Exporting the CMF Deck Data
Process - Design All must be performed prior to this command being available.
- Select the Process - Export Deck - CMF Deck command. A cursor shaped like a stud will appear (the work point of the cursor is the small triangle to the upper left of the cursor icon).
- Select the beam or wall that supports the end of the panel, at the location along the beam or wall that corresponds to the deck support location. The beam or wall will be highlighted and a highlighted line segment will appear on both sides of the member, pointing in the direction corresponding to the deck orientation.
- Drag the cursor in the direction of the deck span, to or beyond the beam that supports the far end of the panel and release the mouse button. As the cursor is dragged a white outline of the panel is drawn and when the mouse button is released the rectangle snaps back to the nearest support member. The panel outline will be limited to 12m, maximum.
- A confirmation dialog will appear showing the panel width and length. Select Yes to export the data.
- The CMF Deck Design Software will be launched with the deck and load information within the panel outline exported to it.
The CMF Deck Design Software must be installed. If the RAM Structural System is unable to locate where that software is installed, a prompt for the location of the CMF.exe file will be given the first time the export command is invoked.
It may be useful to see the loads on the deck so that the critical locations can be investigated. To view the loads on the deck, use the View - Set Show Options command and select the Loads or Snow Loads option. Decks can be viewed likewise.
Some processing of loads is done prior to export so that they are in a form accepted by the CMF Deck Design software. For example, skewed Line loads (that the CMF software does not recognize) are resolved into "equivalent" perpendicular or parallel loads (that the CMF software does recognize). See Section 9.1.2 for more information. Data that is exported to the CMF software should be verified.
When the data has been exported and the CMF program launched, the deck design can be performed. Any of the data can be modified as allowed by the CMF program to determine the best design. Note however that changes made to the data in the CMF program are not imported back to the RAM Structural System. If a change of deck is desired, those changes can be made in the Modeler in the RAM Structural System.