When constructing a frame in Multiframe it is often necessary to use Section Maker to design the sections shapes used within the model. There are a number of ways to share or transfer data from Section Maker for use in Multiframe.

Section Maker and Multiframe can open the same sections library simultaneously. As the sections library is a file, care must be exercised to avoid overwriting changes made in one program with changes made in the other. The simplest way to avoid this is to always modify the sections library using Section Maker and reload the updated library into Multiframe in order to use the new sections.

IMPORTANT: Using Section Maker with Multiframe

Be careful when using Section Maker with the Multiframe program open in the background. If you have both Section Maker and Multiframe open at the same time, any changes you make to the Section Library with Section Maker will not be reflected in the sections available to Multiframe until they are saved and re-loaded into Multiframe.

To make any changes to the library available within Multiframe you must

§   Save the section library from Section Maker using the Save command

§   Switch to Multiframe

§   Use Open Library->Sections Library from the File menu to re-load the saved library into Multiframe

Note that it is not necessary to close the model open within Multiframe when opening the sections library. Multiframe will automatically locate sections used within the model within the updated library.

In Multiframe, an extra group of sections is added to the end of the sections library. This group, named the “Frame” group, is stored as part of the Multiframe model instead of within the sections library. As this group is not accessible from Section Maker, the only way of adding a section to this group is via the Add Section command within Multiframe. It is then necessary to copy the property data from Section Maker into the Add Section dialog open within Multiframe.

To facilitate this and enable the section property data to be readily exchanged, the Properties Window in Section Maker contains a table listing the properties of the Frame group. These properties can be copied directly from here and inserted into the table within the Add Section dialog. Care should be taken to ensure the same units are in use within both programs.