Project Settings


This is the overview for the Project Settings dialog box, which can be populated by selecting Project > Project Settings in the Main Menu, by selecting the Project Settings button in the Toolbar, or when initiating a new SPIDAcalc project. Project Settings is the control center where project-level information can be added and updated. Users can open this dialog box at any time to update project information.

Project Settings Content

The Project Settings dialog box consists of six tabs:

  • General
  • Analysis
  • Clearance
  • Design Layers
  • Terrain Layers
  • Forms

There are two buttons found at the bottom of the Project Settings.

  • OK: When a user is complete with project setting updates, OK will save the changes and close the dialog box.
  • Cancel: The dialog box will close, and any unsaved changes will be discarded.

General Tab

The General tab provides fields to enter project information and select a client file.

Within the Client Information section, users can see the active client file. Selecting the Change Client File button will open a dialog box with a dropdown from which the user can select a different client file.

Below the dropdown in the Change Client File dialog box is the client file comparison tool. Tabs indicate how many structures, assemblies, load and strength cases, or forms differ between the original client file and the new one. Selecting a tab will highlight the added, removed, or modified components found in the new client file. The comparison table can be exported into an Excel file.

From here, the user can select OK to proceed with updating the project based on the client file changes and mapping project components to the new client file or Cancel to exit.

The General Project Information section also provides several optional text fields for a user to complete. The data provided in this section can be delivered in a report and autofill other SPIDAcalc dialog box fields.

  • Project Name: Adding a name/number to the Project Name field will also display in the Project panel, reports, and as the default file name when saving the project.
  • Date: Adding a date will appear in reports.
  • Engineer: A name added to the Engineer field will appear in reports. If the Update All Locations button is selected, the name will automatically appear in the Technician field in the Location Properties Panel for all project locations. Otherwise, it will appear only in project locations created after the field entry was completed.

General location and address information added in the Address section will appear in reports. If the Update All Locations button is selected, the address will automatically appear in the Address section in the Location Properties Panel for all project locations. Otherwise, it will appear only in project locations created after the field entry was completed.

Anything added to the Comments section will appear in reports.

Analysis Tab

The Loading sub-tab provides users with the ability to add, remove, or modify load cases at the project level. The Loading tab is divided into two sections.

  • Project Load Cases: Load cases are created using the Client Editor. If a load case was set to Include Load Case by Default, the load case will be applied to the project automatically. Any other load cases included in the client file will appear in the dropdown, which is dynamic; once it has been added to the Project Settings, it will be removed from the dropdown menu. Load cases can be removed one at a time by using the Remove button or all at once using Remove All. If the Update All Designs button is selected, the chosen load case(s) will be applied to all project designs. If the design contained results, the results will no longer be current.
  • Project Load Case Settings: Load case settings for any of the selected load cases can be viewed here. Settings such as Construction Grade and Type, Temperature, Wind Pressure, Wind Type, Ice Thickness, Load Step Count (advanced load cases only), and Average Length on Main Span can be adjusted on a per-load case basis at the project level. Selecting the Summary tab will populate load case settings, weather loads, strength factors, and load factors as defined in the client file. Selecting the Map sub-tab will populate a loading zone map for NESC load cases.

The Strength sub-tab provides users with the ability to add, remove, or modify a strength case at the project level. Strength cases are created in the Client Editor. Strength cases included in the client file will appear in the dropdown. When a strength case is applied, SPIDAcalc can evaluate the impact of damage and decay entered by users to determine the remaining strength and capacity of the pole.

Clearance Tab

The Clearance tab provides users with the ability to add or remove clearance cases at the project level. The Clearance tab is divided into two sections.

  • Project Clearance Cases: Clearance cases are created using the Client Editor. If a clearance case was set to Include Clearance Case by Default, it will be applied to the project automatically. Any other clearance cases included in the client file will appear in the dropdown, which is dynamic; once it has been added to the Project Settings, it will be removed from the dropdown menu. Clearance cases can be removed one at a time by using the Remove button or all at once using Remove All. If the Update All Designs button is selected, the chosen clearance case(s) will be applied to all project designs. If the design contained results, the results will no longer be current.
  • Project Clearance Case Settings: Clearance case settings for any of the selected clearance cases can be viewed here. The Summary tab will provide the user with a brief summary of the case type and wire states. The Table tab will populate a breakdown of clearance requirements by wire type. For wire-to-wire and wire-to-ground clearance cases, the Wire States tab will provide detailed weather load information for the selected thermal and physical wire states.

Design Layers Tab

Design Layers can be defined in the client file. A design layer that has been added to an existing project can be modified by the user to change the Name or Type of that design layer. Users also have the ability to reorder the design layers by dragging and dropping them into a new order.

The Design Layers tab is also where terrain layers that have been added to the project can be applied. Terrain layers can be applied to all designs or a specific design layer.

Terrain Layers Tab

Terrain layers can be built from an automated import via a service, or imported from a CSV file. The supported services include the USGS Elevation Point Query Service and Natural Resources Canada. 

Multiple terrain layers can be built and applied separately to different design layers; this is to support changes to the terrain throughout the design process.

Forms Tab

Project forms are created in the Client Editor. If a project form is included in the client file, it will appear under the Project Forms sub-tab in the dropdown menu, which is dynamic. If a project form was set to Include Form by Default, the form will be selected automatically. Project forms can be removed one at a time by using the Remove button or all at once using Remove All.

Project forms collect additional project information that can be displayed in reports.

Location forms are also created in the Client Editor. If a location form is included in the client file, it will appear under the Location Forms sub-tab in the dropdown menu, which is dynamic. If a location form was set to Include Form by Default, the form will be selected automatically. Location forms can be removed one at a time by using the Remove button or all at once using Remove All.

Location forms can be applied to each location at the project level to collect additional data for each individual pole. Data recorded in location forms can be displayed in reports.