Managing Project Resources

Project resources are managed by system administrators. Typically this involves entering information such as folder paths for resources, like user dictionaries such as the feature dictionary, without which the application cannot function. What administrators enter will be visible in the Browse tab of the Project Resource Management dialog box (Tools -> Project Management -> Select/Browse...), but it cannot be changed there.
Managing project resources is typically performed by an administrator. 
  A sample project resource management (PRM) file is provided and by default, the application will start with this file. The following Structure Design-related resources are managed in this file.

Project Resources
 
  • Feature dictionary: the CATfct file that manages object classes and in particular, lets the user add attributes to basic classes. The corresponding resource is CATStructureDesignUserDictionary.
  • Discrete values for attributes: directory used to store discrete values of attributes.
  • ID sequence number directory: contains the last sequence number that was generated for an object.
  • Reference grid system: a CATPart containing default sets of reference planes in each of the three ship directions.
    The default location for this resource is ...OS/startup/EquipmentAndSystems/Structure/ReferenceGridSystem.CATPart

Structure Discipline Resources
  • Orientation conventions: contains naming conventions for ship directions. Default conventions are USA conventions contained in sample CATStrOrientNamingUSAConv.

    Sample naming conventions for European conventions is also supplied: CATStrOrientNamingEURConv. 

    The default location for these resources are .../OS/resources/msgcatalog
  • Structure openings catalog. The default location of this resource is .../OS/startup/components/PenetrationCatalog/Openings.catalog
  • Naming section characteristics: a file mapping user names for section characteristics to different categories of shape (I, C, T or L).
    The default location for this resource is CATStrSectionNamingKeys
  • Structure sections catalog: contains structure sections identified in accordance with  user names for section characteristics.
    The default location of this resource is .../OS/startup/components/StructuralCatalogs/AISC/AISC_Resolved.catalog

(The catalog has to contain resolved sections.)
  • Structure sections path: identifies the path of the folder in which the list of available sections will be stored. The default location is: .../OS/startup/components/StructuralCatalogs/ModelsResolved

    However, you can customize this location to, for example, have all sections centrally located.
  • Structure materials catalog: defines all materials and grades available to the structural engineer.
    The default location for this resource is .../OS/startup/components/StructuralCatalogs/Materials/StructureMaterials.CATMaterial

    Note: No tiffs letting you view objects in the Materials mode have been delivered.
  • Thickness table: defines all plate thicknesses available to the structural engineer. A sample table in text format is supplied. The system administrator can modify or add to the sample thickness table, or, if needed, create a new table. 

    The default location for this resource is .../OS/startup/components/StructuralCatalogs/ThicknessTables/ThicknessListSample.txt

    Important: If you change a thickness value in an existing design table, all plates of this thickness linked to the design table will be updated to the new value. With this in mind, you may prefer to add a row for the new thickness or create a new table.
 
  • Structure drawing symbols catalog

    The default location for this resource is
    .../OS/startup/components/StructuralCatalogs/DrawingSymbols/Structure2DSymbols-Customization.catalog
  • Detailing features catalog: contains slots, endcuts and assembly templates. The default location of this resource is .../OS/startup/EquipmentAndSystems/Structure/DetailingFeatures/FeatureCatalogs/
    Parametric/DetailingFeatures.catalog
 
  • Structure openings catalog for cutouts
    A sample catalog, Openings.catalog, is provided with the product.

The default location for this resource is .../OS/startup/components/PenetrationCatalog
Note: .../OS where OS is the operating system, for example intel_a (Windows) to be found in the download folder.