M. File menu

Contains items for creating, opening, and closing section data files, printing, and exiting the program.

Table 1. File menu items
Menu item	Description	Same effect as selecting…
New	Opens an empty section design file. If the currently loaded section has been modified, then the option is given to save it prior to commencing with the new design.	`<Ctrl+N>`
Open	Opens the Open Data file dialog, which is used to select an existing Section Sketch Data file (file extension .cns). Controls in this dialog are analogous to a common Windows open dialog, except as noted in the following. If the Preview option is checked, then a preview of the section can be displayed prior to opening the file.	`<Ctrl+O>`
Save	Saves any changes made to the current data file. Note: If the current file has not been previously saved, this has the same effect as selecting Save As…	`<Ctrl+S>`
Save As…	Opens the Save data file dialog which is used to specify a file name and location for the section data file. Files are saved in the Free Sketch (.CNS) format.
Close	This closes the current section and leaves Free Sketch ready to start a new file or open an existing file.
Report	Formats and sends the data to the Report Type option defined in the Misc sheet of the Program Options dialog. See Options below.
Calculation	First opens the Poisson's Ratio dialog which is used to specify a value for Nu. Calculates the cross-sectional properties of the composite section and the opens the Basic Geometry dialog to display the values.
Stress Field	Opens the Section forces dialog, which is used to specify major axis moments and axial force on the section. Click OK to close the dialog and display the stress distribution on the section drawing.
Parametric Sections…	Opens the Parametric Section dialog which is used to quickly create sections based on a section type and a number of key dimensions and insert that section as an external contour.
Rolled Section…	Opens the Rolled Section dialog, which is used to select a catalog section to insert into an new drawing file. The section can then be modified, just as you would with any other sketch.
Equivalent Section…	Opens the Equivelant Section module with the current section properties as input values, which can be used to search for an Equivalent section to the current drawing.
Export to STAAD.Pro >	Select either to export the section as a General or Prismatic section. A Select UPT File dialog opens, which is used to select a user-profile table file which will contain the exported shape. If an existing User Provide Table file is selected, the current section will be appended to the end of this table. Refer to TR.19 User Steel Table Specification for additional information on using section types.
Import DXF	Opens a File Open dialog which is used to select CAD files to import in the *.DXF file format
Send…	Opens an e-mail (using your default e-mail client) and attaches the current data file.
Recent File list	A list of the most recent four section data files. Select one to open that data file.
Exit	Closes the program. If any changes were made since the last time the data file was saved, a message dialog opens confirming you wish to save those changes.	`<ALT+F4>`