Public Sub Example()
       Dim SapModel As cSapModel
       Dim EtabsObject As cOAPI
       Dim ret As Integer = -1 

   'create ETABS object
       EtabsObject = CreateObject("CSI.ETABS.API.ETABSObject")

   'start ETABS application
       ret = EtabsObject.ApplicationStart()

   'create SapModel object
       SapModel = EtabsObject.SapModel

   'initialize model
       ret = SapModel.InitializeNewModel()

   'create steel deck template model
       ret = SapModel.File.NewSteelDeck(4,12,12,4,4,24,24)

   'get number of defined load patterns
       ret = SapModel.LoadPatterns.Count

   'close ETABS
       EtabsObject.ApplicationExit(False)

   'clean up variables
       SapModel = Nothing
       EtabsObject = Nothing 
   End Sub

Public Sub Example()
       Dim SapModel As cSapModel
       Dim EtabsObject As cOAPI
       Dim ret As Integer = -1 

   'create ETABS object
       EtabsObject = CreateObject("CSI.ETABS.API.ETABSObject")

   'start ETABS application
       ret = EtabsObject.ApplicationStart()

   'create SapModel object
       SapModel = EtabsObject.SapModel

   'initialize model
       ret = SapModel.InitializeNewModel()

   'create steel deck template model
       ret = SapModel.File.NewSteelDeck(4,12,12,4,4,24,24)

   'get number of defined load patterns
       ret = SapModel.LoadPatterns.Count

   'close ETABS
       EtabsObject.ApplicationExit(False)

   'clean up variables
       SapModel = Nothing
       EtabsObject = Nothing 
   End Sub