Tips & Tricks

January 1, 2026

Top RISA-3D Features Engineers Underuse

Powerful Tools Don’t Help If They’re Left Unused Many engineers evaluate analysis software based on core modeling and design checks. But once a demo is over, some of the most impactful features are the ones that quietly save time on real projects — especially mid-size jobs where efficiency matters most. These aren’t advanced edge-case tools. They’re everyday features that often go underused. Diaphragm Forces: See Load Paths Instead of Guessing Diaphragm force output is one of the most valuable — and least leveraged — parts of a full building model. Instead of relying on manual distribution or conservative assumptions, engineers can directly see how loads are flowing to vertical elements. For mid-size structures, this clarity can mean: Fewer overdesigned collectors More confidence in lateral load paths Faster review and revisions when layouts change Batch Results: Review Smarter, Not Longer Batch results allow engineers to review multiple load cases, members, or design checks in a single pass. Instead of hunting through individual reports, patterns become obvious quickly. On mid-size jobs, this speeds up: QA/QC reviews Iterative design changes Comparing “before and after” scenarios It’s not about skipping checks — it’s about seeing the full picture sooner. Design Iteration Speed Is the…

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Copy Elements from Floor to Floor
September 6, 2018

Copy Elements from Floor to Floor

RISAFloor v13.0 now includes the added ability to graphically copy elements from one floor to another floor. This feature will expedite the modeling process by giving designers more control over which beams, columns, walls and joints are carried over to another floor. To access the tool, click on...

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Enhanced
February 1, 2017

Enhanced "Move" Tools in RISAFloor

RISAFloor v11 includes the ability to re-position selected elements such as beams, columns, walls, and nodes in your model. On the Graphic Editing Toolbar, click on the Move Selected Items button to open the Move Selected Items dialog box.

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Viewing Coordinates in Cursor Display
December 16, 2016

Viewing Coordinates in Cursor Display

In RISA-3D, RISAFloor, and RISAFoundation the cursor now provides additional information regarding the cursor coordinates. As you move your cursor around on your screen, a box adjacent to your cursor will appear and populate with the coordinates of the cursor.

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How Do I Model a Tapered Pipe?
December 30, 2013

How Do I Model a Tapered Pipe?

Tapered members are common for metal buildings and pole-type structures. For tapered wide flange members RISA provides a quick way to generate a tapered section that can then be checked per the provisions of AISC Design Guide 25 on tapered wide flanges.

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Slab Modifications in RISAFoundation
January 31, 2013

Slab Modifications in RISAFoundation

This video shows how slab modifications can used to add an opening or change the thickness of a portion of the slab in RISAFoundation.

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Import DXF Drawing Grid in RISAFloor
January 7, 2013

Import DXF Drawing Grid in RISAFloor

This video shows how to import a DXF as a drawing grid in RISAFloor. To do this, you can save any drawing file as a DXF file format and import points, lines, polylines, arcs and circles into RISAFloor. This gives you the ability to create your own drawing grids with complex geometries and use this...

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