1. General Concept
Q1. What are the benefits of the Section Excel Import/Export feature?
A.
This feature lets you view, edit, and manage section definitions in Excel.
It is beneficial when:
- Handling many sections at once
- Comparing different section types
- Reviewing section properties outside the program
- Building or maintaining a section library
Q2. Do I need to understand JSON to use this?
A. No.
- JSON is only the internal data format used by the software
- The Excel table is a flattened and readable version of the section data
- Each Excel column corresponds to one internal section property
- Input format follows the API Manual
You only work with Excel.
2. Section Table Structure
Q3. Why does the Section table have so many columns?
A.
Because a section definition includes both input parameters and calculated results.
The table may include:
- Section identification (ID, name, shape)
- Offset & analysis options
- Geometry parameters (vSIZE)
- Section stiffness values
- Design stiffness values
To avoid unnecessary complexity, column groups can be turned on/off in the UI.
3. Editable vs Read-Only Data
Q5. Which section fields can I edit in Excel?
A. Editable fields include:
- Section name
- Shape type
- Offset options
- Analysis options
- Geometry values (vSIZE)
These values are applied directly during import.
Q6. Which section fields are read-only?
A.
The following properties are calculated by the program and cannot be edited:
- Capacity-related properties
- Shear & warping properties
- Coordinate-dependent properties
- Section stiffness for design
These fields are:
- Imported from calculation results (GET)
- Provided for review and verification only
Any changes to these columns in Excel are ignored.
4. Import / Export Behavior (Section Only)
Q7. What happens if a column is missing in the Excel file?
A.
If a column is not included:
- If that column is an optional value, the default value will be used
- The corresponding section property is not modified
- Existing model values are preserved
This allows partial editing.
Q8. What happens if a cell is empty?
A.
- Required input field → import error
- Optional field → default or existing value is used
Q9. Can I copy, paste, or duplicate section rows?
A. Yes.
- Duplicated rows are treated as new sections
- New internal section IDs are automatically assigned
Q10. What happens if I delete a section row in Excel?
A.
Deleted rows are treated as section deletion requests during import.
(Behavior may depend on import options.)
5. Practical Usage
Q11. When should I use the Section Excel feature?
A.
Typical use cases include:
- Batch modification of section geometry
- Comparing Auto / Manual / Semi-Auto sections
- Checking stiffness results in Excel
- Creating a reusable section database