Master Library Creation

 Drew,
The collection of live loads that make up HL-93 are hard-coded into PGSuper. However, if you only use HL93 for Service and Strength limit states and need to modify the live load combination factor, this can be done in the Load Factors tab in the Project Criteria library by modifying the LL+IM factors. If you have added other live loads and want to use different factors for the other trucks and HL-93 you might not be able to do that easily.
 
Template files can be created from any PGSuper file. Simply go to the File | Save As Template, and save the file as a .pgt file. If the Template refers to entries that exist in the current Master Library they will be syncronized with the Master library. The basic process is to create the Master Library file first and then make template files that refer to entries in that library. Library edits should always be done in the Master Library. The process is admittably a bit cumbersome, but is not bad once you get the hang of it.
 
 

I have created a Master Library on the company server. How do I get PGSuper to look in that library when I open a project?

Don,
The documentation for setting up master libraries and templates in PGSuper is admittedly a bit weak. I will post a tutorial for this when I find the time. But in the meantime, the best place to look is in the Administrator’s Guide in PGSuper’s online help. To bring up help, press the F1 key from within PGSuper. 
I recommend reading the Administrator’s Guide to help you get started. Also, the tutorial at http://www.pgsuper.com/content/admin-tutorial-1-working-project-libraries defines some useful concepts. Then the following instructions should help:

Let’s say the library file you created is located at C:\MyFiles\MyLibrary\TheLibrary.lbr
And, you have created some folders containing template files in the C:\MyFiles\MyLibrary\ folder. Each template folder contains a collection of *.pgt files that will be available when creating new project files in PGSuper.
Now let’s configure PGSuper to use the library and template files.
1.       Start PGSuper
2.       From the main menu, go to File | Configure PGSuper
3.       The radio button “Use libraries and templates published on the local…” should be selected. If not, select it.
4.       Directly below the radio button, click the “Add/Edit” button
5.       This will open a dialog named “PGSuper Catalog Servers”. Click “Add”
6.       In the “PGSuper Catalog Server” dialog
  a.       Give the new server a name perhaps “Local Library Server”
  b.      Select the server type “Local or network File System”
  c.       Click on the “…” button on the right side of the “Master Library File” and browse to the file “C:\MyFiles\MyLibrary\ TheLibrary.lbr”
  d.      For the “Path to Template Files”, browse to “C:\MyFiles\MyLibrary”
  e.      Click on “Test Server Connection”, you should get a message saying it connected to the server successfully.
  f.        Click Ok to leave the Catalog Server dialog.
  g.       Click Ok to leave the Catalog Servers dialog.
7.       Back in the Configure PGSuper dialog box, click on the combo box that lists available servers. Select the “Local Library Server” server you just created.
8.       Click “Update Library and Templates Now”. This will close the Configure PGSuper dialog.
 
Now you are ready to use the library and templates
1.       From the PGSuper main menu, click File|New. You will see a list of the templates in the folders created in the first step.
To edit the Master library:
1.       From the PGSuper main menu, click File Open.
2.       Browse the file “C:\MyFiles\MyLibrary\MyLibrary.lbr”
3.       This will open the PGSuper library editor – Edit the library file as desired and save it. This will change the library file, but you must refresh PGSuper’s cache in order for the changes to take effect.
4.       From the main menu, go to File | Configure PGSuper
5.       Click “Update Library and Templates Now”. This will update the cache so PGSuper will use the newly saved library file.
Templates:
1.       Templates are simply PGSuper project files created with a .pgt file suffix. To Save/Create a template file, select “File | Save as Template” from PGSuper’s main menu.
2.       New templates and template folders can be added under “C:\MyFiles\MyLibrary”
 

Richard,
Thank you for the detailed instructions. I had the library created correctly. The only thing I was missing was hitting the "Update Libraries and Templetes button". I believe I understand libraries and templates now, except for one issue. When I enter permanent strands in the library, update it, and use it in a project, the strands do not seem to come in with the girder. I have to enter the stands in the girder in the project. Is there a way to get the strands to come in with the girder from the library?
Thank you.
Don Bell

Richard,
I figured it out. The library gives a grid of all the possible locations. The project file defines the actual number of strands for the project.
Thanks.
Don