Create and Manipulate Connections to External Steelwork

After the structural steelwork has been created, it may be necessary to connect it to external steelwork.

To add a connection to external steelwork:

1. Select the Create Connections icon .

   This creates a connection only if the application knows the identity of the steelwork to connect to.

   If you used the Create by Cursor or Create by Clearance methods the connection to the external steelwork is made automatically.

   Note: It is essential that you have write access to create SNOD/SJOI elements on the necessary external steelwork.

   The SNOD is represented in the graphical view. The MDS application defaults control the level at which joists can be made to the external steelwork.

   Refer to the MDS Administrator Guide for further information.

2. Select the Modify Connection icon .

   You are presented with a form that displays all the available joints.

3. Select the joint for the joints connected to the external steelwork.

   If you have identified the external steelwork to connect to with either Create by Cursor or Create by Clearance, it is possible that the application will connect to the wrong Pline. This can happen in the case of the SCTN having floating Plines (X) ((a) in the figure below.

   

4. You can force-connect the joint to a specific Pline ((b) in the figure above by selecting the Force Connect icon .

   You are prompted to identify the required Pline using the cursor.

To delete a connection:

5. Identify the connection with the cursor.

6. Select the Delete Connections icon.