http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/forum/general Where Builders, Architects, Engineers, and Code Officials Meet en-US Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:47:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/search.php http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/how-to-make-money#post-104 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:32:43 +0000 teckert11 104@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>How does one go about contacting contractors to do designs for them using probeam? </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/constructioncalc-with-canadian-codes#post-84 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:04:24 +0000 Tim Garrison 84@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>[from email]</p> <p>Hi,</p> <p>I am really quite impressed with your ProBeam demo software I'd really like to purchase it. I live in B.C. Canada, and I am wondering how close do your results get to those if following the NBC (Canada's National Building Code). It uses Limit States Design for structural design and calculations, I believe the US uses something different?</p> <p>I am required to have an engineer's stamp for the timber frame addition for my house, but in the past it's being enough for me to do the calculations by hand and have them cheked over by them. Now I am getting into more complex stuff (roof) and will not be able to do it with my limited knowledge.</p> <p>If I can back my timber sizes with your software my engineering costs will decrease dramatically.</p> <p>Please, let me know at your earliest convenience.</p> <p>[Tim's Response:]</p> <p>Our software uses Allowable Stress Design (ASD) methods rather than LRFD or "Stregth" design methods and is compliant with the International Building Code, IBC.</p> <p>I'm not familiar with the the NBC, so can't comment on that - sorry. As far as producing safe designs, I guarantee that our software, used properly, does a tremendously good job.</p> <p>Certainly, you should invite any skeptical plans examiners to our website and to our demos; and they can call or email me directly - I'm happy to talk to them.</p> <p>Thanks for your questions,</p> <p>Tim Garrison, P.E. </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/load-diagram-and-shear-moment-tabs-at-bottom-dont-show-in-excel-07#post-69 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:36:41 +0000 Tim Garrison 69@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>If you're having trouble viewing certain parts of ConstructionCalc software in Excel '07, read on. </p> <p>Excel '07 is supposed to be easier but I find it harder and less intuitive.<br /> To change certain view settings:</p> <p>With the ConstructionCalc program open(ProBeam, for example):<br /> Microsoft Office button (upper left)<br /> Excel Options (lower right)<br /> Advanced (left margin)<br /> Scroll down to "Display options for this workbook," and select the appropriate ConstructionCalc program from the dropdown.<br /> Show sheet tabs<br /> Show all Objects<br /> Ok</p> <p>That should do it. If not, send us an email using the Contact Us tab on this website.<br /> P.S. While you're in the Advanced Options section, check out some of the other functionality you can adjust. Cool.<br /> Tim G. </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/paying-with-pay-pal#post-68 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 07:42:08 +0000 Tim Garrison 68@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>If you're purchasing ConstructionCalc software with Pay Pal, the process is a little different that with a credit card. </p> <p>With Pay Pal our shopping cart checks your Pay Pal account to confirm adequate funds then sends an email to us at ConstructionCalc notifying us of that. We then manually approve the purchase through our shopping cart. If you've purchased a downloadable product the download link is then sent to you via email. </p> <p>Please note that this process can take several hours. We go as fast as we can but all those emails and notificiations aren't always noticed right away.</p> <p>Certainly, you can call our office to alert us of your purchase and that will speed the process.</p> <p>Credit card purchases go through immediately, provided there's sufficient credit on the card. </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/error-messages-macros-wont-run#post-65 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:52:05 +0000 Tim Garrison 65@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>QUESTION: I get an error message when I open the program. The drop-down menus don’t work. The program freezes when I click a button or dropdown.</p> <p>ANSWER: If you are trying to run our software on Mac, Works, Quattro, or some other spreadsheet platform, please note that those platforms are not supported by ConstructionCalc. You must use Excel '03 or later to run our software. </p> <p>With Excel, any of the above problems are due to your computer not allowing our macros (small pieces of computer code embedded in our programs). This is because Vista or Excel incorrectly views them as potential viruses. </p> <p>Here are the quick, easy adjustments:</p> <p>If you are using Excel 07, go through the following, A-F.<br /> If you're using Excel '03, scroll down.</p> <p>A. If your version of Excel '07 is an early version, make sure you've upgraded with the latest Microsoft Service Pack. The first version of Excel 07 was full of bugs and had problems dealing with macros. Microsoft fixed that with their service packs. If you're not sure, you can try to skip this step and go to step B., below.</p> <p>If you skip this step, and after making the settings adjustments in steps B - D, below, you're still having problems, come back and download the following Microsoft upgrades. After you do that, you may have to go through steps B - D again. But it's quick and easy.</p> <p>To download Microsoft service packs, here is the link for that Microsoft web page. Once there, scroll down until you find something like this: The 2007 Microsoft Office Suite Service Pack 2 (SP2) That link will take you to the download page.</p> <p>B. Make sure your Macro and Active-x settings are correct in Excel as follows:</p> <p>- Open Excel.<br /> - Click on the round Office button, upper left.<br /> - Excel Options, lower right.<br /> - Trust Center in left margin.<br /> - Trust Center Settings, bar right side.<br /> - ActiveX Settings.<br /> - Select “Prompt me before enabling all controls with minimum restrictions.”<br /> - Ok<br /> - You should now be back in the Trust Center Settings screen. Select Macro Settings, left margin.<br /> - Select "Disable all macros with notification.<br /> - Ok<br /> Done. Excel will remember these settings, you should only have to do this once.<br /> C. Open the ConstructionCalc program or demo you want to use. Then immediately Save As, choosing "Excel 97-2003 Workbook". Give the program a new name, such as PBWorkingCopy. Close the program.</p> <p>D. Reopen the program. Just below the tool bar (upper left of the screen) you may see this note: "Security Warning - Macros have been disabled". </p> <p>- Click "Options" to the right of that note.</p> <p>- Select Enable this content. </p> <p>E. Now you should be good to go. </p> <p>F. Each time you open the program you will see the Macros have been disabled note in the upper left. Click on Options, then Enable this content.</p> <p>* In Excel 03 and earlier</p> <p>Open the program. Then Tools, Macro, Security, Medium. Close the program and reopen it. You should only have to do this once. Of course each time you open one of our programs and are prompted about macros always select "Enable macros". </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/upgrades#post-63 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:28:20 +0000 Tim Garrison 63@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>How can I tell the differences between older and newer versions of your software. I.E. what upgrades do the newer versions have? [from email]</p> <p>Anwswer: The best way is to download a demo and look at the "About" tab at the bottom. You'll find a history of the program with all the upgrades and dates.<br /> There is also important assumption information there to help ensure you use the program correctly. </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/lateral-design-software#post-51 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:49:12 +0000 Tim Garrison 51@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>[from Tom Gaetano email]</p> <p>Mr. Garrison<br /> Enjoy using the ProBeam program. Wish I could have afforded the bundle at the time I got it. I was wondering if any of your programs deal with uplift design issues (open deck or covered gazebo) and selection of post anchors &amp; beam connections and joist hurricane clips. I'm in a 110 mph wind speed zone. Any help or a point in the right direction would be appreciated.<br /> Thanks</p> <p>Tom Gaetano </p> http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/topic/print-on-hard-copy-is-too-small#post-47 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:56:46 +0000 Tim Garrison 47@http://www.constructioncalc.com/blog/userforum/ <p>It was brought to my attention that the beam calcs in your structural package aren't readable. I'm not sure if you used a Jpeg image to incorporate them in or if it was just some sort of printing snaffu. Can you take a look at your files and see if they are readable there?</p> <p>Thank you,<br /> Seth </p>