Applies To
	Product(s):	STAAD.Pro
	Version(s):	All
	Environment:	N/A
	Area:	Design
	Subarea:	American Steel Design
	Original Author:	Bentley Technical Support Group

I would like to perform code checking on a 8" x 2 1/2" x 10 Gage channel per the AISI Cold formed steel code. But this channel is not listed in the sections available in your database. Can I assign it using a user provided table?

At present, sections whose data is specified using a "User Provided Table" cannot be designed or checked per the AISI code. However, the following approach may be used to get around this limitation.

You may add your section to the STAAD AISI section database, so that your section becomes a permanent part of the database. This can be done using the following method.

In STAAD.Pro Connect Edition, you can select Section Database from within Specification ribbon menu. In older versions of STAAD.Pro like STAAD.Pro v8i, you can select Modify Section database from the Tools menu. The various steel databases available in the program will be listed in a dialog box. You will find ColdFormed (US) in the list. Expand this list, and choose Channel with Lips or Channel without Lips as the case may be. On the right half of the dialog box, the Add option will become activated. Select that, and you will now be provided with an interface through which you can add your channel to the list. Save and Close it.

You should now be able to assign this new section to the members through the usual property pages and menus and get these sections designed.