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Complicated joint patterns can be created by Interactive database editing. For illustration purposes, let's assume that you need to assign a complicated joint pattern that described by a function of joint global Z coordinate. This type of joint pattern can be applied using the following steps:

(1) Define new joint pattern via "Define > Joint Patterns > Add New Pattern Name".

(2) Use interactive database editing ("Edit > Interactive Database Editing") and select the following two tables:

• MODEL DEFINITION > Connectivity Data > Joint Coordinates > Table: Joint Coordinates
• MODEL DEFINITION > Joint Assignments > Joint Item Assignments > Table: Joint Pattern Assignments"

Click OK to open the tables.

(3) Select "Joint Coordinates" table in the drop-down list and click "To Excel". This will open the joint coordinates table in Excel as shown in the figure below:

(4) Save the Excel file. In the saved Excel file, create a new column that will contain the values for the joint pattern. These values can be specified as a function of the joint Z coordinate.

(5) Click "Cancel Excel" button on the "Interactive Database Editing" form.

(6) Select "Joint Pattern Assignments" table in the drop-down list and click "To Excel" to open the table in Excel. From the previously saved Excel file, cut and paste columns with joint labels and joint pattern values to this new Excel file with Joint Pattern Assignments. When done, click "From Excel" and "Done" buttons to update SAP2000 tables.

(7) Finally, use "Display > Show Misc Assigns > Joints" menu command to review the joint pattern assignments:

See Also

• List of joint pattern tutorials