Export options

There are multiple export options within PREFAB for exporting to other file formats. This can be done in the viewer (Display of models) or the dedicated tab (Export to other file formats). 

1. Export to StruXML
   • Wall elements results along edges
   • Reactions
2. Export to Excel
   • Results
   • Geometry
3. Locked format

1. Export to StruXML

This creates a StruXML file to be used in FEM-Design. There are two main options: Wall export and reactions. 

Wall elements results along edges

Every wall is modeled independently of the others. With loads automatically applied according to the PREFAB calculations. Every load combination picked for export is also automatically created in FEM-Design.

Points supports are added with a soft stiffness. They are used to counter minuscule equilibrium errors. 

 Wall elevations results along external edges

Every elevation is modeled independently of the other elevations. But retain all internal connections, tho with the connection forces removed. With loads automatically applied according to the PREFAB calculations. Every load combination picked for export is also automatically created in FEM-Design.

Points supports are added with a soft stiffness. They are used to counter minuscule equilibrium errors. 

Wall selection results along external edges

The selected walls are taken from the model, with all internal forces removed, but forces from the connection to other elements are kept. Every load combination picked for export is also automatically created in FEM-Design.

Reactions

Reactions, matching the calculation made in PREFAB will be generated as load in a FEM-Design model. Line loads for walls, and point loads for columns and anchors. 

It will keep the coordinates from the originally imported FEM-Design model. All selected load combinations will be created automatically.

2. Export to Excel

This creates an Excel file. There are two main options:

Results

The Result file will contain information about:

• Shell elements
  • q_Rd : Design capacity [kN/m]
  • u : Utilization as decimal [ - ] (1 = 100%)
• MAX results
• Rebar anchorages 
• Loads

Geometry

The Geometry file will contain information about: 

• Shell elements
• Holes
• Beams and columns

3. Export locked file

To export af file as locked: 

1. Go to Export tab
2. Click "Save" under Locked format

Manual open the locked file to test everything is as it should be. The file can now be sent to anyone who has PREFAB or PREFAB Viewer. 

The locked part of the file is the Project informations tab. This means that no one can change the load distribution or project information. 

When a locked file is loaded into PREFAB, the Project informations tab is deactivated and there will be a lock icon on the top right next to "Viewer". 

All export options are available: PDF, Excel & StruXML.  

Exporting via: Export to other file formats

Exporting using the Export to other file formats tab gives you the full list of options available for your calculation:  

Exporting via: Display of models

Inside the Display of models, you can manually select elements, right-click, and then choose the export type you want: 

Merge PDF

PREFAB has a built in Merge tool, that can be used to combine PDF's while still keeping the interactive features. This is not possible with most PDF viewers. Check this page to see if your PDF viewer has this feature built in already.

To use it; 

1. Drop files in the area or click the button to select the PDF's to merge in file explorer.
2. Move around the PDF files to get the correct order of the merged PDF.
3. Hit Merge