All loads which are input into Sizer are unfactored. Once the design has been run, Sizer automatically factors the loads based on the appropriate load cases for the applicable code and standards the software conforms to.

At this time it is not possible to import a CAD drawing into concept mode. To create a model of a structure, it is recommended to either generate a grid based on the specified snap increment (Settings, View tab), or to place gridlines manually by clicking on the blank concept mode screen. When a specific gridline is clicked on, it is possible to remove the gridline by clicking the delete key or the gridlines name and location can be modified in the data bar.

The Point of Interest button located on the toolbar is used to investigate the shear and moment at any point along the length of a beam or column. A point of interest is generated by specifying a “Location from Left” to perform the analysis, and clicking “Add” to add this to your list. Several points of interest can be specified. After performing a design, the results for the points of interest will be shown in the Diagrams window and in the Analysis results output.

Designers may require shear or moment forces at specific points of interest. For example, for many types of connections, designers are required to check the shear capacity of the member at the connection location. WoodWorks^® Connections provides the effective shear capacity of a wood member at a connection location. Using the Point of Interest function, a designer could determine the corresponding design shear force. This is also very useful to determine what the shear and bending is at a notch or hole.

WoodWorks Sizer is capable of interfacing with cadwork^® and Revit^®. Third party interface programs are capable of automatically sizing beams either by opening Sizer and running the design, or by running Sizer in the background. The resulting beam size is automatically brought in to the cadwork^® or Revit^® model. The cadwork^® link is imbedded directly in the program. The Revit^® link is done by a third party program created by Structsoft solutions. Please see the following link for more information on 3rd party interface with Sizer.

A growing amount of manufacturers of SCL products are sharing the cost to include some of their SCL products in Sizer. A list of participating manufacturers is included on our website under the Proprietary Products section.
The manufacturer’s participation options are to:

a) Provide a database to designers that can be added to the software database
b) Work with the software developer through the CWC to include some or all of their solid rectangular (not engineered I-joists) products in the generic version of Sizer
c) Work with the software developer through the CWC to develop a fully customized version of Sizer that can include all products including I-joists.

If the manufacturer you typically specify products from is not already included in the software, it is recommended that you contact them and ask them if they have an updated material database for you or would be willing to create one for you. You can request that they contact us should they wish to have their database included with the installation of the software.

You can create your own custom SCL database using the databases editor:
If you have a SCL custom database file and would like to implement it into the software, you are going to need to place the file in the following two locations on your computer. Make sure you do this in both locations or else it will not work.

For USA Design Office 11:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Woodworks\CWC\USA\11
C:\ProgramData\WoodWorks\CWC\USA\11

For Canadian Design Office 10:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Woodworks\CWC\Canada\10
C:\ProgramData\WoodWorks\CWC\Canada\10

Once the file has been placed in the above locations, it will be necessary to open the database editor and ensure that the database is set to “use”. The next time you open Sizer, the database will be available for selection.

For the US edition of the software, it may be that the actual size you wish to enter is the same as a nominal size in the Sizer database.

Example: if you wish to enter the full 2″ width of undressed lumber, rather than the 1.5” planed width. Sizer will in this case select the nominal size when you type in the number “2”. However, if you type in 2.001, Sizer will interpret this as an actual size, and even though it rounds the number and shows it as “2” the nomenclature for the width and depth input will display “in” rather than “nom in” and treat it as an actual size. When following this method, it is necessary to input the exact depth as well, if the depth is left as unknown, then the design results will revert back to nominal dimensions.

For the Canadian edition of the software, it is possible to input the exact dimensions of a member by specifying the material as “Rough Lumber”. Using the “Rough Lumber” material allows the user to input specific member dimensions.

This is a known issue with Sizer and is due to some background programming in Microsoft Windows. To resolve the issue, enable the “Show loads view in a pop-up Window” feature in the Settings, Preferences tab.