Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 1 of 7

Guidelines For Data Entry

One goal for CTBridge development is to create a program that is easy to use for
bridge engineers. Part of being easy to use is making data entry simple and
intuitive. In most cases, engineers are able to build and analyze a simple model
within an hour of their first use of CTBridge, with little or no help.

However, there are several guidelines discussed below that might help make entering
data easier for the user. These guidelines are only suggestions - the user is not
required to follow them.

Set up the specification and units prior to entering data.

The default units are US, and the default specification is LRFD - US. The
specification and units may be changed at any time, but there are several
reasons for taking this step first. CTBridge applies default values where
possible, and these defaults often depend on the unit system at the time of
creation. Changing the specification also has wide ranging implications. A
lot of default data is specification dependent - notably the live load trucks,
lanes, and vehicles. For these reasons it is probably better to set this
information prior to data entry. After changing the specification or units,
you may want to click "File/New" to make sure that program defaults adhere to
the new specification and units.

Follow the order of menu options and/or toolbar buttons.

The menu options and toolbar buttons are placed in a logical order, according
to how a typical model might be built. The bridge menu and bridge toolbar
buttons are in the same order, as are the load menu and load toolbar buttons.
The suggestion of following the order is more important for the bridge menu,
and less important for the load menu. For example, cross sections are required
prior to creating spans and columns, and spans are required prior to defining
prestress cable paths. The following figure shows the bridge menu options and
order.

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014

Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 2 of 7

Bridge Menu

Load Menu

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014

Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 3 of 7

Order is not as important with the load menu. The load menu order is really
just a logical grouping of data. The order is important when defining user
loads or user live load information. For user loads, the load must first be
defined, and then a load factor must be assigned if the user load is to have an
effect on results. The user live load is similar, except that user trucks and
lanes should be defined first, then placed in a user defined vehicle, followed
by assignment of a load factor for the vehicle.

Define the bridge geometry prior to entering reinforcement and loads.

In some ways, this suggestion is enforced by the program. The user can not
describe reinforcement or certain loads without the presence of spans or
columns. However, this suggestion is geared more towards having the member
correctly defined and placed, and the boundary conditions and hinges set
correctly.

This suggestion is important because prestress cable paths depend on frame

definitions. Prestress frames are defined as continuous portions of the
superstructure. If the user describes a cable path extending through various
members, and then deletes one of those members or places a hinge in a member,
this might cause problems for the prestress already defined.

Understand the relationship between live load trucks, lanes and vehicles.

Information on trucks, lanes, and vehicles may be found in the chapter

discussion input data, or by following this link.

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014

Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 4 of 7

Typical Input Framework

There are several common "themes" that run throughout the input windows of CTBridge.
This section will highlight those concepts that the user will encounter often when
creating input in CTBridge.

The following figure is an example of the span input window, and serves to
illustrate a typical input framework.

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014

Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 5 of 7

Most input windows with CTBridge have one or more of the following features:

Tabs - Tabs allow CTBridge to organize and present a lot of data to the user
within a context that makes sense. Tabs are used whenever there is too much
similar data to fit comfortably on a single window.

Graphics - Where possible, and where it makes sense, live graphics are provided
that help to visually identify the meaning of the numerical data.

Lists - When there are more than one of the same item (for example more that
one span), this is reflected by using a list. The user can switch between
items in the list and the data presented to the user will adjust accordingly.

New - The new button generally creates a new item. In this example, clicking
the new button would create a new span.

Copy - The copy button creates a new item based on the currently selected item.
In this example, clicking the copy button would create a new span with data
identical to span 2.

Delete - The delete button deletes the currently selected item. Sometimes the
delete button is disabled. This generally occurs if the selected item is used
elsewhere in the model or loads, or in the case of members, if the item is a
current part of the model. To delete a span, it must first be detached from
the model.

Apply - The apply button applies any changes made in the input window, but
leaves the user in the input window. The apply button does not need to be
clicked if the user clicks OK as discussed below.

OK - The OK button saves any changes to the input and closes the input window.

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014

Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 6 of 7

Note that in many cases, there is an undo/redo feature that allows the user to
undo changes to the model.

Cancel - The cancel button closes the input window without applying any changes
made. In other words, clicking cancel will leave the model as is and all
changes made in the input window will be lost. The users should take care when
using the cancel button. The input framework allows many changes to be made
without leaving the input window. Clicking cancel will eliminate all changes
since the window was opened. Another thing to be aware of is that the X in the
upper right corner of the input window is equivalent to clicking the cancel
button.

Undo / Redo
CTBridge has an undo/redo feature that allows the user to retrieve earlier model
configurations, and retrace changes that have been undone. The undo/redo is active
for the model building portions of CTBridge, but not for changes made to the loads.
Eventually all input will be tracked with the undo/redo mechanism.

When building a model, the undo/redo mechanism generally operates on a component

basis. For example, in the span input window, the user can create new spans, delete
spans, and change data for existing spans. Whenever the user changes from one span
to another, the changes made to the previous span are stored in the undo mechanism.
So it is likely that one session within the span input window will generate a
number of undoable actions.

It is important to understand this concept because if the input window is canceled,

all changes will be lost. If the changes are applied through the apply or OK
button, the changes are made and logged into the undo/redo mechanism.

Graphic Zoom

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014

Guidelines For Data Entry

Page 7 of 7

CTBridge supports another type of undo/redo that relates to viewing graphical data.
The user can zoom in on the model view graphics as well as result graphs. Zoom
ratios are undoable and can be redone after being undone.

file://C:\Documents and Settings\XINHAO\Local Settings\Temp\~hh2F16.htm

11/23/2014