See Creating custom Structural Section in AECOsim for a updated version of this solution.
StructuralShapesTemplate.xls
How To Create or Edit an XML Section File
Purpose
This spreadsheet can be used to create and edit a section file.
Delivery
StructuralShapesTemplate.xls is typically delivered to workspace folders such as:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries 1)\WorkSpace\TriForma\tf_imperial\data\StructuralShapesTemplate.xls
Spreadsheet
Requires a version of Excel that supports export/import of XML Data. (See Figure 1)
The top tab is the "Code" tab (See Figure 2)
"Name" Property - Name of the code (can be any string)
"isMetric" Property - TRUE for metric/SI or FALSE English/imperial
All subsequent tabs correspond w/ the supported section types:
e.g. wideflange, (See Figure 3)
e.g. angles, (See Figure 4)
e.g. channels, (See Figure 5)
Figure 1 - Developer Tab w/ XML Import and Export Options
Figure 2 - StructuralShapesTemplate.xls with "Code" Tab Page Selected
Figure 3 - StructuralShapesTemplate.xls with "WideFlange" Tab Page Selected
Figure 4 - StructuralShapesTemplate.xls with "Angles" Tab Page Selected
Figure 5 - StructuralShapesTemplate.xls with "Channels" Tab Page Selected
Importing an existing XML file
- On the "Developer" tab, press "Import"
- Browse to an existing section file and press "OK."
- Tab pages will be populated with the contents of the XML file.
Figure 6 - "Code" Page is populated with the contents of US.XML
Figure 7 - "WideFlange" page populated with contents of US.XML
Figure 8 - "Angles" page populated with contents of US.XML
Exporting an existing XML Section File
- Caution: Saving an Excel spreadsheet is NOT the same thing!
- Press the "Export" Button on the "Developer" tab.
- Browse to the folder to which you want to write the XML file
- Keyin a new file name or select an existing file name.
- Caution: Delivered files have a line at the top referencing the style sheet. That will need to be manually replaced once the file is saved.