In the RAM Modeler, columns can be laid out in steel, concrete or a user defined material (“Other”). When the model is brought into the Column Design module, only the gravity steel columns are optimized and have sizes assigned. However, gravity loads are calculated for concrete and “other” columns and can be obtained from the Reports - Loads or the Reports - Loads Summary output reports.

Lateral steel columns will only be designed if no size was previously assigned to a column. This may be useful for automatic preliminary sizing of lateral columns.