Member Design / Import guidance

Export from SAP2000 & ETABS

Prepare member geometry and analysis forces for your StructUpro design. Keep this guide open beside your model while you export.

Before exporting

Run the analysis for the cases you need and check that member-force results are available.
Use kN and m for the export: lengths and output stations in m, forces in kN, and moments in kN·m. The current import workflow assumes these units; it does not automatically convert other unit systems.
Include the load cases and combinations you intend to check, with results along each member. Load definitions alone do not supply design forces.
Check selection filters so the export includes all intended members and their end stations.

01 / SAP2000

Export model tables and frame forces

Open your analysed model and set the export units to kN, m.
Choose File → Export → SAP2000 .s2k Text File.
In the table selection window, include the model and analysis tables listed below. Expand the table groups to find each item.
Select the required load cases and combinations. Clear Selection Only to export the whole model, or verify your selected members. Review the output options for multi-step cases.
Save the export as .s2k. If your version produces .$2k, save a copy of the exported table text with a .txt extension. Use the explicit table export with analysis results, rather than relying on the automatic model backup.

Menu names can vary by version. See CSI's SAP2000 text export help and table selection options.

Tables used by the current StructUpro importer
Include	Purpose
`PROGRAM CONTROL`	Source program and unit information.
`CONNECTIVITY - FRAME`	Member identifiers and full lengths.
`FRAME SECTION ASSIGNMENTS`	Assigned section names.
`FRAME SECTION PROPERTIES 01 - GENERAL`	Section dimensions. For nonprismatic sections, also include `FRAME SECTION PROPERTIES 05 - NONPRISMATIC` and the referenced end sections.
`LOAD CASE DEFINITIONS` and combination definitions	Names and types of the cases and combinations.
`ELEMENT FORCES - FRAMES`	Member, output case, station and force components `P, V2, V3, T, M2, M3`. Required for imported force-based design.

02 / ETABS

Export the model and analysis results separately

Model reference: choose File → Export → ETABS .e2k Text File and save the model input file.
Analysis results: after running the analysis, use Display → Show Tables. Select the required frame results, such as beam and column forces, together with member connectivity, section assignments and load definitions.
Choose the output: review table options, selection filters and the required cases/combinations. Keep case identifiers and step information separate. Export lengths/stations in m, forces in kN and moments in kN·m.
Save the tables: choose File → Export → ETABS Tables to Excel and select the required tables. Keep this workbook as the source for conversion or manual entry.
Use the results in StructUpro: the workbook must first be converted to the compatible CSI text structure below. StructUpro does not currently provide that converter. Alternatively, choose Manual in Member Design and enter the geometry and forces from the exported tables.

See CSI's ETABS export options, table selection help and output options.

Compatible text format for a conversion workflow

Use named TABLE: blocks with key=value records. Map ETABS member identifiers consistently to Frame; keep them unique across stories. Use the SAP2000 table names above and preserve the full member length, case/combination names, stations and force components. For multi-step results, retain StepType and StepNum.

This abbreviated example illustrates the structure only. It is not a complete design input file.

TABLE: "PROGRAM CONTROL"
ProgramName="ETABS" CurrUnits="KN, m, C"

TABLE: "CONNECTIVITY - FRAME"
Frame="Story1-B1" Length=6

TABLE: "ELEMENT FORCES - FRAMES"
Frame="Story1-B1" OutputCase="ULS1" CaseType="Combination" Station=0 P=-100 V2=20 V3=0 T=0 M2=0 M3=40

Export every required station and result row. A plain spreadsheet saved as .txt or a renamed .e2k file does not create this structure.

Import and check the result

Return to your Member Design tab. Under Member Details, select Analysis output, choose the compatible file and click Import.
Select the imported member. Check its identifier, full length, section dimensions and member configuration against your analysis model.
Open Forces and select the required cases/combinations. Compare station positions, forces, signs and local-axis orientation against the original results before running design.

The current workflow maps M3 → Mx, M2 → My, V2 → Vx and −P → N. Check that this matches the member axes in your model. Review restraints, segment lengths and design settings in StructUpro.

Troubleshooting

“No frame members were found”: Check for compatible frame connectivity or frame-force table records. A native ETABS model file, spreadsheet or formatted report does not meet the text format requirements.
Members appear, but forces or combinations are missing: Run the required cases, export frame-force results and check the case/combination filters. Include result rows for combinations as well as their definitions.
Lengths or forces have the wrong scale: Re-export in kN and m. The current workflow treats lengths and stations as metres and does not rescale forces from other units.
Only some members appear, or a member is too short: Check selection filters and include full member lengths and end stations. Without a connectivity length, the importer uses the largest exported station as the member length.
The file is rejected or too large: Use a supported extension and keep the file within 150 MB. Export only the required members, tables and output cases while retaining their geometry and results.