The features within Microstran available to a given user depend on which tier of Microstran is activated on the respective user’s computer, as well as which design code options are activated (for information on activating products, see the technote SELECT Licensing of Microstran). There are three different tiers of Microstran, each containing more features than the last. These tiers are:
In addition to the basic modeling, analysis, design, and interoperability options available in all tiers of the product, Microstran.Pro and Microstran.Advanced contain advanced analysis and element options.
Microstran.Pro contains the following features that are not available in Microstran:
Microstran.Advanced contains the following features that are not available in Microstran:
There are a number of design code standards that can be activated on any of the three Microstran tiers. They allow beam, column, and brace design to specific code standards. They are:
Steel member design includes requirements for beams, columns, and braces. Concrete member design to AS3600-94 and BS8110:85 includes requirements for beams and columns. In addition to member design, an add-on for steel connection design within Microstran is available and can be activated on any of the three tiers. This feature is referred to as Integrated Connection Design.
As with earlier versions of Microstran, the tier and associated features that have been activated and are available to the user can be reviewed within the Help -> About dialog within Microstran, as shown below.