Legacy StruCalc File Importer

Legacy StruCalc File Importer

Summary: Import an existing StruCalc project into Vitruvius, preserving all of your loads, load trackers, sizes, spans, and building code settings.

• Differences in building and materials standards from StruCalc's time to Vitruvius' time mean some items and settings will not import directly into Vitruvius. Please be sure to check all of your inputs from StruCalc to ensure that if a value existed in StruCalc but is not supported in Vitruvius that a suitable (i.e. conservative) replacement is selected and suits your needs.
  
• Import a Legacy StruCalc file (.prx) by selecting File -> Import -> StruCalc 10.0 Project and selecting the StruCalc project file you wish to import. StruCalc project files end with a '.prx' file type.
  

Notable Differences Between StruCalc and Vitruvius

- Setting the Load Type Using Duration Factor: Duration Factor will be the prime determinant for load types (live, snow, roof live, etc.). StruCalc allows the use of checkboxes and radio buttons to treat the live load inputs as other load types, while also allowing the duration factor to be set to values that may not correspond to the load type indicated. Vitruvius allows each load to have its load type set independently, and the duration factor for every applicable load combination is automatically set. Imported StruCalc modules use the StruCalc duration factor to set the load type in Vitruvius, with the exception of Steel and Tube Steel members (which don't have a duration factor), as explained further below.

- Building Codes: The latest IBC and IRC standards that StruCalc uses are from 2015, and the earliest standards Vitruvius uses are from 2012. We've matched the building codes from StruCalc with those present in Vitruvius, but any standards from before 2012 will be imported into Vitruvius as 2012. The same is true for National Design Specification, as well as Steel Design Specification. Additionally, StruCalc allows you to set different code standards across different members in the same project, whereas all Modules in a project in Vitruvius will share the same global code settings. On importing a StruCalc project, Vitruvius will take the IBC/IRC, NDS, and SDS settings from the StruCalc member which was most recently saved.

- Materials, Species, Grades:

StruCalc enabled users to select a wide variety of Materials, Species, and Grades for their members which are no longer relevant and/or available, and are not present in Vitruvius. Please be sure to double check your imported StruCalc values to ensure that if the Material/Species/Grade is no longer available, the replacement value suits your needs. Below are a few examples of Materials that are no longer available, and their appropriate replacements.

• Structural Composite Lumber: 
  • Type 'APA EWS LVL Stress Classes' replaced by Roseburg Forest Products of the equivalent grade. 
  • Type 'Georgia Pacific' replaced by Roseburg Forest Products of the equivalent grade. 
  • Type 'International Paper' replaced by Sundre/West Fraser of the equivalent grade.
• I-Joists:
  • Type 'iLevel Trus Joist' replaced by Weyerhaeuser of the equivalent grade.
  • Type 'Georgia Pacific' replaced by Roseburg Forest Products.

- Load Trackers and Links:

Like in StruCalc, Vitruvius allows you to link members/modules above and below another module to transfer their loads. When you import a Load Tracker from StruCalc, be sure to calc both the module above and the module below, in that order, in Vitruvius to make the link 'complete'. 

• Studwalls in Vitruvius do not currently support linked loads above or below. 
• Vitruvius calculates linked loads from top to bottom, so be sure to run your calculations on any load trackers in that same order. Running the calculations in a different order won't have any adverse effects on the modules, but you will get a notification alerting you that 'a link is broken', and can be fixed by calculating the module above. Once all the linked loads have been calculated, the Vitruvius Links will be complete.

- Loads:

Changes in Loads from StruCalc to Vitruvius:

• Unbalanced Loads - Regardless of the state of the checkbox in your StruCalc project, when importing into Vitruvius the default will be false, or unchecked.
  
• Area Reduction Factor - Vitruvius does not currently support Live Load Reductions.
• StruCalc 'Wall' Member, Lateral Point Loads - Vitruvius does not support lateral point loads on a Studwall. Instead, lateral point loads imported from StruCalc will be added as lateral trapezoidal loads with equal left and right magnitudes, and start and end locations 1' apart centered on the StruCalc point load location.
• Partially Distributed Loads - Partially Distributed Loads from StruCalc will be imported into Vitruvius as Trapezoidal loads with equal left and right magnitudes.
• Roof Rafter/Beam Double Live Load On Eave - In StruCalc, when the 'Double Live Load On Eave' checkbox is selected, a live load appears on only the right eave, regardless of whether there is/isn't a left eave. When a StruCalc member has the 'Double Live Load On Eave' checkbox is selected and imported into Vitruvius, a double live load will be added to both the left and right eaves, where applicable. 
• Studwall Axial Loads Eccentricity - Axial load eccentricity not currently supported in Vitruvius.
• Lateral Load is Wind/Seismic - Vitruvius largely ignores this selection in StruCalc, instead deferring to the value for Duration Factor to determine the load type, with the exception of Steel/Tube Steel members. Since Steel/Tube Steel members do not have a Duration Factor, the Lateral Load is Wind/Seismic option in StruCalc is the determinant for the load type/combination for an imported member.
• Footing Load Calculator - When a StruCalc Footing is imported into Vitruvius and used the Load Calculator functionality in StruCalc, the imported Footing will open in the 'Design View' in Vitruvius. The Design View gives users extra functionality to factor in tributary widths, additional load options, and the ability to add/update loads after they've been included on the Vitruvius Module. Note that the Design View adds a 30 lbf/ft^2 Snow Load by default. You can remove that default Snow Load from the project by zeroing out the text box. 

Conversions from StruCalc Duration Factors to Load Types in Vitruvius

- Other:

General changes from StruCalc to Vitruvius:

• Footing Equal Bar Spacing - Vitruvius automatically uses equal bar spacing. The value imported from StruCalc will be ignored, and equal bar spacing will be 'True' for an imported StruCalc project. 
• Notch Depth - Vitruvius does not currently support Notch Depth.
• Studwall Unbraced Length - Vitruvius Studwall currently automatically sets the out-of-plane unbraced length to the full stud height, and the in-plane unbraced length to 0 (to indicate it is fully braced by drywall, sheathing, etc.).
  
• Studwall Sizing - Vitruvius allows users to select the most common stud sizes, but some of the sizes present in StruCalc are not available in Vitruvius. Please be sure to check these imported values and ensure an appropriate comparable replacement is selected.
• Studwall Material - Vitruvius currently only supports Solid Sawn lumber for Studwall material.
• Incising Factor on Collar Ties - Vitruvius does not currently support incising factor on Collar Tie modules.
• Collar Tie Material, Glulams - Vitruvius does not support Glulams for Collar Ties. Any imported Collar Tie members from StruCalc with Glulams as material will default to Structural Composite Lumber in Vitruvius, with Boise Cascade as the manufacturer and the type as '1.5E 1800 Versa-Lam LVL West'.
• Glulam Camber Adjustment Factor - Vitruvius does not currently support camber adjustment factor.
• Steel Members, Unequal Legs Orientation - Vitruvius defaults to "Long Leg Up"/"Long Leg Vertical" orientation for 'L' shaped steel members.
• Bending Coefficient/Lateral-Torsional Buckling Modification Factor - Vitruvius automatically calculates this factor.
  
• Glued and Screwed Plywood - Not currently supported in Vitruvius.
• Combination Roof and Floor Beam, Roof Pitch - The Combination Roof and Floor Beam from StruCalc imports into Vitruvius as a Floor Beam, which means that the roof pitch will not be factored into this imported module's calculations.
  
• I-Joist Web Stiffeners - StruCalc requires users to manually choose whether web stiffeners are added at each support, while Vitruvius automatically adds web stiffeners only where required for bearing calculations. 
  
• StruCalc 'Framing' Functionality - While similar functionality to the Framing module exists in Vitruvius (in Dead Load Templates), the importer does not currently support importing saved Framing module information. If this is something you'd like to see as a future update please contact Vitruvius at [email protected]. 

  
  

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions please reach out to our customer support at [email protected] or call 1-800-279-1353.