The main window in the Structural Engineering Library is actually rarely seen!  Because you are usually working in the Project Manager screen the main frame & menu are not often seen.

 

The only activity you can take here is to make one of the menu selections. These will be described below and we want you to know that most of these selections are also available on the Project manager screen and the individual calculation screens using a buttons.

 

All activity takes place within the ENERCALC - Structural Engineering Library window, which is a standard application frame. When you open an existing or create a new project file, the window displays the project list and calculation currently being "edited".

 

The main menu allows you to convert calculations from other project files, change general settings, view, add, modify, and delete items in the material databases, and save and retrieve "default" values if a calculation is being edited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

File Menu

The menu contains several options for creating, opening, and saving Project files; converting previous DOS version files to the new format; and starting the Web Update program.

 

The Structural Engineering Library uses Project files to build sets of calculations. These files have an extension "ECW" (E  nerC  alc for W  indows). These files are highly complex and are maintained by an industrial strength database management system. This file contains your project information and data structures for all calculations types.

 

With some clever design we have been able to make these files act like miniature disk drives with a 2-tiered tree structure. You can create Divisions that categorize your calculations. This tree structure is what is viewed in the Project Manager window and should not be confused with a view of your hard disk  .

 

The Project File is kept up-to-date at all times EXCEPT when a calculation is being edited. During calculation editing, only the beginning values are contained in the data file; the values you see on-screen are in temporary memory, and will not be saved to the datafile until you select the "OK" button.

Basic functional menu items are as follows. Updated software releases may have additional choices which will be documented in the on-line help system.

 

New

Displays a file selection box where you can enter the filename of a new SEL Project file.

 

 

Open

Displays a file selection box which lists all files in the current directory that have the standard extension "ECW". You can use this dialog box to navigate to another drive or directory.

 

 

 

Last Calculation

This selection takes you directly to the last calculation in the last file used.

 

Last project

This selection opens the last Project file you were using and displays it in the Project manager.

 

Check & Install Updates

This selection will launch the automatic Internet based software updating system.  The Structural Engineering Library will be closed and the updating program will be started.  A screen will be displayed listing the files that need to be updated (or that you are already up-to-date) and a detailed display of the download progress and file status will be presented.

 

 

Print Setup

This allows you to select the printer to display for approval when printing the project or single calculation.

 

 

Exit

Closes the currently open project file, close the application window, and exits the Structural Engineering Library.

 

List of Last Used Files

At the bottom of the File menu is a list of the previously used Project files. The most recent to be used is listed at the top, with the earlier used files appearing below. Simply move the mouse over a file you wish to use and click to select it. This list is maintained in the ENERCALC.INI file which you may edit if needed.

 

 

Quick

Use this selection when you want to quickly use one of the calculations provided with the Structural Engineering Library. You can use this feature regardless if a Project file is currently loaded. This menu item will be disabled when you are editing a calculation from a project file.

 

Selecting this menu item displays the standard selection window where you can choose the calculation to use. You can immediately begin using a calculation and print the results. Please check your current version program for capabilities of adding "Quik" calculations to a project calculation file.

 

 

Settings

This selection displays the Settings window where you can specify how you want your title block to appear, specify a bitmap graphic image to use as a title block "logo", control data and time printing, change system of units, and other items. Please see the Configuration Settings section.

 

 

 

Database Menu Item

The Structural Engineering Library has three basic databases of information, and may contain more in future releases. After selecting the database from the drop-down menu list, you can review the values and add, change, or delete entries as you desire. Here's an image of the Steel Database window.....

 

 

Calculator Menu Item

This item gives you access to a calculator.

 

 

 

User Information Menu Item

This item allows you to enter your company information and Product Activation Code. Please see the section titled "User Information" for more information.

 

 

Help Menu Item

Please pay careful attention to this menu items contents ! The information accessed by the items in this menu will be constantly added and improved to give you the best possible resource of help possible. Not only are detailed technical descriptions for all items in every calculation provided, but our ever expanding "knowledge base" of questions and answers discussed with your fellow users worldwide will be a tremendous source of additional information.

 

Also, complete release notes chronicling all the changes to the software since the release of version 5.0.1 will be provided so you can see the ever changing and developing path of the software system. (See Release Notes below.)

 

Of special note is the built-in technical support form. With your user information already filled in you can simply type out your question to us, specify the nature and importance level, and print it directly to your internal fax-modem or to a printer for separate faxing.

 

Main Help System

This item provides access to the main on-line help system as provided with your Windows operating system. Using the Contents, Search, Index, Find, and hypertext links (the underlined text items) you can quickly zero-in on the information you need.

 

 

Technical Support Form

When you have a question the fastest way to get an answer is to FAX it to our technical staff at 949-640-5463. To make this as easy as possible, we provide an on-line form where you can type our your question and print it directly to your fax-modem or printer. This form includes all your user information, phone and e-mail contacts, and version number. We know exactly who you are and the current sub-version of the software you have.

 

Release Notes

This item displays the text file SELNOTES.TXT which contains all the programs revision history.

 

 

 

About & Version Number

This selection displays the current version, user registration number, user name, company name, build data, and copyright information.