The minimum requirements for OpenBuildings Designer Structural members to be read into RAM Structural System are listed below. It is beneficial to verify these requirements are met before attempting data exchange.

• Floor Definitions – Ram Structural System requires that members be assigned to specific floors in a structure. That is, the OpenBuildings Designer model must contain floor definitions representing each floor of the structure. Floors are defined with Defining Stories with Building Floor Manager.
  • Structures must be modeled starting on an elevation equal to zero (Z=0). That is, the lowest column's lowest start point must begin at Z=0. If the structural model is part of a project that is modeled with respect to real world coordinates, it is advisable the structural model be referenced together with the other project files with an offset.
• Positive Quadrant – The structural model must be contained in the positive X, Y, Z coordinate system quadrant to ensure compatibility with RAM Structural System.

  An example of floor definitions for a structure. Please note the origin coordinates may include zero values:

  Floor Origins
  Name	X	Y	Z
  Ground Floor	0	0	0
  First Floor	0	0	14:0
  Second Floor	0	0	24:6
  Third Floor	0	0	35:0
  Roof	0	0	51:0

• Structural Data – RAM Structural System requires a minimum amount of data on each structural member. It is recommended this data be applied to Structural members. The required Type, Material and Class data is interpreted by RAM Structural System during analysis operations.

  The table provides an example of data values for each type of member being translated:

  Element Information				Structural Data Values
  OpenBuildings Designer Member Type	Internal Type	Placement Point/Baseline		Type	Material	Class	Notes
  Beam	STFLinearMember (Structural Element)	Top Center (8)		Beam	Steel, Concrete, Steel Joist or Smart Beam	Gravity or Lateral	Cantilevered members must be divided into spanning and cantilever components. The cantilever portion must then have the type data set to “cantilever”, and the segments graphic grouped together.
  Column	STFLinearMember (Structural Element)	Center Center (5)		Column	Steel or Concrete	Gravity or Lateral	Columns must be divided among floors. Column located at the extremes of a structure may extend above or below adjacent floors.
  Wall (with or without openings)	STFWall (Linear Form)	Center		Wall	Concrete	Gravity or Lateral	Wall exported as a single member. Walls with openings must have Class set to “Lateral” to export the opening. Wall openings must be rectangular with edges parallel to edges of the wall. Wall openings must fully penetrate the wall depth.
  Vertical Brace	STFLinearMember (Structural Element)	Center Center (5)		Vertical Brace	Steel or Concrete	Lateral	Each brace member must be a continuous member.
  Horizontal Brace	STFLinearMember (Structural Element)	Center Center (5)		Horizontal Brace	Steel or Concrete	Lateral	Each brace member must be a continuous member.
  Continuous Foundation	STFSolid (Free Form)	Extrude Direction – Down		Continuous Foundation	Concrete	Not applicable	None
  Spread Foundation	STFSolid (Free Form)	Extrude Direction – Down		Spread Foundation	Concrete	Not applicable	None
  Pile Cap	STFSolid (Free Form)	Extrude Direction – Down		Pile Cap	Concrete	Not applicable	None
  Bar Joist	STFLinearMember (Structural Element)	Top Center (8)		Beam	Steel Joist	Gravity or Lateral	Must be Structural forms and not Compound Cells.