In software like ETABS, you can add or subtract while moving or adding a new beam, but as of now, STAAD does not have this facility. To do this, the user needs a calculator for such tasks. If STAAD had this feature, it would save time and effort and make STAAD more user-friendly.
Take an example where a node is located at coordinates (4.2, 5, 8) in the X, Y, and Z directions. If the user wants to move the node from 4.2 m to 2 m, the user currently needs a calculator to compute the new coordinates.
If STAAD had this functionality, the user could simply press F2 to move a node, then press the equals (=) sign and type:
STAAD would automatically calculate the value, saving time and eliminating the need to use a physical calculator to determine the new coordinates.
The same concept is applicable for beams as well.
If the user wants to copy a beam to a certain location, they currently have to calculate the required distance manually (using a physical calculator). This feature would greatly simplify and speed up the workflow.
Thank you for posting this idea. Can you suggest examples of the calculations you are thinking of? Currently you can move selected objects by a specific amount or by measuring between two points (nodes) in the model and STAAD will do the calculation for you. What other calculation are you thinging of?