topic Re: Editing load cases in excel? in Robot Structural Analysis Forum

Different manual combination table

Konrad.O — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 08:21:27 GMT

WIP

A copy of the archived "Different manual combination table" topic:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/robot-structural-analysis-forum/editing-load-cases-in-excel-api/m-p/8...

Editing load cases in excel? API?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 May 2017 14:27:37 GMT

In order to create envelope diagrams, I'm about to create separate load cases for each span of a 30-span bridge and both symmetric and asymmetric loads. Is there a way to edit the load cases i excel, or do I have to create them all in Robot?

Thank you!

@Anonymous Artur Kosakowski marked Rafal Gawenda's post as the solution. If it did not work as an answer, please post your reply in this thread so that I can unmark the solution.

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:06:13 GMT

You could do it in excel then export the cells to a text file. If you rename the file as Robot text file (.str), then you can import it.

The text file would probably look like this.................you could automate that easily in excel

COMbination # 150 1.2DL + 0.4LL [PLAT] + 1.2LL [EQUIP] + 1.0 WIND [Z]
 ULS
10 1.2 20 0.4 30 1 21 1.2 2 1.2 1 1.2 

COMbination # 160 1.2DL + 0.4LL [PLAT] + 1.2LL [EQUIP] + 1.0 WIND [X]
 ULS
10 1.2 20 0.4 31 1 21 1.2 2 1.2 1 1.2

The API guru's probably know a better way to do it though........

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:15:29 GMT

Thanks. I'm not sure if we're talking about the same though. You seem to be listing load combinations whereas I'm working on load cases and Robot's "Load Types" dialog box (see image). Is your method still relevant? If so, where do I find the import function for *.str files?

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:25:58 GMT

well, the same would apply.

I'd save an existing Robot file as .str so you get the format. Then you can add your load cases......I've used the method a few times

eg....

LOAds

CASe # 1 DEAD LOAD
SELf-weight
	1to30 

CASe # 2 SDL

etc etc

Then you can insert.....

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:54:52 GMT

Bjorn,

Some explanations:

Using Excell without VBA

- not possible to create simple case by ordinary copying by clipboard contents of excel file to robot Loads table

- possible to add \ modify loads to existing load cases by copying by clipboard (of course cells data \ order should be the same as in robot Loads table \ Edition tab ; keep in mind that some excell cells may need to have cells format Numerical instead of General)

- possible to create combinations this way but without controlling its number ; modification possible

Using Excell WITH VBA

- you can do whatever you want if you write small macro

I am attaching simple macro to create (not modify - to do so it is needed to add some code to macro) Simple cases - Basic tab in attached Excel file

There is another macro on Combinations tab where you can define (not modify - to do so it is needed to add some code to macro) combinations and then generate them in Robot basing on cases from Basic tab. In this file as a default 20 cases can be used , if you need more cases - add more columns and specify correctly data in cells in row 4

STR File:

If you want to play with it (NOTE: not all kind of loads are supported by this format for eg panel \ countour loads) :

- syntax described here : "c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Structural\Help\2012\R97mod01.doc" ;

some str file examples can be found here: c:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Examples\Example.001

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:56:18 GMT

Small modifications in macros codes to enable modification of existing cases \ combinations.

Excel file attached.

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:46:22 GMT

Rafal,

As always your spreadsheets are awesome and super helpful.

BUT: I trialled the combination modification one last night. I had 20 or so combinations already in my model. There is no button on the spreadsheet to import to excel the EXISTING cases / combinations. So I cut and paste instead.

Then I change some factor definitions etc, then hit the button to update my Robot file. The Combinations went completely crazy. Some combinations that only had 3 cases ended up with 5 or 6.

So, being too lazy / inept / bad at code to modify your sheet by myself (), is there any chance it could be updated to;

Allow dumping the existing cases / combinations into Excel,
Fix the minor bug experienced when reimporting.

I know you just sit there all day with nothing to do anyway, waiting to write VBA for me...............

Tony

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:53:27 GMT

Thank you for your replies! I haven't had the time to try your solutions yet, as my project stopped, but I'll give it a go as soons as I have the chance. I really appreciate this forum an all of its helpful users! Awesome stuff!

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:30:59 GMT

Tony,

Then I change some factor definitions etc, then hit the button to update my Robot file. The Combinations went completely crazy. Some combinations that only had 3 cases ended up with 5 or 6.

You can not copy easyly combinations from Robot. Take a look at cells order in robot Combinations table:

casenumber ; coeff; casenumber ; coeff....

In Excel : cases are "columns" so in cells of combination rows you need only coeffs in proper columns.

I know you just sit there all day with nothing to do anyway, waiting to write VBA for me...............

Send me beer-pack 😉 firts

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:34:16 GMT

Gift for You 😉 attached.

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:00:52 GMT

Rafal,

Whats your address for the courier with the case of beer?

Cheers,

Tony

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:44:04 GMT

Small update in attached file.

Possibility to make nested combinations.
Limitation: max 23 simple cases can be used; But of course xls and macro can be modified to handle more. Have fun :-)There are just 26 columns for combinations in sheet but if you want more just create columns like precedent ones (contents of row 3 and 4) - no modification of macro is required in this case.

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Romanich — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:24 GMT

Dear Rafal,

If I understand correctly, for now we can't read/write Subnature type via API. Maybe I'm wrong?

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:01:41 GMT

we can't read/write Subnature type via API.

We can read it by .NatureName

Unfortunately we can not set subnature by API.

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Romanich — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:08:46 GMT

Unfortunately we can not set subnature by API.

Could you create Development Request for this issue please? Because this is a very need for work with Revit+Robot.

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:41:56 GMT

My mistake - it is possble:

SetNatureExt (_rgl_action : long)

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

Rafal.Gaweda — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:21:25 GMT

Updated xls with subnatures

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

jo2ny — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:26:09 GMT

This xls file is candy! Very nice!

But greed makes me wonder if there is some kind of excel like this that can generate also combinations.

I usualy have the same loads & combinations (fewer than the automatic generator makes). I could edit them in excel once, and use them whenever i need in the future.

So my question was, is there a tool for doing this (generation of loads and comb form excel) ?

Thanks,

Re: Editing load cases in excel?

jo2ny — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:47:38 GMT

FOUND IT!

Never mind previous post!