Intro
This plugin converts models from MIDAS GEN NX to STAAD.Pro’s .std format. This tool is made to maintain data integrity across geometry, material properties, and loading conditions, significantly reducing manual remodelling time.
Developed with
- MIDAS GEN NX 2026 (v1.1) US
Benefits of this plugin
- Time-Saving: Eliminates manual recreation of models in STAAD, reducing hours of re-modelling work to just a few minutes.
- Transparent conversion: Built in logs clearly list what was converted and which items (if any) were not supported, so engineers can quickly review the conversion.
- Ease of Use: Simple interface for selecting the data to be converted and Generating the .STD file.
How to use this plugin?
- Select which data to export using the checkboxes: Geometry, Material Properties, Section Properties, Supports, Loads, and Load Combinations.
- Click the "Generate .STD File" button to start the conversion. A progress bar will display the current processing status.
- Click the "Download .STD File" button to save the generated .std file.
- Expand the "Logs" section to review conversion messages, mapping notes, and any warnings about unsupported or skipped items.
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Use the "Reset" button to clear the current run and start a new conversion.
[Gen NX to STAAD Converter]
The log panel provides a detailed record of every step from API connection and data prefetching through to final file generation including explicit warnings for any unsupported features encountered during conversion.
Note
The data that can be converted to STAAD.Pro from the MIDAS GEN NX model is shown below.
- GEOMETRY
- UNITS
- MATERIAL PROPERTIES
- SECTION PROPERTIES
- BOUNDARY CONDITION
- MEMBER SPECIFICATION
- RELEASE
- LOAD
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LOAD CASE & COMBINATION
The MIDAS GEN NX to STAAD.Pro transformation for each data is shown below.
NODE
Due to the difference in the Global coordinate system between MIDAS GEN NX and STAAD.Pro, it is converted as follows.
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| X | Z |
| Y | X |
| Z | Y |
ELEMENT
The following are the types of elements that are compatible:
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| Beam | Member |
| Truss | Member Truss |
| Plate | Shell Element |
| Wall | Shell Element |
Tension‑only and Compression‑only members are currently not supported.
MATERIAL
Compatible material types include:
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| Isotropic | Isotropic (E, Poisson, Density, Alpha, Damping) |
| Orthotropic | Not supported |
| SRC | Not supported |
SECTION
Compatible section shapes include:
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| I (I Section) | ISECTION / TABLE ST |
| C (Channel) | GENERAL with Profile Points |
| L (Angle) | GENERAL with Profile Points |
| T (Tee) | TEE |
| B (Box) | TUBE |
| P (Pipe) | PIPE |
| 2L (Double Angle) | DOUBLE ANGLE |
| 2C, 2CB (Double Channel) | GENERAL with Profile Points |
| SB (Solid Rectangle) | PRIS YD ZD |
| SR (Solid Round) | PRIS YD |
| Other |
GENERAL with Placeholder (0.1m x 0.1m) Profile Points with properties of the original section |
VALUE, SRC, COMBINED, TAPERED, and COMPOSITE section types are currently not supported.
BOUNDARY CONDITION
The data that is compatible with the boundary conditions are as follows.
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| Support (Fixed / Pinned / Partial) | FIXED / PINNED / FIXED BUT |
| Point Spring (Linear) | KFX, KFY, KFZ, KMX, KMY, KMZ |
| Rigid Link | SLAVE RIGID MASTER |
Non‑linear point springs and spring damping are not supported.
RELEASE
Compatible releases include:
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| 1D Member Release (Full DOF) | MEMBER RELEASE |
| 1D Member Release (Partial Moment) | MPX / MPY / MPZ |
| 1D Member Release (Spring) | Spring KFX–KMZ |
| 2D Plate Release (J1–J4) | PLATE RELEASE |
LOAD
Compatible loads include:
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| Self Weight | SELFWEIGHT |
| Nodal Load (Force / Moment) | JOINT LOAD |
| Beam Concentrated Force | MEMBER LOAD CON |
| Beam Concentrated Moment | MEMBER LOAD CMON |
| Beam Uniform / Trapezoidal Force | MEMBER LOAD TRAP |
| Beam Uniform Moment | MEMBER LOAD UMON (discretized) |
| Pressure Load (Uniform) | ELEMENT LOAD PRESSURE |
| Pressure Load (Trapezoidal) | ELEMENT LOAD TRAP JT |
Eccentricity on beam loads is not supported. Floor Loads (FBLA) must be pre‑converted to beam loads in MIDAS before running the plugin. Trapezoidal pressure with projection is not supported due to STAAD limitation.
LOAD CASE
Load case type mapping - MIDAS Load case codes (D, L, W, E, T, S, etc.) mapped to STAAD LOADTYPE keywords (Dead, Live, Wind, Seismic-H, Temperature, Snow, etc.)
LOAD COMBINATION
Compatible combination methods include:
| MIDAS GEN NX | STAAD.Pro |
| Algebraic | ADD |
| Absolute | ABS |
| SRSS | SRSS |
Envelope combinations (including recursive presence of nested envelopes) are not supported.
Limitations
The following features are currently unsupported (along with the ones already mentioned above) and must be defined manually in STAAD.Pro:
- Floor Diaphragms
- Beam end offsets
- Section Stiffness Scale Factors
- Load to Masses
- Static Seismic Loads
- Static Wind Loads
Conclusion
The GEN NX to STAAD Converter provides a fast, reliable way to move structural models from MIDAS GEN NX to STAAD.Pro. By automating geometry, property, boundary condition, load, and combination transfer, it helps engineers spend more time on analysis and design, and less time rebuilding models between platforms