractions
5. We are going to save the frozen views to a separate design file. To do this we need to create
a design file to save them to, so click Select.
The Choose Freeze File dialog box displays.

6. Type GridC.dgn in the Files field, and then click OK.
An alert box displays asking you if you want to create the file.
7. Click OK to create the new design file.
8. Select Include Attached FWP Models.
9. Click Apply on the Freeze View dialog box.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select View to Freeze.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Place a data point in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view.

Click Select and create a new frozen file called PlanView.dgn.
Select Include Attached FWP Models.
Click Apply to save the frozen view.
Select the 3D Dimetric view.
Click Select and create a file called Dimetric.dgn.
Clear the Generate Propagated Model option.
Select Include Attached FWP Models.
Click OK to freeze the 3D view.
Click File > Save FWP Settings so the same views are set when we come back to the model.
Click View > Display Frozen.
Select the Elevation @ Grid C view from the list.
Click Display.
Place a data point in a view.
FrameWorks Plus displays the frozen view in the selected view.

24. Look at the other frozen views, and then click Cancel to exit the Display Frozen command.
Now that we have several views frozen, we can begin the drawing composition.
Compose Drawings
The next step in creating a construction drawing is to take the drawing views you froze and
arrange them inside a drawing border to compose the drawing. Three basic operations are
involved in drawing composition:
Attaching a border file to your drawing file. The drawing border can be made specific to your
company or client. The border is attached as a reference file so that it can be shared with all
designers on the project.
Placing the frozen drawing views inside the drawing border.
Finishing the drawing using any of the MicroStation drafting tools, such as dimensioning,
notes, symbols, and so forth.
You can compose drawings using the MicroStation Drawing Composition command or by using
the MicroStation Reference files command. We will cover both methods.
Create a Drawing File

Regardless of drawing composition method, the first thing that we need to do is create a new
design file in which to compose our drawing.
100
Drawing Extractions
1. Click File > FrameWorks Plus Manager.
The FrameWorks Manager dialog box displays.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Change directories to myproject\drw.

Click Utilities > Create Drawing on the FrameWorks Manager dialog box.
Type drwmod for the drawing name. Make sure the Units field is set to feet.
Click OK to create the drawing file.
Change the List Files of Type option to Design Files.
Select drwmod.dgn from the list, and then click Open.
The design file drwmod.dgn is opened.
Compose the Drawing using Reference Files

The easiest way to compose drawings to is use the MicroStation File > Reference command. We
need to verify a few reference file options before we start.
1. Click Workspace > Preferences from the MicroStation menu.
2. On the Preferences dialog box, select Reference File from the Category list.
3. Select the Locate On When Attached option, the Snap On When Attached option, and the
Store Full Path When Attached option. Then click OK.
If you define these settings in your drawing seed file, you will not have to set them each
time you create a new drawing.
4. Click File > Reference.
The Reference Files dialog box appears.

5. Click Tools > Attach on the dialog box.
The Attach Reference File dialog box appears.

6. Browse to the c:\win32app\ingr\FWPLUS\SEED directory.
If you installed FrameWorks Plus to another directory, use that directory path instead
of c:\win32app\ingr.
7. Select the All Files (*.*) option.
8. Select the ENGLISH.BDR file.
9. Click OK.
The Attach Reference File dialog box appears.

10.
11.
12.
13.
Select the Bsize 11x17 border saved view from the list.
Click OK.
Place a data point in the MicroStation Top View view.
Maximize the Top View window, and then click Fit.
If the MicroStation orientation cube is in the middle of your border, use the
MicroStation Delete Element command to delete the orientation cube.
14. Click Tools > Attach.
15. Browse to the c:\users\myproject\frz directory.
If you stored your project in a location other than c:\users, use that directory path
instead.
16. Select the GridC.dgn file.
17. Click OK.
18. Select the saved view from the list.
101
Drawing Extractions
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Set the Scale to 1:96. This is equivalent to a drawing scale of 1/8".

Click OK.
Place the saved view on the left side of the drawing.
Now place the 3D and plan views in the drawing on the right side. Use a scale of 1:150.
If you need to move your first view or just want to rearrange your drawing, use the Tools >
Move command on the Reference Files dialog box.
Compose the Drawing using Drawing Composition

If you have already created a drawing using the Reference file method, you can skip this activity.
1. Click Workspace > Preferences from the MicroStation menu.
2. On the Preferences dialog box, select Reference File from the Category list.
3. Select the Locate On When Attached option and the Snap On When Attached option.
Then click OK.
4. Click File > Drawing Composition from MicroStation's menu.
5. Set Sheet Location to Sheet File.
6. Click File > Open > Sheet in the Drawing Composition dialog box.
7. Change List Files of Type to All Files.
8. Navigate through the directory structure to the project's \drw directory.
9. Select the drwmod.dgn file, and then click OK.
10. Click File > Open > Model in the Drawing Composition dialog box.
11. Navigate through the directory structure to the project's \frz directory.
12. Select the GridC.dgn file, and then click OK.
13. Click Tools > Attach Border > Saved View.
14. Navigate through the directory structure to the ..\fwplus\seed directory.
The default delivery directory for FrameWorks Plus is c:\win32app\ingr\fwplus.
102
Drawing Extractions
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Select the english.bdr file, and then click OK.

Select Bsize, and then click OK.
Select Save Full Path in the Drawing Composition dialog box.
Place the border in any MicroStation Top View.
Fit the view so you can see the entire border.
Set the Scale (Sheet:Model) to 0.0063 : 1.0'
Click Tools > Attach Saved View.
Select and place the saved view into the border.
Depending on the size of the views were when you froze them, you may have to scale the
frozen views to get them to fit inside the border. The Scale command is on the Tools menu.
103
Drawing Extractions
Perform an Associative Move

To demonstrate how a drawing can be updated if the model is changed, we will perform a simple
associative move. Before doing the associative move however, we are going to create a backup of
the model. Before performing any major operation on your model, you should always backup your
model at a minimum. If the operation has project wide implications, such as Named Groups, you
should backup the entire project. FrameWorks Plus does not have an Undo command.
1. Exit FrameWorks Plus and MicroStation.
2. Click Start > Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer.
3. Navigate to c:\users.
4. Create a new folder called myproject backup.
5. Holding down the CTRL key, drag the myproject folder into the myproject backup folder. This
copies all of the files in your project to myproject backup.
6. Open the linear model in FrameWorks Plus.
7. Set a MicroStation (not a FrameWorks Plus) Front view. Fit the view.
8. If it is not active, set the FrameWorks Plus 3D Dimetric view in another view.
9. Drag a selection box (in the Front View) around the center frame columns.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Click Move Member.

Set Associativity to Global.
Snap to and accept grid line C for the move origin point.
Snap to the same point again, but this time do not accept the point. Instead, type dl=3,0,0.
Check the moved member's position in the 3-D view. If all the members have moved, accept
the move. If all the members have not moved, reject the move and try again.
Update a Drawing
Because we changed the model in the previous activity, our drawing is no longer up-to- date.
FrameWorks Plus provides two commands (Update Frozen and Regenerate) for updating frozen
(drawing) views.
1. Click View > Drop and drop all FrameWorks Plus views.
2. Click View > Update Frozen.
FrameWorks Plus displays those frozen views that are out-of- date with their model views in
red.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
104
Hold the SHIFT key, and the select each view listed in red.
Click Update.
Click Cancel.
Return to the drawing file, and verify that the views were updated.
Now go back to the model and move the members back to their original location.
This time use the View > Regenerate command to update the frozen views. Make sure you
select the Regenerate Attached Models option.
Drawing Extractions
Create a File for SmartPlant Review

If you are using FrameWorks Plus in conjunction with PDS software, you may want to create a
frozen view that can be used with Intergraph's SmartPlant Review application. This file can also
be used with the PDS integration command Attach Reference Model.
The first view you create in a model should always be a 3D Isometric view. The PDS and
FrameWorks Plus batch propagation routines use the first 3D view defined in a model to generate
the propagated view.
1. Click View > Create to create a new 3D view.
2. Set View Type to 3D.
3. Type 3D View for PD_Review for the view description.
4. Click Symbology > Linear > Beams on the Create View dialog box.
5. Verify that the Graphics Representation for each linear member type (beam, column, vertical
brace, and horizontal brace) is Surface. Turn off any other representation and annotations
types.
6. Create the view, and place it in one of the MicroStation views.
7. Click File > Save FWP Settings to save the settings.
8. Click View > Freeze.
9. Select the view you just created.
10. Click Select.
11. Type 3dview for the file name.
12. Click OK to create the file.
13. Verify the Generate Propagated Model option is selected.
14. Click OK.
15. Exit FrameWorks Plus, but keep MicroStation running.
16. Using the MicroStation File > Open command, open the 3dview.prp file in the project's \frz
directory. You may need to turn on MicroStation levels 50 - 63 to see the model.
17. Use the MicroStation analyze command, and select one of the members. Notice that the
member graphics are represented as a solid MicroStation element.
18. Click Utilities > Render > Constant and select a view.
19. When you are done rendering the model, open the Linear model in FrameWorks Plus again.
105
SECTION 9
Analytical Commands
Now that the building is modeled, we are ready to place analytical information -- loads, releases,
and supports -- in the model. In this section we will:
Place dead and live distributed loads on the beams.
Place concentrated wind loads on one side of the building.
Define member end releases.
Define member supports for the first floor columns.
Create an analysis input file.
In This Section
Place the Live and Dead Loads .....................................................107
Place Wind Loads ...........................................................................109
Place Load by Point ........................................................................111
Set Member Releases ....................................................................111
Modify Supports ..............................................................................113
Create Mapping File .......................................................................114
Create Analysis Input Deck ............................................................114
Place Stairs.....................................................................................115
Place the Live and Dead Loads

Because the load cases were defined in the seed model that we used to create the linear model,
we can start placing the actual loads.
1. Set the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0, the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0, and the Isometric Analytic
views.
2. Click Place Load.
The Physical Member Loads dialog box displays.

3. Define the following load in the dialog box:
107
Analytical Commands
Load Case: DEAD
Load Type: Distributed
Load Frame: Global
Direction: Z
Magnitude: -0.65
4. Click Apply.
FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Member to place load on.

5. Click each beam in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view. You can watch the Isometric Analytic
view to see the loads being placed.
6. Now define the following load:
Load Case: DEAD
Load Type: Distributed
Load Frame: Global
Direction: Z
Magnitude: -0.100
7. Click Apply, and place this load on all beams that run along grid lines 1 and 3 in the Framing
Plan @ TOS 30-0 view.
8. Change the Magnitude to -0.200, and apply this to all the beams on grid lines B, C, and D and
the horizontal braces in the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0.
9. Change the Load Case Name to Live and the Magnitude to -0.220 and apply the load to the
same interior beams on grid lines B, C, and D and horizontal braces.
10. Change the Magnitude to -0.110, and apply the live load to the exterior horizontal beams
along grid lines 1 and 3 in the Framing Plan @ TOS 30-0 view.
108
Analytical Commands
Place Wind Loads

With the dead and live loads placed, we can move on to placing the wind loads. In this activity, you
will learn how to place loads using the key-in method. In the next activity, you will place a load
using the by-point method.
1. Set the South Elevation view if it is not already active.
2. Click Place Load.
3. Toggle on the Display Load Labels option.
4. We are going to be placing concentrated wind loads in the Y direction with the following
magnitudes along grid line 1.
5. Loads are placed at the joints, but must be assigned to the start or end points of the members.
For example, the 0.75 load at the A-30' joint is defined as:
109
Analytical Commands
Load Case: WIND
Load Type: Concentrated
Load Frame: Global
Direction: Y
Magnitude: 0.75
Location: RELative (Value) 0.0
6. This location and value mean to place the load a 0 relative distance from end 1, which is the
left end of the member.
7. Click Apply, and select the beam between grid lines A and B at the 30' elevation in the South
Elevation view.
8. Change the Location value to 1.0. This means that the load is placed 100% along the length
of the member, or at end two. Apply this load to the top beam spanning between grid D and E.
9. In the Isometric Analytic view, look at each of the beams and verify that the load graphics
are placed in the proper locations. You may have to zoom in on the corner of the building to
see the load graphic (purple arrow pointing in the Y direction).
110
Analytical Commands
10. Place the rest of the wind loads on the appropriate members. Remember, a relative location of
0 places the load at the beginning of the beam, while a relative location of 1 places the load at
the end of the member.
Place Load by Point

Place loads using the by-point method when you can see the location where you want the load in
the model, but you do not know the exact location along the member.
1. Set the West Elevation view.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click Place Load.

For the Load Case, select Live.
For the Load Type, select Concentrated.
For the Direction, select Z.
For the Magnitude, type -3.
Set Place Load By to Point.
FrameWorks Plus prompts Select Member to place load on.

8. Select the beam that the two vertical chevron braces frame into.
FrameWorks Plus places the load graphic on the member, and prompts Select load location.
9. Move your mouse left and right. Notice how the load graphic dynamically moves with the
mouse.
10. Choose a location for the load along the member, and then click the left mouse button.
FrameWorks Plus prompts Click Apply To Place Load.

11. Click Apply.
12. Place a few more loads using the by-point method.
Set Member Releases

Let's define some member releases.
1. Using the Settings > Select Filter > Settings command, define a selection set where Type is
not equal (!=) to Column.
2. Use a selection set in the 3D Dimetric view to identify all the members in the model.
3. Click Modify End Releases.
111
Analytical Commands
4. Toggle on the RY and RZ boxes for both the start and end member ends. Then click OK. This
pins all the beam members for weak and strong axis bending.
5. Drag a small element selection fence to clear the elements.

6. Click Modify End Releases.
7. Now select the girders along grid line C in the Framing Plan @ TOS 15-0 view with a selection
set. Fix all the degrees of freedom by toggling off (blank) all 12 fields. Click OK.
8. Click Label End Releases.
9. Identify some of the pinned and fixed members in a plan or elevation view. Here is the legend
for the release label.
112
Analytical Commands
Modify Supports
With the releases defined, we can move on to supports. Because our first floor columns are
standing on solid footings and surrounded by a slab, we really should model supports at the start
of the columns.
1. Using the Settings > Select Filter > Settings command, remove (clear) any selection filter
that you have defined.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click Modify Supports.

Select any one of the first-floor columns.
Fix the degrees of freedom in the X, Y, Z, and RZ directions at the start member end.
Click OK.
Zoom in on the bottom of the column.
7. Click Label Supports.

8. Select the same column.
Figure 4: Legend for the Support Label

9. Define the same supports for the rest of the first floor columns.
113
Analytical Commands
Create Mapping File

Many times, FrameWorks Plus and 3rd party applications use different names for the exact same
section. A mapping file solves the naming conflicts by mapping section names in FrameWorks
Plus to section names in the other applications. The mapping file is named after the active 3rd
Party Software and the active section table and is created in the project\int directory with a .fmf
extension. For example, aisc_GTSTRUDL.fmf is the map file for the AISC table to GTSTRUDL
section names. You need to create a mapping file for each section table/application combination
you plan to use.
The mapping file is a template. FrameWorks Plus does write known-to-be-different
section names to the mapping file. However, you are responsible for verifying, editing, updating,
and maintaining the 3rd party application section names in the file.
1. Click Settings > 3rd Party Software. If you are using GTSTRUDL, make sure GTSTRUDL is
selected. If you are using a STAAD application, make sure STAAD is selected.
2. Click Utilities > Create Mapping File.
3. Click OK to create the mapping file.
FrameWorks Plus creates the mapping file in the int directory.

4. When FrameWorks Plus is finished creating the mapping file, use Notepad to open the fmf file
located in the c:\users\myproject\int\ directory.
Create Analysis Input Deck

Now that the model has been created and all the analytical information has been defined, you are
ready to create your analysis input deck.
For GTSTRUDL users:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click File > Analysis > Write GTSTRUDL input.

Select Use Mapping File.
Click Select and select the mapping file you created in the previous activity.
Select Create Check Plot.
Click OK.
Click OK to review the input deck.
Fit the Isometric View. Select the MicroStation View Levels command. Turn off all the levels
except 20-23. In this case you have placed the load graphics on the same default levels as the
analytical labeled elements. In practice, you can plan your own level scheme in FrameWorks
Plus.
For STAAD users:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
114
Click File > Analysis > Write STAAD input.

Select Use Mapping File.
Click Select and select the mapping file you created in the previous activity.
Select Create Check Plot.
Click OK.
Click OK to review the input deck.
Analytical Commands
7. Fit the Isometric View. Select the MicroStation View Levels command. Turn off all the levels
except 20-23. In this case you have placed the load graphics on the same default levels as the
analytical labeled elements. In practice, you can plan your own level scheme in FrameWorks
Plus.
Place Stairs
FrameWorks Plus delivers several unsupported FPL programs that you can use. One of these
FPL programs place stairs using parameters that you define. In this last activity, we will place a
staircase from the ground floor to the second floor.
1. Set a 3D view.
2. Click File > FPL Applications.
3. Select Stair.ma from the list, and then click OK.
4. Type 3.0 for the stair width. Remember that the hole that we made for stairs is 4 feet wide.
5. Select Both for the hand railing option.
6. Click Place.
7. Type xy=49.5,2,1 for the base point of the stairs. We know that Grid line E is 50 feet from the
origin in the X direction. The stairway hole, which is 4 feet wide, aligns with Grid line E, so
splitting the difference we know that the base point needs to be 49.5. Similarly, Grid 1 is at 0 in
the Y direction. We allow a 2-foot clearance in the Y direction. The ground floor slab is 1 foot
thick, so the origin needs to be 1 foot in the Z direction.
8. Type xy=49.5,15,16 for the top point of the stairs. The 49.5 is the same as the base point. The
hole stops at Grid 2, which is at 15 feet in the Y direction. The second floor slab is 1 foot thick,
so 15 TOS plus 1 foot for the slab gives us 16 in the Z direction.
9. Set Placement Point to Right.
10. Click Place again.
115
SECTION 10
Now What?
We have covered many of the main FrameWorks Plus features in this tutorial, but not all of them.
If while you are using FrameWorks Plus, you have questions about a feature or an option on a
dialog box, refer to the on-line help file (Help > Contents). All FrameWorks Plus commands, dialog
box options, and command line interfaces are documented in the Command Information book in
help.
FrameWorks Plus documentation is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You will need
the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available from the Adobe web site (www.adobe.com
(http://www.adobe.com)). Intergraph gives you permission to print the delivered PDF files for your
own personal use. However, you cannot print the PDF files for resale, redistribution, or any other
activity from which you would profit.
If you cannot find an answer to your question in help or the documentation, refer to the Customer
Support topic in the help file for the different ways you can contact support.
Thank you for using FrameWorks Plus.
117
Index
A
Add Members to a Named Group 52
Analytical Commands 107
Apply Fireproofing to Members 78
Apply Work Point Offsets to Horizontal
Braces 73
Apply Work Point Offsets to Vertical Braces
72
Arcs and Tapered Members 55
Attach a Model to Another Model 82
Define Member Settings 22

Define Named Group Symbology 52
Define SmartCuts 76
Define User Cutbacks 74
Drawing Extractions 95
E
Edit the attributes.dat File 11
Edit the config.dat File 11
G
Generating Reports 93
Getting Started 7
Building Basics 29
C
Change Default Settings 55
Change the Beams Section Size 41
Compose Drawings 100
Compute Planar Cutbacks 71
Copy Arc Members 59
Copy Beams to Another Floor 39
Copy Members Using Selection Sets 36
Copy Seed Model 27
Create a File for SmartPlant Review 105
Create a Project 9
Create a Seed Model 12
Create a View with a Drawing Scale 95
Create Analysis Input Deck 114
Create Arbitrary Section 63
Create Custom Section Table 66
Create Elevation Views 17
Create Grid Lines 16
Create Mapping File 114
Create Named Groups 51
Create Plan Views 14
Create Solid Member Reports 94
Create the Frozen Views 99
Create the Linear Member Material Report
94
Create Three-Dimensional Views 13
Create User Sections 61
D
Define a Report Format 93
Define Load Cases 24
Define Load Combinations 26
M
Model Manipulation 71
Modify Additional Attributes 50
Modify Fabricator 80
Modify Supports 113
Modify the Foundation Views 82
Modify View Styles 21
N
Now What? 117
O
Open Linear Model 29
Open the Solids Model 81
P
Perform an Associative Move 104
Place a Doorway 88
Place a Shear Wall 87
Place a Slab on the Ground Floor 83
Place a Slab on the Second Floor 84
Place Arc Members 57
Place Bracing between the Trusses 60
Place Columns on the Second Floor 42
Place Elevation Grids 19
Place Footings 85
Place Holes in Slabs 89
Place Horizontal Braces 43
Place Horizontal Chevron Braces 47
Place Individual Columns 30
Place Load by Point 111
Place Multiple Columns 33
119
Index
Place Single Beams 34
Place Slabs, Walls, and Holes 81
Place Stairs 115
Place Tapered Members 67
Place the Live and Dead Loads 107
Place Vertical Braces 48
Place Wind Loads 109
Preface 5
Projects and Seed Models 9
S
Set Member Releases 111
U
Update a Drawing 104
Use the Selection Filter 46
120

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FrameWorks Plus

Version 2011 (V12)

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FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

FrameWorks Plus is a MicroStation -based structural modeling application from Intergraph .

What will I do?

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Continue to the first activity.

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

3. Click Utilities > Create Project.

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

Edit the config.dat File

Edit the attributes.dat File

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

Create a Seed Model

FrameWorks Plus creates the model seedmodel.

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

Create Three-Dimensional Views

7. Click Apply, and identify a MicroStation view.

FrameWorks Plus creates a new view named Isometric.

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

FrameWorks Plus creates a new view named 3D View.

Create Plan Views

Click Create View

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select MicroStation view to Set.

Type Second Floor Plan View for the description.

Create Grid Lines

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

9. Click OK to create the grid.

Click Copy Grid.

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

Create Elevation Views

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named South Elevation.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select MicroStation view to Set.

FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named North Elevation.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select MicroStation view to Set.

FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named West Elevation.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to select the grid line.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Specify point for view direction.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select MicroStation view to Set.

FrameWorks Plus creates a new model view named Elevation @ Grid B.

Place Elevation Grids

FrameWorks Plus Tutorial

Projects and Seed Models

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Grid Line.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Elevation View for grid.

FrameWorks Plus prompts you to Select Grid Line.