STAAD Foundation Advanced Help

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Contains many of the general tools you will use to control files, perform analysis & design.

Table 1. File group tools
Tool	What it does	Keyboard Shortcut
New	Opens a standard Windows file open dialog box, which is used to specify a file location and name.	`<Ctrl+N>`
Open	Opens a standard Windows file open dialog box, which is used to select an existing STAAD Foundation Advanced project file.
Save	This will save any changes made in the current model file since the previous save.	`<Ctrl+S>`
Save As	Opens the File saving dialog , which is used to save the current model in a different location or with a different file name.
Close	Closes the current model file and return you to the Start Page.
Enable Auto Save	Set this option to enable the auto save feature, which will remind you to save your project on a scheduled cycle if changes have been made.
Enable Back Up

Table 2. Design/Analysis group tools
Tool	What it does
Design/Analysis	Used to initiate an analysis and subsequent design of the active foundation. Note: If the current job is of mat foundation type, this command will analyze the mat foundation.

Table 3. Import/Export group tools
Tool	What it does
Import STAAD.Pro	Imports reaction and geometry data from a STAAD.Pro model.
Update	Used to update current project’s input database with the changed STAAD.Pro output.
Import Spreadsheet	Opens the STAAD Foundation Advanced Excel Import dialog box, with the file filter set for "Microsoft Excel (.xls)" files. See Import Foundation Input from a Microsoft Office Excel® spreadsheet for additional information on this feature.
Export to Spreadsheet	Opens the STAAD Foundation Advanced Export to Excel dialog box, with the file filter set for "Microsoft Excel (.xls)" files.

Table 4. Job/Load group tools
Tool	What it does
Current Load	Used to change load cases by selecting from a list of load cases available in the active project. To change load cases, simply select the load case you want to change to from the drop-down list box. If no load cases have been created for a project, the drop-down list box will be empty.
Current Job	Used to select a job from a list of jobs you have created for the active project. To change jobs, simply select the job you want to change to from the drop-down list box. If no jobs have been created for a project, the drop-down list box will be empty.

Table 5. Settings group tools
Tool	What it does
Unit Setting	Opens the Unit Setup dialog box , which is used to set output units and create default unit sets.
View Options	Opens the Modeling View Options form in the Data Input pane.
Global Options	Opens the Global Settings dialog , which is used to set global defaults for STAAD Foundation Advanced designs and output..
Scale Setup	Opens the Scale Setup form in the Data Input pane.
Drawing Notes	Opens the Drawing Notes dialog box , which is used add and customize text notes to a drawing based on their own specifications.
Report Customization	Opens the Calculation Sheet Customization form, which is used to select the components of a foundation design report for inclusion in output.

Table 6. View group tools
Tool	What it does
Isometric View	(Default view) View the model from a positive, isometric angle.
Front View	View the foundation model from the positive Z axis.
Back View	View the foundation model from the negative Z axis
Right View	View the foundation model from the positive X axis.
Left View	View the foundation model from the negative X axis.
Top View	View the foundation mode in plan; from the positive Y axis.
Bottom View	View the foundation model from the negative Y axis.

Table 7. Converter group tools
Tool	What it does
Converter

Table 8. Machine View group tools
Tool	What it does
Physical / Analytical	(Machine foundation jobs only) Toggles the view between the physical model and decomposed analytical model views.