Column Design Steel Table Format
Files of column shapes to be used by the RAM Steel Column Design module may be created and modified. Use spaces, not tabs, between data items. The file name must have the extension .COL.
CAUTION: The file must be edited using a simple text editor, not a word processor as it might embed control characters into the file.
The file has the following format:
The first line is an optional comment line indicating which Master Table is to be used in conjunction with the Design Table.
The Trial Group sections follow. Each section begins with a heading with the following format:
Group Shape
where:
- Group
- the Group Label (e.g., W14)
- Shape
- the Group Shape:
- I indicates wide flange and other I shapes ('W' used in previous versions is also acceptable),
- T indicates TS and Square and Rectangular Hollow Sections,
- P indicates pipe and Round Hollow Sections,
- C indicates channel,
- A indicates single angle,
- E indicates tee,
- R indicates round bar,
- B indicates flat bar or plate, and
- L indicates double angles.
Some of these shapes are only used for hanging columns, not standard columns.
After the heading, the members within that Trial Group are list in ascending order by weight.
Groups are separated by a blank line.