Category Archives: Uncategorized

So there you are, designing away, when you come across a strange bird: a very long column. Or is it a very short wall? Where exactly is the line between the two? The implications can be significant: · Columns require … Continue reading →

In ETABS 9, it was possible (although not easy) to import a model to SAP. ETABS 2013 does not yet offer this capability directly, but CSI is developing an ETABS-SAP translator. They graciously shared a beta version with me, and … Continue reading →

Dear New York, Congratulations on taking the title away from us. You’ve been through a lot, and you deserve it. This race isn’t over yet, though. Your friend, Chicago P.S. Our pizza is still better.

It sounds like an obscure hipster band name, but it’s actually an error you may see in ETABS 2013: “Bad Function Data”: This will occur if you import an ETABS 9 model with an auto-generated response spectrum function (e.g., an … Continue reading →

You and I both want to use ETABS 2013 and gain access to the faster analysis times and new features. But we haven’t made the plunge, at least in part because we might lose work if we get a week … Continue reading →

CSI changed the default background color in ETABS 13 to white. If this really bothers you and you feel a compulsion to change it back, just use the following easy-to-remember keyboard sequence: Alt+O,C,D What do you think: coincidence or CSI … Continue reading →

No career comes with a manual. There is truly no substitute for experience in any field, most especially structural engineering. As I near the end of my first decade as an engineer, I have learned a few things that I … Continue reading →