GETTING STARTED

with SAP2000®
Linear and Nonlinear
Static and Dynamic Analysis and Design of
Three-Dimensional Structures

ISO SAP121520M1 Rev. 0

Proudly developed in the United States of America December 2020
 COPYRIGHT

Copyright  Computers and Structures, Inc., 1978-2020

All rights reserved.

The CSI Logo® and SAP2000® are registered trademarks of Computers and Structures,
Inc. Watch & LearnTM is a trademark of Computers and Structures, Inc. Windows is a
registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are registered
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

The computer program SAP2000® and all associated documentation are proprietary and
copyrighted products. Worldwide rights of ownership rest with Computers & Structures,
Inc. Unlicensed use of this program or reproduction of documentation in any form,
without prior written authorization from Computers & Structures, Inc., is explicitly
prohibited.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any

means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior explicit written
permission of the publisher.

Further information and copies of this documentation may be obtained from:

Computers & Structures, Inc.

www.csiamerica.com

[email protected] (for general information)

[email protected] (for technical support)
 DISCLAIMER

CONSIDERABLE TIME, EFFORT AND EXPENSE HAVE GONE INTO THE

DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THIS SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, THE USER
ACCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDS THAT NO WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED BY THE DEVELOPERS OR THE DISTRIBUTORS ON THE ACCURACY
OR THE RELIABILITY OF THIS PRODUCT.

THIS PRODUCT IS A PRACTICAL AND POWERFUL TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL

DESIGN. HOWEVER, THE USER MUST EXPLICITLY UNDERSTAND THE BASIC
ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOFTWARE MODELING, ANALYSIS, AND DESIGN
ALGORITHMS AND COMPENSATE FOR THE ASPECTS THAT ARE NOT
ADDRESSED.

THE INFORMATION PRODUCED BY THE SOFTWARE MUST BE CHECKED BY

A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED ENGINEER. THE ENGINEER MUST
INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE RESULTS AND TAKE PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INFORMATION THAT IS USED.
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Thanks are due to all of the numerous structural engineers, who over the years have given
valuable feedback that has contributed toward the enhancement of this product to its
current state.

Special recognition is due Dr. Edward L. Wilson, Professor Emeritus, University of

California at Berkeley, who was responsible for the conception and development of the
original SAP series of programs and whose continued originality has produced many
unique concepts that have been implemented in this version.
 Contents

Chapter 1 Welcome to SAP2000

Program Levels and Features 1-1

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Installing SAP2000 2-1
If You are Upgrading... 2-1
About the Manuals 2-2
“Watch & Learn™ Movies” 2-3
CSI Knowledge Base 2-3
Technical Support 2-3
Help Us to Help You 2-4

Chapter 3 The Structural Model

Units 3-2
Objects and Elements 3-3
Groups 3-4
Coordinate Systems and Grids 3-5
Properties 3-5
Functions 3-6
Load Patterns 3-7
Load Cases 3-8
Load Combinations 3-10

i
SAP2000 Getting Started

Design Settings 3-11

Output and Display Definitions 3-12
Learning More 3-13

Chapter 4 The Graphical User Interface

The SAP2000 Screen 4-1
Main Window 4-1
Menu Bar 4-2
Toolbars 4-3
Display Windows 4-4
Status Bar 4-4
Using the Mouse 4-5
Viewing Options 4-6
2-D and 3-D Views 4-6
Perspective 4-6
Pan, Zoom, and 3-D Rotate 4-7
Limits 4-7
Set Display Options 4-7
Other Options 4-8
Refreshing the Display Window 4-8
Basic Operations 4-8
File Operations 4-9
Defining Named Entities 4-10
Drawing 4-11
Drawing Objects 4-12
Snap Tools 4-13
Drawing Controls 4-14
Selecting 4-14
Selecting Graphically 4-16
Selecting by Feature 4-17
Selecting by Coordinates 4-17
Selecting using Tables 4-18

ii
 Contents

Editing 4-18
Assigning 4-19
Undo and Redo 4-20
Analyzing 4-20
Run Analysis 4-21
Model-Alive Feature 4-22
Displaying 4-22
Graphical Displays 4-22
Model Definition 4-22
Analysis Results 4-23
Named Displays 4-24
Function Plots 4-24
Tabular Displays 4-24
Designing 4-25
Locking and Unlocking 4-26
Entering Numerical Data 4-26
Setting Options 4-27
Getting Help 4-28

Chapter 5 Working with Data Tables

Classification of Tabular Data 5-1
Model Definition 5-1
Analysis Results 5-2
Design Results 5-2
Tables and Fields 5-2
Uses for Tabular Data 5-3
Selecting using Tables 5-4
Formatted Tables for Presentation 5-4
Structured Database Tables 5-5
Displaying Tabular Data 5-5
Printing Tabular Data 5-7
Creating a Report 5-8

iii
SAP2000 Getting Started

Advanced Report Writer 5-8

Format Control for Display and Printing 5-9
Interactive Table Editing 5-9
Exporting Tabular Data 5-10
Importing Tabular Data 5-11
Automatic Export During Save 5-13
Export During Analysis 5-13
Tabular Database File Formats 5-13
Microsoft Access Database 5-14
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet 5-14
Plain Text File 5-14
More Information 5-15

iv
 Chapter 1
Welcome to SAP2000

SAP2000 represents the most sophisticated and user-friendly release of the

SAP series of computer programs. When initially released in 1996, SAP2000
was the first version of SAP to be completely integrated within Microsoft
Windows. It features a powerful graphical user interface that is unmatched
in terms of ease-of-use and productivity. Creation and modification of the
model, execution of the analysis, and checking and optimization of the
design, and production of the output are all accomplished using this single
interface. A single structural model can be used for a wide variety of
different types of analysis and design.

Program Levels and Features

The latest release of SAP2000 is available in four different analytical levels
that all share the same graphical user interface: Basic, PLUS, Advanced, and
Ultimate.

All of these programs feature sophisticated capabilities, such as fast equation

solvers, force and displacement loading, non-prismatic frame elements,
tension-only braces, line and area springs, post-tensioning tendons, highly
accurate layered shell elements, Eigen and Ritz modal analysis, multiple
coordinate systems for skewed geometry, many different constraint options,

1-1
SAP2000 Getting Started

the ability to merge independently defined meshes, a fully coupled 6-by-6

spring stiffness, and the option to combine or envelope multiple dynamic
analyses in the same run.

The SAP2000 PLUS program adds unlimited capacity, moving load live-load
analysis capabilities, a complete range of finite elements, frequency-domain
analysis (both steady-state and power-spectral-density types) and time-
history and buckling analysis options. Ground motion effects with multiple
base excitations can be included.

The SAP2000 Advanced level extends the PLUS capabilities by adding a 64-
bit based analysis engine (requires a 64-bit processor), a nonlinear link
element (gaps, hooks, isolators, dampers, and multi-linear plasticity), a
multi-linear plastic hinge for use in frame elements, a fiber hinge, a
catenary cable element, a nonlinear shell element, and geometric
nonlinearity. Analysis capabilities include static nonlinear analysis for
material and geometric effects, including pushover analysis; and nonlinear
time-history analysis by modal superposition or direct integration.

The SAP2000 Ultimate level includes all of the nonlinear capabilities of the
Advanced level and adds the following powerful features:

 Staged construction, with time-dependent effects

 Offshore wave and wind loading
In general, the Advanced or Ultimate levels are required to perform
nonlinear analyses, with the exception being that a nonlinear analysis may
be run in any of the program levels for P-Delta analysis, and when using
tension/ compression only frame members.

All of the programs feature powerful and completely integrated design for
steel, concrete, aluminum, and cold-formed steel, all available from within
the same interface used to create and analyze the model. The design of steel
and aluminum frame members features initial member sizing and iterative
optimization. The design of concrete frame members includes the
calculation of the amount of reinforcing steel required. Design stresses and
tension reinforcing for concrete shells may also be displayed, calculated
from the resolved tension-compression couple. Members can be grouped for

1-2 Program Levels and Features

 Chapter 1 - Welcome to SAP2000

design purposes, and a single mouse click on an element accesses the

detailed design calculations. A wide variety of the latest national and
international design codes are supported, and more are being added all the
time.

All SAP2000 data, including model information, analysis results, and design
results, can be accessed using a tabular data structure. Tabular data can be
edited and displayed in the interface, or exported to a Microsoft Access
database file, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file, or a simple text file. Data
can be exported to create reports or to perform specialized calculations. This
same tabular data can be imported into SAP2000, enabling models to be
generated or modified outside SAP2000. Import and export capabilities also
exist for other popular drafting and design programs.

An Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI) is available for

SAP2000. The OAPI provides developers of products for CADD and 3D
modeling seamless and efficient access to all of the sophisticated analysis
and design technology of SAP2000. Third-party developers can now create
rich and tight two-way links with SAP2000, allowing for accurate transfer
of models into SAP2000, complete control of SAP2000 execution, and
extraction of analysis and design information from SAP2000, all from
within their applications. The OAPI is compatible with most major
programming languages, including Visual Basic Applications (VBA).
Anyone familiar with Visual Basic programming should find the SAP2000
OAPI syntax easy and intuitive.

The SAP name has been synonymous with state-of-the-art analytical

solutions since the introduction of SAP, SOLIDSAP, and SAP IV more than
forty years ago, followed by its implementation on the PC with SAP80 and
SAP90. Building on this history of sophisticated numerical techniques,
SAP2000 adds a tremendously easy and complete graphical user interface
linked with powerful design capabilities. The result is an analysis and design
program unequaled in efficiency and productivity that is used by thousands
of engineering firms in more than one hundred countries.

Program Levels and Features 1-3

 Chapter 2
Getting Started

SAP2000 is a full-featured program that can be used for the simplest

problems or the most complex projects. This chapter describes
program installation and support options.

Installing SAP2000
Please follow the installation instructions provided in the separate
installation document included in your SAP2000 Package, or ask your
system administrator to install the program and give you access to it.

If You are Upgrading...

If you are upgrading from a previous version of SAP2000 (Version 11
and earlier), you should be aware that there has been a significant
change in nomenclature regarding loading:

 The term "load pattern" replaces "load cases" of previous versions.

 The term "load cases" replaces "analysis cases" of previous versions.

 The term "load combinations" has not changed.

2-1
SAP2000 Getting Started

These changes are being made consistently in all future releases of CSI
products. These are simply changes in terminology; the concepts
remain the same.

Load patterns are spatial distributions of effects that act upon the
structure, including forces, displacements, temperature, and the like.
Load patterns by themselves do not produce any analysis results. Load
cases define how load patterns are to be applied: statically or
dynamically, linearly or nonlinearly, in what sequence, and so on.
Load cases produce analysis results that can be displayed and output.
The results of load cases can be combined in load combinations. Load
combinations are used as the basis for design

We recommend that new and experienced users alike read the

remainder of this manual to familiarize themselves with SAP2000.
Please also see the topic “SAP2000 News” in the Help facility within
the program to learn more about the new and improved features in
SAP2000.

About the Manuals

This manual is designed to help you quickly become productive with
SAP2000. The next chapter gives an introduction to the basic concepts
of the graphical user interface and overall use of the program.

The SAP2000 Introductory Tutorial manual is intended to provide

first-time users with hands-on experience using the modeling,
analysis and design features of SAP2000.

It is strongly recommended that you read this manual and work the
tutorial before attempting a project using SAP2000.

Additional information can be found in the on-line Help facility

available within the SAP2000 graphical user interface, and in the
other manuals supplied with the program. The manuals are available
in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and can be accessed from within the
program using the Help menu. They include the following:

2-2 About the Manuals

 Chapter 2- Getting Started

 CSI Analysis Reference Manual, containing information about

the advanced modeling and analysis features of the program

 Various SAP2000 design manuals, containing detailed design

features specific to supported design codes

 SAP2000 Verification Manual, containing examples showing

the capabilities and verifying the accuracy of the analytical
features of the program

“Watch & Learn™ Movies”

One of the best resources available for learning about the SAP2000
program is the “Watch & Learn™ Movies” series, which may be
accessed through the CSI web site at https://www.csiamerica.com.
These movies contain a wealth of information for both the first time
user and the experienced expert, covering a wide range of topics from
basic operation to complex modeling.

CSI Knowledge Base

CSI maintains a knowledge base containing answers to frequently
asked support questions as well as additional insights on program
operation. This is a good first stop before contacting technical support
because many of the most common, as well as some esoteric questions
are answered here. This page is fully indexed and searchable, and may
be found at https://wiki.csiamerica.com.

Technical Support
If you have questions regarding use of the software, please:

 Consult the documentation and other printed information

included with your product.

 Check the on-line Help facility in the software.

 Visit the CSI Knowledge Base at https://wiki.csiamerica.com.

“Watch & Learn™ Movies” 2-3

SAP2000 Getting Started

If you have a current Maintenance Agreement you may request

support in one of the following ways:

• Send an email and your model file to

[email protected] or your local CSI Partner.

• Visit CSI’s website and Customer Support Portal at

https://www.csiamerica.com.

• Call CSI or your local CSI Partner. Contact details are

available at https://www.csiamerica.com/contact.

Be sure to include the necessary information listed in the ‘Help Us to

Help You’ section whenever you contact technical support.

Help Us to Help You

Whenever you contact us with a technical support question, please
provide us with the following information to help us help you:

 The program level (Basic, PLUS, Advanced, or Ultimate) and

version number that you are using. This can be obtained from
inside the program using the Help menu > About SAP2000
command.

 A description of your model, including a picture, if possible.

 A description of what happened and what you were doing

when the problem occurred.

 The exact wording of any error messages that appeared on

your screen.

 A description of how you tried to solve the problem.

 The computer configuration (make and model, processor,

operating system, hard disk size, and RAM size).

 Your name, your company’s name, and how we may contact

you.

2-4 Help Us to Help You

 Chapter 2- Getting Started

 If calling, please be at your computer where you can run the

software.

Help Us to Help You 2-5

 Chapter 3
The Structural Model

SAP2000 analyzes and designs your structure using a model that you
define in the graphical user interface. The model consists primarily of
the following types of components:

 Units

 Objects

 Groups

 Coordinate systems and grids

 Properties

 Functions

 Load patterns

 Load cases

 Load Combinations

 Design settings

 Output and display definitions

3-1
SAP2000 Getting Started

The graphical user interface provides many powerful features to

create a model. Start with a preliminary model, and then use the
SAP2000 design-optimization feature to refine the model with little
effort.

The topics in this chapter describe these components in a little more

detail.

Units
SAP2000 works with four basics units: force, length, temperature, and
time. The program offers many different compatible sets of force,
length and temperature units to choose from, such as “Kip, in, F” or
“N, mm, C.” Time is always measured in seconds (except for creep,
shrinkage, and aging effects, which are measured in days).

An important distinction is made between mass and weight. Mass is

used only for calculating dynamic inertia and for loads resulting from
ground acceleration. Weight is a force that can be applied like any
other force load. Be sure to use force units when specifying weight
values, and mass units (force-sec2/length) when specifying mass
values.

When a new model is started, SAP2000 will ask the user to specify a
set of units. Those units become the “base units” for the model.
Although input data may be provided and output data can be viewed
in any set of units, those values are always converted to and from the
base units of the model.

Angular measure always uses the following units:

 Geometry, such as axis orientation, is always measured in

degrees

 Rotational displacements are always measured in radians

 Frequency is always measured in cycles/second (Hz)

3-2 Units
 Chapter 3 - The Structural Model

Objects and Elements

The physical structural members in the model are represented by
objects. Use the interface to “draw” the geometry of an object, and
then “assign” properties and loads to the object to completely define a
model of the physical member.

The following object types are available, listed in order of geometrical

dimension:

 Point objects, of two types:

o Joint objects: Are automatically created at the corners or

ends of all other types of objects, and they can be
explicitly added to model supports or other localized
behavior.

o Grounded (one-joint) link objects: Are used to model

special support behavior such as isolators, dampers, gaps,
multi-linear springs, and more.

 Line objects, of two types:

o Frame/cable/tendon objects: Are used to model beams,

columns, braces, trusses, cable, and tendon members.

o Connecting (two-joint) link objects: Are used to model

special member behavior such as isolators, dampers, gaps,
multi-linear springs, and more. Unlike frame/cable/tendon
objects, connecting link objects can have zero length.

 Area objects: Are used to model walls, floors, and other thin-
walled members, as well as two-dimensional solids (plane
stress, plane strain, and axisymmetric solids).

 Solid objects: Are used to model three-dimensional solids.

Objects and Elements 3-3

SAP2000 Getting Started

As a general rule, the geometry of the object should correspond to

that of the physical member. This simplifies the visualization of the
model and helps with the design process.

If you have experience using traditional finite element programs,

including earlier versions of SAP2000, you are probably familiar with
meshing physical models into smaller finite elements for analysis
purposes. Object-based modeling largely eliminates the need for that
meshing.

For users who are new to finite-element modeling, the object-based

concept should seem perfectly natural.

When an analysis is run, SAP2000 automatically converts the object-

based model into an element-based model that is used for analysis.
This element-based model is called the analysis model, and it consists
of traditional finite elements and joints (nodes). Results of the analysis
are displayed on the analysis model.

SAP2000 provides options to control how the meshing is performed,

such as the degree of refinement, and how to handle the connections
between intersecting objects. An option also is available to manually
subdivide the model, resulting in a one-to-one correspondence
between objects and elements.

Groups
A group is a named collection of objects. It may contain any number
of objects of any number of types. Groups have many uses, including:

 Quick selection of objects for editing and assigning.

 Definition of incremental construction stages.

 Definition of section cuts across the model.

 Grouping objects that are to share the same design.

3-4 Groups
 Chapter 3 - The Structural Model

 Selective output for grouped object.

As many groups as needed can be defined. Using groups is a powerful

way to manage larger models.

Coordinate Systems and Grids

All locations in the model are ultimately defined with respect to a
single global coordinate system. This is a three-dimensional, right-
handed, Cartesian (rectangular) coordinate system. The three axes,
denoted X, Y, and Z, are mutually perpendicular, and satisfy the right-
hand rule.

SAP2000 always considers the global +Z direction as upward. By

default, gravity acts in the –Z direction.

Additional coordinate systems can be defined to aid in developing and

viewing the model. The systems are defined with an origin and
orientation measured with respect to the global system.

For each coordinate system (the global and all additional systems),
users can define a three-dimensional grid system consisting of
intersecting “construction” lines used for locating objects in the
model. Each grid may be of Cartesian (rectangular), cylindrical, or
general type.

Drawing operations tend to “snap” to gridline intersections unless this

feature is turned off. The snap feature facilitates accurate
construction of the model. When a grid line is moved, an option can
be used to specify that the points in the model move with it.

Each object in the model (point, line, area, and so forth) has its own
local coordinate system used to define properties, loads, and response
for that object. The axes of each local coordinate system are denoted
1, 2, and 3. Local coordinate systems do not have an associated grid.

Coordinate Systems and Grids 3-5

SAP2000 Getting Started

Properties
Properties are “assigned” to each object to determine the structural
behavior of that object in the model.

Some properties, such as material and section properties, are named

entities that must be defined before assigning them to objects. For
example, a model may have the following properties:

 A concrete material property called 4000Psi.

 A rectangular frame section property called RECT, and a

circular section called CIRC, both using material 4000Psi.

 An area section property called SLAB that also uses material

4000Psi.

If a user assigns frame section property RECT to a frame object, any

changes to the definition of section RECT or material 4000Psi will
automatically apply to that object. A named property has no effect on
the model unless it is assigned to an object.

Other properties, such as frame end releases or joint support

conditions, are assigned directly to objects. These properties can only
be changed by making another assignment of that same property to
the object; they are not named entities and they do not exist
independently of the objects.

Functions
Options are available to define functions to describe how load varies
as a function of period or time. The functions are needed for certain
types of analysis only; they are not used for static analysis. A function
is a series of digitized abscissa-ordinate data pairs.

Four types of functions are available:

3-6 Properties
 Chapter 3 - The Structural Model

 Response-spectrum functions: Pseudo-spectral acceleration vs.

period for use in response-spectrum analysis.

 Time-history functions: Loading magnitude vs. time for use in

time-history analysis.

 Steady-state functions: Loading magnitude vs. frequency for

use in steady-state analysis.

 Power-spectral-density functions: Loading magnitude squared

per frequency vs. frequency for use in power-spectral-density
analysis.

As many named functions as needed can be defined. Functions are not

assigned to objects, but are used in the definition of load cases.

Load Patterns
Loads represent actions upon the structure, such as force, pressure,
support displacement, thermal effects, ground acceleration, and
others. A spatial distribution of loads upon the structure is called a
load pattern.

As many named load patterns as needed can be defined. Typically

separate load patterns would be defined for dead load, live load, wind
load, snow load, thermal load, and so on. Loads that need to vary
independently, either for design purposes or because of how they are
applied to the structure, should be defined as separate load patterns.

After defining a load pattern name, assign specific load values to the
objects as part of that load pattern. The load values assigned to an
object specify the type of load (e.g., force, displacement, temperature),
its magnitude, and direction (if applicable). Different loads can be
assigned to different objects as part of a single load pattern. Each
object can be subjected to multiple load patterns.

For example, assume load patterns named WIND, SNOW, and SUN15
have been defined. For load pattern WIND, different windward and

Functions 3-7
SAP2000 Getting Started

leeward pressure loads could be assigned to vertical objects on

opposite sides of the structure. For load pattern SNOW, downward
forces might be assigned to roof objects only. For load pattern SUN15,
different temperature values might be assigned to various objects in
the structure to account for the effects of sun on the structure at 3:00
P.M. in the afternoon.

To calculate any response of the structure caused by the load patterns,

load cases must be defined and run (described in subsequent text) to
specify how the load patterns are to be applied (e.g., statically,
dynamically, and so on) and how the structure is to be analyzed (e.g.,
linearly, nonlinearly, and so on). The same load pattern can be applied
differently in separate load cases.

In addition to the user defined load patterns discussed previously,

SAP2000 also has three built-in acceleration loads that represent unit
ground translational acceleration in each of the global directions.
Acceleration loads are assigned automatically to all objects in the
structure that have mass.

Load Cases
A load case defines how loads are to be applied to the structure, and
how the structural response is to be calculated. Many types of load
cases are available. Most broadly, load cases are classified as linear or
nonlinear, depending on how the structure responds to the loading.

The results of linear analyses may be superposed, i.e., added together,

after analysis. The following types of load cases are available:

 Static: The most common type of analysis. Loads are applied

without dynamical effects.

 Modal: Calculation of dynamic modes of the structure using

eigenvector or Ritz-vector method. Loads are not actually
applied, although they can be used to generate Ritz vectors.

3-8 Load Cases

 Chapter 3 - The Structural Model

 Response-Spectrum: Statistical calculation of the response

caused by acceleration loads. Requires response-spectrum
functions.

 Time-History: Time-varying loads are applied. Requires time-

history functions. The solution may be by modal superposition
or direct integration methods.

 Buckling: Calculation of buckling modes under the application

of loads.

 Hyperstatic: Calculation of the secondary forces due to

prestress forces and other self-equilibrating loads.

 Moving Load: Calculation of the most severe response caused

by vehicle loads moving along paths on the structure. Uses
defined vehicle loads and defined paths rather than the load
patterns used by other analysis types.

 Multi-Step Static: Linear static analysis for multi-stepped load

cases. A separate output step is produced for each step of the
given loads.

 Steady State: Harmonically varying loads are applied at one or

more frequencies. Requires steady-state functions.

 Power Spectral Density: Harmonically varying loads are

applied according to a probabilistic specification of loading
over a range of frequencies, and the expected value of the
response is determined. Requires power-spectral-density
functions.

The results of nonlinear load cases normally should not be superposed.

Instead, all loads acting together on the structure should be combined
directly within the specific nonlinear load case. Nonlinear load cases
may be chained together to represent complex loading sequences. The
following types of nonlinear load cases are available:

Load Cases 3-9

SAP2000 Getting Started

 Nonlinear Static: Loads are applied without dynamical effects.

May be used for pushover analysis.

 Nonlinear Staged Construction: Loads are applied without

dynamical effects, with portions of the structure being added
or removed. Time-dependent effects can be included, such as
creep, shrinkage, and aging.

 Nonlinear Time-History: Time-varying loads are applied.

Requires time-history functions. The solution may be by
modal superposition or direct integration methods.

Any number of named load cases of any type may be defined. When
the model is analyzed, the load cases to be run must be selected.
Results for any load case may be selectively deleted.

Analysis results, when available, can be considered to be part of the

model. They are needed to perform design.

Load Combinations
A SAP2000 combination, also called a “combo,” is a named
combination of the results from one or more load cases or other
combinations. When a combination is defined, it applies to the results
for every object in the model.

Five types of combinations are available:

 Linear type: Results from the included load cases and combos
are added linearly.

 Absolute type: The absolute values of the results from the

included load cases and combos are added.

 SRSS type: The square root of the sum of the squares of the
results from the included load cases and combos is computed.

3 - 10 Load Combinations
 Chapter 3 - The Structural Model

 Envelope type: Results from the included load cases and

combos are enveloped to find the maximum and minimum
values.

 Range Add type: Positive values are added to the maximum

and negative values are added to the minimum for the
included load cases and combos, efficiently generating
maximum and minimum responses for pattern loading.

Except for the envelope type, combinations should usually be applied

only to linear load cases, since nonlinear results are not generally
superposable.

Design is always based on combinations, not directly on load cases. A

combination that contains only a single load case can be created. Each
design algorithm creates it own default combinations. Additional
user-defined combinations can be created for design or other
purposes. Design may be performed for any arrangement of user-
defined and program generated combinations.

Design Settings
The design features of the program can be used on frame objects
whose section properties use materials of concrete, steel, cold-formed
steel, or aluminum. Several settings can be made that affect the design
of a particular model:

 The specific design code to be used for each type of material,

e.g., AISC-360-10 for steel, EUROCODE 2-2004 for concrete,
AISI-ASD96 for cold-formed steel, and AA-ASD 2000 for
aluminum.

 Preference settings of how those codes should be applied to a

model.

 Combinations for which the design should be checked.

 Groups of objects that should share the same design.

Design Settings 3 - 11
SAP2000 Getting Started

 Optional “overwrite” values for each object that specify

coefficients and parameters to change the default values in the
design-code formulas.

For steel, cold-formed steel, and aluminum design, the program can
automatically select an optimum section from a user-defined list. The
section also can be changed manually during the design process. As a
result, each frame object can have two different section properties
associated with it:

 An “analysis section” used in the previous analysis, and

 A “design section” resulting from the current design.

The design section becomes the analysis section for the next analysis,
and the iterative analysis and design cycle should be continued until
the two sections become the same.

Although there are no explicit design settings for concrete shells, the
program will display design stresses and the reinforcing contours
necessary to carry the tensile force component of the resolved
tension-compression couple. This information is accessed under the
Display menu for shells. The required reinforcing area is calculated
using the rebar material type specified by the user under the Define
menu.

Design results for the design section, when available, as well as all of
the settings described herein, can be considered to be part of the
model.

Output and Display Definitions

The definition of the SAP2000 model and the results of analysis and
design can be viewed and saved in many different ways, including:

 Two- and three-dimensional views of the model.

 Tables of values in plain text, spreadsheet, or database format.

3 - 12 Output and Display Definitions

 Chapter 3 - The Structural Model

 Formatted documents containing tables of values in rich text

and HTML format.

 Function plots of analysis results.

 Reports created by using a single command.

 Reports customized using an advanced report writing feature.

 Exports to other drafting and design programs.

Options are available to save named definitions of display views, sets

of output tables, document formats, and function plots as part of a
model. Combined with the use of groups, this can significantly speed
up the process of getting results while developing the model.

Learning More
Each SAP2000 model is like a living thing that grows and changes as
you develop it, run analyses, perform design, and review results. This
chapter presented some of the basic features that make up a structural
model, but to really understand the model you must also learn how to
work with it.

The next chapter describes how to use the SAP2000 interface to do

just that. Basic concepts and techniques will be presented. To put all
this information together, we recommend that you read and perform
the tutorial example given in the SAP2000 Introductory Tutorial
manual, included in this volume.

You can learn more about the details of using the graphical user
interface by using the Help facility within the interface itself.
Information about the SAP2000 model is also available in the Help
facility.

Learning More 3 - 13
 Chapter 4
The Graphical User Interface

The SAP2000 graphical user interface is used to model, analyze,

design, and display the results for your structure. This chapter
introduces some of the basic concepts of the graphical user interface
and sets the stage for the tutorial described later in this volume. More
advanced concepts and features are described in the on-line Help
facility of the graphical user interface itself.

Please first read the previous chapter, “The Structural Model,” because
all operations described in this chapter are used in working with a
SAP2000 model.

The SAP2000 Screen

After starting the program, the SAP2000 graphical user interface
appears on your screen and looks similar to the figure on the next
page. The various parts of the interface are labeled in the figure and
are described as follows.

4-1
 SAP2000 Getting Started

Main Window
Figure 4-1 shows the main window for the graphical user interface.
This window may be moved, resized, maximized, minimized, or
closed using standard Windows operations. The main title bar, at the
top of the main window, gives the program name and the name of the
model file.

Toolbars Display Tab

Main Title Bar Menu Bar

Window List

Active Display Display

Window Window

Current Units

Coordinate System

Status Bar Cursor Coordinates

Figure 4-1 The Graphical User Interface Main Window

Menu Bar
The menus on the Menu Bar contain almost all of the operations that
can be performed using SAP2000. Those operations are called menu
commands, or simply commands. Each menu corresponds to a basic
type of operation. The operations are described later in this chapter.

Throughout this manual, and in the SAP2000 help facility, menu

commands are indicated as Menu > Command, where “Menu” is the
menu name, and “Command” is an item you can select from the

4-2 The SAP2000 Screen

 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

menu. In some cases, commands are on sub-menus of the main menu,

in which case they are indicated as Menu > Sub-menu > Command.

Toolbars
The buttons on the toolbars provide quick access to many commonly
used operations. Move the mouse cursor over one of these buttons and
the name of the button will display, indicating the associated
command, as shown in Figure 4-2.

Figure 4-2 Roll over

tool tip, indicating
the Draw
Frame/Cable
command

Most buttons correspond to menu commands. If a menu command has

a corresponding button, it will be displayed next to the command on
the menu, as shown in Figure 4-3. The association of the button with
the menu command is intended to help you recognize and remember
which buttons can be used to perform the same actions as the
commands.

Figure 4-3 Menu

Commands with
Corresponding Buttons

The SAP2000 Screen 4-3

 SAP2000 Getting Started

Move the toolbars around to any of the four sides of the main
window, or have them float over the display windows by dragging
them to the desired location. Also control which toolbars are present
by right clicking on the menu bar and selecting the toolbars to
display. Choose the buttons on the toolbars by clicking the down
arrow and selecting the buttons. Use these methods to create custom
toolbars of frequently used operations.

Display Windows
Display windows show the geometry of the model and may also
include properties, loading, analysis or design results. From one to
four display windows may be shown at any time.

Each window may have its own view orientation, type of display, and
display options. For example, an undeformed shape could be displayed
in one window, applied loads in another, an animated deformed shape
in a third, and design stress ratios in the fourth window.
Alternatively, four different views of an undeformed shape or other
type of display can be shown: a plan view, two elevations, and a
perspective view.

Only one display window is “active” at a time. Viewing and display

operations only affect the currently active window. Make any display
window active by clicking on its display tab or within the window.

Status Bar
The status bar contains the following items:

 Status information about what the program is currently doing,

or the number of objects currently selected.

 The coordinates of the mouse cursor.

 A drop-down list to show or change the current units.

 A drop-down list to show or change the current coordinate

system.

4-4 The SAP2000 Screen

 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

 Scrolling controls when displaying analysis results for multi-

step cases.

 Animation controls when displaying deformed shapes.

Using the Mouse

The left and right mouse buttons have different functions depending
on the location of the mouse in the graphical user interface.

In the menu and toolbar areas, the mouse buttons have the following
functions:

 Left button

o Select commands from the menus or toolbar buttons.

o Move the toolbars around.

 Right button: Customize the toolbars.

Clicking either mouse button in a display window makes that window

active. Within a display window, the mouse buttons have the
following functions:

 Left mouse button, depending on the program mode (i.e.,

Draw or Select node):

o Draw new objects.

o Select existing objects.

o Perform graphical operations such as pan, zoom, and

rotate.

 Right mouse button:

o When clicked on an object, this button accesses

information about the object. Objects may be edited

Using the Mouse 4-5

 SAP2000 Getting Started

by double clicking (left mouse button) on items in the

object information form.

o When clicked on the background, this button accesses

a menu of operations.

Elsewhere in the interface, the mouse buttons have standard

Windows functions. This includes when on the main title bar, the
status bar, and in all forms.

Viewing Options
Various view options for the active Display Window can be set to
control how the structure appears in that window. Those options are
available on the View menu. View options are set independently for
each Display Window.

2-D and 3-D Views

A 2-D view consists of a single plane or surface. Only objects in that
plane or surface are visible. The out-of-plane coordinate of the view
can be changed at any time. Default 2-D views are available at grid
points in the current coordinate system. Other 2-D views, such as
developed elevations, can be user created.

A 3-D view shows the entire model from a user selected vantage
point. Visible objects are not restricted to a single plane. The view
direction is defined by an angle in the horizontal plane and an angle
above the horizontal plane.

Perspective
A 3-D view may be toggled between a perspective view and an
orthographic projection. The perspective view is usually better for
visualizing the third, out-of-plane, dimension. If perspective is turned
on for a 2-D view, the view becomes 3-D until perspective is turned
off again.

4-6 Viewing Options

 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

Set the perspective aperture angle to specify the distance of the view
from the structure. The larger the angle, the closer the view to the
structure, and the more distorted the view of the structure may
appear.

Pan, Zoom, and 3-D Rotate

Zoom-in to a view to see more detail, or zoom-out to see more of the
structure. Zooming in and out may be performed in predefined
increments. Also, zoom in on a part of the structure using the mouse
by dragging a window around the area of interest while holding down
the left mouse button.

Panning allows the structure to be moved dynamically around the

Display Window by holding down the left mouse button while
dragging the mouse in the window.

Use the 3-D Rotate command to dynamically rotate the structure by

holding down the left mouse button while dragging the mouse in the
window.

Limits
Upper and lower X, Y, and Z coordinate limits can be set to restrict
the portion of the structure that is visible in a Display Window.
Zooming and panning apply only to the part of the structure within
these limits.

Set Display Options

The types of objects present in a Display Window can be controlled.
Also various options can be set to affect how the objects appear and
what features are displayed, such as object labels, property labels, and
local axes. These options primarily affect views of the undeformed
shape.

Viewing Options 4-7

 SAP2000 Getting Started

Only objects that are present in a Display Window can be selected

graphically. See the selection operations described later in this
chapter.

Objects may be shown by edges, area fill, or as 3-D shaded images.

They can be colored according to their type, section properties,
material properties, or groups.

The shrunken-object view is an important option. It shrinks the

objects away from the joints, allowing better viewing of the
connectivity of the model.

In addition to the object model, the analysis model, which shows the
model at the element level, may be viewed at any time. The analysis
model shows how the program has automatically meshed the
structure. Results are always shown on the analysis model, rather than
on the object model.

Other Options
Other options can be used to turn gridlines and the global axes on and
off. The view parameters can be saved under a user-specified name
and recalled later to apply to any Display Window.

Refreshing the Display Window

After performing certain operations, the Display Window may need
to be re-drawn. Normally this occurs automatically, although a
command on the Options menu can be used to turn this feature off to
save time when working with large models. When the feature is
turned off, use the View menu > Refresh Window command to update
and redraw the active display window.

Basic Operations
It will be helpful to understand the basic types of operations that can
be performed using SAP2000. The program responds differently to

4-8 Basic Operations

 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

mouse actions in the Display Windows depending on the type of

operation being performed.

The remainder of this chapter provides an overview of SAP2000

operations. Details on how to actually perform these operations are
given in the quick tutorial in the next manual, and in the on-line Help
facility of the graphical user interface itself.

File Operations
File operations are used to start a new model, to bring in an existing
model for display or modification, to save the current model, and to
produce output. File operations are selected from the File menu.

New models can be started from scratch or from pre-defined

templates supplied with the program.

A model and its results can be saved as a standard SAP2000 binary file
(.SDB extension), and opened again later to review results or make
further changes.

Alternatively, a model and its results can also be exported, in whole or

in part, to a text file, a spreadsheet file, or a database file using
SAP2000 tabular data format. Models can be imported using SAP2000
tabular data format, whether the data file (text, spreadsheet, or
database) was previously exported from the graphical user interface,
or created externally in some other way.

Model geometry can be exported to and imported from AutoCAD and

other programs that use .DXF, IFC, or .IGES file formats. Similar
import/export capabilities are available for the ProSteel and
FrameWorks Plus packages. SAP2000 can also share information with
steel detailing programs using CIS/2 Step or Steel Detailing Neutral
File formats and import/export project data with Autodesk Revit
Structure.

The model description and the results of analysis and design can be
printed in simple tables or produced in custom reports that include

File Operations 4-9

 SAP2000 Getting Started

graphics, text, and formatting features. The active display window can
be printed as graphics or saved in bitmap and enhanced Windows
metafile formats. Video files can be created showing animated mode
shapes or time-history deflected shapes.

Other file operations include defining project information for the

particular model; maintaining a detailed log of the project; and a
facility for running the analyses of multiple models in batch mode.

Defining Named Entities

Defining is used to create named entities that are not part of the
geometry of the model. These entities include:

 Object properties, such as

o Material properties

o Frame, Tendon, Cable, Area, Solid, and Link

properties

o Hinge properties

 Coordinate/grid systems

 Joint constraints

 Object groups

 Load-related items, such as

o Joint patterns, for temperature and pressure loading

o Load patterns

o Mass source

o Moving load loads (vehicles and paths)

o Response-spectrum and time-history functions

4 - 10 Defining Named Entities

 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

 Analysis and response items, such as

o Load cases

o Load combinations

o Generalized displacements

o Section cuts

o Pushover Parameters

 Output and display items, such as

o Named views, for display window settings

o Named sets, for output and export definition

Defining these entities is performed using the Define menu and does
not require a prior selection of objects.

Object properties, groups, and some of the loading can be assigned to

selected objects. Many of these entities can also be defined during the
assignment operation from the Assign menu.

The remaining entities apply to the model as a whole and are not
assigned to objects.

Drawing
Drawing is used primarily to add new objects to the model or to
modify objects one at a time. Objects that can be drawn include points
(joints and grounded links), lines (frames, cables, tendons, and
connecting links), and areas (shells, planes, asolids). Solid objects are
not drawn, but are created by extrusion; see the subsequent “Editing”
section for more information about extrusion.

Joints are created automatically at the ends of line and link objects
and at the corners of area and solid objects. Additional joints may be
added explicitly. Duplicate joints and objects at the same location are

Drawing 4 - 11
 SAP2000 Getting Started

eliminated automatically by the program, except that duplicate link

objects are permitted as an option.

To draw, enable the Draw Mode by selecting one of the object

drawing commands from the Draw menu. While drawing, a form will
float over the display windows. The form has drawing controls and
property options that can be assigned while drawing. The form can be
moved or closed if it is in the way while drawing.

Draw Mode and Select Mode are mutually exclusive. To return to

Select Mode, use the Draw menu > Set Select Mode command, or
perform any selection operation. While drawing, the left mouse
button can be used to zoom, pan, or rotate, after which the program
will return to draw mode.

Drawing Objects
Use the left mouse button to perform drawing operations. Depending
on the drawing operation, click, double-click, or click-and-drag the
left mouse button (hold down the left button while moving the
mouse):

 Draw Special Joint – Click once to draw a joint, or drag a

window to draw joints at all enclosed grid intersections

 Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon – Click once to draw each end

point in a series of objects connected end-to-end, then double
click to end the series

 Quick Frame/Cable/Tendon – Click once on a grid segment to

draw an object, or drag a window to draw objects on all
enclosed grid segments

 Quick Draw Braces – In a 2-D view, click in a grid space (bay)

to draw diagonal braces

 Quick Draw Secondary Beams – In a 2-D plan view, click in a

grid space (bay) to draw a set of secondary beams (frame
objects)

4 - 12 Drawing
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

 Draw Poly Area – Click once at each corner location to draw a

polygon – hit the enter key to end the drawing

 Draw Rectangular Area – In a 2-D view, click once at two

opposite corners to draw the object

 Quick Draw Area – Click in a grid space (bay) to draw an area

object, or drag a window to draw objects on all enclosed grid
spaces

 Draw 1 Joint (Grounded) Link – Click once to draw a

grounded link, or drag a window to draw grounded links at all
enclosed grid intersections

 Draw 2 Joint (Connecting) Link – Click once to draw each end

point in a series of objects connected end-to-end, then double
click to end the series

 Quick Draw 2 Joint (Connecting) Link – Click once on a grid

segment to draw an object, or drag a window to draw objects
on all enclosed grid segments

 Reshape objects – Click once on an object to be reshaped, then

click and drag the part of an object to be moved to achieve the
new shape

In 3-D views, cursor placement is limited to known locations, such as

on gridlines and at existing point objects. In 2-D views, cursor
placement can be anywhere, since the third (out-of-plane) dimension
is known.

Cursor movements can be controlled using “snap” and “drawing

control” tools during drawing and reshaping of objects.

Snap Tools
Snap tools find the closest snap location to the pointer as the pointer is
moved over the model. The snap tools are a fast and accurate way to
draw and edit objects. The snap tools can be turned on and off as

Drawing 4 - 13
 SAP2000 Getting Started

objects are drawn. More than one snap tool can be turned on at the
same time. Options include snapping to the following:

 Point objects and grid intersections

 Object ends (corners) and midpoints (mid-edges)

 Object intersections

 Perpendicular projection to a line object or the edge of an area

or solid object

 Line objects and the edges of area and solid objects

 Fine grid, an invisible, three-dimensional grid of user-defined

uniformly spaced points

Drawing Controls
In 2-D views, the drawing control tools provide the capability to
enforce the placement of a point along specified lines that pass
through the last drawn point. Drawing controls include:

 Horizontal H – The line is drawn parallel to the axis that

appears horizontal in the 2-D view.

 Vertical V – The line is drawn parallel to the axis that appears

vertical in the 2-D view.

 Parallel to Angle A – The line is drawn at a constant angle to

the axis that appears horizontal in the 2-D view.

 Fixed Length L – The line is drawn at a constant length,

measured in the 2-D view.

 Fixed Length and Angle S – The line is drawn at a constant

angle and a constant length, measured in the 2-D view.

 Fixed dh and dy D – The line is drawn at constant lengths

along the axes that appear horizontal and vertical in the 2-D
view.

4 - 14 Drawing
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

Select drawing controls from the floating properties of object form

that appears while drawing, or press the corresponding letter key
(“H”, “V”, “A”, etc.) on the keyboard. Pressing the space bar on the
keyboard cancels the drawing control.

The snaps options can be used in conjunction with drawing controls.

Only the unconstrained component of the selected snap point is used
when a control has been selected.

Selecting
Selecting is used to identify existing objects to which the next
operation will apply.

SAP2000 uses a “noun-verb” concept where first a selection of objects

is made, and then an operation is performed upon them. Operations
that require prior selection include certain Editing, Assignment,
Design, Display, and Output operations.

To select, enable the Select Mode using the Draw menu > Set Select
Mode command, or by choosing any command from the Select menu.
Draw Mode and Select Mode are mutually exclusive. Any operation
except drawing can be performed when the program is in Select
Mode.

Select objects graphically or by various features of the objects.

Selection operations are cumulative, i.e., each selection operation adds
objects to the current set of selected objects, and each deselection
operation removes objects from the set.

Selected objects are shown graphically in the display windows with

dashed lines. The number of selected objects of each type is shown in
the status bar. It is always a good idea to check the status bar when
performing selection operations.

After the selection set has been created (the “noun”), an operation is
performed (the “verb”) upon it. This then clears the selection, and the
program is ready to start a new selection for the next operation.

Selecting 4 - 15
 SAP2000 Getting Started

Four important selection commands are available from the menu or

the toolbar:

 Select menu > Select > All command selects every object in the
model, regardless of what objects are shown in the display
windows.

 Select menu > Get Previous Selection command selects the

same objects as in the last completed selection operation.

 Select menu > Invert Selection command selects all objects not
currently selected.

 Select menu > Clear Selection command deselects all objects.

Other selection (and deselection) operations are described in the

following sections.

Selecting Graphically
Objects can be selected (or deselected) graphically using the left
mouse button in a display window. Several types of graphical
selection are available:

 Select by pointer – Click on an unselected object to select it,

or click on a selected object to deselect it.

 Select by enclosing window – Drag a window from left to

right to select all objects that are fully enclosed in the
window.

 Select by intersecting window – Drag a window from right to

left to select all objects that are fully or partially enclosed in
the window.

 Select by polygon – Draw a polygon with any number of sides

to select all objects that are fully enclosed in the polygon.

4 - 16 Selecting
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

 Select by intersecting polygon – Draw a polygon with any

number of sides to select all objects that are fully or partially
enclosed in the polygon.

 Select by intersecting line – Draw a line with any number of

segments to select all objects that are intersected by the line
segments.

 Select by 3-D box – Click on two points in a 3-D view to select

all objects enclosed within a box whose diagonal is defined by
the two points and whose sides are parallel to the X, Y, and Z
axes.

The first three options are available by default and are indicated by
the usual pointer cursor. The last four options require that the type of
selection be set using the Select menu or the toolbar. After a single
selection, the cursor returns to the default pointer/window selection
mode.

Only objects displayed in a given window can be selected graphically.

For example, assume a model includes point, line, and area objects,
but only area objects are displaying in a particular window. If a
selection is made by dragging a window around the entire structure,
only area objects will be selected, even if hidden point and line objects
actually exist inside the selection window.

While selecting by pointer, use the left mouse button to zoom, pan, or
rotate, after which the program will return to select mode.

Selecting by Feature
From the Select menu, select or deselect objects by their various
features, such as:

 All objects on a particular plane

 All objects that have a given section or property type

 All line objects parallel to a particular line

Selecting 4 - 17
 SAP2000 Getting Started

 All line objects parallel to a particular axis or plane

 All objects that belong to the same group

 All point objects that have a specified support or constraint

 All objects that have specified labels

These selection methods, except for selecting line objects parallel to

another line, operate independently of the display windows and affect
all objects having a given feature even if those objects are not being
displayed.

The use of groups is particularly helpful when making complicated

selections. If the same set of objects is likely to be selected more than
once, build the selection set and then assign a group name to the
selected objects. After a Group Name has been assigned, the selection
set can be reselected using the Group Name.

Selecting by Coordinates
From the Select menu, select or deselect objects by specifying the
coordinate range of a volume. The coordinate range is identified using
one of the following four methods for each of the three coordinate
system directions (X, Y and Z):

 Not limited

 Between two values

 Outside of two values

 At a single value

An option exists to signify whether the entire object must lie within
the volume in order to be selected, or only partially inside.

4 - 18 Selecting
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

Selecting using Tables

From the Select menu, select or deselect objects using connectivity
and object assignment database tables. Tables may be filtered and
sorted by field, and individual records or the entire table can be
selected.

Editing
Editing is used to make changes to the model. Most editing operations
work on a prior selection of objects. The following editing operations,
all selected from the Edit menu, can be used:

 Cut or Copy the geometry of selected objects to the Windows

clipboard. Geometry information put on the clipboard can be
accessed by other programs, such as spreadsheets.

 Paste object geometry from the Windows clipboard into the

model. This could have been edited in a spreadsheet program
from a previous Cut or Copy.

 Delete selected objects.

 Replicate selected objects in a linear or radial array.

 Move selected objects to a new location.

 Extrude selected objects to create higher dimensional objects:

o Extrude points to lines

o Extrude lines to areas

o Extrude areas to solids. This is the only way to

graphically create solid objects.

 Divide selected objects into smaller objects of the same type.

 Connect or disconnect selected objects at a common joint.

 Add to the model from a template.

Editing 4 - 19
 SAP2000 Getting Started

 Interactively edit the model in tabular data format.

 Change labels of objects and other named entities.

Pasting and adding to the model from a template do not operate on a

selection of objects. Interactive table editing and changing labels can
work on a selection or the entire model. All other operations require a
prior selection to be made.

Assigning
Properties and loads are assigned to one or more selected objects.
Assignment operations are selected from the Assign menu, including:

 Assigning properties to joint objects, including restraints,

constraints, springs, masses, and local coordinate systems

 Assigning properties to frame/cable/tendon objects, including

section properties, end releases, local coordinate systems, end
offsets, insertion points, output locations, nonlinear
properties, line springs and masses, automated meshing
parameters, and more

 Assigning properties to area objects, including section

properties, local coordinate systems, area springs and masses,
automated meshing parameters, and more

 Assigning properties to solid objects, including section

properties, local coordinate systems, surface springs,
automated meshing parameters, and more

 Assigning properties and local coordinate systems to link

objects

 Assigning loads of many different types to each type of object

 Assigning pattern values to joints for use in defining

temperature and pressure loads

4 - 20 Assigning
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

 Assigning group names to objects, making the objects part of

that group

 Copying assignments from one selected object, and in a

separate operation, pasting these assignments onto one or
more selected objects of the same type

Undo and Redo

SAP2000 remembers all drawing, editing, and assignment operations
performed. It is possible to Undo a series of actions previously
performed. If the Undo process is overused, actions may begin to
Redo. Undo and Redo are accessed from the Edit menu.

Important notes:

 Undo does not apply to define operations.

 Undo does not apply to interactive table editing.

 After a model has been saved, an analysis has been run, or

interactive table editing has been performed, prior operations
can not be undone.

Analyzing
After a complete structural model has been created, analyze the model
to determine the resulting displacements, stresses, and reactions due
to the loads applied in the load cases.

Before analyzing, set analysis options from the Analyze menu. Those
options are as follows:

 Set available degrees of freedom for the analysis, which are

primarily used to restrict a model to planar behavior

 Set whether the model definition and analysis results should

be automatically saved in SAP2000 tabular format to an
Access or Excel file

Undo and Redo 4 - 21

 SAP2000 Getting Started

Before running the analysis, an analysis model may be created. After

the analysis model has been created, it may be shown in a Display
Window to review how the model has been meshed from the object
model drawn by the user.

Run Analysis
To run the analysis, use the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command
and select which cases are to be run. Any cases that have been run
already do not need to be run again. Any cases that are not run can be
run later.

If a load case that requires results from another case is chosen, the
prerequisite case will be run first if it has not been already. For
example, if a response-spectrum case is run, the case that defines the
modes will also be run if needed.

Before running the analysis, SAP2000 saves the model. During the
analysis, messages from the analysis engine appear in a monitor
window. When the analysis is complete, review the analysis messages
using the scroll bar on the monitor window. Click on the OK button
to close the monitor window after reviewing those messages. The
messages are also saved in a file with extension .LOG, which can be
viewed later using the File menu > Show Input/Log Files command.

No other SAP2000 operations may be performed while the analysis is

proceeding and the monitor window is present on the screen.
However, other Windows programs can be run during this time.

Model-Alive Feature
To run the analysis automatically, in a continuous manner, use the
Analysis menu > Model-Alive command. This analysis mode allows
the user to make revisions to a model and have the model analysis
updated automatically without first having to save the model and then
execute the run command. The Model-Alive feature can be
especially useful on smaller models because it allows the user to
instantly see the effects of any model revision. The Model-Alive

4 - 22 Analyzing
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

feature will not be as beneficial on larger models with longer run

times.

The SAP2000 model is not automatically saved when running the

analysis in the Model-Alive mode. The File menu > Save command
can be used at any time to save the model; otherwise, the model
remains unlocked and unsaved.

Displaying
Displaying is used to view the model definition and analysis results.
Graphical displays, tabular displays, and function plots are all
available. All display types may be chosen from the Display menu,
except that displaying of design results is performed using the Design
menu.

Graphical Displays
A different type of graphical display may be selected for each Display
Window. Each window may also have its own view orientation and
display options.

Model Definition
View the model geometry using the Display menu > Show
Undeformed Shape command. This displays only the objects and
assignments that are chosen using the View menu > Set Display
Options command. All other assignments to the objects may be
viewed using the Display menu > Show Load Assigns and Display
menu > Show Misc Assigns commands.

When viewing the undeformed shape, with or without assignments, a

right click with the mouse on any object accesses an information form
showing all the details of geometry, connectivity, assignments, and
loads for that object. An object may be edited from within an
information form by double-clicking in an edit box.

Displaying 4 - 23
 SAP2000 Getting Started

Analysis Results
Analysis results can be graphically displayed for any case that has
been run. Those displays include the following:

 Deformed shapes

 Reactions and spring forces for joints

 Force and moment diagrams for frames, cables, and links

 Force and moment stress-resultant contour plots for shells

 Stress contour plots for planes, asolids, and solids

 Design stresses for concrete shells

 Influence-lines for displacements, reactions, spring forces, and

forces and moments in all object types

 Virtual work plots for all object types

Deformed shapes can be animated using the controls on the status bar.
Animating the deformed shape sometimes helps to clarify the
behavior of the structure.

For load cases with multiple results (multiple modes or multiple

steps), use the scrolling controls on the status bar to step through the
individual results. An option is available to plot the maximum or
minimum over multiple steps.

Details of the displayed results can be obtained by clicking on an

object with the right mouse button.

Named Displays
The display showing in the active window can be saved using the
Display menu > Save Named Display command. This named display
includes the view orientation and scaling, view options, as well as the
contents of the display: undeformed shape, deformed shape, element
forces/stresses, assignments and so on. A named display can be

4 - 24 Displaying
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

referenced and included in a printed report. The active window also

can be changed to show a previously saved named display using the
Display menu > Show Named Display command. A named display
should not be confused with a named view, which only saves the view
orientation and scaling, but not the contents of the window.

Function Plots
Function plots are graphs of one variable against another. These
include the following:

 Response-spectrum curves – These curves can be generated at

any joint in the structure based on the results of a time-history
load case.

 Plot-function traces – These are general plots of any number

of response quantities (displacements, stresses, and so on)
against time or against another response quantity. These are
available for any time-history or multi-stepped nonlinear
static load case.

 Static pushover curve – This is a plot of a single displacement

measure against the base reaction for multi-stepped,
displacement-controlled nonlinear static load cases.

Function plots are displayed in a special plot window and may be

printed. Tables of plotted values may also be printed or saved in a file.

Tabular Displays
Use the commands on the Display menu to show the model
definition, analysis results, and design results as tabular data on
screen. Choose the tables to be viewed. If objects are selected before
tables are chosen, only data for the selected objects are displayed.
Otherwise results are produced for the entire model.

Advanced options exist to control the format of the tables, to order

and sort the data, and to create filters that will display only data that

Displaying 4 - 25
 SAP2000 Getting Started

satisfy specified criteria. An example of this would be to display only

frame design stress ratios that are above 0.9.

Objects in the model may be selected from within a table form by

using the Select menu.

Tabular data also can be exported and printed from the on-screen
displays using commands available on the File menu on the table
forms.

Designing
Designing is used to check concrete, steel, cold-formed steel, and
aluminum frame objects with respect to different design-code
requirements. Design may be performed after the structure has been
analyzed. Most design operations, including display, are available
from the Design menu.

Steel, cold-formed steel, and aluminum frame objects can have a

minimum weight section automatically picked from a set of user-
specified sections. Concrete frame objects can have the area of
longitudinal and shear reinforcing steel chosen automatically
according to the selected design code.

Individual members can be designed interactively, trying different

sections and checking the results. If a section is changed manually, or
if optimum sections were chosen automatically by the program, rerun
the analysis and repeat the design process until the analysis and design
sections are the same.

Graphical displays of stress ratios and design parameters are available.

Detailed design information can be obtained for single frame objects
by clicking on them with the right mouse button. Alternatively,
tabular design information can be displayed using commands on the
Display menu and printed or exported using commands on the File
menu. If objects are selected before display, printing, or export, only
selected objects are displayed, printed, or exported. Otherwise results
are produced for the entire model.

4 - 26 Designing
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

In addition to the code-based design offered for frame objects, non-

code specific design stresses and tensile reinforcing may also be
displayed for concrete shells. Unlike the frame objects, there are no
explicit design settings under the Design menu for concrete shells.
Instead, these design values are available from the Display menu, and
are calculated based on a resolved tension-compression couple in the
shell and the yield strength of the user specified reinforcing.

Locking and Unlocking

After an analysis has been performed, the model is automatically
locked (except when using the Model-Alive analysis feature) to
prevent any changes that would invalidate the analysis results and
subsequent design results that may be obtained. The model also can be
locked at any time to prevent further changes, or unlocked to permit
changes. Lock and Unlock are accessed from the Options menu.

If the model is unlocked after an analysis, SAP2000 will display a

warning that all analysis results will be deleted. To save the analysis
results, save the model under a different name before unlocking it.
Any subsequent changes will then be made to the new model.

Load cases can be defined without unlocking the model. New cases
can be added, and cases that have not been run can be modified or
deleted with no effect. If a case that has already been run is modified
or deleted, analysis results for that case and all cases that depend on it
will be deleted.

Entering Numerical Data

When entering data in a form, all numerical values by default use the
units shown on the status bar. Some forms provide a units option
directly on the form, which supersedes the setting on the status bar.

Different units can be specified directly when the numerical value is

entered. For example, assume meter units were in effect, either from

Locking and Unlocking 4 - 27

 SAP2000 Getting Started

the status bar or the form itself. If “3500 mm” is entered, the value
would be converted to 3.5.

When force, length, or temperature units are mixed, list all units used,
separated by commas or spaces, in the following order: force, length,
temperature. For example, a modulus of elasticity (force/length2)
could be specified as “30000 kip in,” and a moment (force-length)
could also be specified as “30000 kip in.” Note that only the names of
the units are needed, without indicating if they are multiplied,
divided, squared, or so on.

As a special case, length values can be entered in U.S. architectural

units as feet and inches, as in the following example format: 9’-3”. The
(’) for feet is required, but the dash (-) and the (”) for inches are
optional.

Formulas also can be used when entering data. For example, a data
value can be specified as “1000+40” or as “100*sin(30).” If units are
specified with a formula, be sure to leave a space after the formula
before the units, e.g., “1000+40 m.” The formula is evaluated first
before the units are applied, thus different units cannot be used in
different parts of the formula.

A complete calculator is available for more complicated entries.

Double-click on the numerical field while holding down the Shift key
to access the calculator. Use the View menu > Show All command on
the calculator form itself to review its full capabilities.

Setting Options
Many options can be set to control how the program behaves. These
options are accessed using the Options menu, and include the
following:

 Dimensions and tolerances – merge, selection, and snap

tolerances; font sizes; zoom increment; and others

 Colors of objects and results for display and printing

4 - 28 Setting Options
 Chapter 4 - The Graphical User Interface

 Formatting for tabular data

 Display of the bounding plane

 Other display options that affect all display windows

 Locking and unlocking of the model

Getting Help
To access the SAP2000 Help facility, use the Help menu > Contents
and Index command, or press the F1 key at any time.

If a form is open, clicking the F1 key will display information about

how to use that form. Otherwise the F1 key simply opens the Help
facility, which allows the following:

 Browse through the many topics using the Contents

 Use the Index to display related Help topics

 Use the Search feature to find topics that contain specific

words

From the Help menu, also access all SAP2000 documentation in

Adobe Acrobat .PDF file format, or go to the CSI web site.

The Help menu > About SAP2000 command will display the version of
the program, as well as information about the computer’s operating
system. This information is very useful when contacting CSI for
technical support.

Getting Help 4 - 29
 Chapter 5
Working with Data Tables

All SAP2000 data that can be accessed using the graphical user
interface can also be accessed as tabular data, i.e., as data organized in
a set of tables with specified table names and column headings. These
data include the definition of the model and the results of analysis and
design. Tabular data can be used for editing or display in the graphical
user interface, for export to and import from other programs, and for
generating printed output in a variety of formats.

Classification of Tabular Data

SAP2000 tabular data is divided into three distinct classes: model
definition, analysis results and design results.

Model Definition
Model definition data include all components of the structural model
(properties, objects, assignments, load patterns, load cases, design
settings, and so forth), as well as any user-specified options and named
result definitions.

5-1
SAP2000 Getting Started

Model definition data are always available, even if analyses have not
been run or design has not been performed. These tables can be
edited, displayed, exported, imported, and printed.

Analysis Results
Analysis results data include the deflections, forces, stresses, energies,
and other response quantities that can be produced in the graphical
user interface. These data are available only for load cases that have
actually been run. Analysis results tables can be displayed, exported,
and printed, but not edited or imported.

Design Results
Design results data include the design stresses, stress ratios, effective
lengths, optimal sections, area of reinforcing steel, and all other
calculated quantities resulting from the design process. These data are
only available for objects that have actually been designed. Design
results tables can be displayed, exported, and printed, but not edited
or imported.

Tables and Fields

SAP2000 tabular data is organized into a set of prescribed (pre-
defined) tables. Different tables exist for each of the three data classes.
Each table has a prescribed name.

Examples of model-definition tables are “Joint Coordinates” and

“Connectivity - Frame.” Examples of analysis-results tables are “Joint
Displacements” and “Element Forces – Frames.” Examples of design-
results tables are “Concrete Design 1 - Column Summary Data - ACI
318-02” and “Steel Design 3 - Shear Details - AISC-LRFD99.”

A prescribed set of field names is permitted for each table; the field
names become the column headings in the tables. The columns may
be arranged in any order, and not all fields are always required.
Examples of field names for the “Joint Coordinates” table are “Joint,”

5-2 Tables and Fields

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

“CoordSys,” and “Z.” Associated with the column headings may be the
units used for all data in that column.

Data is entered into the table in one or more rows. Each row contains
data in the same order as the field names (column headings).

Figure 5-1 shows an example of the “Connectivity - Frame” table,

with its nine fields “Frame,” “JointI,” “JointJ,” “IsCurved,” “Length,”
“CentroidX,” “CentroidY,” “CentroidZ,” and “GUID.” The units used
are shown with the column headings. Eleven rows of data are entered
in the table, listing frame objects and the two joints to which they
connect, as well as if the objects are curved. The calculated length and
centroids of each object are also given.

Figure 5-1 Example of a Database Table

Uses for Tabular Data

SAP2000 produces tabular data for three distinct purposes:

Uses for Tabular Data 5-3

SAP2000 Getting Started

 Object selection, i.e., selecting using records in a table

 Formatted for presentation, i.e., for display and printing

 Structured as a database for use and modification by computer

programs

Selecting using Tables

Objects may be selected using SAP2000 data tables, allowing records
to be sorted and filtered, and then selected. This is a powerful
alternative to graphical selection and can be accessed through the
Select menu or the Display menu.

Formatted Tables for Presentation

SAP2000 data tables can be displayed on-screen in the graphical user
interface, or printable files of data tables can be generated in one of
the following formats:

 Rich text format for Microsoft Word

 HTML format for Microsoft Internet Explorer

 Plain (ASCII) text

 Microsoft Excel (during on-screen display only)

 Microsoft Access (during on-screen display only)

The program provides complete control over how the tables are to be
formatted, as described in the “Format Control for Display and
Printing” section later in this chapter.

For more information on generating formatted tables, see the

“Displaying Tabular Data,” “Printing Tabular Data” and “Custom
Report Writer” sections later in this chapter.

5-4 Uses for Tabular Data

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

Structured Database Tables

SAP2000 data tables can be displayed on-screen in the graphical user
interface, or the structured tabular database files can be exported and
imported in one of the following formats:

 Microsoft Access database

 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

 Plain (ASCII) text

Unlike printable output, the format of these tabular database files is

strictly controlled to allow SAP2000 and other programs to read the
data.

See the “Interactive Table Editing,” “Exporting Tabular Data” and

“Importing Tabular Data” sections later in this chapter for more
information on working with database tables.

Displaying Tabular Data

Available data can be displayed in tabular format at any time while
working in the SAP2000 graphical user interface. Use the Display
menu > Show Tables command to access model definition, analysis
results, design results, or a mixture of all three classes of data. Figure
5-1 shows an example of a displayed table.

For each class of data, choose specific types of data to determine

which tables are displayed. Figure 5-2 shows the form used to select
the type of data to be displayed, printed or exported. Each check box
corresponds to one or more tables that will be used to display the
chosen data. To choose the same set of tables repeatedly, save the
settings as a named set that can be used later for displaying, printing,
and other tabular data operations.

If objects are selected before display, only the selected objects will be
shown in those tables that contain object-specific data. Otherwise the
entire model will be used.

Displaying Tabular Data 5-5

SAP2000 Getting Started

While tabular data is being displayed, it can be printed directly to the

default printer in plain text format. Also any of the following
programs available on your computer can be used to open and view
the tables:

 Microsoft Word as rich text format

 Microsoft Internet Explorer as HTML format

 The default text editor as plain text

 Microsoft Excel

 Microsoft Access

Figure 5-2 The Form Used to Select the Type of Data to Display, Print, or Export

5-6 Displaying Tabular Data

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

The tables can be printed from these programs. However, any changes
made to the tables using these programs cannot be brought back into
the SAP2000 model while displaying data. See the “Interactive Table
Editing” section later in this chapter for an explanation of how to edit
tabular data.

Options provide complete control over how the tables are to be

formatted, as described in the “Format Control for Display and
Printing” section later in this chapter.

Note that, during display, Excel spreadsheet and Access database files
can be created. However, it is not recommended that those files be
imported back into the model because the formatting applied during
display likely would result in errors when the file is imported. Thus,
use the appropriate File menu > Export commands to create Excel
spreadsheet and Access database files that will ultimately be imported
back into the model. The Export commands include controls that
reduce the likelihood of errors when files are imported back into the
model.

Printing Tabular Data

Use the File menu > Print Tables command to print data tables
directly. As described in the previous “Displaying Tabular Data”
section, choose the type of data tables to be printed and optionally
select a portion of the model to which object-specific tables should
apply.

Tables can be printed directly to the default printer in plain text

format, or electronic files can be generated that can be opened and
printed using any of the following programs:

 Microsoft Word as rich text format

 Microsoft Internet Explorer as HTML format

 The default text editor as plain text

Printing Tabular Data 5-7

SAP2000 Getting Started

The program provides options for complete control over how the
tables are formatted, as described in the “Format Control for Display
and Printing” section later in this chapter.

Creating a Report
A complete, formatted report is available by simply using the File
menu > Create Report command. This report contains a title page,
hyperlinked table of contents, display of the structure, and tables
showing the definition of the model, as well as selected analysis and
design results, if available. Users can control the content and format of
the report using the File menu > Report Setup command. This enables
users to choose the type of file to produce (RTF, HTML, or text), the
portion of the structure to be included, as well as to choose external
files that control the detailed content and format of the report. The
report is controlled by the report content file, which is an XML file
that users can edit. A default report content file is supplied with
SAP2000. If necessary, users may create their own files to suit the
needs of their companies, projects, or approving agencies. Details of
the report content file can be found using the Help menu >
Documentation command.

Advanced Report Writer

Advanced Report Writer enables formatted reports to be created using
tabular data from SAP2000, along with figures and text. Reports can
be created in the following formats:

 Rich text format for Microsoft Word

 HTML format for Microsoft Internet Explorer

 Plain (ASCII) text

Use Advanced Report Writer to pull together tables from one or more
database files, which can be from the same or different models.

5-8 Creating a Report

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

To prepare the report, enter section headings, arbitrary text between

the tables, and pictures using many different file formats. The
program also provides options to control the formatting of the tables,
page setup, and fonts.

Format Control for Display and Printing

SAP2000 has options for controlling the format of tables used for
display and printing.

Use the Options menu > Set Program Default Display Units command
to specify the format desired for each type of numerical item in the
program (e.g., forces, moments, lengths, and so forth). For example,
use this command to specify that dimensions of the structure be
displayed in feet (or meter) units with three decimal digits and that
section dimensions be displayed in inch (or millimeter) units with one
decimal digit. By default, the program will use the current units for all
items, with built-in settings for numerical accuracy.

In addition, use the Options menu > Database commands to control

the detailed formatting of each column in each table, such as:

 Which fields are present and in what order

 Column widths and justification

 Sorting of data, i.e., how the rows are ordered

 Filtering of data, i.e., which records are included

 Other advanced features

An option can be used to save the format settings in a table formats

file for later use.

Note that database tables exported under the File menu do not use any
of this formatting information, except that database tables in Excel
format use the units specified using the Options menu > Set Program
Default Display Units command.

Format Control for Display and Printing 5-9

SAP2000 Getting Started

Interactive Table Editing

Sometimes it is more convenient to create and edit model definition
data in tabular format rather than in graphical mode or using standard
forms. Edit model definition data in tabular format using the Edit
menu > Interactive Database Editing command. Only model definition
data can be edited this way, and the model must be unlocked to use
this feature.

Choosing the types of data to edit determines the tables that are
available. If objects are selected before using the Edit menu >
Interactive Database Editing command, only data for the selected
objects will be available in tables that contain object-specific data.

Additions, deletions, or modifications can be made to the data in the

selected tables. Those changes then can be applied to the model, or
the table editing process can be ended without saving the changes.

Numerical formulas (e.g., 2+3/4) can be typed directly into any cell.
Also right-clicking within any field (column) will cause a useful pop-
up menu to appear. That menu can be used to display a description of
the field. If the field expects text-type input, then, in most cases, the
menu also provides access to a drop-down list with all acceptable
values for the selected cell. If the field expects numeric-type input,
the menu provides access to the SAP2000 Calculator.

While working on a table, change the units used for a given field by
clicking on the cell just below the column heading. Changing the
units for one field will change the units for other related fields. The
units chosen while editing tables interactively are temporary. All
values will be converted back to the current model units after the
edited data has been applied to the model.

Use the Excel > Send Database Table to Excel command on the SAP2000
Interactive Database Editing form to send the current table to
Microsoft Excel, where full spreadsheet functionality is available to
edit the table. After editing the data in Excel, do not close Excel.
Instead, return to SAP2000 and select the Excel > Retrieve Database

5 - 10 Interactive Table Editing

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

Table from Excel command to save the changes or the Cancel Database
Table in Excel command to discard them; Excel will automatically be
closed.

Exporting Tabular Data

Normally, using the File menu > Save command will save a SAP2000
model in a binary file with an .SDB extension. Analysis results, if any,
are saved in a set of binary files in the same folder. Those binary files
form a database that is used when the File menu > Open command is
used to open an existing model. They are in a format that is internal to
SAP2000; the contents of those files can be accessed using the
graphical user interface only.

To provide external access to SAP2000 data, export the model

definition, analysis results, and design results as a SAP2000 tabular
database in any of the following file formats:

 Microsoft Access database

 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

 Plain (ASCII) text

To export tabular data, use the appropriate File menu > Export
command. Specific details of the different file formats are described in
the “Tabular Database File Formats” section. However, they all use the
same table names and field (column) names, and they all provide the
same description of the SAP2000 data.

When exporting, choose the classes of data to export and the types of
data within each class; this, in turn, determines the tables that are
exported. If objects are selected before exporting, only the data for the
selected objects will be exported in those tables that contain object-
specific data.

Any number of different files can be exported from a given SAP2000

model. Each file may contain different tables and may apply to
different parts of the model. Those files may be used for processing by

Exporting Tabular Data 5 - 11

SAP2000 Getting Started

other programs, for modification before re-importing to SAP2000, or

for other purposes. However, to ensure that the exported file contains
a complete description of the model, be sure to export all importable
model-definition data for the entire structure.

Importing Tabular Data

Use the File menu > Import commands to import model definition
data as a SAP2000 tabular database from any of the following file
formats:

 Microsoft Access database

 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

 Plain (ASCII) text

The data could have been exported from the SAP2000 graphical user
interface, or created in some other way. Exporting a model, modifying
it, and then re-importing the data is useful for parameter studies and
for iterative shape-finding problems. Certain features can be exported
from one model and imported into another model.

Note that the format of an imported file must be consistent with the
format used for exporting. To apply the appropriate format to files
created outside SAP2000, first create a model in the graphical user
interface, and then use the appropriate export command to generate
the format that can be used as a template. See the “Tabular Database
File Formats” section later in this chapter for more information.

Data can be imported into a new model or added to an existing model.

If the file is being imported into a new model, the file should include
all importable information for a complete model. If a file is being
added to an existing model, the file can consist of one or more tables.

The “Program Control” table must always be present for the database
to be imported (otherwise an error will occur). Thus, to import some
new joints into an existing model, the file being imported could

5 - 12 Importing Tabular Data

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

consist of only two tables, the “Program Control” table and the “Joint
Coordinates” table.

When adding to an existing model, choose how to handle conflicts

between imported data and data that is already present in the model:

 Keep the existing item and ignore the imported item.

 Delete the existing item and use the imported item.

 Keep the existing item and add the imported item with a new
name.

Some model definition data is importable, and some is not. For

example, the coordinates of the joints are importable, as is the
connectivity of the frame objects to the joints. The lengths of the
frame objects are included for informational purposes with the model
definition data, but lengths are not importable since they can be
calculated from the coordinates of the joints to which each object is
connected.

Automatic Export During Save

Every time a SAP2000 model is saved, all model definition data is
automatically exported as a tabular database in plain text format to a
file with the a .$2K extension. This file is also created when an
analysis is run, because the program always saves the model before
running the analysis.

The .$2K file serves as a text-file backup for the SAP2000 binary .SDB
file. This file can be imported as an alternative to opening the .SDB
file. Importing the .$2K file will not recover analysis or design results,
only the complete model definition.

Export During Analysis

An option is available to request that model definition and analysis
results tables be exported in Access database format every time an

Automatic Export During Save 5 - 13

SAP2000 Getting Started

analysis is run. This can be particularly useful if a series of analyses is

being run for different models using the SAP2000 batch-file option.

To use this option, specify a previously defined named set of model

definition tables and a named set of analysis results tables to be
exported. Named sets are defined using the Define menu > Named Set
command, or they can be defined while displaying or printing tabular
data.

Tabular Database File Formats

Database tables can be formatted for Microsoft Access, Microsoft
Excel, or a text editor. A tabular database in any of these formats will
contain equivalent data.

The database table and field names in SAP2000 can be customized

using the Options menu > Database commands. See the on-line Help
facility in SAP2000 for more information.

Microsoft Access Database

Each SAP2000 table is written as a separate Access database table,
with the SAP2000 field names as the column headings. All tables and
fields use one consistent set of units, namely the current units in
effect when the file is created. These units are stored in the “Program
Control” table, not with the individual fields.

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Each SAP2000 table is written as a separate worksheet in an Excel
tabular database file. The SAP2000 field names are the column
headings. The units associated with each field are displayed beneath
the field names.

For export to Excel, the units are the current units in effect when the
file was created, unless different units have been specified using the
Options menu > Set Program Default Display Units command.

5 - 14 Tabular Database File Formats

 Chapter 5 - Working with Data Tables

For import from Excel, each field (column) may have a unique set of
units. For example, in the “Joint Coordinates” table, the X Coordinate
could be imported in inches, the Y Coordinate in feet and the Z
Coordinate in meters. Note that this does not apply for import from
Access or plain text tabular databases, which use a consistent set of
units.

In Excel, the headers are color-coded. Fields that can be imported

have yellow headers. Fields that are ignored upon import have cyan
(light blue) headers.

Plain Text File

The Text File Database is always in one consistent set of units. These
units are specified in the Program Control table.

The Text File Database consists of a series of tables. Each table has a
series of one or more records (rows). Each record in the table must be
on a single data line. A continuation character (a blank space followed
by an underscore, i.e., _ ) can be used to indicate that a data line
continues on to the next line of text in the file.

Table names are specified by the keyword “TABLE:” followed by a

space and the name of the table. The record data lines for a table
follow the table-name data line. A record data line consists of pairs of
data; each data pair is made up of a field name followed by the field
data. One data pair is required for each field in the table. All data
pairs for a given record must be on the same data line.

The $ character is used as a comment character. Any data on a given

data line that occurs after a $ is ignored by the program on import.

Blank lines may occur anywhere and are completely ignored on

import. Also, any data occurring before the first table-name data line
is ignored. The program will stop reading the file when it encounters
the “End” keyword.

Tabular Database File Formats 5 - 15

SAP2000 Getting Started

When SAP2000 creates a Text File Database, the field data is always
enclosed in quotation marks, whereas the field names are not in
quotation marks. The quotation marks have no significance; they are
provided to make the text file easier to read. Text files can be created
with or without quotation marks.

By watching the status bar in the bottom left of the SAP2000 window
while importing a text file, you may notice that the text file is first
transferred to a Microsoft Access file and then the Microsoft Access
file is imported into SAP2000.

More Information
Detailed information on using the various menu commands and forms
is available using the online Help facility in the SAP2000 graphical
user interface.

Complete documentation for any or all tables and fields can be

produced using the Options menu > Database > Documentation to
Word command, which creates a Microsoft Word document that can
be opened and printed.

5 - 16 More Information