ProtaStructure Suite Release Notes

v2022 (6.0.431)
13 October 2022

Please get in touch with us for your training and technical support queries

asiasupport@protasoftware.com

globalsupport@protasoftware.com

Publisher
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Limitation of While Prota endeavors to ensure that every new update is tested, Prota
Responsibilities shall not be held responsible for any losses caused by documentation,
software, or usage errors.

In addition to Prota License Agreement Terms, it is the responsibility of

the user:

• to check results generated by documentation and software,

• make sure that the users of the software and their supervisors
have adequate technical capabilities,
• Ensure that the software is used correctly following the reference
manual and documentation.

Intellectual ProtaStructure is a registered trademark of Prota Yazılım Bilişim ve

Property Mühendislik A.Ş., and all intellectual property rights belong to Prota
Yazılım Bilişim ve Mühendislik A.Ş. Documentation, training, reference
manuals, and any program component cannot be copied, distributed, and
used in violation of the license agreement.

Trademarks ProtaStructure®, ProtaDetails®, ProtaSteel®, and ProtaBIM® are

registered trademarks of Prota Software Inc. Prota logo is a trademark
of Prota Software Inc.
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Contents
Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4
ProtaStructure 2022 Installation Steps .................................................................................................... 5
Installing ProtaStructure 2022 for the first time .................................................................................. 5
Updating an Existing Version of ProtaStructure 2022 ......................................................................... 5
Alternative 1: Updating by Using the Installer ................................................................................. 5
Alternative 2: Updating by Using the ‘Automatic Updates’ ............................................................. 6
Insert Multiple Frames Between Members ............................................................................................. 7
Copy and Move Frame Members ............................................................................................................ 8
Copy or Move Multiple Frame/Truss/Dome Members .................................................................... 8
Selection History (Previous/Next Selection) ............................................................................................ 9
Ribbon Toolbar Optimized for Selection .......................................................................................... 9
Generate Purlins and Claddings to Other Storeys.................................................................................... 9
Steel Section and Material Labels in Structure Tree .............................................................................. 10
Slab Design Status Coloring ................................................................................................................... 11
Filtering Basement Walls in Design Window ......................................................................................... 11
The Meshing of Frame Members and Load Decomposition .................................................................. 12
Formwork Detail Drawings .................................................................................................................... 15
New Design Guides and Videos ............................................................................................................. 17
Stability and Performance Improvements ............................................................................................. 17
Thank You .............................................................................................................................................. 19
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Introduction
After the official release of ProtaStructure 2022 (6.0.236) on 1-Mar-2022, several official updates are
released with the following schedule:

Version Release Date

6.0.236 1-Mar-2022 (First Customer Shipment)
6.0.249 15-Mar-2022
6.0.256 27-Mar-2022
6.0.274 7-Apr-2022
6.0.306 18-May-2022
6.0.327 7-July-2022
6.0.392 18-August-2022
6.0.431 13-October-2022

Significant improvements and stability enhancements are made through these updates. Besides these,
essential and valuable new features are introduced that will help to increase your productivity. This
document summarizes the improvements and new features implemented between the previous and
latest releases of ProtaStructure 2022.

As a part of our continuous delivery and support commitment, we regularly provide new features and
improvements with free updates and releases to all maintained users. Updating your software to the
latest version is highly recommended to get the most out of ProtaStructure.
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ProtaStructure 2022 Installation Steps

ProtaStructure 2022 updates are deployed dynamically without the need for an installation package.
Installation packages for the latest release can always be found in the Downloads section at
www.protasoftware.com or Prota Help Center at www.protasoftware.com.

The latest ProtaSteel 2022 (4.0.1069.3638) is available with ProtaStructure 2022 (6.0.431) installation.
ProtaSteel is automatically updated through the ProtaStructure update system. Alternatively, you can
download and install the latest ProtaStructure 2022 (6.0.431) from the download page on the Prota
Software website to get the latest ProtaStructure and ProtaSteel updates.

Installing ProtaStructure 2022 for the first time

1. Download the latest installer from the Downloads section on www.protasoftware.com or Prota
Help Center

2. Make sure that you have the latest Windows updates and graphics card driver. Also, make sure
that your system configuration meets the minimum requirements listed at
https://www.protasoftware.com/frequently-asked-questions

3. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard instructions. The installer will automatically
install necessary prerequisite runtime libraries.

Updating an Existing Version of ProtaStructure 2022

Alternative 1: Updating by Using the Installer

If you have the latest installer, you can use it to update the existing version of ProtaStructure 2022.

1. Before running the installer, remove the previous installations of ProtaStructure2022 and
ProtaSteel2022. These are listed as separate items in Windows Control Panel > Add or Remove
Programs

2. Please make sure you have cleaned the contents of the folders given below. To delete some of
the directories, you need to make them visible from the menu Control Panel > Folder Options
> Make hidden files and folders visible regarding the safety permissions of your operating
system.

a. C:\Program Files(x86)\Prota\ProtaStructure2022

b. C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Prota\ProtaStructure\R6

c. C:\ProgramData\Prota\ProtaSteel2022

d. C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\ProgramData\Prota\ProtaSteel20
22

e. C:\ Users \< UserName >\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files(x86)

\Prota\ProtaStructure2022
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3. Make sure that you have the latest Windows updates and graphics card driver. Also, make sure
that your system configuration meets the minimum requirements listed at
https://www.protasoftware.com/frequently-asked-questions

4. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard instructions. The installer will automatically
install necessary prerequisite runtime libraries.

Alternative 2: Updating by Using the ‘Automatic Updates’

ProtaStructure will notify you if there is a new ‘Official’ version of ProtaStructure 2022. You can see the
notifications on Welcome Page in the program. Alternatively, you can click on the Help > Check Updates
button to see if any updates are available for your installed version of ProtaStructure.

1. Make sure that you are connected to the internet.

2. Click on the update notification on the welcome page.

3. Click on the Download Update button to start downloading the updates. Updated files will be
replaced automatically, and ProtaStructure will be restarted.

a. Alternatively, click on “Help > Check Updates…”.

New license codes are not required for updates, and you do not need to reactivate ProtaStructure
again.

Important Note:
ProtaStructure is not supported on the Windows 7 operating system. Windows 7 does not have the
latest required software libraries to ensure the smooth running of ProtaStructure. During installation
on Windows 7, unexpected errors may occur beyond our control.

Microsoft removed support for Windows 7 on 13-January-2015. Extended support ceased on 14

January 2020. Windows 7 users wanting to use ProtaStructure must upgrade to Windows 10.
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Insert Multiple Frames Between Members

In steel modeling, inserting multiple frame members in a single shot is almost always necessary. We
have developed new functionality allowing you to insert multiple frames between two selected
members.

1. Go to Modelling Tab > Steel Members > Frame command.

2. In the dropdown, select “Insert Multiple Between Selected Members.”

3. Pick two members on the screen. The primary members can be two beams, two frames, two
trusses, two columns, or their combination.

A frame insertion wizard will pop up. This wizard is very similar to the purlin wizard. You can set
parameters such as section, alignment, layout options, offsets, cantilever lengths, etc.

Depending on the orientation of the primary members and the section alignment options,
ProtaStructure will automatically adjust the “Physical Offsets” and place the frames accordingly. The
generated frame members are individual frames that can be edited individually later. You can also
assign loads on top of them as you need.

This tool will be beneficial in the following scenarios:

• Placing multiple floor beams or joists on primary beams

• Placing roof frames

• Inserting regular layouts of frames in one go

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Copy and Move Frame Members

The latest ProtaStructure got even more practical. You can now copy and move frame members
interactively. It is pretty simple:

1. Select a frame member or multiple frame members

2. Right-Click and pick the Copy or Move command

3. Pick the base point on the screen. You can snap to axis intersections, member endpoints,
intelligent points, nodes, nearest points, etc. Object snap will make it easy for you to specify
any convenient base point.

4. Pick the destination point to which the member(s) wil be copied or moved. A preview of the
member will be shown in real-time on the screen.

Copy or Move Multiple Frame/Truss/Dome Members

Copy and Move commands also support multiple members. You can select multiple trusses, steel
domes, or frames and move or copy them as you wish.
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Selection History (Previous/Next Selection)

With the latest update, you can now navigate back and forth between the selections you have made as
you model your building.

ProtaStructure will keep a history of selected members and makes it easy for you to go back to a
previous selection you have made before. Alternatively, you can seek forward to re-select the more
recently selected members.

Ribbon Toolbar Optimized for Selection

For this purpose, we have reorganized the ribbon toolbar, so that selection commands are always easily
accessible. The Selection commands are located at the start of the Modelling tab, just before Grid
commands.

You can use the “Restore Previous Selection” and “Restore Next Selection” to navigate through the
history of selections you made before. These commands are also accessible in the Right-Click menu.
Alternatively, use CTRL+J and CTRL+K shortcuts to re-select the previous and next selections.

Generate Purlins and Claddings to Other Storeys

Purlins and claddings can now be generated (copied) to other storeys when the entire storey is copied.
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Steel Section and Material Labels in Structure Tree

You can now display section and material labels in the structure tree for steel members. This feature
will help you to identify the basic member properties visually quickly.
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Slab Design Status Coloring

ProtaStructure has a powerful visual interrogation tool to review the different aspects of your model by
color coding. For example, you can color the members with respect to their materials, section, assigned
loads, design status, design utilization, etc.

With the latest update, ProtaStructure can color the slabs with respect to their design status. When you
stretch a slab strip across slabs, ProtaStructure will automatically design those slabs cut by the slab strip.
These slabs will be assigned one of red, green, or amber colors, depending on whether the design fails
or not. The slabs without a slab strip will be indicated as ‘Not Designed’.

Filtering Basement Walls in Design Window

A new filter is added to the column/wall design window to display only the basement walls for design.
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The Meshing of Frame Members and Load Decomposition

In the previous versions of ProtaStructure, it was only possible for beam and shearwall members to
mesh with slabs and decomposing loads onto them.

With the latest update, you can now mesh the frame members compatibly with the slabs. Slab loads
will be automatically distributed on them using the finite element method. Frames can be modeled
anywhere inside the slab.

Similar to beams and shearwalls, there are two alternative ways for load decomposition onto frames:

1. FE Load Decomposition Method

2. Including the meshed slab in the building analysis

FE Load Decomposition Method:

In this method, a particular storey is isolated from the rest of the building and analyzed under dead and
live loads. This is a unique model where the slab meshes with the beams, frames, and shearwalls. The
nodes on beams and frame members are restrained in Z-direction so that the calculated reactions are
the loads transferred to the beam or frame members. You can then use these loads in the global building
analysis

Including Meshed Slabs in Building Analysis

ProtaStructure can include all the slabs, beams, columns, frame members, and shearwalls in a globally
and compatibly meshed 3D analytical model. In this case, you don’t have to worry about the vertical
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load distribution because all the vertical loads will be transferred between members using finite element
connectivity.

In summary, ProtaStructure already had a very powerful slab meshing, vertical load decomposition, and
distribution system. With the latest update, frame members can now be included in this mesh so that
the slab loads on frames can be calculated/considered automatically. This is an excellent addition if you
need to model a two-way slab on top of frames. You can still apply user-defined loads on frame
members if you need to.

Alternative 1: A typical load profile on a frame member calculated by FE Load Decomposition

Alternative 1: Automatically calculated frame loads as the result of FE Load Decomposition considered in the building analysis
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Alternative 2: Frame members mesh with slabs in the building analysis. Loads are implicitly transferred using FE Connectivity
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Formwork Detail Drawings

With the previous updates, we introduced the design of formworks and formwork scaffolds. The latest
update now includes the formwork detail drawings.

As in all detail drawings, you can access the formwork details through ProtaDetails. After you design the
formworks in ProtaStructure, open ProtaDetails and start creating the drawings using the “Drawings
Tree > Formworks”.

ProtaStructure automatically groups formworks. That means the detail drawings are also automatically
grouped.

1. Right-click on the “Formwork” node on the drawings tree and pick the “Draw Formwork Details”
command. All details will be drawn and laid out automatically, including their quantity take-off
tables.

2. Right-click on one of the “Formwork/Column”, “Formwork/Shearwall”, “Formwork/Beam”, or

“Formwork/Slab” nodes to automatically create all the formwork details for a specific group.

3. Alternatively, expand the “Formwork/Column” node. The column formworks will be listed.
Right-click on one of the column formworks and create a single detail.

You can also draw the formwork details one-by-one

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New Design Guides and Videos

We have been working hard to provide extensive documentation, videos, and webinars on numerous
topics to improve your experience and knowledge of ProtaStructure.

Visit Prota Help Center’s Knowledge Base and our website’s ‘Whitepaper’ section to learn about the
latest design guides.

Prota Help Center Knowledge Base:

https://support.protasoftware.com/

Protasoftware.com Whitepapers:
https://www.protasoftware.com/whitepaper

In addition to design guides, we have been conducting new webinars and publishing the recordings.
Also, our technical team is always busy creating video content on ProtaStructure features, usage, and
theory. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified of new content.

https://www.youtube.com/c/ProtaStructure

Stability and Performance Improvements

Stability and performance improvements are made. Following are the outstanding incidents resolved
between the previous and current official releases.

Ticket Incident No Description

We resolved the issue where the shear link number is inconsistent

with beam elevation drawings.
This incident occurs when links are of the same spacing but the
number of legs differs. Example: Midspan link = 1T10-250; Support
33627 PS-12807
link = 2T10-250; beam detail shown was 1T10-250 for the entire
beam.
After installing the latest version, beam elevation drawings should be
re-generated for affected beams.

Column clear height calculation was improved when they were

34062 PS-12960 generated from other storeys. Building Analysis must be run after
installing the latest version, and the design must be re-checked.

When Imperial units were selected, improvements were made in

PS-12848
rebar unit conversions in the user interface.

Performance improvements were made for the images that are

PS-12850 embedded in the reports. This improvement will significantly
increase the performance of beam design reports.
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Calculation of column shear contribution was improved in nonlinear

PS-12868
building assessment.

An incident was resolved where Eurocode 8 user-defined behavior

PS-12871
factor was reset back to a code-based value after the analysis.

The default value of beam torsional stiffness modifier was set as 0.01
PS-12783
for BS and EC (MY and SG annexes)

Shearwall link design status was always shown in red. UI issue was
PS-12896
fixed.

Scaled RSA results are now considered in the seismic building

30195 PS-12919
overturning check.

- Improvements were made in formwork design and reporting.

An incident was resolved where a reduced behavior factor was used

in the design, but unreduced factors were printed on the report if
PS-12956
Eurocode 8 is used and there is an elevation irregularity as per clause
4.2.3.1

Basement storeys are now excluded from “Necessity of Second-

PS-12966
Order Effect Checks.”

Performance improvement was made in RC beam rebar selection and

34112 PS-12985
design.

The torsional irregularity limit value is updated to 1.35 for P100

PS-13144
Romania Seismic Code.

The number of bolts was added to the Stiffened End Plate

PSTEEL-1037
Connection Report

The setting window for the “Cut This With That Boundary” command
PSTEEL-1042 can now be opened with the SHIFT + Left Click combination. Before
the ribbon toolbar, it was triggered by Right-Clicking

Improvements were made in the sign convention of internal forces

PSTEEL-1058
transferred to ProtaSteel.

An incident was resolved where the Move command was not

PSTEEL-1045
properly functioning for plate edges.
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Thank You
Thank you for choosing the ProtaStructure Suite product family.

At Prota, it is our continual aim to provide you with user-friendly, industry-leading technology for
building design and documentation

Should you have any technical support requests or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at all
times through globalsupport@protasoftware.com or asiasupport@protasoftware.com (Asia Pacific)

Our dedicated online support center and responsive technical support team are available to help you
get the most out of Prota’s technology solutions.

The Prota Team