SDNF Export in RISA-3D Version 5.0a of RISA-3D will introduce SDNF export as a beta feature.

This means it will be a working feature but we're still ironing out all the details. Version 5.1, which will be a mainte nance upgrade (not a patch) will introduce the feature as a full production feature. An extension of ".dat" is assumed for SDNF files. The SDNF file format supported is Version 3. The file format is straight forward but there is data in the file that isn't supported by RISA-3D, such as the fabrication mark. In ca ses such as this, RISA will put something in the file as a placeholder. Notes on various entries: Only hot rolled steel members are written to the SDNF file. Packet 00, record for issue code. Packet 10, Record point. Packet 10, Record ark. Packet 10, Record Packet 10, Record Packet 10, Record Packet 10, Record 8: RISA will always write 0 for the revision and "Issue Code" 1: RISA will write either 10 (COG) or 8 (TOM) for the cardinal 1: RISA will write the member label as the fabrication piece m 7: All zeroes are written except for current date and time 8: All zeroes are written 9: All zeroes are written 10: All zeroes are written

Packet 30 currently isn't being written, but eventually will be the member end r eactions for all load combinations flagged as a steel design combination. In the production release double angles may be written as two separate pieces. T his beta release writes them as a single piece with a double angle shape name. Shape names are the biggest challenge for SDNF export. RISA has its own way of n aming certain types of shapes such as angles and pipes, and the application that will be reading the SDNF file probably has some other way. We've set up several optional rules that should cover the vast majority of shape name differences. These are: -No decimal dimensions, i.e. the RISA angle L2.5X2.5 becomes L2-1/2X2-1/2 -Prefix tubes with "TS". RISA by default uses "TU" -Prefix pipes with "P". RISA uses "PIPE". -Thickness/spacing always a fraction. RISA uses number of 16ths for thickness, n umber of 8ths for spacing. -Prefix double angles with "2L" or "DL" -Prefix the spacing (for LL's) with a space or an underscore instead of an X Overriding all this, however, is the shape name mapping list. This is a list of RISA shape names matched

with the SDNF export name you wish to use to replace the RISA name. This list is contained in a mapping file with the extension ".smf". An example of this file "sample.smf" is included . This is an ascii file so any ascii editor such as Notepad can be used to view and edit it. The format for this .smf file is very simple. The first record is the title of t he list. This is what you will see in the dropdown of mapping lists in the SDNF export dialog. After the t itle, all the rest of the records are RISA shape names and the SDNF names to be used to replace them, both enclosed in quotes. You can put a "#" as the first character in a line to write a comment. Blanks lines are also ok. Example: Title String # comment "RISA name" "SDNF name" "RISA name" "SDNF name" "RISA name" "SDNF name" You can build multiple smf files and choose the list you want to use when you ar e creating the SDNF file. Please take a look at "sample.smf" to learn more about these mapping files. We are very interested in any comments on this implementation of SDNF export.