The SDS2 neutral file
On this page :
Also see :
- Import Model (window)
Required/optional neutral file information :
If insufficient information about members is provided in a neutral file when a structure is created in an SDS2 program, an error/warning message may result. An error means that the member has NOT been added to the 3D model in the Modeling portion of the SDS2 program. A warning message informs you that a member has been added, but the member data was insufficient.
Required / Optional SDS2 Neutral File Information |
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| Item | Status | Comments |
| member type | required | Each member in an SDS2 neutral file must be identified as a beam, column, vertical brace or horizontal brace or legacy miscellaneous member. If the "class" field in an Intergraph SDNF file is 3 - 9, Import Model will regenerate that member as a legacy miscellaneous member. |
| end coordinates | required | X , Y and Z coordinates for each end of a member must be included. For beams, use top-of-steel for elevation (the Z coordinate). For columns, use splice elevation. |
| section shape | required
for certain shapes |
Example: If double angle bracing is to be created, the " Neutral file " must specify LL (long legs back-to-back) or SL (short legs back-to-back) |
| section size | required | Any section size specified in the " Neutral file " must also exist in the local shape file if you want to create that member into the 3D model. |
| column
rotation |
required | The column rotation in ± degrees must also be included. 0 indicates that the web is parallel to the X global axis. 90 indicates that the web is parallel to the Y global axis. |
| beam rotations | optional | ' Web normal ', ' Web vertical ', ' Hip and valley ' are the rotation types. If no rotation type is specified, ' Web vertical ' is the default. |
| steel grade | optional | If steel grade information is NOT included, members are assigned the steel grade that appears first in the appropriate table at Home > Project Settings > Job . |
| sequence number | optional | Members will be assigned a sequence numbers of 1 if a sequence number specified (or not specified) in the neutral file is outside the range specified at Home > Project Settings > Job > Modeling > Zone and Sequence > Maximum sequences . |
| loads | optional | Heavier loads will result in stronger connections. If load info is not included in the " Neutral " file, connection design can calculate the loads based on Home > Project Settings > Job > Design Settings . |
The SDS2 neutral file format :
A record is an individual line that appears in an SDS2 neutral file. Following is a list of each record type along with a description of the information contained in that record type. Most records provide information about particular members. An exception to this generalization are the records that appear in the header, which provide information about the file as a whole.
00 = Header record (sorted first)
01 = Header record (sorted second)
AA = Basic member data, required for all members
BE = Beam data, required for beams and braces
CO = Column data, required for columns
FC = FROM end ( left end ) coordinates, required for all members
FL = FROM end ( left end ) loads, optional for all members
TC = TO end ( right end ) coordinates, required for all members
"00" records - first header |
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 | blank (applies to all records) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: 00 |
| 15 | 1 | 1 = U.S. units; 2 = metric units |
| 16 | 6 | office directory name |
| 22 | 19 |
date & time:
dd-mmm-yy hh-mm-ss |
| 41 | 18 | building name |
| 59 | 5 | total number of members |
| 64 | 5 | total records except 00 & 01 |
"01" records - second header |
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 | blank (applies to all records) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: 01 |
| 15 | 6 | program name |
| 21 | 11 | program version number |
| 32 | 8 | user's logon ID |
| 40 | 10 | user's address |
"AA" records - all member types |
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 |
member identification
(the member number in the original model that the file was created from) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: AA |
| 15 | 1 | member type: B = beam C = column; V = vertical brace; H = horizontal brace; ? = legacy miscellaneous member |
| 16 | 5 | name of section property table or local shape file (example: AISC ) |
| 21 | 2 | section shape:
blank = a shape not listed below; C = channel CS = composite shape; L = single angle brace LL = double angle brace, long legs back-to-back; SL = double angle brace, short legs back-to-back P = pipe; TS = tube shape; WB = wide flange, beam; WC = wide flange, column; WT = wide flange tee |
| 23 | 22 | section size |
| 45 | 8 | steel grade |
| 53 | 12 |
length of member
(member lengths are calculated from end coordinates; this field is not used) |
| 65 | 12 | camber |
| 77 | 3 | sequence line number from Sequence Names |
| 80 | 1 | 1/3 stress increase for braces: A = allow 1/3 stress increase; anything else = Do not allow |
| Notes: Entries to "member type," "section size" and "material grade" are required for all members; 'SL' and 'LL' are required for "section shape" if they apply; other options for the field "section shape" are derived from "section size." | ||
"BE" records - beams, braces & miscellaneous members |
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 |
member identification
(the member number in the original model that the file was created from) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: BE |
| 15 | 1 | rotation type , FROM end ( left end ) of beam: N = normal rotation; V = web vertical;
H = hip and valley; blank = web vertical |
| 16 | 8 | rotation in degrees, FROM end ( left end ) of beam |
| 24 | 1 | rotation type , TO end ( right end ) of beam (if beam is twisted) N = normal rotation; V = web vertical; H = hip and valley; blank = web vertical |
| 25 | 8 | rotation in degrees of TO end ( right end ) of beam (if beam is twisted) |
| 33 | 1 |
toe direction of channels and angles (braces only): O or 0 = toes out (up/left);
I or 1 = toes in (down/right) |
| 34 | 1 | Leg to gusset (braces only): S = short leg to gusset plate; L = long leg to gusset plate |
| Note: For no 'rotation type', the importing SDS2 program defaults to 'V' (web vertical). | ||
"CO" records - columns only |
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 |
member identification
(the member number in the original model that the file was created from) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: CO |
| 15 | 8 | column rotation in degrees:
Entry must be between ± 90 degrees. 0 sets web parallel to X global axis. 90 sets web parallel to Y global axis. |
| 23 | 4 | length of base plate (not used by the importing SDS2 program) |
| 27 | 4 | width of base plate (not used by the importing SDS2 program) |
| 31 | 8 | thickness of base plate (not used by the importing SDS2 program) |
| Note: Column rotation is required for an importing SDS2 program to create a column. | ||
| "FC" records - FROM ( left end ) coordinates
"TC" records - TO ( right end ) coordinates |
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 |
member identification
(the member number in the original model that the file was created from) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: FC or TC |
| 15 | 13 | X global coordinate of work point |
| 28 | 13 | Y global coordinate of work point |
| 41 | 13 | Z global coordinate of work point (elevation). For beams, use top-of-steel. For columns, use splice elevation. |
| Notes: No member can be created in an SDS2 program from a neutral file without member coordinate information. Coordinate info may be in meters, centimeters, millimeters or inches (see " Length units "). | ||
"FL" records - FROM loads
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| column | length | field |
| 1 | 12 |
member identification
(the member number in the original model that the file was created from) |
| 13 | 2 | record type: FL or TL |
| 15 | 7 | horizontal shear load |
| 22 | 7 | vertical shear load |
| 29 | 7 | horizontal moment load |
| 36 | 7 | vertical moment load |
| 43 | 7 | tension load |
| 50 | 7 | compression load |
| Note: These fields will be included in the " Neutral file " if, for example, " Read force loads " is checked. | ||