The Main Menu is located at the top of the SPIDAcalc window and consists of six menu selections:
Left-click the menu text for menu options to appear.
Left-clicking Project will expand a list of 14 commands.
New (Ctrl+N): A new SPIDAcalc project will be initiated, populating the New Project Settings dialog box. If a user is working on a project when the New command is selected, a Save Project? dialog box will prompt the user to save the project by selecting Yes, to discard the current project by selecting No, or to return to the current project by selecting Cancel.
New Project from CSV: Using a CSV file, SPIDAcalc can import lead and location names; pole species, length, class, above-groundline height, groundline circumference, and GLC; and GPS points to a project. Import header options are: Lead, Location, Species, Length, Class, AGL, GLC, Latitude (or Northing), Longitude (or Easting), Zone (if using UTM coordinates), and Elevation Ft or M. See the "Resources" section below for downloadable templates.
Open (Ctrl+O): An Open dialog box will populate allowing the user to navigate to a project in a specific file folder. Projects can open in the following formats: .spida and .json. Select the project file you wish to view, and then select Open.
Open SPIDAstudio Project: Users with access to SPIDAstudio can open project files previously saved to this database. Please see SPIDAstudio documentation for more details.
Recent: An extended menu will list recently viewed project files. Selecting a project will load the project file into SPIDAcalc.
Save (Ctrl+S): A project file that was previously saved will automatically quick save or overwrite any previously saved work under the given file name. For new project files, a Save Project dialog box will open, prompting the user to save the project file to a specific file folder, identify a file name, and then select Save.
Save As (Ctrl+Shift+S): A Save Project dialog box will open, prompting the user to save the project file to a specific file folder, identify a file name, and then select Save.
Save to SPIDAstudio: Users with access to SPIDAstudio can save project data to this database. Please see SPIDAstudio documentation for more details.
Add Design Layer: An extended menu will list design layers that are available per client file settings. With the exception of the Create New Design Layer option, these selections are dynamic: once they are selected, they are removed from the extended menu.
Clone Into Design Layer: An extended menu will list design layers that are available per client file settings. With the exception of the Create New Design Layer option, these selections are dynamic: once they are selected, they are removed from the extended menu.
Project Settings (Ctrl+Alt+P): The Project Settings dialog box will populate and project level settings can be adjusted. An explanation of the tabs found in Project Settings can be found in that user manual.
Import: When selected, an extended menu will list import options.
Note: A user may be prompted to enter a new Location ID if the Location ID already exists, or to determine how to handle the naming of the design layers if they differ from the design layer naming schema used in a project.
See the "Resources" section below for downloadable example imports.
Export: When selected, an extended menu will list export options.
Exit SPIDAcalc (Ctrl+Q): If a project has been edited, selecting this option will populate a Save Project? dialog box. If SPIDAcalc was opened and no edits were made, selecting this button will close SPIDAcalc.
Left-clicking Location will populate one command:
Add Location (Ctrl+Alt++): A location will be added to the selected lead in the Project Panel.
When left-clicking Design, three commands will appear.
Add Draft Design (Alt++): A draft design will be added to the selected location in the Project Panel. If a location is not specified, a draft design will be applied to the first location under the selected lead. Users can use a drag-and-drop method to reorganize design drafts when multiple draft designs exist in a project or to apply a draft design to an existing design layer.
Clone Into Draft Design (Ctrl+D): Users can select a design in a project and clone that design into a draft design. Using a drag-and-drop method, users can apply a cloned draft design to an existing design layer.
Design Settings (Ctrl+Alt+D): The Design Settings dialog box will populate and design level settings can be adjusted. An explanation of the tabs found in Design Settings is provided in that user manual.
When left-clicking Tools, seven commands will appear.
Assign Photos: When selected, an extended menu will list two options for assigning photos.
Client Editor (Ctrl+Alt+E): When selected, the Client Data Editor for SPIDAcalc window will appear. In the Client Editor, account administrators can create a client file or add, update, and remove items listed in an existing client file. More information on the Client Editor can be found in other user manuals.
Advisor (F10): The SPIDAcalc Advisor window will appear. Advisor is a tool that reviews an existing design and assists in determining changes that may be required to achieve the best overall design solution. More information on Advisor can be found in that user manual.
Reports: An extended menu will list eight report options.
More information on all report options can be found in the Reports user manual.
Owners: An extended menu will list two options:
Manage Local Assemblies: Framing and support assemblies can be created and managed locally by individual users. Users can edit the assemblies’ naming, attachment properties, and component types, as well as export local assemblies through the Manage Local Assemblies dialog box. More information can be found in the Working with Assemblies user manual.
Authorizations: Information regarding users’ SPIDAcalc licenses, including the license expiration date and active modules, can be found here. If the SPIDAcalc account is connected to SPIDAstudio, there will also be an activation window available here.
When left-clicking Preferences, nine commands will appear.
Save Before Analysis: When this preference is enabled, initiating an analysis will populate a Save Project dialog box, prompting the user to save the project before analyzing.
Reset Location Number in Each Lead: When enabled, this preference will reset location numbers in every lead throughout a project. When disabled, a consecutive numbering scheme is created for all locations throughout the various leads.
Open Last Project on Startup: Enabling this preference will automatically load the most recent project from the previous session.
Setting Depth Rule: Users can select to enforce setting depth rules per ANSI/NESC or GO95 specifications.
Unit System (Ctrl+U): Users can select to use the metric or imperial unit system.
Snap: When selected, an extended menu will list three options:
GLC in Tenth Inches: Enabling this preference will allow a user to adjust a pole’s ground line circumference (GLC) by tenth inches. If disabled, the GLC will be adjusted in quarter-inch increments.
View Heights: Users can design using top-down or ground-up dimensions.
Workspace After Analysis: Users can determine the workspace they wish to see after an analysis has been completed. A user can display one of the following:
When left-clicking Help, six commands will appear.
Show Log Files: A file folder will open that houses the user’s SPIDA.html, or log, files.
Save Log Files: SPIDAcalc will prompt the user to save a .zip file that contains the user’s log files. When submitting a support ticket, it may be required for the user to attach their log files to assist in the troubleshooting process.
Keyboard Shortcuts: A Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box will appear with a list of keyboard shortcuts.
SPIDA® Software Support (F1): If the user has an internet connection, the default web browser will navigate to SPIDA’s support ticketing site.
SPIDA® Knowledge Base: If the user has an internet connection, the default web browser will navigate to SPIDA’s repository of product documentation and other resources.
About: The About dialog box lists the active version and modules associated with the activated SPIDAcalc license.