Form: CSI Calculator
Use the ETABS Calculator feature to assist with mathematic operations in forms that accept generic entry. That is, when a command accesses a form that requires input of values in edit boxes, use the Calculator feature to calculate the values to be entered.
Access the Calculator feature as follows:
A form that requires generic entry must be displayed. For example,
Select a line object and click the Assign menu > Frame Loads > Distributed command to access the Frame Load Assignment - Distributed form.
Click in the first Distance edit box in the Trapezoidal Loads area of the form.
To access the CSI Calculator form, hold down the shift key and press the Enter key, or hold down the shift key and double click the left mouse button.
Calculate Formula Note that the parenthetic information displayed in this area of the form identifies the units of the value in the text box of the form displayed when the Calculator was accessed, and, where appropriate, if angles are in degrees or radians.
Formula edit box. Type a formula directly into this edit box.
Calculate button. Click this button after the formula has been entered in the Formula edit box.
Result edit box. As the name implies, the calculated result is displayed in this edit box after the Calculate button has been clicked.
Menu Items
View. The options on the View menu provide access to other calculator functions. The additional functions can be displayed (Show All) or hidden (Hide All) with a single View menu command. The additional functions include:
Format. Specify the format for displaying the calculated result. Select the appropriate format from the drop-down list (General, Number, Percentage, or Scientific).
Decimal places. Specify the number of decimal places to be used in displaying the result.
Show 1000s separator. When this check box is checked, comma separators will be used in larger numbers, such as 1,000 or 10,000.
Function
Type drop-down list. Select the type of mathematic function to use from the drop-down list (Basic Math, Trigonometry, Length Conversion, Force Conversion, Term Conversion, Angle Conversion, Hyperbolic Trigonometry).
Function drop-down list. The selections available on this drop-down list vary depending on the type of mathmatic function selected in the Type drop-down list. Note that as you highlight a function in the drop-down list, the display box to the right provides a brief description of the format of the result given the selected Type and Function.
Insert button Click this button to insert the function in the Formula edit box in the Calculate Formula area of the form.
Memory. Specify a value or formula that can be recalled during calculation of a result. Click the Recall Memory 1 button to use the value or formula stored in the Memory 1 edit box. Click the Recall Memory 2 button to use the value or formula stored in the Memory 2 edit box. Note that the values and formulas cumulatively appear in the Formula edit box in the Calculate Formula area of the form when the buttons are clicked.
Edit. The Edit menu includes commands to clear specific items or all item on the form. In addition, the Edit menu > Copy Result command copies the calculated result to the target edit box.
Angles. Use this command to set the angle to degrees or radians.
Close. Use this command to accept the data entered on the form (OK) or not (Cancel). These commands function the same as the OK and Cancel buttons on the CSI Calculator form.