etabs Post

retug March 03, 2022

Diaphragm Slicer - ETABs API

The Tool

One feature that I like to use in ETABs is the section cut tool, but it is quite cumbersome to utilize in practice:

Notice how you have to enter (4) valid points to define a section cut... a time consuming process. I love to …

retug October 03, 2022

One Way Load Distribution In ETABs

I have used ETABs one way load distribution button for a long time and it works great on flat floors and "slightly sloped roof" to distribute load based on tributary area.

Today though, a coworker of mine noticed on a slightly more pitched roof, angle of about 30 degrees, the …

retug January 07, 2023

ETABs API - More Examples (Database Tables)

Sparked by a reddit inquiry, I have added an example on my github to access the database table results using the ETABs API. The python code can be found on github.

The Code

The example code works to access the joint reaction database table results from ETABs v20.

retug January 28, 2023

The Beginnings of an ETABs Plugin

My first "Hello World" addin for ETABs is shown above. No matter how many times you see it, it is always satisfying to get Hello World to print out.

To make the addin, I followed Jeremy's examples on his website. Big thanks to him and his …

retug February 02, 2023

Having nailed down the initial steps of creating a plugin, I set out to do some real functional work with the plugin. Being naive, I went off the deep end to begin programming the diaphragm slicer, but was quickly met by a sea of syntax …

retug March 07, 2023

Diaphragm Slicer New and Improved

A long time coming... a professional level plugin for ETABs, or at least a whole lot better than the python diaphragm slicer.

User Input

Results

This plugin will allow you to slice up your diaphragm in …

retug April 23, 2023

Transfer Diaphragm Design

I have been working through some complicated diaphragm designs with a newer engineer recently and have been learning a lot about transfer diaphragms. I realized I was falling into some pitfalls and it was good working through this with the newer engineer. One of the great things …

retug August 16, 2023

Section Cutter - ETABs Plugin

Install

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUDt8zJYAoc

How to use

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XXPHafNQQ

A major upgrade to the section cutter tool, section cuts are now centered on the first and last location where they pass through constituent area geometry. An astute engineer in our office noticed that …

retug February 28, 2024

Section Cut Tool Upgrades

The Section Cut Tool got a big upgrade:

Ability to plot multiple load steps for a load case that contains multiple directions of loading.
- Seismic X, Seismic X +e, etc.
- Currently only supports ASCE 7-16 and ASCE 7-22 seismic loads. If …

retug April 16, 2024

E2R - ETABS Revit Connection Tool

After the development of R2R, RAM Structural to Revit connection tool, I wanted to make an E2R, ETABS to Revit connection tool. Below are some screenshots of the newly developed tool.