topic Re: Open and read from .str file using Python in Robot Structural Analysis Forum

Open and read from .str file using Python

Mouhammad_mazzaz — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 19:25:49 GMT

Hi,

can someone help me, I am trying to extract some data from the str file using python
the thing is that I am able to read the data and print it but I can not search for the data using the line.startswith

how to deal with .str using python

this is a small example not the full code

with open(SourceFile,"r") as file: # where SourceFile = Structure.str

for line in file:

if line.startswith(" NODes \n"😞 # search for a keyword

printing = True

continue # go to next line

elif line.startswith(" ;CON"😞

printing = False

break #quit file reading

if printing:

print(line, file=PointsFile) # where PointsFile = a txt file to save the extracted points data to it

PointsFile.close()

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Stephane.kapetanovic — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:06:40 GMT

hi @Mouhammad_mazzaz

I imagine you want to use the *.str files to perform outside non-running reads outside of Robot otherwise you can use the API.

At first glance, yes for reading nodes, for a start and a code used once, why not.

Only the first three letters are enough and they vary depending on the language.

For the startwith function you could replace it with contains + 3 letter code.

To stop, the "CON" code of the contours is not always the one following the nodes but any code can interrupt the previous one including END at the end of the file.

Nodes may also contain variable pitch repeat codes and are not always a contiguous list of coordinates, there may be also line breaks. So, you need to create a file reading pattern depending on the active code used.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/robot-structural-analysis-forum/str-reference-manual/td-p/3191542

Best regards

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Mouhammad_mazzaz — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:48:22 GMT

Hi @Stephane.kapetanovic
Thanks for the reply, Thats helps me alot.
I was actually asking myself that question does the node ends by the contour line every time
so what do you think the best way to transfer the model from robot to other software such as CSI ETABS
let's say the user does not have a license for RSA, and he reviced the concept model as an rtd and str files
and he need to develop the SD or the DD model (schematic or detailed design ) using other software
then the only way is using a tool reads the elements from the str file
I know it could be a lot information missing but it is still better than starting modeling from zero
and believe me it does specially if you have a huge model

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Stephane.kapetanovic — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 10:06:45 GMT

hi @Mouhammad_mazzaz

Given the age of this software and the expertise of members of this forum and elsewhere, it's highly likely that this conversion method already exists for many of us, in various forms. Note that you can use VB, C#, or Python, to name just the most common options.

Best regards

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Mouhammad_mazzaz — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 19:22:12 GMT

Unfortunate there is no such a tool, I've searched and I found only 1 tool and it is quite expensive.

So I tried to do something similer using python and C#

Anyway lets hope one of the experts will reply on this topic

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Romanich — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 11:56:35 GMT

Hi @Mouhammad_mazzaz ,

Are you talking about Geometry Gym?

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Mouhammad_mazzaz — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 18:12:12 GMT

Hi Romanich,
No It was a tool I saw it in youtube video, but I think Geometry Gym does not have a tool to convert between robot and etabs direct,

I think the only way it can be done through grasshopper, robot to grasshopper then grasshopper to Etabs.
which can be done through the revit
ROBOT TO REVIT then REVIT TO CSI ETABS

I am trying to find a solution for those does not have a robot or they do not know how to work on robot

and I am struggling here with the options.

I've learned some basic in C# and python and I need to work on a real examples so I can implement my programming skills into my work

I would love to share any thing with me .

Thanks in advance

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

JacquesGaudin — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:07:22 GMT

Hi @Mouhammad_mazzaz ,

Have you considered exporting the robot model geometry as a dxf file and import it in other softwares?

I found that parsing text files is like opening a can of worms: the code is usually complex, bug-prone and hard to maintain.

Using the dxf export may save you a few headaches.

If you have a good reason to parse str files yourself, you would need to use `while` loops to loop over the various sections of the str file to extract the relevant information.

Jacques

Re: Open and read from .str file using Python

Mouhammad_mazzaz — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 07:45:02 GMT

DXF will export the geometry only.