Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection

[KentTP]

Hi Guys,

Our structural engineering team is very interested in using your tools within our current workflow but are experiencing some issues with connecting Excel with Etabs (pushing and pulling data). Is there any chance of one of your team members doing a quick demo for me and another colleague to help us better understand how to to use the tools correctly? If not, is there and additional documentation/videos (the wiki page seems quite limited) that we could use that could help guide us?

[IsakNaslundBh]

Hi @KentTP ,

I quickly hacked together a small spreadsheet showing how to create some bars and push them over to etabs, see attached:

Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx

This is creating some bars, by setting some node coordinates, creating end-points, picking sections from the section library and setting an orientation angle.

It is currently set up to push to ETABS17, but you should be able to switch to be using ETABS16/18 adapters as well.

I should add that I created the sheet working out of code compiled on my machine, not from the 4.0 beta released last December. There is a new 4.1 Beta coming out in roughly 3 weeks time that should be working with the sheet in case the current installer does not. In case it does not work, the principles should be the same, and I hope you can use it as a guidance for setting something up.

Should also add that we normally do not handle geometrical objects such as Bars in excel, but generally use grasshopper for that. Excel has been mostly useful for keeping track and constructing cases and combinations as well as custom section properties. Decided to showcase the bars here though, as it gives a clearer visualisation in ETABS.

Hope this is helpful!

[KentTP]

Hi Isak Thanks for this, much appreciated. Is there a way to push data to an existing Etabs file from Excel rather then creating a new Etabs model every time? Kind regards, Kent Theobert Pretorius From: Isak Näslund <notifications@github.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 3:14 AM To: BHoM/admin <admin@noreply.github.com> Cc: KentTP <Ktp@live.co.za>; Mention <mention@noreply.github.com> Subject: Re: [BHoM/admin] Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection (#16) Hi @KentTP<https://github.com/KentTP> , I quickly hacked together a small spreadsheet showing how to create some bars and push them over to etabs, see attached: Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx<https://github.com/BHoM/admin/files/6115319/Create.and.push.columns.to.Etabs.xlsx> This is creating some bars, by setting some node coordinates, creating end-points, picking sections from the section library and setting an orientation angle. [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/110620338-30954380-8199-11eb-87ad-74ea228b3bd6.png> [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/110620417-4571d700-8199-11eb-8eba-822c37355ec7.png> It is currently set up to push to ETABS17, but you should be able to switch to be using ETABS16/18 adapters as well. I should add that I created the sheet working out of code compiled on my machine, not from the 4.0 beta released last December. There is a new 4.1 Beta coming out in roughly 3 weeks time that should be working with the sheet in case the current installer does not. In case it does not work, the principles should be the same, and I hope you can use it as a guidance for setting something up. Should also add that we normally do not handle geometrical objects such as Bars in excel, but generally use grasshopper for that. Excel has been mostly useful for keeping track and constructing cases and combinations as well as custom section properties. Decided to showcase the bars here though, as it gives a clearer visualisation in ETABS. Hope this is helpful! — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AS7X4HDEF4DVRTU7FORSWYLTC5IAPANCNFSM4Y4GDA7A>.

[IsakNaslundBh]

Thanks for this, much appreciated. Is there a way to push data to an existing Etabs file from Excel rather then creating a new Etabs model every time?

Hi Kent, yes it is.

Some ways, any of the bellow should work:

1. Open up the Etabs model you want to work with before you activate the adapter. The adapter should then be connecting to the model you currently have open.
2. or, After the adapter has started up Etabs, before you push any data, open the model you want in the Etabs menu as usual.
3. or, Input the file path into the adapter in excel. Find attached slightly tweaked version of the excel file.

Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx

Would add that I would not have more than 1 ETABS window running at the same time while working with the adapters, to make sure it is attached to the model you want it to be!

[KentTP]

Great, thanks! Really appreciate your assistance. Just as fyi, I work for WSP in Canada and our national structures department is looking into incorporate your tools into our digital workflows. Will therefore make sure to credit BHoM we submit for the annual CanBIM awards this year. Kind regards, Kent Theobert Pretorius From: Isak Näslund ***@***.***> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 12:14 AM To: BHoM/admin ***@***.***> Cc: KentTP ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [BHoM/admin] Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection (#16) Thanks for this, much appreciated. Is there a way to push data to an existing Etabs file from Excel rather then creating a new Etabs model every time? Hi Kent, yes it is. Some ways: 1. Open up the Etabs model you want to work with before you activate the adapter. The adapter should then be connecting to the model you currently have open. 2. After the adapter has started up Etabs, before you push any data, open the model you want in the Etabs menu as usual. 3. Input the file path into the adapter in excel. Find attached slightly tweaked version of the excel file. [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/110755673-7d385780-8249-11eb-8ef2-bcb57289d629.png> Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx<https://github.com/BHoM/admin/files/6121402/Create.and.push.columns.to.Etabs.xlsx> Would add that I would not have more than 1 ETABS window running at the same time while working with the adapters, to make sure it is attached to the model you want it to be! — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AS7X4HC263YXSPMOEAOT75DTDB3U3ANCNFSM4Y4GDA7A>.

[IsakNaslundBh]

Great, thanks! Really appreciate your assistance.

No worries, glad I can help!

Just as fyi, I work for WSP in Canada and our national structures department is looking into incorporate your tools into our digital workflows. Will therefore make sure to credit BHoM we submit for the annual CanBIM awards this year.

That is great, thanks! Looking forward to see how that goes!

Also, would be interesting to know how you use the tools. Anything you can share would be interesting! 😃

[KentTP]

Is there any BHoM functions with excel to update elements? For example, if I create a wall with a length of 5m using BHoM in Excel and change the length parameter to 7m the wall, Etabs will then generate a 2nd wall instead of updating the original wall from 5m to 7m. Kind regards, Kent Theobert Pretorius From: Isak Näslund ***@***.***> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 1:00 AM To: BHoM/admin ***@***.***> Cc: KentTP ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [BHoM/admin] Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection (#16) Great, thanks! Really appreciate your assistance. No worries, glad I can help! Just as fyi, I work for WSP in Canada and our national structures department is looking into incorporate your tools into our digital workflows. Will therefore make sure to credit BHoM we submit for the annual CanBIM awards this year. That is great, thanks! Looking forward to see how that goes! Also, would be interesting to know how you use the tools. Anything you can share would be interesting! 😃 — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AS7X4HFQAYNO3F4NDBG25DLTDHJZFANCNFSM4Y4GDA7A>.

[KentTP]

Hi Isak Trust you are well. I’m trying to use BHoM to extract node reactions from Etabs into excel. Can you perhaps provide with a sample excel file that demonstrates the building blocks of how to do this? Your help would be appreciated. Kind regards, Kent Theobert Pretorius From: Isak Näslund ***@***.***> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 1:00 AM To: BHoM/admin ***@***.***> Cc: KentTP ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [BHoM/admin] Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection (#16) Great, thanks! Really appreciate your assistance. No worries, glad I can help! Just as fyi, I work for WSP in Canada and our national structures department is looking into incorporate your tools into our digital workflows. Will therefore make sure to credit BHoM we submit for the annual CanBIM awards this year. That is great, thanks! Looking forward to see how that goes! Also, would be interesting to know how you use the tools. Anything you can share would be interesting! 😃 — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AS7X4HFQAYNO3F4NDBG25DLTDHJZFANCNFSM4Y4GDA7A>.

[IsakNaslundBh]

I’m trying to use BHoM to extract node reactions from Etabs into excel. Can you perhaps provide with a sample excel file that demonstrates the building blocks of how to do this? Your help would be appreciated.

Hi Kent,

Sure, have updated the sheet I previously sent to you to include this:

Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx

It works based on the "Pull" functionality together with the result Requests:

And selecting the type of result you want to pull using the following enum as the first input to the request:

You can also filter out specific Ids and cases. Not providing anything for them will pull all.

Hope this helps!
Isak

[KentTP]

Hi Isak Thanks for this. The spreadsheet you sent me works well but when I try to use the “explode” function is does not work (in your spreadsheet and my own). My colleague tried it on his computer and works perfectly using the same spreadsheet I used but does not want to work on my computer, any thoughts? ***@***.***D72177.8109B1C0] ***@***.***D72177.8109B1C0] *Does not want to array it… Kind regards, Kent Theobert Pretorius From: Isak Näslund ***@***.***> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 2:07 AM To: BHoM/admin ***@***.***> Cc: KentTP ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [BHoM/admin] Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection (#16) I’m trying to use BHoM to extract node reactions from Etabs into excel. Can you perhaps provide with a sample excel file that demonstrates the building blocks of how to do this? Your help would be appreciated. Hi Kent, Sure, have updated the sheet I previously sent to you to include this: Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx<https://github.com/BHoM/admin/files/6195665/Create.and.push.columns.to.Etabs.xlsx> It works based on the "Pull" functionality together with the result Requests: [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/112283302-4bcb7d00-8c88-11eb-8a7c-01412fd54284.png> And selecting the type of result you want to pull using the following enum as the first input to the request: [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/112283533-88977400-8c88-11eb-9a88-e74d23b69cd3.png> You can also filter out specific Ids and cases. Not providing anything for them will pull all. Hope this helps! Isak — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AS7X4HAYT6O4APIQSCAN7IDTFGTSRANCNFSM4Y4GDA7A>.

[KentTP]

Hi Isak Quick question for you, we are now using BHoM with Grasshopper to generate FEM models for us successfully but we cant get BHoM to update elements (extents, length and etc). Basically it leaves the original object there and creates a new object with a modified length, resulting in 2x elements on top of each other…any advice? The follow commands does not seem to work… ***@***.***D74D6F.ECC2B190] ***@***.***D74D6F.ECC2B190] Kind regards, Kent Theobert Pretorius From: Isak Näslund ***@***.***> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 2:07 AM To: BHoM/admin ***@***.***> Cc: KentTP ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [BHoM/admin] Excel - Etabs Adaptor Connection (#16) I’m trying to use BHoM to extract node reactions from Etabs into excel. Can you perhaps provide with a sample excel file that demonstrates the building blocks of how to do this? Your help would be appreciated. Hi Kent, Sure, have updated the sheet I previously sent to you to include this: Create and push columns to Etabs.xlsx<https://github.com/BHoM/admin/files/6195665/Create.and.push.columns.to.Etabs.xlsx> It works based on the "Pull" functionality together with the result Requests: [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/112283302-4bcb7d00-8c88-11eb-8a7c-01412fd54284.png> And selecting the type of result you want to pull using the following enum as the first input to the request: [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/22005920/112283533-88977400-8c88-11eb-9a88-e74d23b69cd3.png> You can also filter out specific Ids and cases. Not providing anything for them will pull all. Hope this helps! Isak — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AS7X4HAYT6O4APIQSCAN7IDTFGTSRANCNFSM4Y4GDA7A>.