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11 Program Functions

11.6.3 Formula Editor

Formula Editor

The formula editor manages the equations of the parametrized input.

Accessing the formula editor

To open the Formula Editor,

  • use the button in the table toolbar shown on the left
Image 11.133 Edit Formulas button in the table toolbar
  • click the yellow or red corner of a table cell (the red corner indicates an error in the formula)
Image 11.134 Marked cell corners in Table 1.1 Nodes
  • use the function buttons next to the text boxes in the dialog boxes (see Figure 11.139)
Image 11.135 Function buttons with shortcut menu in Edit Node dialog box

It is also possible to import formulas saved in Excel and to export formulas from RFEM to Excel. For more information about the data exchange with Excel, see Chapter 12.5.2.

Description
Image 11.136 Edit Formulas dialog box

In the Formula text box, any formula can be entered manually. When you use the calculator, its results are transferred automatically.

The formula may consist of constant numerical values, parameters, or functions. The result of the equation appears in the field below. Use the button at the end of the Formula line to select an entry from the list of previously entered formulas.

Click the button to apply the formula to the table cell or text box of the dialog box. Delete the formula line with the button. In case of incorrect entries, formulas are displayed in red in the Formula text box.

Note

Contents of other cells can be used in formulas by means of references.

Image 11.137 Formula editor with reference

A reference is introduced by an exclamation point; the reference cell is set in brackets. As shown in the figure above, the content of cell D3 is three times the value of cell D2.

Note

With a prefixed equal sign, you can also enter formulas directly into table cells (e.g. =2.5*PI). If values are used (e.g. =22.1+A*H), they are integrated into the formula in SI units with [m] or [N].

The following functions are available in the calculator of the formula editor:

Table 11.13 Calculator functions
Function Description

Sine

Cosine

Tangent

Cotangent

Square root

Power

Natural logarithm

Logarithm to the base 10

Absolute value

Integer, for example int(5.638) = 5

Clear formula line

Inverse, for example inv√(5) means 52

Hyperbolic function

The List of Parameters dialog section in the Formula Editor lists all parameters with the current values. To transfer a particular parameter to the Formula line, double-click the entry or select it and use the [Retain] button.

Click the [Edit Parameters] button (see Chapter 11.6.2) to open the parameter list where you can modify or complete the parameters.

Buttons

The buttons available in the formula editor have the following functions.

Table 11.14 Buttons in Edit Formulas dialog box
Button Description

Applies formula to table cell or dialog field

Deletes formula input

Saves content of formula editor as file

Loads a saved file

Displays or hides calculator and parameter list