OS. To initialize OpenSTAAD and calculate the node coordinates

Type the following command to initialize OpenSTAAD:

       Dim objOpenSTAAD As Object
       Set objOpenSTAAD = GetObject(,"StaadPro.OpenSTAAD")

This command opens the connection to STAAD.Pro and the model currently open in the program.

Note: You can initialize OpenSTAAD to any variable. Here, objOpenSTAAD is used.

Type the following commands to reference the geometry class in a variable:

        Dim geometry As OSGeometryUI
        Set geometry = objOpenSTAAD.Geometry

Type the following two For loops to calculate the nodal coordinates for each node in the frame.

Note: There are two nested loops used because this is a 2D frame. The Z coordinate was previously set to zero and will not change.

        'Nodes
        For j = 2 To (row + 2)
            For i = 1 To (clmn + 1)
                crdx = (i - 1) * wdth
                geometry.AddNode crdx, crdy, crdz
            Next
            crdy = (j - 1) * ht
        Next

Note: The Next command to close the For loop is added automatically once you press <Enter> after typing the For command line.

Type the following commands to reference the support class in a variable:

        Dim support As OSSupportUI
        Set support = objOpenSTAAD.Support

Type the following If ElseIf statement to get the desired support type. The support is created and the returned support reference number is stored to the variable s1.

A "fall back" possibility is also added in case neither of the intended support types is somehow specified, then an error message is presented to the user.

        'Supports
        If sprt = "0" Then
            s1 = support.CreateSupportFixed()
        ElseIf sprt = "1" Then
            s1 = support.CreateSupportPinned()
        Else
            MsgBox("Select Proper Support Type",vbOkOnly,"Error")
            Exit Sub
        End If

Note: The OpenSTAAD command support.CreateSupportFixed can also be used to simply create a new support without using the return value. But by adding the parenthesis at the end, the script can take the returned support reference number which allows you to store that in the variable.

Type the following line to add a debugging statement for the returned support reference number:

        Debug.Print "Support return value = ";s1

Type the following type to assign the support types to the bottom nodes in the frame:

        For i1 = 1 To (clmn + 1)
            support.AssignSupportToNode i1,s1
        Next