To automatically calculate the effective length parameters for steel design for a parameter block, use the following procedure.

1. On Steel Design - Whole Structure dialog, click Effective Length. The Effective Length Calculator dialog opens.
2. Select which Parameter Block to which the effective length parameters will be added.
3. (Optional) Provide lateral restraint information for the members:
   1. Select the local directions (with respect to the member orientation) which are restrained.
   2. Type the Theta angle is connected members which are not normal to the member also provide restraint. Connecting members are assumed to provide lateral restrained against buckling when the connect to the member. However, members which connect at a shallow angle may not provide sufficient restraint. The angle, θ (theta), is the angle away from 90° to the member at which connecting members should can no longer provide sufficient restraint. Angles between 0° and 80° (inclusive) are allowed. A value of zero indicates that only normal members provide restraint.
   3. Type the Colinearity tolerance to use for establishing if members are colinear. The program uses this to determine the effective lengths for adjacent, colinear analytical members. When the longitudinal axis (i.e.., local x axis) of two adjacent members differs by greater than this angle, the program will no longer assume they are the same member for automatic calculations of the effective length.
4. Specify the list of members to which these parameters will be assigned using one or more of the Assignment methods:
   • Member List - the list of members which are assigned
   • Select on Model - click to active the selection mode. Then click on members in the view window to add these to the Member List. Click this tool again to deactivate selection mode.
   • Select Group - click to open the Select Group dialog, which is used to select members by previously defined group names.
   Tip: Click Highlight to show which members will be assigned.
5. Click Add.