SPACE GASS can link to many other engineering, CAD and BIM (building information management) programs using a wide variety of links and file formats.
Some of the commonly used CAD and BIM programs that can be linked to SPACE GASS include Tekla Structures (XSteel), ProSteel, Microstation, Frameworks Plus, StruCAD, Revit Structure, Bentley Structural and AutoCAD.
Other programs that can import and/or export CIMSteel/2 (CIS/2) or IFC Step files can also be linked to SPACE GASS. These include StaadPro, Risa-3D, SAP2000 ETABS, ROBOT, SmartPlant4D Structural and others.
Complex 3D models can be imported into SPACE GASS as STL (STereo Lithography) files. These are widely used in prototyping, 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing, and can be created in programs such as Microsoft 3D Creator, Trimble Sketchup and others.
Programs that can import and/or export DXF or SDNF files can also be linked to SPACE GASS, however only the basic geometry can be included in these formats.
Details of the files that SPACE GASS can import/export are as follows.
SPACE GASS Text File |
This format is ideal for people who wish to write their own programs to generate the SPACE GASS data and then import it into SPACE GASS. The format of SPACE GASS text files is fully explained in "Text file input ". |
ZIP File |
This format is still available but is essentially obsolete because the native SPACE GASS job files are actually ZIP files renamed from .ZIP to .SG. |
CSV File |
This format is also ideal for people who wish to write their own programs to generate the SPACE GASS data and then import it into SPACE GASS. It is a text file with the values separated by commas that can be written by many programs including MS-Excel. |
CIMSteel/2 (CIS/2) Step File |
Useful for transferring models with many other CAD and building management programs such as Tekla Structures (XSteel), ProSteel, Microstation, Frameworks Plus, StruCAD, Revit Structure, Bentley Structural, AutoCAD, etc. This is a very comprehensive format that includes the structural and load data. |
IFC Step File |
Useful for transferring models with many other CAD and building management programs such as Tekla Structures (XSteel), ProSteel, Microstation, Frameworks Plus, StruCAD, Revit Structure, Bentley Structural, AutoCAD, etc. This is a very comprehensive format that includes the structural and load data. |
DXF File |
A drawing format text file invented for AutoCAD that many programs can import and export. It is a very good means of transferring drawings from SPACE GASS in the form of plans, elevations, cross sections and connection drawings into a CAD program.
Because DXF is a drawing format, when transferring a structural model to another program, it is better to use the more comprehensive and specialized CIMSteel/2 and IFC Step file formats described above. |
SDNF File |
This is a steel detailing neutral file format that has now been made obsolete by the much more advanced CIMSteel/2 and IFC Step file formats described above. It can contain the structural geometry and section property data and is still used by many programs. |
MS-Access |
Microsoft Access is a powerful database tool that can be exported to or imported from. |
MS-Excel |
Microsoft Excel is a very powerful tool for generating data and can be used to quickly generate a structural model for importing into SPACE GASS. SPACE GASS can also export to Microsoft Excel. |
Microstran ARC |
A format for importing Microstran models into SPACE GASS. |
STL File |
STL files are widely used in prototyping, 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing, and can be created in programs such as Microsoft 3D Creator, Trimble Sketchup and others to model complex 3D objects. They can be imported into SPACE GASS. |
StaadPro STD File |
Jobs from StaadPro in the standard STD format can be exported from or imported into SPACE GASS. |
IDEA StatiCa Steel Connection File |
You can export geometric and analysis results data to an IDEA StatiCa file for it to perform a steel connection design. |
In order to import from or export to a SPACE GASS text file, CSV file, SDNF file, Microstran ARC file, StaadPro STD file, MS-Excel file, MS-Access file or STL file, the procedure simply involves selecting the desired format from the Import or Export options in the File menu and then choosing a file name.
Linking to other programs using the very comprehensive CIMSteel/2 (CIS/2) Step, IFC Step or Revit Structure transfer options are fully explained in the following sections.