prokon prog manual

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PROKON User's Guide

(Win 32 Version)

March 2010


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Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names and data

used in examples are fictitious.

This document may be reproduced for the sole purpose of reference by PROKONusers. Nopart of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,

electronic or mechanical, for any other reason without the express written permission ofProkon Software Consultants

Copyright 1988-2010 Prokon Software Consultants (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved

PROKONis the registered trademark of Prokon Software Consultants (Pty) Ltd

Microsoft, Dos and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a registered trademark of Adobe System Incorporated.


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Introduction i

Introduction

This is a guide to using the 32-bit Windows version of the PROKON suite of structuralanalysis and design programs. It is designed to help you be more productive by explaining

ways of integrating everyday structural analysis, design and detailing tasks.In this manual, the basic procedures of installing and using PROKON are explained.

Components of the suite not covered in this manual include the PROKONDrawing andDetailing System, Padds, and the geotechnical analysis modules. These are explainedseparately in the following manuals:

Padds User's Guide and Command Reference: Information on using the PROKONDrawing and Detailing System.

Geotechnical Analysis and Design: Background on using the geotechnical analysismodules are given on the online help, available on the Help menu of each module.

All analysis and design modules also have complete context-sensitive help to introduce you tothe use of the system. The on-line help information is updated on a regular basis and may

occasionally contain information not included in the manual.

This manual is also available in electronic form on the PROKONStructural Analysis andDesign installation CD-Rom. The complete text can be viewed and printed for the purpose ofreference by PROKONusers a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Note: A copy of this manual is available PDF format on the PROKONinstallation CD-Rom.


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Introductionii

Using this manual

The manual should introduce you to both the basic and more advanced features of the

PROKONsuite of programs. The various procedures relating to installing and using the suite

are discussed in sequence to gradually lead you to productive use of the system:

Chapter 1 - Installing PROKON: This chapter deals with installing and activating thesoftware for use. The procedures for stand-alone and network installation are explainedin detail.

Chapter 2 - The PROKONbasics: Essential reading for all new users and for usersupgrading to the 32-bit Windows version. Subjects covered include using Calcpad, settingpreferences and customising projects.

Chapter 3 - Structural analysis: Detailed discussion of the frame, beam and finite elementanalysis modules.

Chapter 4 - Steel member design: Explains how you can design a variety of steel membersusing elastic or plastic methods. The post-processing of frame analysis results is discussedin detail.

Chapter 5 - Steel connection design: Design and generation of drawings of typical steelconnections.

Chapter 6 - Concrete design: Detailed explanation of the design and detailing ofreinforcement for typical concrete members.

Chapter 7 - Timber design: Detailed discussion of the design of timber members. Chapter 8 - General analysis tools: Overview of using the general analysis utilities. Chapter 9Masonry section and Masonry wall design


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Introduction iii

Getting help

An important part of the service provided to PROKONusers, is technical support. If you are aregistered user, you can obtain free program updates and support information from the World

Wide Web or your nearest branch ofPROKON Software Consultants.

Who qualifies for support?

You automatically qualify for free software maintenance and support in the following cases:

If you are renting programs on an annual basis. If you purchased your software less than a year ago. If you have entered a maintenance agreement with respect to your purchased programs.Internet support

Access answers to frequently asked questions, news on new developments, revisioninformation and programs updates on-line:

PROKONHome Page: Visit www.prokon.com for news on the latest developments. PROKONSupport Web: Browse www.prokon.com/supportfor solutions to problems and

to obtain program updates and the latest versions of the help files and manuals.

Direct supportIf you experience difficulties resolving your problems using PROKON, you may contactProkon Software Consultants directly for assistance:

South Africa United Kingdom Canada

Telephone

Facsimile

E-mail

+27-12-346-2231

+27-12- 346-3331

[email protected]

+44-20- 8780-5454

+44-20- 8788-8363

[email protected]

+1-8888-PROKON

+1-866-323-7393

[email protected]

Postal address P O Box 17295

Groenkloof

0027

South Africa

75 Lower Richmond Rd

Putney

London SW15 1ET

United Kingdom

PO Box 91693

West Vancouver, BC

V7V 3P3

Canada


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Quick Referenceiv

Quick Reference

Use the thumbnails alongside for quick access to the chapters in this manual.


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Quick Reference

Chapter 1: Installing PROKON

Chapter 2: The PROKONBasics

Chapter 3: Structural Analysis

Chapter 4: Steel Member Design

Chapter 5: Steel Connection Design

Chapter 6: Concrete design

Chapter 7: Timber Design

Chapter 8: General Applications

Chapter 9 : Masonry Design


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Quick Referencei


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Installing PROKON 1-1

Chapter

1Installing PROKON

This explains the procedures for installing and activating PROKON. step-by-step to help newand experienced users alike avoid pitfalls.


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Installing PROKON1-2

Quick Reference

System Requirements 1-3Program Installation 1-5Updating PROKON 1-17


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System Requirements 1-3

System Requirements

The minimum system requirements and recommended specification to run the 32-bit Windowsversion ofPROKONare:

Required Recommended

PC with 1RAMPC with dual CPU cores, 4GB RAMor more

1,024 x 768 SVGA display.Nvidia Quaddro FX or quivalentgraphics adaptor that supportsOpenGL support.

CD-Rom drive or access to one over anetwork

Any version of Windows XP, WindowsVista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit).

Windows 7(32-bit or 64-bit).

Internet connection required foractivation

The suite often needs to save temporary information on your hard disk. For this purpose, theWindows temporary folder, e.g. ' C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Temp', is used. When

analysing large structures, a significant amount of disk space may be required.


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System Requirements1-4


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Program Installation 1-5

Program Installation

You can install PROKON on a stand-alone computer, or on a network for access by multiplecomputers on your network. Setting up your system PROKON consists of the following steps:

1. Install PROKON on your computer or on your network.2. Activate PROKON.3. Set up the design codes and section and material databases. This is explained in Chapter 2.PROKONuses a sophisticated licensing scheme that allows a lot of flexibility in your choices:

The software is modular: No need to pay for features you don't use; order only themodules you need.

Short-term license available: In addition to the conventional way of purchasing software,you can rent PROKON modules on an annual basis. You may have a special project, forexample, that requires certain design modules that you would not normally use.

Network use: PROKON software can be installed on stand-alone computers or on anetwork server. When installing on a network server, multiple workstation computers canaccess the software (the number of concurrent users is limited to the number of

workstations including in the license). No special network license is required to usePROKON software on a network.

License portability: You can deactivate and activate your programs (storing your licenseon the PROKONlicense server) at any time. Moving your license between computers at

the office (and even your home computer) is simple.

Note: When not activated, e.g. directly after the initial installation, the PROKONsuite will

function in 'demo mode' a special mode with reduced functionality meant for evaluationpurposes.


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Program Installation1-6

PROKON installation tree

Before installing PROKON, please take a moment to study the folder tree that will be createdduring installation. The main components are:

The main suite folder: This is the folder enclosing allprogram folders and is always called 'Prokon'. You canlocate this folder on the root of your hard drive, i.e.'C:\Prokon', or elsewhere, e.g. 'C:\Program

Files\Prokon'.

The main program folder: The 'bin' folder thatcontains all the executable programs and other filesthat make up the system. The folder has a child folder'Updates' that is used for storage by the PROKONLiveUpdate utility.

The default data folder: This is the folder used fordata storage. Directly after installation, the workingfolder is set to '\Prokon\Data\Demo'. When you start to

use the suite, you will be creating new working folderswhere input and output data will be stored. Workingfolders can be created anywhere on your computer or

on your network.

The license folder: When you activate PROKON, the 'Prolock' folder is created and yourlicense key stored in it. Please do not remove this folder without first deactivating yourprograms; doing so will destroy your license.

User folders: Each user's preferences, e.g. favourite design codes and on-screen layout ofeach program, are automatically stored in a dedicated folder.

Note: When installing PROKON on a network, you need to adjust some folder permissionsto enable network users to access PROKON. See page 1-12 for more information.


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PROKON licence structure

Below are some key concepts regarding yourPROKONlicense:

License key: A special file that contain your license information. Your license key issupplied either on your CD-Rom or made available via electronic download.

Expiry date: Annual rental license have a fixed expiry date 12 months after order.Purchased licences allow perpetual use of the programs, but software maintenance(program updates and technical support) expires after 12 months. Both annual rental and

software maintenance of purchased programs can be renewed.

Sets: The modules that you order is grouped in a set. Your license can include up to twosets. Here is an example: You have a group of engineers that specialise in steel design, andanother group that specialises in concrete design. Both groups use the Frame Analysismodule to calculate forces in building frames. Your PROKON license can be configuredwith two sets. Set 1(Steel) will contain the Frame Analysis module and some steel member

and connection design modules. Set 2 (Concrete) will also contain the Frame Analysismodule and some concrete design modules. The two sets form part of the same licensekey, and can be activated and used separately. When combining two sets in the same

license key, a substantial discount is applicable to modules that are included in both sets.

Workstations: A workstation is one set of programs that is accessible on a standalonecomputer or network. Each set of modules in your license key has a number of

workstations assigned to it. The number of workstations determine the number of times the

set of programs can be used simultaneous. Simultaneous use can either be standalonecomputers that have been activated individually, or users accessing PROKONon a

network at the same time. Expanding on the example above, imagine that Set 1 (Steel) hasthree workstations and Set 2 (Concrete) two. The license key therefore allows five users toaccess PROKONat the same time: three using the steel design modules, and two using the

concrete design modules. All five users will be able to access Frame Analysis that isincluded in both sets.

Activation: You have to activate your programs in order to access their full capacity.When you activate your programs, you can choose the number of workstations for Set 1and Set 2 to activate. The number of available (for activation) workstations is decrementedaccordingly. In the above example, Set 1 can be activated on three standalone computers,

or on a network for simultaneous use by three engineers.

Deactivation: You can deactivate an active set of programs at any time. The number ofavailable workstations is incremented accordingly.

Note: The PROKONlicense server (an internet service) keeps track of the number ofworkstations that have been activated and the number of workstations available foractivation. An internet connection is required to activate or deactivate your programs.


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Installing on a standalone computer

You can install PROKONon a stand-alone computer or on a network for sharing betweenmultiple users. This section describes the installation procedure for a standalone computer.

Note: YourPROKONlicense proper functioning is sensitive to your computer's date andtime. To guarantee error-free operation, ensure that the date and time is correct.

Installing the program files to your hard disk.

Depending on your system settings the PROKON Setup application will auto-run automaticallywhen you insert the PROKON CD-Rom. If it does not, explore the CD-Rom contents and

launch Setup.exe manually.

Note: If the Setup program appears to freeze while copy program files, it may be because of

your anti-virus software scanning the program files. For a faster installation, we recommendyou temporarily disable your anti-virus software.

Follow the prompts to copy the program files to your computer:

Read and accept the license agreement before you can continuing with the installation. Enter an installation folder.

By default, PROKON is

installed in the 'C:\Prokon'folder. Optionally click

Change to choose a

installation folder. If youbrowse to 'C:\Program Files',for example, the suite will be

installed in 'C:\ProgramFiles\Prokon'.

Choose whether you want toset up program shortcuts forthe current logged in user(you) only, or for all users that

uses the computer.. Allow the Setup program to complete the installation


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Activating the programs

The above installation procedure copies all necessary program files to your computer. Toaccess the full capability of your licensed modules, you need to activate them. If you do notactivate your software, all modules will function in 'demo mode' a special mode with reduced

functionality meant for evaluation purposes.

To activate yourPROKONsoftware:

Run PROKON. On the Tools menu, choose Activate Programs, and then choose one of the displayed

activation methods: Direct Internet activation: This is the preferred

method, and instructs your PROKON software tocommunicate directly with the PROKON license

server for instantaneous activation. In some situations,e.g. restrictive corporate firewalls, the directcommunication may not work and you have to use to

one of the other methods below.

Browser: This method uses your web browser toexchange a Report Code and Return Code with the

PROKON license server.

E-mail: This method is similar to the browser method, except that it uses your emailclient, e.g. Microsoft Outlook, to exchange a Report Code and Return Code. Eventhough the PROKON license server responds to activation emails, possible delays in

email communication and spam filters make this method less desirable.

Phoning Prokon: If all else fails, use this option to call a Prokon branch foractivation assistance.

Enter the number of workstations to activate in Set 1 and Set 2. For a standaloneinstallation, you would typically not enter '1' workstation for Set 1 and/or Set 2.


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ClickOkto process the activation: If using the Direct Internet activation method, the result will be displayed within a

few seconds.

If using the Browser activation method, your web browser will display a page with aReturn Code that you should enter.

If you using the E-mail activation method, open your email client and send theactivation request message. The PROKONlicense server will reply automatic reply toyour message with a Return Code that you should enter.

When using the option to Phone Prokon, a Report Code will be displayed. Contactyour local Prokon branch and request a matching Return Code.

Note: For the Direct Internet activation method to work, your firewall should allowcommunication on TCP port 80 (HTTP) as well as 20 and 21 (FTP).

Deactivating an active workstation

Deactivation is a procedure similar to activation described on the previous page:

Run PROKONStructural Analysis and Design. On the Tools menu, choose Deactivate Programs, and then choose one of the

deactivation methods. As with activation, the Direct Internet deactivation method is the

preferred method for a instantaneous result.

If using one of the indirect methods, submit the Report Code to the Prokon license server(via your web browser, e-mail, or phoning Prokon). This step is essential to ensure that

your deactivation workstation(s) is correctly credited back to your license key on theProkon license server.

After deactivation, PROKON will operate in 'demo mode' a special mode with reducedfunctionality meant for evaluation purposes.

Note: Deactivating does not delete any files. Instead, all program and data files are left inposition to enable you to later activate the workstation again. To completely remove

PROKONfrom a PC, you must uninstall the software 1-15


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Activating a deactivated workstation

To reactivate a deactivated workstation, simply follow the activation procedure described on

page 1-9.

Installation, activation and deactivation suggestions

Here are a few suggestions to consider for simplifying your license management:

Use the Direct Internet method for activating and deactivating whenever possible. Thisallows for direct communication with the PROKONlicense server and instantaneousresults. Note that firewall restrictions on your company network may prevent this methodfrom working.

You can install PROKONon any number of standalone computers. However, activation ofthe programs will be limited to the number of available workstations. You can any time

deactivate an active workstation (storing it the PROKONlicense server) and then activateyour programs on another computer.

If you find that you have to deactivate and activate PROKONvery often, considerinstalling yourPROKONa USB memory stick (instead of a hard drive on your computer),and moving the memory stick from between computers.

If you have about five or more engineers using PROKONon a regular basis, consider anetwork installation instead of separate installations on standalone computers. Doing socan save you money (more optimal use of fewer licensed workstations) and will makeupgrading PROKONmore convenient (only one instance requires updating).


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Installing on a network

PROKONcan be installed on a network for simultaneous use by more than one person. Thenumber of simultaneous users will be limited to the number of workstations ordered, e.g. if

Set 1 has three workstations, then a maximum of three engineers can use that set at a time.

The network installation procedure has three steps:

1. Copying the program files to the server.2. Activating the programs for simultaneous use.3.

Configure folder permissions for network access

4. Configuring each workstation that will use PROKON.You do not need a dedicated file server to be able to install PROKONon your network. AnyPC on the network, even an ordinary PC connected to a peer-to-peer network, can be identifiedas the 'server' for the purpose of sharing PROKONon your network.

Note: To install PROKONon a server version of Windows, you may need to be seated atthe server (or accessing its desktop remotely) and logged in as an administrator.

Copying the program files to the server

The procedure for installing the program files to the server is the same as described from

page 1-8 for installing on a standalone computer. The only difference is that the target foldershould be located on the server, i.e. a shared drive or folder on the network. (If seated at the

server when performing the installation, this will off course be a local folder.)

Activating the programs for simultaneous use over the network

The procedure to activate the network instance of PROKON is the same as described onpage 1-9 for a standalone computer. There is one difference though, and that is that you wouldlikely want to activate not only one, but all the available workstations on the server.

Once activated on the server, PROKONis ready for use from multiple PCs on the network. No

further steps are required to make the license activation network-aware.

Note: When not activated, e.g. directly after the initial installation, the PROKONwill operatein 'demo mode' a special mode with reduced functionality meant for evaluation purposes.


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Configure folder permissions

To allow network users to access PROKONon the server, you need to adjust some folder

preferences. All installed folders may have read-only access except for the following foldersthat require full control:

The 'User'folder and sub-folders where each user's preferences are saved. The 'Prolock' folder contains the PROKON installation status and keeps a log of users

accessing the system.

The 'Data' folder is the default location for saving program input and output data. You willlikely have a different project storage location set up elsewhere on your network. Tochange the default storage location, set the Working Folder. See Chapter 2 for moreinformation.

Refer to page 1-6 for more detail regarding the PROKONfolder tree.

Configuring the network workstations to use PROKON

After successfully installing and activating PROKON on your server, configuring theindividual workstations is a simple case of creating a shortcut on each station.

To create a shortcut on a workstation:

Seated at the workstation, useWindows Explorer to browse to thePROKON prorgam folder on thenetwork, e.g. \\server\prokon\bin

Locate the file, 'Prokon32.exe' withinthe main program folder.

Right-click the file, select Sent To inthe context menu to appears, and then

choose Desktop (create shortcut)

Optionally rename the shortcut from'Prokon32.exe' to 'Prokon Structural

Analysis'.

Note: For a network installation it is not necessary to install the PROKONCD on eachindividual workstation.

Deactivating your network installation

The procedure to deactivate is identical that that for a standalone installation described on page1-10.


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Switching between Set 1 and Set 2

If your license key contains workstations on both Set 1 and Set 2, then you can switch betweenthem while using PROKON (assuming both sets have been activated on the computer or on the

network).

In the example used before, your license

key may contain some steel designmodules in Set 1 (Steel) and someconcrete design modules in Set 2

(Concrete). To switch between the two

sets, run PROKON, open the Settingsmenu, and select Username. You can thenedit your username and select the set ofprograms you want to use.

You set selection will remain active untilyour change it againMore detail regarding

the setting of a user name are in given inChapter 2.


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Uninstalling PROKON

To remove PROKONfrom a PC or network, follow the steps below:

Deactivate your PROKON license as described on page 1-10. Failure to deactivate yourlicense before uninstalling PROKONmay result in your license being destroyed.

Seated at the PC where PROKONis installed (or at the server in the case of a networkinstallation), open the Windows Control Pane.

Choose Uninstall or Change a Program (Add/Remove Programs in some versions ofWindows).

Select PROKONfrom the list and follow the steps to uninstall.As a safeguard, PROKON data is not erased during the uninstall procedure. If you wish toremove PROKONdata as well, then manually delete the PROKONinstallation tree see page

1-6 for more information.

Note: Before uninstalling , please deactivate the software first as discussed on page 1-10.


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Precautionary measures to protect your license

The activation status of your PROKONprograms may be damaged in some instances. Thefollowing situations require the programs to be deactivated first and activated again afterwards:

Moving the programs to another folder on a local or network drive. You are free to moveor copy data folders though.

Converting the hard disk file structure, e.g. from to FAT32 to NTFS. Upgrading of hardware, e.g. replacement of the hard disk.

Note: Disk defragmenting utilities can be used safely with PROKON.

To deactivate the PROKONsuite, follow the procedures described on page 1-10.

The importance of dates and times

The date are recorded as part of the suite's copy protection system. To prevent unnecessaryerrors, it is important that all relevant computers should have the correct date and time.


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Updating PROKON 1-17

Updating PROKON

The PROKONdevelopment team is continuously working at improving the software. Changesin design codes, support for additional design codes, new program features and occasional bug

fixes make for regular program updates.

Upgrade Eligibility

You are eligible for free program updates in the following cases:

If you have an annual rental agreement. If you have a maintenance agreement for your purchased PROKONsoftware. If you do not have a maintenance agreement but have purchased or upgraded your

PROKONsoftware less than 12 months ago.

Upgrading your Programs

You can use either of the following methods to update yourPROKONprograms: PROKON Live Update: An automated utility that downloads the latest versions of your

programs and installs them for you. This is the preferred method if you are already using

the current major version ofPROKON.

PROKON Service Pack: A package that contains all program modules for manualinstallation. This is the preferred method when upgrading from one major version ofPROKON to another, i.e. from an older version to the current version.

Tip: For up-to-date version information and update instructions, please refer to thefollowing web page: www.prokon.com/updates.


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Updating PROKON1-18

Using PROKON Live Update

The Live Update utility allows to you easily update all yourPROKONmodules to the latestversions. To use Live Update:

Close all running PROKONprograms except Calcpad. Launch Live Update from theTools menu in Calcpad. Alternatively, launch it from the PROKONgroup on theWindows Start Menu.

Live Update will automatically connect with the PROKONupdate server to retrieve thelatest version information. After a few moments, it will show which modules have updates

available.

Download and install the updates. Depending on your internet connection speed andanti-virus scanning, the process should complete in a few minutes.

Note: Firewall restrictions on your network can prevent Live Update from communicatingwith the PROKONserver. Please refer to the following web page for alternative update

options: www.prokon.com/updates.


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The PROKON Basics 2-1

Chapter

2The PROKONBasics

The basic principles of using PROKONare discussed in this chapter. Starting with the issuesyou need to address when using the program for the first time, e.g. setting up a working folder,the text progresses to everyday tasks like running analysis and design modules. The chapterends with explaining advanced procedures like creating an equation library and customising the

page layout for your projects.


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The PROKON Basics2-2

Quick Reference

UsingPROKONfor the First Time 2-3Using the Analysis and Design Modules 2-11Using the Table Editor 2-15Using thePROKONCalculator 2-23Working with Pictures 2-25Adding Text and Graphics 2-31Working with Equations 2-37Customising the Page Layout 2-47Configuring the Section Database 2-53Configuring the Material Database 2-57


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Using PROKON for the First Time 2-3

Using PROKONfor the

First Time

Depending on the shortcut options chosen during the installation procedure, you will be able to

run PROKONby double-clicking the shortcut on the Desktop or selecting it from the StartMenu.


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Using PROKON for the First Time2-4

Configuring PROKON

On launching PROKON, the main program, called Calcpad, is displayed. From here, you are

able to launch the individual analysis and design modules. Calcpad is also the application thatyou will use to collect analysis and design results and save them in project files.

Some aspects are best attended to immediately when using PROKONfor the first time:

Creating a user folder. Setting the preferred design codes, design parameters and units of measurement. Setting up a working folder. Selecting a wallpaper. Customising your project's appearance.

Note: When running PROKONfor the very first time, the default design codes and units of

measurement are automatically set to match your current Windows Regional Settings. Tocheck or change your settings, open Control Panel and double-clickRegional Settings.

Once you start using the PROKONanalysis and design modules, you will want to progress toworking with project files:

Entering a header for a project. Working with more than one project at a time. File management.Setting your user name

The PROKONsuite can be made to adapt to your style of working by automatically savingyour preferences in a user folder. Information recorded include:

Preferences: Design codes, units of measurement and custom sections. Display properties: Size and position of each module on the screen.To select your user folder or create a new one, open the Settings menu and choose User. The

user folder resides under the mainPROKON

program folder. If you use the system on anetwork, you will be able to select your user folder regardless of which workstation on thenetwork you use.


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If you are using multiple sets on a network

Your license key may include two sets of programs. You may, for example, have set 1configured with mainly steel design modules and set 2 with mainly concrete design modules. Ifconfigured this way, different users can use the respective sets simultaneously.

The set selected is saved as part of the

user preferences. In other words, usingthe example of separate steel designand concrete design sets, a steeldesigner needs to select the steel

design set only the first time he uses

PROKON. The next time he uses thesystem, he will automatically be

presented with the steel design set.

More details regarding the activating license keys and individual sets are in given in Chapter 2.

Selecting your preferences

During program installation, the default design

codes and units of measurement are automaticallyset according to your PC's regional settings, i.e. theinformation recorded in the Regional settingsfunction of the Windows Control Panel.

To change your preferred design code andparameters, use the General preferences commandon the Settings menu.

The design modules use the selected preferences todetermine the default values for design codes andrelevant design parameters. You can howevertemporarily override these setting using the Designcode, Units or Preferences command on a designmodule's File menu.

If a particular preference is not available in module,e.g. the preferred design code is not supported, themodule will automatically make a next-best

selection.


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Setting up a working folder

By default, all input andoutput data is saved in the

working folder. The first

time you use PROKON, theworking folder will be set to'. . .\Prokon\Data\Demo'.Once you get accustomed to

using the suite, it is

recommended that you createa new working folder foreach project you are workingon. Working folders can becreated in any convenient

location, be it on you ownhard disk or on the network.

To create a new workingfolder or select anotherexisting folder, open the

Settings menu and choose

Working Folder. When

naming a new workingfolder, you should use a valid

Windows folder name:

A folder name may contain up to 255 characters, including spaces. A folder name may not contain any of the following characters: \ / : * ? " < > |.Selecting a wallpaper

To personalise yourPROKONworkstation, you may want to display a wallpaper in Calcpad.To load a wallpaper, open the Settings menu and choose Wallpaper. The following limitations

apply to wallpapers:

Supported graphics formats include: Windows Bitmap (.bmp), Icon (.ico), Metafile (.wmf)and Enhanced Metafile (.emf). The wallpaper image is scaled to fit the Calcpad working area. Therefore, not all images

will necessarily look well.


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Working with project files

Apart from acting as a launch platform for the analysis and design modules, you can use

Calcpad to group analysis results and design calculations and then save all the information in aproject file.

You can use project files to keep a complete record of all your analysis and design calculations:

In an analysis or design module, the input data and results are typically collected on themodule's Calcsheets page from where you send it to Calcpad. For an explanation of theprocedure, refer to page 2-13.

Results obtained from the various analysis and design modules are then saved together in aproject file.

You can then use Calcpad to supplement the results from the analysis and design moduleswith additional design notes and pictures. Refer to page 2-31 for more detail.

Links are retained with each individual analysis via data file objects. These objects arevisible in the right-hand margin as yellow folders. Double-clicking a data file object recallsthe original input data in the relevant analysis or design module.

To perform calculations not covered in the scope of the design modules, you can useequationsa feature built into Calcpad. The use of the Equation Editor is explained onpage 2-37.

Entering a header for a project

The information at the top each page should be completed to reflect the designers name, thedate etc. To edit the header information:

Select the Headercommand from theEdit menu or double-click the header inCalcpad.

Type the informationfor each field.

To insert the currentdate, clickInsert date.

If you use similar headers for your different projects, you can save retyping information by

saving the header information. ClickSave as default to save the information and Load defaultto retrieve it.


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Click OK to apply the new header to the active project. The new header will apply to thecurrent and following pages. This allows you, for example, to use different people's names in

the Designed by field if more than one person is working on the same project file.

The composition of the header can be changed to suit your own needs by customising the page

template. For more details, refer to the customisation procedures explained from page 2-47.

Working with more than one project at a time

You can open more than one project in Calcpad at a time. The current selected project isreferred to as the active project. All results sent to Calcpad from the analysis and design

modules are placed in the active project.To select an open project and make it the active project, click its tab with the mouse.

File management

Use the File menu commands to open and save project files in the working folder or any otherlocation on your own computer or on a network drive that you have write access to:

To create a new project file, select New Project. To open an existing project file, use the Open Project command. Use Save Project to save the active project. To save a new, unnamed project file, use Save Project as. To close the active projects or all open projects, use Close Project orClose All. To open a recently used project file, click the file name at the bottom of the File menu.PROKONProject files as saved with the extension '.PPF' for easy recognition.

To open a project file on your hard disk or network

1. On the File menu, clickOpen Project.2. In the Look inbox, click the drive and folder that contains the document.3. In the folder list, double-click folders until you locate the folder that contains the

document you want.

By default, the file list is filtered to show only project files created by Calcpad. You canchange this by selecting All files in the Files of typebox, e.g. when wanting to open a textfile. You can also type a filter File name box; for example, type 'p*.*' to find all filesstarting with the letter p.

4. To change the appearance of the file list, click List orDetails. With Details selected, youcan click a column heading to sort the data files by name, size, date or type.


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5. Double-click the document you want to open.Saving a new, unnamed project file

1. On the File menu, clickSave Project.2. To save the project in a different folder, click a different drive in the Save Project inbox,

or double-click a different folder in the folder list.

3. To save the document in a new folder, clickCreate New Folder.4. In the File name box, type a name for the document. You can use long, descriptive file

names if you want. The program will automatically add an appropriate file extension.

5. ClickSave.Customising your project's appearance

Once you get accustomed to using PROKON, it is recommended that you use the proceduresexplained from page 2-47 to load another page template or create your own template.


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Using the Analysis and Design Modules 2-11

Using the Analysis and Design

Modules

To run a PROKON analysis or design module, click its icon on the shortcut bar or select it

from the Program menu. If a particular module's shortcut icon or menu item is dimmed, itmeans that the module is not included in your workstation.

A number of discontinued modules, notably Plastic Frame Analysis and Design and FiniteElement Slab Design are available on the Program menu only.


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Using the Analysis and Design Modules2-12

Using the analysis and design modules

The analysis and design modules follow a similar pattern. By familiarising yourself with a few

concepts, you should find using thePROKONsuite relatively simple and intuitive.

Setting the preferred design codes

Use the General preferences command on the Settings menu to select the design codes and

parameters to use. More detail of the procedure is given on page 2-5.

Similar layout

All modules present you with a number of tabbed pages or menus:

The File menu: Standard Windows commands are provided for opening and saving datafiles. The commands are similar to those described on page 2-8.

The Input page: All inputdata is entered on this page.In the case of some of thelarger analysis modules, e.g.the frame analysis modules,

this page will itself contain anumber of tabbed input

pages. Some modules alsoallow specialised inputtrough a separate Settingspage or button.

The Analysis or Designpage: Selecting this pagetypically starts the analysisand displays the results.

The Calcsheets page: Analysis and design results can be accumulated in a singlecalcsheet. You can choose between printing or sending the information to Calcpad.

The Drawings or Bending Schedules page: Most design modules are capable ofgenerating a detailed drawing or bending schedule of the designed element. Drawings andbending schedules can be edited and printed using Padds.

The Help menu: Access is provided to on-line Help topics and built-in Examples.To display a particular page or menu, click it with the mouse. Alternatively use F11 and F12 tomove forward and back between the pages.


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Using the Analysis and Design Modules 2-13

Data input

Except when using Padds for graphical input, e.g. for frames, all data is entered in tables. Datais normally evaluated immediately as entered. If invalid input is detected, a list of errors isnormally displayed.

Entered data is typically shown in Pictures that interact with the Table Editor to automaticallyupdate with every entry in the tables. Pictures can be zoomed and panned for more detail.Some pictures have visible zoom buttons, others not. However, all pictures can be zoomed byright-clicking it and using the pop-up menu. Pictures can also be saved as drawings.

The use of the Table Editor is explained in detail on page 2-15 and the manipulation of

Pictures on page 2-25.

Sending analysis results to Calcpad

After a successful analysis or design, you can group the results in a calcsheet. You can thenchoose to print or send the information to Calcpad. To send results to Calcpad:

Access the relevant module's Calcsheetspage. Use the Settings function to select the components to include in the calcsheet. You can

optionally select the Data File to have the input data saved as part of the Calcpadproject.

Note: In the case of some of the larger modules, e.g. the frame analysis modules, you needto first view the results and select individual components to be included in the calcsheet.

ClickSend to Calcpad to append the results to the active project in Calcpad.Saving input

You can use the File menu of a module tosave and open input data files. However, ifyou enable the Data File option before

sending a calcsheet to Calcpad, you canlater recall the input data by double-clickingthe relevant object in Calcpad. A data file

embedded in Calcpad is saved as part of aproject and does not need to be saved in therelevant module as well.

If you do save a data file in an analysis ordesign module, the file name extension willautomatically be set to the program number

for easy recognition, e.g. '.A03' for FrameAnalysis.


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Using the Analysis and Design Modules2-14

Using the online help

You can access context-sensitive help by pressing F1. Alternatively use the Help menu todisplay an overview of the program.

It is easier to update electronic information than printed manuals. Therefore, you mayoccasionally find that the on-line help is more up to date that the manual.

Updated help files are published regularly on the PROKONWebsite. Additional informationnot given in either the manual orHelp, e.g. answers to frequently asked questions and details

of program revisions, is also available on the PROKON Support Web. Refer to theintroduction of this manual to read more about support service included with your purchase ofPROKONsoftware.


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Using the Table Editor 2-15

Using the Table Editor

You can edit text in tables using the standard Windows functions, i.e. as employed by mostspreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Office Excel. The standard Windows functions are

supplemented with a number of special functions that speed up table editing.


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Using the Table Editor2-16

Moving around and editing text

You can move around in tables and edit cells in very much the same way as you do in your

favourite spreadsheet program.

Moving the cursor in a table

Use the arrow keys to move between cells. Press Enter to jump to the left-most cell in the

next row. Pressing Tab moves one cell to the right and Shift+Tab one cell to the left. If youpress Tab at the end of a row, the cursor will jump to the left-most cell in the next row.

Homejumps to the first cell in the row and End to the last. PgUp and PgDn moves one screenup or down. To jump to the top left or bottom right corner of the table, press Ctrl+Home or

Ctrl+End.

Tip: Click a cell with the mouse to quickly move the cursor to that cell.

Entering and editing text

To enter text into a cell, position the cursor on the cell and start typing. Press Enter or one ofthe arrow keys to accept the new text and move to a next cell. Depending on the key pressed,the cursor will move to a specific cell:

Pressing Enter accepts the entry and moves the cursor to the left-most cell in the next row. If you press the right, up or down arrow key, the cursor will move one cell right, up

or down.

If you wish to move one cell to the left, use Shift+Tab.Note: Some cells have special drop-down lists for selecting values. Depending on thespecific application, you may be able to select common values from the list or optionallytype values.

While entering or editing text, you can move left and right using the left and right arrow keys.To jump to the left-most or right-most positions, press Home orEnd. To move one word to theleft or right, use Ctrl with the left and right arrows.

To edit text in a cell, move the cursor to the cell and press F2 or double-click it. If you want toreplace the text in the cell rather than change it, simply retype the text without firstpressing F2.


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Deleting text

Press Del orBackspace to clear the current cell's contents. While entering or editing text in acell, Del and Backspace will delete one character to the right or left respectively.

Inserting lines

Press Enter to move to the first cell on the next line. To insert a blank line at the cursor,press Ctrl+I.

Finding and replacing textYou can search for and replace text in a

table by pressing Ctrl+F. This feature canbe especially handy when working withlarge tables, e.g. when entering nodes for aframe analysis.

To repeat the last search without firstopening the dialog box, press F3.


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Working with blocks

You can copy, move or delete cells using the block commands. These actions typically require

two steps:

Marking a cell or block of cells you can choose between using the normal Windowsmethods of selecting cells or the extended PROKONfunctions.

Using a block command to manipulate the block.Marking blocks

When marking blocks, you can choose between using the standard Windows functions and the

extended PROKONblock functionsthe behaviour of the resulting blocks are different.

Using the standard Windows functions

To select a cell or block of cells using standard Windows commands, use any of the following

procedures:

Click and drag the mouse to select a rectangular block of cells. Position the cursor on one of the corner cells. Press and hold Shift and then use the arrow

keys to move to the opposite corner.

Note: When marking a block this way, moving the cursor will undo the selection.

Marking persistent blocks

The extended functions allow you to mark persistentblocks, i.e. blocks that remain selectedeven if you move the cursor. Persistent blocks are marked as follows:

To select one or more rows, move the cursor to the first row and press Ctrl+L. Then moveto the last row and press Ctrl+L again.

To select one or more columns, move the cursor to the first column and press Ctrl+Kandthen move to the last column and press Ctrl+Kagain.

To mark a rectangular block of cells, position the cursor on the top left cell and then pressCtrl+B. To end the selection, move to the bottom right cell and press Ctrl+E.

Note: A persistent selection will remain active until unmarked with Ctrl+U. While the cellsare selected, you are free to move the cursor without the block being de-selected.


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Copying, moving or deleting cells

A selected cell or group of cells can be copied, moved or deleted using the standard Windowsfunctions or the extended PROKONblock functions.

Using the Windows clipboard functions

You can use the normal Windows clipboard Cut, Copy and Paste functions:

To copy a cell or block to the clipboard, press Ctrl+C. Alternatively right-click it andchoose Copy.

To cut a block, i.e. remove it from the table and copy it to the clipboard, press Ctrl+X.Alternatively right-click it and choose Cut.

To paste the clipboard contents into the table at the cursor position, press Ctrl+V.alternatively right-click and choose Paste. If you are pasting a block of cells, the currentcursor position will be taken as the top left corner of the block.

Examples:

To copy cells in the table, first select the cell or block of cells and Copy the information tothe clipboard. Then position the cursor to the new position and Paste the text.

To move one or more selected cells, Cut them to the clipboard and Paste them at the newposition.

To delete one or more selected cells, select and Cut them. Alternatively press Del to deletethe selected cells.

Copying, moving and deleting cells using persistent blocks

You can use the extended functions to mark persistent blocks and then copy and move textwithout using the Windows clipboard.

To copy one or more cells, first mark a persistentblock, move to the new position andthen press Ctrl+V.

To move a persistentblock, use Ctrl+M. To delete a persistentblock selection, use Ctrl+D.


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Advantages of using persistent blocks

The normal block selection functionality offered by Windows allows you to quickly mark anarea with the mouse or keyboard. However, the selection is cancelled as soon as you move thecursor. In contrast, persistentblocks offer the following advantages:

You are allowed to move the cursor while defining the selection, without cancelling theselection. You could, for example, move up or down in the table without undoing theselection.

You do not need to first Copy orCut information to the Windows clipboard - while apersistent block is selected, you can Paste orMove it directly.

You can quickly mark persistent blocks using the keyboard.Copying text from another program

You may sometimes find it easier to generate tables of values using another application, e.g.your favourite spreadsheet program. Relevant information can then be copied to a PROKONtable (or from PROKONto the other program) using the Windows clipboard:

Select relevant text and Copy it to the clipboard. Press Alt-Tab to swap to the destination program or click it on the Windows Task Bar. Position the cursor and Paste the information from the clipboard.


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Summary of commands

Moving around:

Arrows : Move one cell up, down, left or right.

Enter : Jump to the first cell in the next row.

Tab : Move one cell right.

Shift+Tab : Move one cell left.

Home : Jump to the first cell of the current row.End : Jump to the last cell of the current row.

Ctrl+Home : Jump to the top left corner of the table.

Ctrl+End : Jump to the bottom left corner of the table.

Del : Delete the cell at the cursor.

Ctrl+Y : Delete the line at the cursor (irrespective of any block selected).

Backspace : Delete the cell at the cursor and open it for editing.

Ctrl+I : Insert a blank line.

Ctrl+F : Find or replace text

Editing cells:

F2 : Edit the cell at the cursor.

Left/right : Move the cursor inside the text.

Ctrl+left/right : Move the cursor left or right one word.

Up/down : Accept the changed text and moves to the adjacent cell.

Enter : Accept the changed text and jumps to the first cell in the next row.

Del : Delete the character to the right.

Backspace : Delete the character to the left.

Marking persistent blocks:

Ctrl+A : Select all cells.

Ctrl+B : Mark the top left corner of a rectangular block.

Ctrl+E : Mark the bottom right corner of a rectangular block.

Ctrl+K : Mark the first or last column of a block.


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Ctrl+L : Mark the first or last line of a block.

Ctrl+U : Unmark the current block.

Clipboard commands

Ctrl+C : Copy the block to the clipboard.

Ctrl+X : Cut the block to the clipboard.

Ctrl+V : Paste the clipboard to the cursor position.

Persistent block commandsCtrl+V : Copy the persistent block to the cursor position

Ctrl+M : Move the persistent block to the cursor position.

Ctrl+D : Delete the block.


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Using the PROKON Calculator 2-23

Using the PROKONCalculator

Use the PROKONcalculator for basic calculations. You can copy a result to the Windowsclipboard and then paste it into Calcpad or an input table of a design module.


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Using the PROKON Calculator2-24

Using the Calculator

Use the PROKONcalculator for basic calculations. You can copy a result to the Windows

clipboard and then paste it into Calcpad or an input table of a design module.

During installation, the calculator can be configured to automatically load when Windowsstarts. If so, the calculator will be visible in the Windows system tray that is typically locatedin the bottom right corner of the screen, i.e. next to the clock.

Clicking its icon or pressing Ctrl+1 can display the calculator. Toclose the calculator, click Exit or press Esc. On closing, the

calculator will return to its idle status in the system tray.

To close the calculator and remove it from memory, right-click itsicon and choose Close.

Doing calculations

Operation is similar to a conventional hand-held calculator:

Enter an equation using the normal mathematical operators. To enter a mathematical function, click the relevant button or write out the function. Simplify complex equations by enclosing portions in brackets. Press Enter to display the result. To remove the displayed equation and continue working with the result, press Clear left.Sending calculation results to other programs

The result of a calculation can be copied to the Windows clipboard for reuse in anotherprogram:

ClickCopy or press Alt-C to copy the result to the clipboard and close the calculator. In the relevant application, e.g. Calcpad or an input table of a design module, use the

Paste command or press Ctrl+V to paste the value.

Tip: When using a Dos module, press Ctrl+Z to display a calculator. Use F10 to send theresult back to the module's input table.


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Working with Pictures 2-25

Working with Pictures

The analysis and design modules often have pictures linked to the input tables to make dataentry interactive and more intuitive. Pictures are also often used to present analysis results.


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Working with Pictures2-26

Zooming and panning pictures

You can 'zoom in' to get a close-up view of a picture. Some pictures have Zoom buttons for

this purpose. If a picture does not have such buttons, you can still zoom it by right-clicking thepicture and choosing a command from the pup-up menu.

The following zoom commands are normally available for all pictures:

Window: Indicate a rectangular area to zoom into. All: Display the whole picture, based on the size defined internally for the

background. Last: Revert to the last zoom setting. Extents: Display the whole picture, based on the drawn entities. In: Zoom in by 50%. Out: Zoom out by 50%. Pan: Drag the project in any direction to view an adjoining portion. Print: Send the picture to the printer.

Saving pictures

In addition to the Zoom button commands, the right-click pop-up menu also allows you tosave the picture in the following file formats:

PAD: Fully editable Padds drawing. PIC: Prokon picture file. EMF: Enhanced Windows metafile, readable by many graphics and

presentation packages.

DXF: 2D or 3D DXF drawings for use in other CAD systems.In some modules, e.g. the frame analysis modules, a special button may is available

for adding a picture to the Calcsheets.


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Working with 3D pictures

Because of their nature, some analysis and design modules need to display

3D pictures. The commands available for 3D pictures are:

Window: Indicate a rectangular area to zoom into. All: Display the visible portion of structure from the current view point. Last: Revert to the last zoom setting. Extents: Display the complete structure, moving forward or back if necessary. In: Zoom in by 50%. Out: Zoom out by 50%. Pan: Drag the project in any direction to view an adjoining portion. You can

also click and drag the picture using the middle mouse button.

Print: Print the current view of the structure. Viewpoint: Display the View Point Control dialog box for defining the view

point and other view characteristics.

View plane: Display the View Plane Control dialog box for defining a viewplane.

Rotate left: Rotate the structure to the left about the Y-axis. The rotation angleis defined in the View Point Control dialog box.

Rotate right: Rotate the structure to the right about the Y-axis. Rotate up: Rotate the structure backward. Rotate down: Rotate the structure forward. Orbit: Rotate the image freely about the centre of the model. Alternatively, hold

the Shift key, and rotate the image with the picture using the middle mousebutton.

Detailed settings

Some modules allow detailed configuration of pictures. In the frame analysismodules, for example, you can access the Graphics Options to enable or disabledisplay of node numbers, global axes etc. Pictures can also be rendered in 3D or

shown as simple line diagrams.


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View point control

Use the view Point Control Dialog function to define the viewpoint and other view properties:

View point: Imagine viewing the structurethrough a camera lens. The view point is then

defined as the position of the camera. Enter theview point coordinates or use the Walkfunctionto move the camera by the distance defined asthe Step size.

View direction: The direction in which thecamera is aimed. The default position is thecentre of the structure. Enter the view direction

or use the Turn function to rotate the camerathrough the angle defined as the Turn angle.

View angle: The lens angle. A larger angle willshow more of the structure in a close-up

situation.

Projection: Choose between using an orthogonal or perspective projection. The latter givesa more realistic view of the structure. However, you may get a distorted picture whenusing a large view angle in a close-up situation.

Elevations: For a quick view from the top or one of the sides, choose a positive or negativeX, Y or Z-elevation.

Perpendicular on view-plane: If a view plane is set, you can move the view point to beperpendicular to it.

Default: Moves the view point to a position that looks down at the centre of the modelwith a view direction of equal amount along the positive X, Y and Z-axes (i.e. dX, dY anddZ all equal to -1.00) and zooms to the model extents.

Tip: The default view angle of 50 works well with perspective projections of structures. Ifyou cannot see the complete structure, the view point is probably to near to the structure.Reset the View Point using the Default button or use the Zoom extents function to moveback far enough to view the complete structure.

The View Point Control dialog box can be left open while you work in the program. You canalso use the zoom and pan functions while the dialog box is open.


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View plane control

When viewing a complicated 3D structure, you may often find it difficult to identify points inthe structure. Use the View Plane Control function to define only certain planes to be viewed.View planes can be defined in three ways:

Nodes: Enter or use the mouse to indicatethree nodes that describe a plane. The planedoes not need to vertical or horizontal.

Axis: Define a view plane perpendicular tothe X, Y, or Z-axis. Enter the position along

the indicated axis.

Coordinates: Enter three 3D coordinates todescribe a plane.

Enter a view plane thicknessto define how much of the

structure should be visible.

Click Clear to restore thesettings to displaying the wholestructure. Click Apply to make

the entered view plane takeeffect. Click Close to close thedialog box

The View Plane Control dialogbox can be left open while youwork in the program. You can

also use the zoom and panfunctions and the View PointControl while the dialog box isopen.

Tip: If your PC's screen resolution permits, you may move the View Point Control andView Plane Control dialog boxes to one side so as not to clutter the display of the

underlying program.


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Saving and recalling views

You can use viewpoints and view planes to displaythe whole structure or portions of it in convenientways, e.g. a plan view of a floor of a multi-storey

building. You can save each combination of viewpoint and view plane as a view for later re-use.

Some pictures display the name of the current

view and allow you to select another saved view byclicking the view name.


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Adding Text and Graphics 2-31

Adding Text and Graphics

The analysis output generated by the various analysis and design modules will providenormally sufficient detail of your designs. However, you may want to enhance your project

files by adding additional design notes, pictures and even additional calculations.The procedure to write and edit text and to insert and manipulate pictures in Calcpad is

described in the following text. Equation writing is explained from page 2-37.


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Adding Text and Graphics2-32

Writing and editing text

You can use Calcpad as a simple word processor to write and edit text. You may possibly find

that you can use the exact same or similar editing and formatting commands as in yourfavourite word processor.

Typing text

Type text as you would in any other word processor or text editor.

Typing over existing text

Press the Ins key to toggle between overtype and insert modes. In overtype mode, you will

replace existing text as you type, one character at a time.

Replacing selected text

Select the text to be replaced and start typing to replace it.

Inserting symbols or special characters

You can insert Greek symbols and other special characters using the Symbol command on the

Insert menu. You can also insert a character or symbol by typing the character code on thenumeric keypad, e.g. 'Alt-225' inserts the character.

Insert the date and time in a project

You can insert the current date or time in a project using the Date command on the Insertmenu.

Insert a text file

To insert a complete text file, use the Text File command on the Insert menu. To insert only aportion of a text file instead:

1. Open the text file using the Open Project command on the File menu. Change the Files oftype field to 'All files' and select the file.

2. Select and copy the relevant text using the procedures described on page 2-35.Deleting text

Use Del and Backspace to delete a character to the left or right. To delete words or paragraphs,

select the text and press Del.


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Changing the appearance of text

To change the appearance of text, e.g. underline text or numbers:

1. Select the text you want to change.2. On the formatting toolbar, select a font or click a style or point size.

The change will be applied to the selected text only or, if you did not select any text, to new

text from the cursor position and further.

You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U to make text bold, italicor underlined.

When changing font style of text with mixed style, the style will toggle between normal,formatted and mixed, e.g. all normal, all bold and mixed normal and bold.

Check spelling

Click the Check Spelling button in the toolbar to check the spelling of text in the document.The built-in dictionary includes terminology commonly used in structural engineering.

Note: Prior to version 2.5, the spell checker required Microsoft Office to be installed. This

is no longer the case in the current version.

Moving around in a project

You can scroll through a project by using the mouse or shortcut keys.

To scroll through a project by using the mouse:

Scroll up one line: Click the up arrow on the scroll bar. Scroll down one line: Click the down arrow on the scroll bar. Scroll up one screen: Click above the scroll box.

Scroll down one screen: Click below the scroll box. Scroll left: Click the left arrow on the horizontal scroll bar (if displayed). Scroll right: Click the right arrow on the horizontal scroll bar (if displayed).


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After scrolling, click where you want to start typing. To move the cursor using the keyboard:

Move up or down one line: Press the Up or Down arrow. Move up or down one screen: Press PgUp orPgDn. Move left or right one word: Press Ctrl+Left orCtrl+Right. To jump to the beginning or end of the current line: Press Home orEnd. To jump to the first or last lines in the project: Press Ctrl+Home orCtrl+End.

To move to the reference column on the far right: Press Ctrl+Tab.Using graphics in yourproject

Graphics can be used to supplement text and serve to enhance your projects. Inserted graphicscan be moved, copied and resized.

Inserting a graphic

Use the commands on the Insert menu to insert graphics:

To insert a Windows Bitmap or Metafile: ClickPicture and select the file. To insert a Padds drawing: ClickDrawing and select the file.Moving and resizing graphics

To move a graphic:

1. Select the graphic byclicking it.

2. Drag it to the new position.To resize a graphic:

1. Select the graphic.2. Drag the graphic's edge to

change its horizontal orvertical size.

3. Drag one of the graphic'scorners to proportionally

change its horizontal orvertical size.


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Moving and copying text and graphics

You can move or copy text and graphics within a project, between projects, or between

Calcpad and another program.

Selecting text and graphics to move or copy

You can select text and graphics by using the mouse or shortcut keys. To select text and

graphics using the mouse:

To select any amount of text, drag over the text. To select a graphic, click it. To select a whole word, double-click the word.Using the keyboard, select text by holding down Shift and pressing the same key that movesthe cursor. To extend a selection:

One character to the left or right: Shift+Left orRight arrow. To the beginning or end of a word: Ctrl+Shift+Left orRight arrow. To the beginning or end of a line: Shift+Home orEnd. One line up or down: Shift+Up orDown arrow. One screen up or down: Shift+PgUp orPgDn. To the beginning or end of the project: Ctrl+Shift+Home orEnd. To select all the words in a line: Ctrl+L. To select the entire project: Ctrl+A.Moving or copying text and graphics

To move or copy text and graphics:

1. Select the text or graphics you want to move or copy.2.

To move the selection, clickCut or press Ctrl+X.

3. To copy the selection, clickCopy or enterCtrl+V.4. If you want to move or copy the text or graphics to another document, switch to it.5. Click where you want your text or graphics to appear.6. ClickPaste or press Ctrl+V.


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Zooming a text and graphics

You can 'zoom in' to get a close-up view of a project or 'zoom out' to see more of the page at a

reduced size. Use the Zoom buttons or right-click the project for a pop-up menu with zoomcommands:

Window: Indicate a rectangular area to zoom into. Margin: Display the whole page width between the left and right margins. Page: Display the whole page. Last: Revert to the last zoom setting. In: Zoom in by 50%. Out: Zoom out by 50%. Pan: Drag the project in any direction to view an adjoining portion. Page up: Scroll one page up. Same as pressing PgUp. Page down: Scroll one page down. Same as pressing PgDn.


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Working with Equations 2-37

Working with Equations

You can use the Equation Editor to create your own equations in Calcpad. The EquationEditor is also used to edit existing equations or save equation objects for re-use in future,

e.g. create a library of equations


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Working with Equations2-38

Inserting and editing equations

To open the Equation Editor for inserting or editing an existing equation:

To insert a new equation: Choose Equation from the Insert menu. To edit an existing equation: Select and right-click the equation. Then choose Edit from

the pop-up menu.

To create or edit an equation, work through the different pages to create an equation object:

Equations: Use one or more lines to enter equations. When creating a new equation, thispage is displayed first.

Variables: Assign a value to each variable used on the Equationspage. When editing anexiting equation, this page is displayed by default.

Settings: Choose how the equations should be displayed and optionally attach a picture.Note: When sending a series of equations to Calcpad, the equations are grouped together asa unit, called an equation object.


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Entering equations

Enter one or more lines of equations on the Equationspage. Equations are written in 'normal

English' and then automatically displayed in the correct mathematical format.

Writing equations

A few simple rules apply when writing equations:

Like when using a simple calculator, use 'normal English' to write an equation theequation is automatically formatted for you. For example, if you want to enter the equation

y = a x2+ b x + c, enter 'y=ax^2+bx+c'.

The mathematical operators that can be used include +,, /, and ^. Use parenthesis to simplify an equation, e.g. for

dcba

enter 'y=(a+b)/(c+d)'.Use

multiple lines for a sequence of equations. Variable values are inherited by equations thatfollow. Refer to page 2-44 for more detail on using a series of equations.


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Defining variables

A variable can be a single letter or several letters and/or numbers, e.g. a, a2 and ab. Theprogram intelligently takes care of formatting variables with sub-scripting and italic characters.

The following simple rules apply:

Enter numbers using normal or scientific notation. Example, '0.002' and '2E-3' has thesame meaning.

When entering a variable, the second and following characters are used as sub-scripts, e.g.enter 'abc' to get abc.

Variables are case sensitive, e.g. 'a' and 'A' are seen as two different variables. A variable cannot start with a number. Using '1' and 'a' separately yields a valid number

and variable respectively, but entering '1a' is not allowed.

Using Greek symbols

Greek symbols are treated exactly like normal letters. To create a Greek symbol, enter a hash

before the equivalent Roman letter, e.g. enter '#S' and '#s' to getand respectively.

The following rules apply:

Greek symbols are case sensitive, e.g.

and

are seen as two different variables. You may mix Greek symbols with normal characters.

Note: The Greek symbolsand are reserved and cannot be used as variable. Their valuesare fixed at 3.141593 etc. You may however use the symbol e as a normal variable.

Entering normal text

Normal text entries, e.g. headings and comments, are distinguished from equations by

enclosing or preceding them in double quotes, e.g. "Comments" or "Comments without atrailing quote.


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Using mathematical functions

You can use the built-in mathematical functions as necessary, e.g. 'sqrt(...)' to determinethe square root of an expression. Built-in functions include:

Trigonometry

Normal functions

Arc functions

sin, cos, tan

asin, acos, atan

Logarithmic functions

ln, log

Other functions

Square root

Absolute value

sqrt

abs

Additional functions can be derived using the standard mathematical operators and functions.A few simple examples include:

Instead of using the built-in square root function, you may determine the square root andother roots as follows: cba can be entered as 'a=sqrt(b+c)' or

'a=(b+c)^(1/2)

Ifa = log(b), then b = 10a, which is entered as 'b=10^a'. Trigonometric functions are inter-dependent, e.g.

tan

1cot . To enter the equation

a = cot(), type 'a=1/tan(#h)' or 'a=(tan(#h))^(-1)'.


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Assigning values to variables

Assign values to variables on the Variablespage. A list of all variables used on the Equations

page is displayed:

Assigned variables: Variables that are not calculated but require values to be assigned tothem are listed first.

Calculated variables: Variables denoting equation results are listed last. The values forthese items are typically shown as 'EqX:Y', where X is the relevant row number in thetable on the Equations page and Y is the equation result.

To explain the symbols, an image can be displayed alongside the list of variables. Refer topage 2-42 for more information on using images with equations.


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Equation settings

The Settingspage is used to configure the display properties of an equation object:

Title: You can enter a title for an equation object. When inserting the equation in Calcpad,the title can optionally be displayed above it.

Image: An image can be loaded and optionally displayed when inserting the equation inCalcpad. The image is also displayed on the Variablespage.

Numeric format: You can choose to display equation results in decimal, scientific orengineering format.

Font: Select a font, style and height to use for the equation.


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Advanced techniques

Once you have mastered the basic functions of the Equation Editor, you may want to proceed

to creating more sophisticated equation objects.

Using units of measurement

You may enhance your equations by adding units of measurement. Units are designated by

enclosing them in curly brackets.

The following rules apply:

The unit should be written in curly brackets immediately after the variable. You may use a mathematical operator to create derivatives of units, e.g. use 'm^2' form2. You may use either Metric or Imperial units.Examples:

To determine the circumference of a circle in feet, you may enter 'Circ{ft}=#p*r{ft}'.The result in Calcpad will be:

To calculate the area of a circle in square meter, you may enter 'A{m^2}=#p*r{m}^2'.The result will be:

r = 2.5m

= p r2. = 19.635 m2

Note: The program does not evaluate the consistancy of units within equations.

Using a series of equations

When entering multiple lines of equations, all assigned and calculated values of variables are

carried over to equations down the list a characteristic referred to as inheritance. This allowsyou to break complex equations into smaller pieces, making them a lot easier to write andverify. It also allows you to use multiple inter-dependent equations in a complex calculation.


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Conditional branching

You can use the inheritance characteristic of equations to your further advantage. Bycombining inheritance with conditional branching, you can create equation objects that canintelligently adjust for different values of the variables.

To create a conditional branch:

Define the condition using the 'if' statement, e.g. 'if a>b' will do something only ifa isgreater than b. For comparison, you may use the operators , =, >= and K'"

z=d*(0.5+sqrt(0.25-K'/0.9))

x=(d-z)/0.45

A's{mm^2}=(K-K')*fcu*b*d^2/(0.95*fy*(d-d'{mm})

As{mm^2}=(K'*fcu*b*d^2)/(0.95*fy*z) + A's (end of second branch)

In the example, the first conditional branch causes K' to determined differently for different

values of the percentage of redistribution, %RD. Further, by comparing the values ofKand K',

additional compression reinforcement is calculated when necessary.


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Creating an equation library

You can use the File menu commands to save and recall alluseful equations.

The advantages of saving equation objects in a library willbecome obvious once you have created a number of intelligentequation objects comprising multiple equations and conditional

branching.

You are free to save your equations in any folder on your PC or

on the network. Using a dedicated and well-structuredfolder is recommended to ensure easy access to a large libraryof equations.

Use the Open command on the File menu to retrieve an equation object from disk. Whenworking with an existing equation, the Variables page is displayed automatically, i.e. the

program assumes that you want to reuse the equations with new values.

The usability of an equation library can be greatly enhanced by using titles and pictures with

equations, even if you do plan on displaying them when inserting equations in Calcpad.Equation objects with descriptive titles and explanatory pictures are easier to use, especially ina multi-user environment. Refer to page 2-42 for information on equation titles and pictures.


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Customising the Page Layout 2-47

Customising the Page Layout

By default, projects are displayed on a framed page with the PROKONlogo. The top portion ofthe page, called the header, also includes a number of pre-defined fields like 'Designed by',

'Date' etc. The page layout and header items are collectively referred to as a template.


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Customising the Page Layout2-48

Selecting another template or creating a new template

You can select one of the other pre-defined templates or create your own using the Page Setupcommand on the File menu:

To select a template, clickSelect template. To modify an existing template or create a new one, clickEdit template. ClickOKto close the Page Setup dialog box.

The following templates are available when you run PROKONfor the first time:

Default: The default template with frame and PROKONlogo. For a start, you may want toreplace the PROKONlogo and contact details with your own.

Frame:No-frills template with a frame only. This template offers a larger workspace. Nothing: A blank template, in case you prefer printing on blank sheets.


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Creating your own template

A template is defined using a simple scripting language that has been derived from the Paddsmacro language. In essence, the script is a series of two-letter commands similar to thekeyboard shortcuts used in Padds.Several new commands have been introduced to for special

effects like setting margins.

To create a new template, it may be easiest to modify an existing template:

1. ClickEdit template to open the template script in the Text Editor.2. Use the Save As command on the File menu to save the template with a new name.3. Edit the script as necessary.4. Choose Save on the File menu to save the script.5. To preview your new template, press Alt-Tab to swap back to the Page Setup dialog box

or select it from the task bar.

6. ClickSelect template and open the new template.7. To make further modifications, swap back to the Text Editor.

Repeat steps 3 to 7 until you are satisfied with the new template.

8. Finally close the Text Editor and the Page Setup dialog box to return to Calcpad.Script commands

A number of script commands are available to draw lnes, write text and define special items.

All commands use parameters, i.e. values, to define certain entities. Parameters are separatedwith spaces or commas.

The template script commands can be categorised as follows:

Global page layout:

XO Xleftand YO Ybot : Define the origin, or reference point, from where all entities aremeasured, e.g. 'XO 5' and 'YO 7.5' . The position of the origin is measured from thebottom left corner of the page. In fact, if you do not enter an origin the bottom left corner

of the page will be used. You may repeatedly redefine the origin the last definition isused for subsequent lines in the script.

MA Mleft,Mbot,Mright,Mtop : Set the left, bottom, right and top margins in millimetres, e.g.'MA 15,15,285,195'. The margins define the workspace in Calcpad and the values aremeasured from the origin rather than the edges of the page. The margin command does notdraw any lines.


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Customising the Page Layout2-50

RT colpos : Right column tab stop, measured in millimetres from the origin, e.g.'RT 170'. The design modules use the right column for code references and othercomments.

Graphics:

BM Xleft,Ybot,Xright,Ytop,filename : Insert a Bitmap image and stretch it between thecoordinates Xleft,Ybot and Xright,Ytop , e.g. 'BM 5,261,34.6.5,2779.5,LOGO.BMP'. TheBitmap is assumed to reside in the same folder as the template file. For the best printing

results, the bitmap should be sized so that it can be placed at true size, e.g. an image of 700pixels wide by 300 pixels high, placed 29.6mm wide by 12.7mm high should print well at

600 dpi.

Line drawing:

LT thickness: Set the line thickness in millimetres, e.g. 'LT 0.25'. LL X1,Y1,X2,Y2: Draw a line from the coordinate X1,Y1 to X2,Y2, e.g. 'LL 5,10,5,110'

to draw a vertical line 100mm long.

Text:

TF font,style: Set the font and style, e.g.'TF Times New Roman, Normal' TS size: Set the text height in points, e.g. 'TS 11'. TT Xleft,Ybot,text: Write text at the coordinate Xleft,Ybot , e.g. 'TT 5,10,Project No'.Header items:

HI Xleft,Ybot,Xright,Ytop,description: Insert a header item in the rectangle defined by thecoordinates Xleft,Ybot and Xright,Ytop, e.g. 'HI 150,270,Designed by'. In Calcpad, theheader item is later referenced by its description. See page 2-7 for details on enteringheader information.

Other:

Comments can be written after two slashes, e.g. '//comment'.


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Example

Below is an abstract from the Default template script:

XO 15 // X Origin

YO 15 // Y Origin

BM 1,260, 41,267 PROKON.BMP // Load Bitmap x1,y1,x2,y2

LT 0.3 // Line Thickness mm

LL 0, 0,186, 0 // Line x1,y1,x2,y2

LL 0,248,186,2

prokon prog manual

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