Inserting a distributed load

● To use a saved set of load properties, click Load Settings on the Tool bar and select the load set.

● If not using a saved load set, specify the Load Category; select either Distributed Weight or Total Weight mode and enter the load’s Weight. If entering the distributed weight, enter values with a slash between the weight and the distance (500/10 indicates 500 pounds per 10 feet of length, for example).

3. Move the mouse to the structural element where the distributed load is to be hung.

5. Click to set the end of the segment and the beginning of the next. Continue drawing segments in this manner until the load object is complete. Double-click to finish creating the load object. The distributed load polyline cannot extend beyond the structural element.

In Top/Plan view, the distributed load label displays. It can be moved by clicking and dragging the label control point.

Parameter	Description
Load Category	Specifies the load category, which is important for calculations (Braceworks required)
Length	Displays the length of the distributed load
Show Label	Displays the label in Top/Plan view
Scale Distributed Load	Automatically scales the distributed load with the drawing scale, so that larger loads are more visible
Select Similar Objects
Objects of same name	Selects load objects with the same Load Name parameter
Objects of same load category	Selects load objects with the same Load Category parameter
Objects of same total weight	Selects load objects with the same Total Weight parameter
Objects of same distributed weight	Selects load objects with the same distributed weight
Load information	Load information is used for Braceworks calculations and reports (Braceworks required)
Include in Calculations (Braceworks required)	Includes the load in Braceworks calculations; deselect to exclude the load from participating in structural calculations
Load Group Name	Displays the selected load category
Load ID	Enter a unique ID for the load for informational use in reports
Load Name	Identifies the object in load calculations
Distributed Weight	Enter the distributed weight of the object
Total Weight	Enter the total weight of the object

Adding a distributed load automatically

The Insert Distributed Load at Selection command is available for Vectorworks Spotlight software but is not present in the Spotlight workspace. It can be added to the Spotlight workspace (see Customizing workspaces).

If the length of a distributed load is not critical, a distributed load can be added automatically to the structural elements in the drawing.

1. Select the structural element where the distributed load will be placed. When more than one structure is selected, a distributed load is placed on each one.

Select the system to easily select more than one structural element, and automatically add the same load to each.

The Load Settings dialog box opens, for Creating and selecting load sets. Select a load set, or enter load parameters and select the <Active Settings> set.

Command	Path
Add Distributed Load at Selection	Braceworks