Selecting the Assign > Beam > K Factor or Effective Length menu-item opens the Assign K Factor dialog (ASD, LRFD, Canada, and IS 800-07) or Effective Length Factor dialog (Eurocode, AS 4100, and BS 5950). From this dialog the engineer can override, on a member by member basis, the global effective length factors specified in the Criteria-K Factor/Effective Length dialog. Select either the global criteria or otherwise specify an appropriate effective length factor. (Refer to Criteria-K Factor/Effective Length help for more information on the available options). The engineer can choose to override the global criteria on one or both axes of the beam. The criteria are applied to the beams local axes.

After the appropriate values are specified the engineer can assign the criteria to a single member (click on Single), to multiple members (click on Fence) or to all members (click on All). If Single is clicked the dialog will close and a target cursor will be made available. Click on each section that you would like the criteria to apply too. If Fence is clicked the dialog will close and a fence cursor will be made available. Click and drag a rectangle around all the sections that you want the criteria assigned too. Note that the criteria are only assigned to steel beams. To return to the dialog to select a different effective length criteria click on the right mouse button.

To view which member axes are using the global criteria and which have been overridden select the appropriate option from the View Members Dialog.