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Autodesk® Advance Steel 2020
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Fundamentals
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Learning Guide
1st Edition
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Cover Page
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Authorized Publisher
 ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®
Autodesk® Advance Steel 2020
Fundamentals
1st Edition
Prepared and produced by:

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ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge
630 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 175
Charlottesville, VA 22911

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866-527-2368

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[Link]

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Lead Contributor: Cherisse Biddulph
Copyright

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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge is a division of Rand Worldwide, Inc., providing custom
developed knowledge products and services for leading engineering software applications. ASCENT is
focused on specializing in the creation of education programs that incorporate the best of classroom
learning and technology-based training offerings.

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We welcome any comments you may have regarding this guide, or any of our products. To contact us
please email: feedback@[Link].

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© ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge, 2020
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All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form by any photographic, electronic,
mechanical or other means or used in any information storage and retrieval system without the written
permission of ASCENT, a division of Rand Worldwide, Inc.
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The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the
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USA and other countries: 123D, 3ds Max, Alias, ATC, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD, Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, Autodesk
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123D, Autodesk Homestyler, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSketch,
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Plastics Insight, Moldflow, Moondust, MotionBuilder, Movimento, MPA (design/logo), MPA, MPI (design/logo), MPX
(design/logo), MPX, Mudbox, Navisworks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Opticore, P9, Pier 9, Pixlr, Pixlr-o-matic,
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Productstream, Publisher 360, RasterDWG, RealDWG, ReCap, ReCap 360, Remote, Revit LT, Revit, RiverCAD, Robot,
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NASTRAN is a registered trademark of the National Aeronautics Space Administration.
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All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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General Disclaimer:
Notwithstanding any language to the contrary, nothing contained herein constitutes nor is intended to constitute an offer,
inducement, promise, or contract of any kind. The data contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not
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represented to be error free. ASCENT, its agents and employees, expressly disclaim any liability for any damages, losses
or other expenses arising in connection with the use of its materials or in connection with any failure of performance, error,
omission even if ASCENT, or its representatives, are advised of the possibility of such damages, losses or other
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expenses. No consequential damages can be sought against ASCENT or Rand Worldwide, Inc. for the use of these
materials by any third parties or for any direct or indirect result of that use.
The information contained herein is intended to be of general interest to you and is provided "as is", and it does not
address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing herein constitutes professional advice, nor does
it constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the issues discussed thereto. ASCENT does not warrant that the
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without limitation) information may be rendered inaccurate by changes made to the subject of the materials (i.e. applicable
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of fitness for a particular purpose.

AS-AVS2001-FND1IM-SG // IS-AVS2001-FND1IM-SG
 C o n t e n ts

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Preface ........................................................................................................... vii

In this Guide ................................................................................................... xi

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Practice Files ................................................................................................. xv

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Chapter 1: Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software .......... 1-1
e EN1.1 Introduction to Autodesk Advance Steel...................................... 1-2
1.2 Overview of the Interface ............................................................... 1-4
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1.3 Viewing the Model......................................................................... 1-13

Accessing Preset 3D Views ............................................................ 1-13
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Using the ViewCube........................................................................ 1-14

Orbiting in 3D .................................................................................. 1-14
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Using Visual Styles ......................................................................... 1-15

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Practice 1a Open a Project and View the Model................................ 1-16

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1.4 Helpful AutoCAD Tools ................................................................ 1-25

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Status Bar Tools.............................................................................. 1-26

Basic Modify Tools .......................................................................... 1-27
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Using Grips and the 3D Gizmo ....................................................... 1-28

Practice 1b Helpful AutoCAD Tools ................................................... 1-31
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1.5 Working with the User Coordinate System (UCS) ..................... 1-37
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UCS Commands ............................................................................. 1-38

1.6 Using the Autodesk Advance Steel Modify Commands............ 1-40
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Using Advance Trim/Extend............................................................ 1-42

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Practice 1c Use the Autodesk Advance Steel Modify

Commands............................................................................................ 1-43
Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 1-49
Command Summary ............................................................................. 1-50

Chapter 2: Building Models ......................................................................... 2-1

2.1 Starting Autodesk Advance Steel Projects .................................. 2-2

© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® i

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

2.2 Adding Structural Grids ................................................................. 2-4

Modifying Grid Properties.................................................................. 2-5
Additional Grid Tools......................................................................... 2-8
Practice 2a Start a Project and Add Structural Grids ....................... 2-13
2.3 Creating Levels ............................................................................. 2-17

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Practice 2b Create Levels.................................................................... 2-21

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2.4 Modeling Columns and Beams.................................................... 2-25
Modifying Columns and Beams ...................................................... 2-28

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Practice 2c Model Columns and Beams ............................................ 2-31

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2.5 Adding Bracing ............................................................................. 2-44
Grid Model Views ............................................................................ 2-46
Practice 2d Add Bracing...................................................................... 2-50

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2.6 Integrating with the Autodesk Revit Software............................ 2-56
Practice 2e Integrate with the Autodesk Revit Software .................. 2-59

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Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 2-62
Command Summary ............................................................................. 2-64
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Chapter 3: Creating Connections................................................................ 3-1
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3.1 Working with the Connection Vault............................................... 3-2

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The Connection Vault........................................................................ 3-3

Creating Multiple Connections .......................................................... 3-5
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Advance Joint Properties Libraries ................................................... 3-8

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Practice 3a Work with the Connection Vault ..................................... 3-10

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3.2 Editing Beam Intersections.......................................................... 3-20

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Practice 3b Edit Beam Intersections .................................................. 3-25

3.3 Creating Plates .............................................................................. 3-30
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Creating Flat Plates......................................................................... 3-30

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Modifying Plates.............................................................................. 3-32

Creating Folded Plates.................................................................... 3-33
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3.4 Adding Features to Plates and Beams........................................ 3-39

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Practice 3c Create Plates..................................................................... 3-42

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3.5 Adding Bolts and Welds............................................................... 3-49

Practice 3d Add Bolts and Welds ....................................................... 3-54
3.6 Creating Custom Connections .................................................... 3-64
Quick Connections .......................................................................... 3-67
Practice 3e Create Custom Connections ........................................... 3-69
Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 3-75
Command Summary ............................................................................. 3-78

ii © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

Chapter 4: Additional Model Objects.......................................................... 4-1

4.1 Adding Grating and Cladding ........................................................ 4-2
Practice 4a Add Grating and Cladding................................................. 4-7
4.2 Modeling Ladders, Stairs, and Railings ...................................... 4-12

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Practice 4b Model Ladders and Stairs ............................................... 4-18
Practice 4c Model Railings .................................................................. 4-38

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4.3 Creating Concrete Objects........................................................... 4-46

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Practice 4d Create Concrete Objects ................................................. 4-48

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4.4 Special Parts.................................................................................. 4-51

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Practice 4e Inserting Special Parts..................................................... 4-59
Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 4-61

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Command Summary ............................................................................. 4-64

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Chapter 5: Model Verifications .................................................................... 5-1
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5.1 Clash Check..................................................................................... 5-2
Practice 5a Run a Clash Check............................................................. 5-6
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5.2 Technical Check.............................................................................. 5-9

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Mark Object..................................................................................... 5-11

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Practice 5b Run a Technical Check.................................................... 5-12

5.3 Model Check .................................................................................. 5-14
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Practice 5c Model Check ..................................................................... 5-17

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5.4 Joint Design................................................................................... 5-19

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Practice 5d Run a Joint Design Report .............................................. 5-24

Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 5-27
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Command Summary ............................................................................. 5-28

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Chapter 6: Creating Fabrication Drawings................................................. 6-1

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6.1 Numbering Objects ......................................................................... 6-2

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Practice 6a Number Objects.................................................................. 6-6

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6.2 Tools for Creating Drawings ........................................................ 6-12

Quick Document Palettes................................................................ 6-13
Using the Document Manager ........................................................ 6-15
6.3 Using Drawing Styles ................................................................... 6-20
Practice 6b Use Drawing Styles.......................................................... 6-23
6.4 Running Drawing Processes ....................................................... 6-31
Single Parts and Assemblies .......................................................... 6-32
Creating Camera Views .................................................................. 6-34

© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® iii

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

Practice 6c Run Drawing Processes .................................................. 6-37

6.5 Modifying Detail Drawings ........................................................... 6-47
Working with Parametric Dimensions ............................................. 6-50
6.6 Revising Models and Drawings ................................................... 6-54

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Practice 6d Modify Detail Drawings.................................................... 6-57
Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 6-67

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Command Summary ............................................................................. 6-69

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Chapter 7: Bills of Materials and Numerical Control Files........................ 7-1

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7.1 Extract BOM Lists ........................................................................... 7-2

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Practice 7a Extract BOM Lists .............................................................. 7-5
7.2 Exporting Data to .NC and .DXF Files ........................................... 7-8

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Practice 7b Export Data to .NC and .DXF Files.................................. 7-11

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Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 7-15
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Command Summary ............................................................................. 7-17

Chapter 8: Advance Steel Prototypes......................................................... 8-1

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8.1 Editing a Prototype Drawing .......................................................... 8-2

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Prototype Units.................................................................................. 8-3

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Edit Project Settings.......................................................................... 8-4

8.2 Working with the Page Setup Manager ......................................... 8-5
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Define Paper Size ............................................................................. 8-6

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8.3 Title Block Drawing Frame ........................................................... 8-12

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Title Block Page Header ................................................................. 8-14

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Edit the BOM................................................................................... 8-16

Adding a Reserved Area ................................................................ 8-18
Configure Dimension Styles ........................................................... 8-21
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Management Tools Dimension Styles............................................. 8-22

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Load Linetypes ............................................................................... 8-23

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Practice 8a Edit a Prototype Drawing................................................. 8-24

Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 8-31
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Command Summary ............................................................................. 8-32

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Chapter 9: Drawing Style Manager ............................................................. 9-1

9.1 Drawing Style Manager User Interface.......................................... 9-2
Modifying Drawing Styles.................................................................. 9-6
Drawing Style Structure .................................................................. 9-12

iv © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

Practice 9a Create and Edit a New Drawing Style............................. 9-22

Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 9-31
Command Summary ............................................................................. 9-32

Appendix A: Bill of Materials Template Editor...........................................A-1

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A.1 BOM Template Editor User Interface.............................................A-2
Tokens .............................................................................................. A-4

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Formatting ......................................................................................... A-4

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List Structure ..................................................................................... A-6

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Report Contents ................................................................................ A-6

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Command Summary ...............................................................................A-8

Appendix B: Management Tools .................................................................B-1

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B.1 Management Tools Defaults ..........................................................B-2

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Command Summary ...............................................................................B-6

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Appendix C: User Sections..........................................................................C-1
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C.1 Layers and Basic Elements............................................................C-2
Reference Axis..................................................................................C-4
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Add Coordinates ...............................................................................C-6
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Generate Sections ............................................................................C-6

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C.2 Adding User Sections.....................................................................C-8

Command Summary .............................................................................C-11
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Index ...................................................................................................... Index-1

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© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® v

 Preface

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The Autodesk® Advance Steel software is a powerful 3D modeling application that
streamlines the fabrication process through the use of a 3D model, which is used
to create fabrication drawings, Bill of Materials (BOM) lists, and files for Numerical

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Control (NC) machines.

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Since structural steel projects are extremely complex, the Autodesk Advance

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Steel software is also complex. The objective of the Autodesk® Advance Steel
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2020: Fundamentals guide is to enable you to create full 3D project models at a
high level of detail and set them up in fabrication drawings. This guide focuses on
the basic tools that the majority of users need. You begin by learning the user
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interface, basic 3D viewing tools, and the standard AutoCAD® tools that are
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routinely used. Specific Autodesk Advance Steel objects, including structural

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columns, beams, bracing, plates, bolts, anchors, welds, and additional 3D objects
are also covered. You will also learn about the powerful model verification tools.
To complete the guide, you will learn to edit and generate all of the required
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documentation files that enable your design to accurately and effectively

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communicate the final design.

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Topics Covered

• Understand the process of 3D modeling and extracting 2D documentation

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from a model in the Autodesk Advance Steel software.

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• Navigate the Autodesk Advance Steel interface.

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• Work with 3D viewing tools.

• Review helpful AutoCAD tools.
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• Work with the User Coordinate System (UCS).

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• Use the Autodesk Advance Steel Modify commands.

• Add structural grids.
• Create levels.
• Model columns and beams and add bracing.
• Create connections using the Connection Vault.
• Create special parts.
• Verify models using Clash Checking tools.

© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® vii

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

• Modify a drawing prototype.

• Work within the Drawing Style Manager.
• Create custom connections.
• Create plates and add bolts, anchors, and welds.

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• Add grating and cladding.
• Model ladders, stairs, and railings.

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• Create concrete objects such as footings.

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• Number objects.

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• Extract 2D drawings from the model using Drawing Styles and Drawing
Processes.

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• Review and modify 2D drawings using the Document Manager.
• Modify 2D details with parametric dimensions.

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• Revise models and drawings.
• Create BOM lists.

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• Export data to .NC and .DXF files.
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Prerequisites
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• Access to the 2020.0 version of the software, to ensure compatibility with this
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guide. Future software updates that are released by Autodesk may include
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changes that are not reflected in this guide. The practices and files included
with this guide might not be compatible with prior versions (i.e., 2019).
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Note on Software Setup

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This guide assumes a standard installation of the software using the default
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preferences during installation. Lectures and practices use the standard software
templates and default options for the Content Libraries.
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viii © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Preface

Students and Educators can Access Free Autodesk Software and

Resources

Autodesk challenges you to get started with free educational licenses for
professional software and creativity apps used by millions of architects,

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engineers, designers, and hobbyists today. Bring Autodesk software into your
classroom, studio, or workshop to learn, teach, and explore real-world design

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challenges the way professionals do.

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Get started today - register at the Autodesk Education Community and download

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one of the many Autodesk software applications available.

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Visit [Link]/education/home/

Note: Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user

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license and services agreement that accompanies the software. The software is

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for personal use for education purposes and is not intended for classroom or lab
use.

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Lead Contributor: Cherisse Biddulph
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Cherisse is an Autodesk Certified Professional for Revit as well as an Autodesk
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Certified Instructor. She brings 15 years of industry, teaching and technical

support experience to her role as a Learning Content Developer with ASCENT.
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With a passion for design and architecture, she received her Associate of Applied
Science in Drafting and Design and worked in the industry assisting several firms
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with CAD Manager needs and getting others up to speed on the latest software. In
2004 she joined IMAGINiT as an Application Engineer (AE), where she developed
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custom training and provided support for customers. She transitioned from her
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work as an AE to the IMAGINIT Solution Center as a Senior Technical Support

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Specialist where she became proficient in AutoCAD, BIM 360, Navisworks, and
Revit. Today, Cherisse continues to expand her knowledge in the ever-evolving
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AEC industry and the software used to support it.

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Cherisse Biddulph has been the Lead Contributor for Autodesk Advance Steel:
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Fundamentals since 2019.

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© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® ix

 In th is Gu id e

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The following images highlight some of the features that can be found in this
guide.

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Practice Files
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The Practice Files page tells

you how to download and install
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the practice files that are

provided with this guide.
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Link to the practice files

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Chapters
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Each chapter begins with a brief

introduction and a list of the
chapter’s Learning Objectives.
Learning Objectives for
the chapter

© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® xi

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

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Instructional Content
Each chapter is split into a
series of sections of

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instructional content on specific

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topics. These lectures include
the descriptions, step-by-step

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Side notes procedures, figures, hints, and
Side notes are hints or information you need to achieve

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additional information for the chapter’s Learning
the current topic. Objectives.

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Practice Objectives
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Practices
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Practices enable you to use the

software to perform a hands-on
review of a topic.
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Some practices require you to

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use prepared practice files,

which can be downloaded from
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the link found on the Practice

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Files page.
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Chapter Review Questions

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Chapter review questions,

located at the end of each
chapter, enable you to review
the key concepts and learning
objectives of the chapter.

xii © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 In this Guide

Command Summary
The Command Summary is

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located at the end of each
chapter. It contains a list of the
software commands that are

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used throughout the chapter,

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and provides information on
where the command is found in

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the software.

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© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® xiii

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

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xiv © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Chapter

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Introduction to the Autodesk

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Advance Steel Software

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The Autodesk® Advance Steel software is a program designed for steel
fabricators that enables you to create a 3D model of steel parts and connections,
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and then extract 2D shop drawings and database files for Bills of Materials
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(BOMs) and Numerical Control (NC) machines. The software is based on the
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AutoCAD® software, but includes many additional tools and palettes designed
specifically for steel fabrication.
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Learning Objectives in this Chapter

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• Describe the concepts and workflow of Autodesk Advance Steel.

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• Navigate the user interface.

• Use navigation commands to display the model in 2D and 3D views.
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• Review the AutoCAD tools that are helpful in the Autodesk Advance Steel software.
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• Understand and modify the User Coordinate System (UCS).

• Move, copy, and mirror objects using Advance Copy.
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• Trim and extend objects using the Autodesk Advance Steel commands.
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© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–1

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

1.1 Introduction to Autodesk

Advance Steel
The Autodesk Advance Steel software expands on the features

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and functionality of the AutoCAD software to create 3D models
of detail-heavy steel structures, as shown in Figure 1–1. It

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includes beams, columns, plates, and bolts, along with
miscellaneous steel objects, such as stairs, railings, and ladders.

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The documentation for fabrication shop drawings is created

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automatically from the 3D model, as shown in Figure 1–1.

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Figure 1–1
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A lot of the work that you do in the Autodesk Advance Steel

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software is done using macros that are a series of standard

AutoCAD commands, in addition to specific Autodesk Advance
Steel commands and components to create the model and
documentation. Therefore, most of the work done in Autodesk
Advance Steel uses specific tools and tool palettes, rather than
the standard AutoCAD commands.

1–2 © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

• Autodesk Advance Steel projects are created from one of the

specific Autodesk Advance Steel templates (i.e.,
[Link] or mm_ASTemplate.dwg) or a customized
template created from one of these.

• The main drawing file contains the 3D model. Additional

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folders and files are created automatically for details and
databases (e.g., for BOMs and NC files) as they are added,

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as shown in Figure 1–2.

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Figure 1–2

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© 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–3

 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

1.2 Overview of the Interface

The Autodesk Advance Steel interface is designed for intuitive
and efficient access to commands and special macros built
specifically for Autodesk Advance Steel modeling. The interface

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includes the ribbon, Quick Access Toolbar, and Status Bar, which
Note: The Drawing are common to most Autodesk® software. Similar to the

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Window color has been AutoCAD software, Autodesk Advance Steel includes the
changed to white for Command Line, drawing windows, and layout tabs. It also

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printing clarity. includes tools that are specific to the Autodesk Advance Steel

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software, including the Advance Tool Palette, the Connection
Vault, and the Project Explorer. The interface is shown in

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Figure 1–3. Shortcut menus and Autodesk Advance Steel dialog
boxes are also an important part of using the software.

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Figure 1–3

1. Quick Access Toolbar 5. Status Bar

2. Ribbon 6. Project Explorer

3. Advance Tool Palette 7. Drawing Window

4. Command Line 8. UCS Icon

1–4 © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

1. Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access Toolbar (shown in Figure 1–4) includes

several frequently used commands, including New, Open, Save,
Print, Undo, and Redo. These commands are also available in

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the Application Menu ( ).

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Figure 1–4

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• Note that Undo and Redo often do not work as expected in
the Autodesk Advance Steel software because many of the
commands are actually macros that run multiple commands.

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This means that you might have to undo several processes to
fully undo a single command.

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Instead of the standard AutoCAD tools, the Autodesk Advance

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Steel ribbon includes specific tools used by the program, as
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shown in part of the Home tab in Figure 1–5.

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Figure 1–5
• Hover the cursor over a button to display the name of the
op ro

tool.
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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

3. Advance Tool Palette

The Advance Tool Palette is unique to the Autodesk Advance

Steel software and holds many important tools, including some
of the standard AutoCAD modify tools (shown in Figure 1–6) and

n. nly
Advance Steel modify tools (shown in Figure 1–7).

• Note that AutoCAD modification tools are not included on any

de o
of the ribbon tabs.

id w
• To open the tool palette, in the Home tab>Extended Modeling

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fo rev
panel, click (Advance Steel Tool Palette).

tly r
ric fo
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e EN
Categories
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d
ng e
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Figure 1–6 Figure 1–7

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• Click on the buttons in the left column (called Categories) to

Al ple

access the different tools on the right.

• The Tool Palette can float or be pinned into place. You can
m

also minimize it (as shown in Figure 1–8), hide it, and modify
the Theme Settings.
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Theme Settings Minimize/

Maximize

Pin/Unpin Close
Figure 1–8

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Advance Tool Palette Categories

Modify Includes standard AutoCAD modification

commands, such as Move, Trim, and Fillet.
These tools are most often used with standard

n. nly
AutoCAD objects (such as lines and polylines) or
individual Autodesk Advance Steel objects that
are not connected to other objects.

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Tools Includes tools specifically created to use with
Autodesk Advance Steel objects and objects that

id w
are connected together. It includes modification

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tools and ways to create groups.

fo rev
Custom Includes tools to create individual custom
connections connectors, including plates and bolts. Tools can
also group and reuse custom connections.
UCS Includes tools that define the location and

tly r
ric fo
orientation of the User Coordinate System (UCS).
Having a defined UCS is critical for many
Autodesk Advance Steel commands.

st T
Selection Includes tools that enable you to search, display,
e EN and mark objects by certain criteria.

Selection Includes tools that enable you to select specific

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filters types of elements, including all beams, or just
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curved or concrete beams, among other objects

including slabs and bolts.
d yA

Quick views Includes tools that enable you to create views

based on certain objects to help you modify the
view by toggling all objects on, or selected
an b

objects off, etc.

d

Features Includes tools for modifying plates and beams

ng e

(including miters, corner cuts, and copes), as well

yi vid

as cutting holes in objects.

• Commands found in this palette are referenced like this:

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In the Advance Tool Palette> (Tools) category, click

Al ple

(Advance Copy)
m

• Note that many of these tools are actually macros of multiple

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commands.

• Other tool palettes (including the Connection Vault) are

similar and can be docked on top of each other.

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

4. Command Line

The command line is the same in the Autodesk Advance Steel

software as it is in the AutoCAD software. Autodesk Advance
Steel commands are much more complex (as seen in

n. nly
Figure 1–9), so they are rarely typed.

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id w
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Figure 1–9

fo rev
• The prompts for Autodesk Advance Steel commands can be
complex. If you are having trouble following a process,

tly r
expand the command line to display multiple lines of prompts.

ric fo
5. Status Bar

st T
e EN The Status Bar (shown in Figure 1–10) is essentially the same as
in the AutoCAD software. Important tools found here include
Ortho, Object Snaps, and Isolate Objects.
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d yA

Figure 1–10
an b

6. Project Explorer
d
ng e

The Project Explorer (also known as the Structures palette)

yi vid

enables you to create Levels and Model views, and access other
tools. This palette can remain floating on the screen (as shown in
op ro

Figure 1–11) or be docked.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

n. nly
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e EN
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Figure 1–11
d yA

• To display the Project Explorer, in the Home tab>Project

panel, click (Project Explorer).

an b

• If you have toggled off objects, you can toggle them all back
d
ng e

on by clicking (Show All Elements).

yi vid

7. Drawing Window
op ro

The drawing window is the area of the screen in which the

lc p

drawing displays. Several drawing windows can be open at the

Al ple

same time. They can be resized, minimized, and maximized.

The drawing’s File tabs (shown in Figure 1–12) are located near
m

the top of the drawing window. They provide a quick way of

Sa

switching between open drawings, creating new drawings, or

closing drawings. The Start tab is always the first tab and
persists in the File tabs bar. Clicking the start tab displays the
Start window.

Figure 1–12

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

• The Model and Layout tabs display at the bottom of the

drawing window. Most of your work in the Autodesk Advance
Steel software is done in the Model tab. Layouts are
automatically created when you run the documentation tools.

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8. UCS Icon

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In the drawing window, the UCS icon indicates the current
drawing planes. This is an important part of the Autodesk

id w
Advance Steel software as it controls the orientation of elements,

rb ie
such as plates and stairs. The style of the UCS icon changes
with the visual style, as shown in Figure 1–13.

fo rev
tly r
ric fo
st T
e EN 2D Wireframe Conceptual
us C
Figure 1–13
re S

• To toggle the UCS icon on and off, in the View tab>Viewport

d yA

Tools panel, click (UCS Icon).

an b

• If you change the UCS and want to return to the base

location, in the command line, type UCS, press <Enter>, then
d

type W (for World) and press <Enter>. Alternatively, in the

ng e
yi vid

Advance Tool Palette>UCS category, click (UCS

World).
op ro

Shortcut Menus
lc p
Al ple

When you right-click, a shortcut menu usually displays next to

the cursor. The menu that displays depends on what you are
m

doing in the software and where you right-click. For example,

when no objects are selected and you right-click in the drawing
Sa

window, the menu in Figure 1–14 displays. When you have an

Autodesk Advance Steel object selected, the menu in
Figure 1–15 displays.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

n. nly
de o
id w
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fo rev
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ric fo
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e EN Figure 1–14 Figure 1–15
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Autodesk Advance Steel Dialog Boxes
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Two dialog boxes are critical parts of using the Autodesk

d yA

Advance Steel software: Advance Properties (as shown for a

beam in Figure 1–16) and Advance Joint Properties. These
an b

dialog boxes are accessed through the shortcut menu when you
have certain objects selected. The critical part of understanding
d

these dialog boxes is that they are live (i.e., any changes that
ng e

you make in the dialog box are instantly and automatically

yi vid

applied to the model).

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Al ple
m
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Figure 1–16

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

• Advance Properties: Displays the options for selected

objects, such as beams, columns, or individual bolts.

• Advance Joint Properties: Displays the options for a full

connection, such as the Base plate shown in Figure 1–17.
This includes options for the plate, stiffeners, holes, and bolts

n. nly
as a group.

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id w
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fo rev
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ric fo
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e EN
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Figure 1–17
d
ng e

• Select the tabs on the left to display information on the right.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

1.3 Viewing the Model

In Autodesk Advance Steel you are primarily working in 3D, and
so you need to be able to view objects from all directions. There
are several basic tools that enable you to do so: preset 3D views,

n. nly
the ViewCube, and Visual Styles, as shown in Figure 1–18.

de o
Preset 3D Views ViewCube
Visual Styles

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tly r
ric fo
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e EN
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Figure 1–18
an b

Accessing There are several preset 3D views (shown in Figure 1–19) that
d

enable you to quickly change the viewing angle. These presets

Preset 3D
ng e

include both orthographic and isometric views, and can be

yi vid

Views accessed in the top left corner of the drawing window, as shown
in Figure 1–20.
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Al ple
m
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Figure 1–19 Figure 1–20

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

• Orthographic views display as if you are facing one side of a

part. Isometric views typically display three sides, as if you
are facing a corner.

• Orthographic views change the active drawing plane (UCS)

of the view, while isometric views do not. To return to the flat

n. nly
drawing plane, select the Top view before continuing with a
non-orthographic 3D view.

de o
id w
Using the The ViewCube provides visual clues as to where you are in a 3D

rb ie
drawing and makes it easier to navigate to standard views, such
ViewCube as Top, Front, Right, Left, Corner, and directional views. Move

fo rev
the cursor over one of the highlighted options and select it. You
can also click and drag on the ViewCube to rotate the box, which
rotates the model. The ViewCube is shown in Figure 1–21.

tly r
ric fo
To change the default Home

st T
Home view, set the view
e EN
you want, right-click on
the ViewCube, and
select Set Current View
us C
as Home.
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d yA
an b
d
ng e
yi vid

Figure 1–21
op ro

• (Home) displays when you hover the cursor over the

lc p

ViewCube. Click it to return to the view defined as Home.

Al ple

• To toggle the ViewCube on and off, in the View tab>Viewport

Tools panel, click (ViewCube).

m
Sa

Orbiting in 3D The best tools for navigating a model in 3D are the mouse and
keyboard. You can zoom in and out using the mouse wheel, and
can pan by holding the mouse wheel and moving the mouse.
Both methods are useful in 2D and 3D. However, in 3D you also
need to view the model from all sides. Hold <Shift> and the
mouse wheel to orbit the objects in your drawing, as shown in
Figure 1–22.

1–14 © 2020, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

n. nly
Figure 1–22
• When you orbit, the target (what you are viewing) stays

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stationary while the camera (your viewpoint) moves.

id w
• You can also hold <Ctrl> and the mouse wheel to swivel. This

rb ie
is similar to panning the camera as you drag the mouse. The

fo rev
target of the view changes.

• If you select objects before you start orbiting, only those

tly r
objects display as you move around the drawing. This can be

ric fo
useful in complex drawings, because limiting the number of
objects results in a smoother rotation of the view.

st T
e EN
Using Visual While viewing a model, setting a visual style can help you gain a
clearer understanding of the model. Visual styles control how
us C
Styles elements display in a view. You can add and modify objects and
re S

orbit in any of the visual styles. Three useful visual styles include
d yA

the 2D Wireframe, Conceptual, and X-ray styles, as shown in

Figure 1–23.
an b
d
ng e
yi vid
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Al ple
m

2D Wireframe Conceptual X-ray

Figure 1–23
Sa

• The visual styles list is available in the upper left corner of the
drawing window, next to the 3D view presets.

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

Practice 1a Open a Project and View the

Model
Practice Objectives

n. nly
• Review typical Autodesk Advance Steel project layouts.

de o
• Open an Autodesk Advance Steel drawing.
• Review the user interface.

id w
• View the 3D model.

rb ie
fo rev
In this practice, you will review the folder structure of a typical
Autodesk Advance Steel project. You will open a drawing and
review the user interface. You will then use the 3D viewing tools

tly r
to display the model you will be creating in the practices, shown

ric fo
in Figure 1–24.

st T
e EN
us C
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d
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Figure 1–24
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Task 1 - Review files and open an Autodesk Advance Steel

model.

1. In the Quick Access Toolbar, click (Open).

2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the practice files folder.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

3. Click once on [Link] to display the

preview as shown in Figure 1–25. This is the primary model
you will be working on.

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Figure 1–25
d yA

4. Scroll up the list and double-click on the Platform-Introduction

folder. It contains two folders: Databases and Details. These
an b

folders were automatically created when the documentation

d

files were processed.

ng e

5. Open the Details folder. Note that there are a number of detail
yi vid

drawings, but that they do not preview, as shown in

Figure 1–26. These files are not typically opened directly, but
op ro

rather are accessed through the Document Manager when

you are in a model.
lc p
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m
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Figure 1–26

6. Return to the main folder and open

[Link].

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

Task 2 - Review the user interface.

1. Review the different tabs of the ribbon. Note that many tools
on the Home tab>Objects panel are also found on the
Objects tab, as shown in Figure 1–27.

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Home tab>Objects panel

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e EN
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Objects tab
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Figure 1–27
d yA

2. In the Home tab>Extended Modeling panel, click

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(Advance Steel Tool Palette) to toggle it on.

d

3. In the Advance Tool Palette, click through the various

ng e

categories to review the available tools.

yi vid
op ro

4. In the Quick views category, click (All Visible).

Additional elements display in the view, as shown in
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Figure 1–28.
Al ple
m
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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

n. nly
de o
id w
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fo rev
tly r
ric fo
st T
e EN Figure 1–28
us C
5. Select the object labeled Level 0. Hover the cursor over the
object to display information about the layer it is on, as shown
re S

in Figure 1–29. Objects are automatically placed on the

d yA

appropriate layer in the Autodesk Advance Steel software.

an b
d
ng e
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m

Figure 1–29
Sa

6. Right-click in the drawing window and select Select Similar.

7. In the Advance Steel Tool Palette> Quick Views

category, click (Selected Objects off).

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

8. In the model, double-click on a column. The Advance

Properties command displays, as shown in Figure 1–30.
Click through the tabs on the left and note the different
options.

Columns are made from

n. nly
beams, but they have
the Model Role of

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Column, and are
typically placed on the

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Column layer when

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created with the

fo rev
appropriate Advance
Steel command.

tly r
ric fo
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e EN
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d yA

Figure 1–30
an b

9. Close the dialog box.

d

10. Zoom in on the base of column A2. Note that there is a box
ng e

around the base plate on the Connection boxes layer, as

yi vid

shown in Figure 1–31.

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Figure 1–31

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

11. Double-click on the box to open the Advance Joint Properties

dialog box, shown in Figure 1–32. The information in this
dialog box controls the connection elements for the column.

n. nly
de o
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fo rev
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Figure 1–32
e EN 12. Close the dialog box.
us C
13. Select the connection boxes (also called joint boxes) and
re S

toggle them off using the same process as you did for the
d yA

layer symbols in Steps 5 to 7.

14. Double-click on the base plate. Note that the Advance

an b

Properties dialog box for the plate displays, but now you
cannot make many changes to the plate because it is part of
d

a connection object.
ng e
yi vid

15. Close the dialog box.

16. Select the base plate again. Right-click (ensuring that you do
op ro

not touch the UCS gizmo) and select Advance Properties,

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as shown in Figure 1–33. The same dialog box displays as

when you double-clicked on the plate.
Al ple
m
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Figure 1–33

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

17. Right-click on the base plate again and select Advance Joint
Properties. This opens the full connection dialog box. It also
turns the joint box on for this connection only.

18. Close the dialog box.

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19. Use the cursor to pan around the drawing and select one of
the smaller blue connection boxes (these are custom

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connections) and toggle them off.

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20. In the command line, type Z <Enter> A<Enter> to return to

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the full model view.

fo rev
21. Save the drawing.

Task 3 - View the 3D model.

tly r
ric fo
1. Locate the UCS icon in the lower left of the model at column

st T
A1, as shown in Figure 1–34. Note the direction of the X, Y,
e EN and Z-axes.
us C
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d
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UCS
m

Figure 1–34
Sa

2. Click on various parts of the ViewCube to rotate the model.

Note that the UCS does not change.

3. In the upper left of the drawing window, test the four preset
isometric views. Note that the UCS still does not change.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

4. Set the view to the Left preset. Note that the UCS now
changes, as shown in Figure 1–35. The Top, Bottom, Left,
Right, Front, and Back views change the UCS to that
orientation.

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e EN
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Figure 1–35
d

5. Hold <Shift> and the mouse wheel and rotate the model in
ng e

the view. Even though you were in what looked like an

yi vid

elevation view, note that you are still in a 3D view.

op ro

6. In the Advance Steel Tool Palette> UCS category, click

lc p
Al ple

(UCS World), or in the command line, type UCS

<Enter>, W <Enter>.
m

7. Zoom in on the UCS icon.

Sa

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

8. In the upper left corner of the view window, change the Visual
Style to 2D Wireframe, as shown in Figure 1–36. Note that
the UCS icon changes with the rest of the model.

n. nly
de o
id w
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fo rev
tly r
ric fo
st T
e EN Figure 1–36

9. Test out other Visual Styles. Which one gives you the best
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view of the j-bolts in the footing?
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10. Set the Visual Style set to Conceptual.

d yA

11. Zoom out to display the entire model.

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d
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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

1.4 Helpful AutoCAD Tools

Most of the tools that you use in the Autodesk Advance Steel
software are customized macros that create complex objects
and connections. Since the software is based on the AutoCAD

n. nly
software, there are some useful tools that you can use as you
are drawing and modifying the Autodesk Advance Steel objects,

de o
including object snaps, Ortho, Polar Tracking (shown in
Figure 1–37), basic modify tools such as Move and Copy, grips

id w
on objects, and the 3D Gizmo.

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fo rev
tly r
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Object Snaps

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Polar Tracking
e EN
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Figure 1–37
an b

• Warning: One tool that does not work as expected in the

Autodesk Advance Steel software is the Undo command. As
d

many Autodesk Advance Steel commands are actually

ng e

macros of many commands, pressing Undo once often does

yi vid

not do much. You might need to use the Undo drop-down list
(shown in Figure 1–38) to undo numerous steps.
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Figure 1–38

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

Status Bar Several tools on the Status Bar (shown in part in Figure 1–39)
can help you as you are drawing and modifying objects,
Tools including the Ortho, Polar Tracking, and Object Snap Tracking
tools. You can also toggle on the drawing view grid to help you
visualize the space better. Object Snaps are probably the most

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critical of the tools.

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Figure 1–39

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Object Snaps

fo rev
There are a lot of objects that you can snap to in Autodesk
Advance Steel models, so it is important to use only the ones you

tly r
ric fo
need. For example, there are a lot of endpoints on an I-beam,
but only one node at the end of each beam. It is safer to use

st T
object snap overrides (as shown in Figure 1–40) more frequently
e EN than setting the objects snaps (as shown in Figure 1–41).
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Figure 1–40 Figure 1–41

• The Node object snap and GRID Intersection Points object

snap can be preset. Toggle off object snaps if they get in the
way of what you are trying to do.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Basic Modify Basic AutoCAD modification tools (such as Move, Copy, and

Tools Rotate) are accessed in the Advance Tool Palette> (Modify)

category, as shown in Figure 1–42. These tools can be used if
you are working with standard AutoCAD objects (such as lines)
or when you are manipulating individual Autodesk Advance Steel

n. nly
objects (such as columns or beams).

de o
These AutoCAD tools
can be used as long as

id w
there are no joints

rb ie
connecting objects.

fo rev
tly r
ric fo
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e EN
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d
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Figure 1–42
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• Once you start making connections so that columns and

lc p

beams work together with plates and bolts, you need to start
using the Autodesk Advance Steel modify tools.
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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

Hint: AutoCAD Break vs. Autodesk Advance Steel Split

Beam
Not all of the standard AutoCAD tools will work with Autodesk
Advance Steel objects. For example, the Break command
does not work on beams. Instead, use the Autodesk Advance

n. nly
Steel command Split Beam to break a beam into separate
parts, as shown in Figure 1–43.

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fo rev
tly r
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e EN
Figure 1–43
us C
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1. In the Objects tab>Beams panel, click (Split Beam).

d yA

2. Select the beam you want to split and press <Enter>.

3. Select the point or points along the beam where you want it
to split.
an b

4. Press <Enter>.
d
ng e
yi vid

Using Grips You can use grips to modify objects, such as the length of
beams or size of plates. They work in 2D and in 3D with
and the added power when you use the 3D Gizmo, as shown in
op ro

3D Gizmo Figure 1–44.

lc p
Al ple
m
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Figure 1–44

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

• 3D Gizmos can be used with both 2D and 3D objects. The

Gizmo is primarily used to move and rotate, but can also
scale objects, as shown in Figure 1–45.

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Move Gizmo Rotate Gizmo Scale Gizmo

fo rev
Figure 1–45
• When you select objects in a 3D view, the UCS icon turns into
the Gizmo tool. This tool enables you to limit the movement

tly r
ric fo
of objects along an axis or plane and to rotate in 3D space.
When you hover the cursor over a Gizmo, it automatically

st T
jumps to a location or vertex grip. It can also be used as a
e EN grip without being moved to another grip.

• The color-coded icon displays in the current UCS. Red

us C
indicates the X-axis, green the Y-axis, and blue the Z-axis.
re S

• As you move the cursor over one of the axes on the Gizmo
d yA

tool, the active axis highlights in gold and displays a guideline

in the axis color. If you move the cursor over a plane, the
an b

plane highlights in gold, as shown in Figure 1–46.

d

Highlighted
ng e
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Al ple

Gizmo Icon Y-axis selected YZ plane selected

Figure 1–46
m
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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

How To: Use the 3D Gizmo

1. In a 3D view, select the objects you want to modify.
2. Move the Gizmo tool to a base point, if required.
3. Select an axis or plane on the Gizmo tool.
4. You can right-click on the Gizmo to display a menu and pick

n. nly
move, rotate, or scale.
5. When a Gizmo operation is in progress and you need to

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switch to a different Gizmo, press <Spacebar> or <Enter> to
cycle through the options.

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• To move an object, move the cursor along the axis or in

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the plane. You can type coordinates or select a point to

fo rev
end the command.
• To rotate an object, move the cursor along the axis. Type
an angle value or select a point to finish the command.

tly r
ric fo
• To scale an object, select the center triangular plane
between the three axes in the Gizmo tool, and move the

st T
cursor towards or away from the center of the Gizmo.
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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Practice 1b Helpful AutoCAD Tools

Practice Objectives
• Use Object Snap, Ortho, and other AutoCAD drawing aids.

n. nly
• Use grips and the 3D Gizmo to copy, move, and modify objects.
• Understand the difference between the AutoCAD Break command and

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the Autodesk Advance Steel Split Beam command.

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In this practice, you will use grips and Ortho to shorten grid lines

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and lengthen beams. You will use the AutoCAD Copy command

fo rev
and Node object snap to copy columns and beams. You will then
test the difference between the AutoCAD Break command and
the Autodesk Advance Steel Split Beam command. Finally, you

tly r
will use the 3D gizmo to copy beams in 3D and then use grips

ric fo
and node snaps to change the height on one end of the beams.
The final model is shown in Figure 1–47.

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Figure 1–47

Task 1 - Use grips and object snaps to modify and copy

objects.

1. In the practice files folder, open [Link].

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

2. In the Status Bar, ensure that (Ortho) is toggled on and

(Object Snaps) are toggled off.

3. Select the AB Grid object. Click on the grip for Grid A and

n. nly
move it in 30'-0", as shown in Figure 1–48.

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Figure 1–48
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4. Repeat the process with Grid B.

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5. Move Grids 1-4 in 20'-0", as shown in Figure 1–49.

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Figure 1–49
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6. Toggle on Object Snaps and set the Object Snaps to Node

and GRID Intersection Points. Ensure that no other object
snaps are on.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

7. In the Advance Tool Palette> (Modify) category, click

(Copy). Select the columns on Grid 2 and copy them to

Grids 3 and 4 using the node object snap at the end of the

n. nly
grid lines.

8. Use grips to extend the beams along Grid A and B to Grid 4,

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as shown in Figure 1–50.

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• You can use the Node object snap for the beam on Grid A
with the short columns, but you need to use the

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Perpendicular object snap override with the taller column

fo rev
on Grid B.

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Figure 1–50
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9. Copy the rest of the beams into place.

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10. Save the drawing.

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Task 2 - Test Break vs. Split Beam.

Sa

1. Extend the Command Line so that at least 3 historical

prompts display.

2. Zoom in on the top of Column A2 and select the beam. Note

that the beam is all one piece.

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

3. In the Advance Tool Palette> Modify category, click

(Break).

n. nly
4. Select the beam. In the Command Line, note that the object
cannot be broken, as shown in Figure 1–51. Press <Esc>.

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fo rev
Figure 1–51

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ric fo
5. In the Objects tab>Beams panel, click (Split Beams).

6. Select the beam and press <Enter>.

st T
e EN 7. Select the Node object snap at the top of the beam, then pan
over to Column A3 and select the Node there as well, and
then press <Enter>. The beams are now separated, as
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shown in Figure 1–52.
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Figure 1–52

8. Repeat the process for the beam on Grid B.

9. Save the drawing.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Task 3 - Copy objects in 3D.

1. Select one of the beams. Right-click and select Select

Similar. Note that all of the beams and braces are selected.

n. nly
2. Hold <Shift> and clear the selection of the two diagonal
braces.

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3. Move the cursor over the Z-axis (blue) of the 3D Gizmo and

id w
select it.

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4. In the Command Line, type CO (for Copy).

fo rev
Note that Ortho should 5. Move the cursor up, enter 12', and press <Esc> to finish the
still be on for this step. command, as shown in Figure 1–53.

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Figure 1–53
lc p

6. Use grips to extend the shorter columns up 12'-0".

Al ple

7. Use the AutoCAD Move command to move the back beams

3'-5 1/4" up to the top of the columns (for a total of 16'-0").
m
Sa

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

8. Use grips and the Node object snap to angle the columns as
shown in Figure 1–54.

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Figure 1–54
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9. Zoom out to display the entire model.

d yA

10. Save the drawing.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

1.5 Working with the User

Coordinate System (UCS)
In the AutoCAD software, 2D objects are created on a single flat

n. nly
plane, which is usually the XY plane. In Autodesk Advance Steel
most of your work occurs in 3D and you need to be able to
specify the XY plane (as shown in Figure 1–55) for a number of

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commands, such as when you draw plates or bracing members.

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Figure 1–55
d

• There are three axes: the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. Three
ng e

planes are also automatically created by the intersections of

yi vid

these axes. They are the XY plane, the YZ plane, and the XZ
plane. Together these three axes and their planes form a user
coordinate system, or UCS.
op ro
lc p

• The UCS is a user-defined working plane with X,Y

coordinates that can be positioned at any location or
Al ple

orientation in space.

• Do not confuse the UCS position with the viewing direction.

m

The position from which you view your drawing, known as the
Sa

viewpoint, determines how you see your drawing. The UCS

determines where you are drawing. It sets the position of the
working plane.

• The POLAR, OTRACK, and ORTHO commands work with

dynamic input in the Z-axis direction.

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

UCS UCS commands are found in the Advance Tool Palette>

Commands (UCS) category, as shown in Figure 1–56. Some of these

are the same tools as found in AutoCAD, and a few are specific
to the Autodesk Advance Steel software.

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Figure 1–56
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• Most of these tools can also be accessed using commands

lc p

typed into the command line, as shown in Figure 1–57. Type

UCS and then the method you want to use. World is the
Al ple

default for the UCS command.

m
Sa

Figure 1–57

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Commonly Used UCS Commands

UCS World Returns the UCS to the Home

position at 0,0,0 in the drawing.

Move UCS Specify a new origin point. The axes

n. nly
are not modified

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Rotate UCS Frequently used after moving the
around X, Y, Z UCS. Click on these tools to rotate

id w
the other axes around the X, Y, or Z
axis.

rb ie
UCS at object Identify an object and then click on

fo rev
the line which you want to specify
as the Z-axis (Autodesk Advance
Steel only).

tly r
UCS 3 points Specify the new origin point, the

ric fo
positive direction of the X-axis, and
the positive portion of the Y axis.

st T
UCS View Orients the UCS to the current view.
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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

1.6 Using the Autodesk Advance

Steel Modify Commands
While you can use the standard AutoCAD modify commands for

n. nly
individual objects in the Autodesk Advance Steel software, there
are times when these tools are not going to work, as shown in
Figure 1–58. This is especially true once you start working with

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connections or if you want to copy features that have been cut

id w
into columns. In these cases, it is best to use the Advance Copy

rb ie
command found in the Advance Tool Palette> (Tools)

fo rev
category, as shown in Figure 1–59. There is also a specific tool
to Trim or Extend Autodesk Advance Steel objects, such as
beams and columns.

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Original
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AutoCAD Copy Advance Copy

Figure 1–58 Figure 1–59

op ro

• The Advance Copy command includes options for Copy,

lc p

Move, Array, Polar array, Mirror, Rotate, Align, and Adapt.

You can also access some of these options directly using the
Al ple

other buttons in the Tools category.

m

How To: Transform Elements Using Advance Copy

Sa

1. In the Advance Tool Palette> (Tools) category, click

(Advance Copy).
2. In the Transform elements dialog box (shown in

Figure 1–60), click (Select objects).

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

3. In the drawing window, select the base objects (such as

columns or beams) you want to use, and press <Enter> to
return to the dialog box.
• If you want to include the relationships between
connected objects (such as a base plate on the bottom of

n. nly
a column), select Include additional connections, as
shown in Figure 1–60.

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Figure 1–60
4. Select the type of command you want to use, as shown in the
op ro

red box in Figure 1–60, above.

5. Depending on the type of command you select, various parts
lc p

of the dialog box are available. Click to specify distances

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or other points.
6. Click Preview.
m

7. Review the model to ensure that everything is placed as

expected. When you are finished, in the Preview dialog box
Sa

(shown in Figure 1–61), click OK. If you need to make

changes, click Modify to return to the dialog box or Cancel to
exit the command.

Figure 1–61

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

• It is safer to preview the function, rather than just hoping that

it works. Remember that commands in the Autodesk
Advance Steel software are often macros of many
commands, and trying to undo an operation might take many
steps.

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Using Advance The standard AutoCAD Trim and Extend commands do not work

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with Autodesk Advance Steel objects, but you can use the
Trim/Extend Advance Trim/Extend command, as shown in Figure 1–62.

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Before After
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Advance Trim/Extend command

Figure 1–62
d
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How To: Trim or Extend Autodesk Advance Steel

yi vid

Objects
op ro

1. In the Advance Tool Palette> (Tools) category, scroll down

lc p
Al ple

and select (Advance Trim/Extend).

2. Select the Trim, Extend, or Auto operation mode (the default
is Auto).
m

3. Select one of the following Select options:

Sa

• System: The system line of a beam. This is the default.

• Center: The center line of a beam.
• Face: The face of a beam.
• Line: An AutoCAD object.
4. Select the boundary object and press <Enter>
5. Select the object to be trimmed or extended.
6. Continue selecting other objects, or press <Enter> to finish
the command.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Practice 1c Use the Autodesk Advance Steel

Modify Commands
Practice Objective

n. nly
• Use Advance Copy to copy, move, and mirror Autodesk Advance Steel

de o
objects.

id w
In this practice, you will use the Advance Copy command to copy
and mirror columns, beams, and braces, with their connections.

rb ie
You will copy beams in 3D space and then extend columns to

fo rev
meet the new beam locations. Finally, you will move beams to a
new location and use grips to modify the connecting beams. The
final model is shown in Figure 1–63.

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Figure 1–63
Sa

Task 1 - Use Advance Copy to copy and mirror objects and

their connections.

1. In the practice files folder, open [Link].

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

2. Investigate the existing objects in the model. Note that they

all have connections where they intersect, as shown in
Figure 1–64.

n. nly
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fo rev
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Figure 1–64

st T
e EN 3. In the Advance Tool Palette> (Tools) category, click

(Advance Copy).
us C
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4. In the Transform elements dialog box, click (Select

d yA

objects).

5. In the drawing window, select the two columns on Grid 2 and

an b

the three connecting beams, as shown in Figure 1–65, and

d

press <Enter>.
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Figure 1–65

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

6. In the Transform elements dialog box, select Include

additional connections.

7. Ensure that the Copy option is selected.

8. In the Distance area, set the X distance to 15' and the

n. nly
Number of copies to 2, as shown in Figure 1–66.

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fo rev
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ric fo
st T
e EN Figure 1–66
us C
9. Click Preview. The copies and appropriate connections
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display as shown in Figure 1–67.

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Figure 1–67

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

10. In the Preview dialog box, click OK.

11. Start the Advance Copy command again.

12. In the dialog box, click (Select objects) and select the

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columns, beams, and braces that are highlighted in
Figure 1–68.

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13. In the dialog box, select the Mirror option. In the Mirror area,

id w
ensure that 2D is selected, and then click (Select mirror

rb ie
points).

fo rev
14. Select the two end node points of Grid 3.

15. In the dialog box, click Preview. The mirrored objects should

tly r
ric fo
display as shown in Figure 1–68. Click OK.

New Mirrored

st T
Objects
e EN Objects to be
mirrored
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Figure 1–68
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16. Save the drawing.

Sa

Task 2 - Copy and extend objects in 3D space.

1. Start the Advance Copy command.

2. Select all of the beams in the model, but not the braces and
columns.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

3. Set the Z distance to 12'-0" (as shown in Figure 1–69) and

click Preview.

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Figure 1–69

fo rev
4. Select the highlighted columns (corresponding entities) or
press <Enter> to accept the highlighted column, as prompted
and shown for the first column in Figure 1–70. The

tly r
connectors are added even though the columns do not yet

ric fo
reach that location. Click OK.

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e EN
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Figure 1–70
Al ple

5. In the Advance Tool Palette> (Tools) category, scroll down

m
Sa

and click (Advance Trim/Extend).

6. At the Please select operation mode prompt, select Auto.

7. At the Please select option prompt, select System.

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

8. Select the beams along Grid A on the second level. Press

<Enter>, select the corresponding columns, and then press
<Enter>. The columns are extended, as shown in
Figure 1–71.

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Figure 1–71

9. Press <Esc> to finish the command.

an b

10. Use Advance Copy to move the beams along Grid B to the
d

top of the 16'-0" columns, and then use grips to modify the
ng e

crossing beams so that they are at an angle, as shown in

yi vid

Figure 1–72.
op ro
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Sa

Figure 1–72

11. Save the drawing.

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Chapter Review Questions

1. Which of the following describes the Autodesk Advance Steel
workflow?

n. nly
a. Start from an existing project and draw in 2D and 3D.

de o
b. Start from a template, draw the objects in 3D, and
automatically create 2D drawings from the model.

id w
c. Start from an existing 2D drawing and extrude 3D

rb ie
elements.

fo rev
d. Start from a template and create 2D working documents.
2. When you are working in a 3D view, you need to change to a

tly r
2D view before you can add any objects.

ric fo
a. True

st T
b. False
e EN 3. Where do you find Autodesk Advance Steel specific tools in
the User Interface? (Select all that apply.)
us C
a. Ribbon
re S

b. Advance Tool Palette

d yA

c. Quick Access Toolbar

d. Shortcut menu
an b

4. In AutoCAD you can use many different object snaps as

d

drawing aids. Which one of the following object snaps do you

ng e

typically leave active in the Autodesk Advance Steel

yi vid

software?
a. Endpoint
op ro

b. Midpoint
lc p

c. Node
Al ple

d. Center
5. Which of the following commands duplicates both the
m

selected objects and any connections (such as clip angles).

Sa

a. Copy
b. Advance Copy
c. Array
d. Advance Trim/Extend

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 Autodesk Advance Steel 2020: Fundamentals

Command Summary
Button Command Location
General Commands

n. nly
Advance Copy • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Tools
category

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Advance Steel • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Tools

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Properties category

rb ie
• Double-click: On an Advance Steel
object

fo rev
• Shortcut Menu: Select objects,
Advance Properties
Advance Steel • Ribbon: Home tab>Extend Modeling

tly r
Tool Palette panel

ric fo
Advance • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Tools
Trim/Extend category

st T
e EN All Visible • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Quick
Views category
us C
Break • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Modify
category
re S

Copy • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Modify

d yA

category

Open • Quick Access Toolbar

an b

• Application Menu: Open>Drawing

d

Project • Ribbon: Home tab>Project panel

ng e

Explorer
yi vid

Selected • Advance Steel Tool Palette: Quick

Objects off Views category
op ro

Split Beam • Ribbon: Objects tab>Beam Tools panel

lc p

ViewCube • Ribbon: View tab>Viewport Tools panel

Al ple

UCS Commands
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UCS Icon • Ribbon: View tab>Viewport Tools panel

Sa

UCS World • Advance Steel Tool Palette: UCS

category

Move UCS • Advance Steel Tool Palette: UCS

category

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 Introduction to the Autodesk Advance Steel Software

Rotate UCS • Advance Steel Tool Palette: UCS

around X, Y, Z category

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UCS at object • Advance Steel Tool Palette: UCS
category

de o
UCS 3 points • Advance Steel Tool Palette: UCS
category

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rb ie
UCS View • Advance Steel Tool Palette: UCS
category

fo rev
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