Units

Forms: Units, Consistent Units, Named Units, Select Named Units

Typically, the units would be specified when the model is initialized using the Units Modify/Show button on the New Model Initialization form. Although any units may be used at any time while working with the model, e.g., inch units for beam sections and feet units for grid layout, it is important to select an appropriate unit set before starting the model to reduce the possibility of round-off error. In other words, if work is being completed primarily in US units, US default units should be selected as the initial units. In such a case, Metric defaults would not be a good choice for the units because a conversion would always be required when saving the model, which could result in numerical variations.

The Options menu > Units command or the Units button in the lower right-hand corner of the SAFE Window, which access the Units form after the model has been initialized, can be used to review and if necessary modify the database units. Note that allowing the mouse cursor to "hover" over the Units button will display a list of those Items that have units and the Units applied to them.

Quick Units

- Use the U.S. Defaults or Metric Defaults button to quickly shift all items on the form from one default system to another.
- Use the Consistent Units button to access the Consistent Units form. Use the Select Units drop-down list on that form to select a set of units that is then quickly applied across the entire form. After a selection has been made, the Consistent Units form will close and all of the items on the Units form will update accordingly.
- Use the Named Units button to access the Select Named Units form and select a previously named unit set.
- 1. Make the necessary changes to any items on the Units form using the buttons or by clicking in the individual spreadsheet cells and (a) selecting from the resulting drop-down-list or (b) typing directly into the highlighted cell.
  2. Click the File menu > Save Named Units command on the Units form to access the Named Units form.
  3. Type a name for the named units into the Units edit box and click the Add New Units Name button. As necessary, highlight a previously Named Units set in the display list and (a) type a revised named in the Units edit box and click the Change Units Name button to change the name of the Named Units set, or (b) click the Delete Named Units button to delete a previously defined Named Units set.

Note that the File menu > Open Named Units command on the Units form also accesses the Select Named Units form, although this command is used only to apply the Named Units to the Units form.

Units spreadsheet. The Items listed are standard parameters used in the program and are not affected by the code selection made on the New Model form or the Design Preferences form. Use the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the form to move through the various items in the spreadsheet. Cells with a darker background cannot be edited. To make changes to other cells in the spreadsheet, click to reveal a drop-down list for selection or type directly into a highlighted cell. Note the Quick Units bullet above with regard to making changes to the Units spreadsheet.