Changes in STAAD.Pro Connect edition interface.

I was using STAAD.pro version 6 earlier. I have bought a new Connect edition 21.0.01.12 version.

When I used it found that even basic items have been removed.

No SQL query generator is available.

There is licencing issue always worried about activation of related licences. 

New Qtly billing policy is freighting.

Ashwani

  • I'm surprised that more people aren't voicing this sentiment. I too am very unhappy with new version of STAAD. I have never liked the way they do physical members so I don't use them. I used another program several years ago that did physical member "right" in that a physical member and analytical member weren't consider separate. A member is a member is a member. So anyway, one of the major changes to the program is they now have a slick new interface for physical modeling but I don't use it.

    That brings us to analytical modeling. One of the things I liked about the older versions of STAAD is the easy user interface. I can fly in that thing. Now they have went to the ribbon which slowed me down to a crawl. As a matter of fact, I just finished a fairly large and complex model that I decided to revert back to the last version before the Connect edition. My hours spent on a project are being watched closely and I just couldn't afford to spend the extra time when there is no extra benefit. I have the same model and the same results either route I go so I went the fastest route.

    Actually that's not quite true. By using the older version I still have access to the SQL Query as you mentioned. Now, in full disclosure, I didn't use it for this job but I have in the past and it comes in very handy when you need it.

    The folks at Bentley will argue that I just need to use the new interface more to get used to it. I'm a big believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I am thoroughly convinced that I will never be faster at building a model in the new version than I am in the older version, so even though I'm sure I would get better in the new system than I am now, why would I spend time getting better just so I can come back to my old speed of modeling at best? Which, as I said, I don't think is possible, because I've found a lot of things that take more than one mouse click that only used to take one.

  • I have the same reflex with Tank and Devendra. I tried Staad connect edition once with my collegue. Finally we decided stay with old version Serie 6 and never change to Connect edition. 

    Serie 6 do very well what we need in structure design, at least we have not big bug to be surprise in checkcode which take many time to justify or find out a reason.

  • The STAAD.Pro Connect Edition comes with a 64 bit solver and a 64bit GUI which allows much bigger problems ( more members, more load cases ) to be solved in less amount of time.

    ALL design codes are now available to users as opposed to only the ones ( usually just one or two ) they were licensed to use, which should be a big deal. I think this benefit alone should be a good enough reason for anyone to move to the CE.

    The new physical modeler allows users to model using physical members which is preferred by some users. Please note that the physical modeler interface is still being developed and so it has limited options as of now but it would eventually turn out to be a full-fledged modeler.

     

    The interface is now a lot different and we are working continuously to make it more user friendly. The interface in STAAD.Pro has been the same for years and that is why users are extremely familiar and comfortable with using the older interface. So working in the new interface may initially seem daunting but it will get easier with time and as we introduce quicker options to access certain tools. Just to give you an example, in the latest Connect Edition Update, we have added the quick access toolbar option using which one can customize the interface they work with. Users can now have one click access to the icons they use frequently.

    We are going to make such improvements in every version.

     

    There were certain options like the SQL query, Steel Design mode, Piping mode etc. which were initially disabled in the new version due to lack of compatibility with the new technology being used, but these are gradually being re-activated. For example in the new CE update both Steel Design mode and Piping mode has been reactivated.

     

    The new architecture would allow us to do a lot of things that we could not do in the older STAAD.Pro and there are lot of exciting updates which are going to follow soon.



  • I fully agree that adapting to new changes is difficult. I had solved problem of load generation. Itihas about 800 loads generated.

    I tried to extract the names of load cases by openstaad VBA the STAAD application terminated.

    In earlier version advanced query would export information to MS Access database which could be used fir further reports.

  • I fully agree that adapting to new changes is difficult. I had solved problem of load generation. Itihas about 800 loads generated.

    I tried to extract the names of load cases by openstaad VBA the STAAD application terminated.

    In earlier version advanced query would export information to MS Access database which could be used fir further reports.