TABLE OF CONTENTS. 6. Enter loads a. For horizontal members b. For vertical members

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2 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Forte Software Overview... 3 Getting Started... 3 Program Settings... 3 A Tour of the User Interface... 4 Project Workflow Enter job-specific information Define level properties Add a member to the job tree Define member properties Enter dimension and support information a. For horizontal members Spans and Supports tab b. For vertical members Height and Supports tab 6. Enter loads a. For horizontal members b. For vertical members 7. Specify the Weyerhaeuser products to design Compare Solutions and decide on a final product View and print a member report For each new member add, repeat steps 3 through Optional Tasks Designing for Floor Performance Adding Holes to Joists Entering Location Analysis Points Printing Job Information... 21

3 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 3 Forte Software Overview Forte software is a flexible and versatile tool that allows architects, engineers, and dealers to quickly size a single member for use in floor, wall, and roof systems. Using Weyerhaeuser s proprietary design methods, Forte software selects the most economical material for joists, beams, headers, free standing posts, embedded columns, and wall studs. In addition, the software also provides optimum on-center spacing for joists, and includes information about appropriate accessories and hangers. Using Forte software, you can: Have confidence that you are specifying with Weyerhaeuser s latest line of engineered wood products, and designing with the most up-to-date engineering values and methodologies Design members for use in residential and commercial structures Design using Weyerhaeuser products, and/or solid sawn lumber (US only) Size and design a variety of connectors from leading manufacturers Simpson Strong-Tie and USP Structural Connectors Print a variety of reports including solution reports, member reports, and entire job calculation packages Getting Started This guide is meant to provide an overview of the features and functionality of Forte software. For detailed, step-by-step documentation on how to use the software, refer to the Online Help. For a list of hardware and operating system requirements, see the Release Notes. Startup Use one of the following methods to start Forte software: On your computer's desktop, double-click the Weyerhaeuser Forte icon Double-click the icon for a Forte file Double-click the Forte file name in Windows Explorer; the default path is C:\Program Files\Modus\Forte\Forte.exe Click the Windows Start button, and then select Programs >Modus by Weyerhaeuser > Forte Program Settings Program Settings allow you to set or change settings that will impact the design. Some settings can be changed at any time during the project; some can only be changed at the beginning. Your selections can be applied to the system and used for all future jobs or kept within the current job only.

4 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 4 The first time you launch Forte software, you will be required to establish your General Settings. Any changes you make here are saved for the current and all new files. For more information see the Online Help. Save Program Settings: Select this button to save these Program Settings after making any changes. A Tour of the User Interface When you first start the software Forte will default to the Job Settings tab. Here you can adjust General Settings, Support Settings and Load Duration Factor. Load Duration Factor is applied to the capacity or resistance of the member. Then you may add items to the Job Tree. When you select a level in the job tree, the Level tab becomes active. Here you can rename, or change the Building Class (Residential or Commercial) for the level selected in the job tree.

5 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 5 Adding members to the job tree is the major activity in Forte software: adding members, specifying their property information on the tabs, and designing them. Basic file commands and Program Settings The Add Members ribbon allows you to add members to the job tree. To hide the ribbon, simply double-click on the Add Member tab. Use the Job Tree to navigate between members, levels, and job settings and summary. Use the Job Tree to manage multiple members within a single file. The Job Tree allows you to add and define levels within a job that contains multiple members. Use the Job Tree to duplicate members, as well as delete members and levels. This panel can be dragged and docked to the other side of the interface, hidden, or floated above the application window. Main Navigation and Input Use these tabs to input information for the member selected in the job tree. These tabs may look differently depending on the particular member type you ha ve selected. You can navigate between these tabs by using the right and left arrow keys or these function keys: F2 Member F3 Spans and Supports (Height and Supports for vertical members) F4 Loads F5 Holes (available for joists only) F6 Location Analysis (available for horizontal members only) F7 Floor Performance (available for floor joists only) F10 Products F11 Solutions F12 Report You can cycle through the bottom tabs by pressing CTRL+TAB on the keyboard. CTRL+SHIFT+TAB will reverse the direction of the cycle.

6 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 6 Use the top toolbar for basic functions such as creating a new file, opening an existing file, saving, adjusting program settings, and getting help. Use the Program Settings menu to change your General Settings. Use the Help menu to access the help file and version information.

7 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 7 Project Workflow A typical project workflow for a Forte file resembles the following: 1. Enter job-specific information. When you first launch the software, Forte starts a new job with a blank level in the job tree, and opens to the Job Settings tab. Here, you may adjust General Settings, Support Settings and Load Duration Factor. Load Duration Factor is applied to the capacity or resistance of the member. The properties affect every level and every member in the job. Clicking the Job Summary tab allows you to enter job notes, print a job summary, and design all the members. Job notes cascade and will be displayed on every member report in the job file.

8 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 8 The Wind Loading tab enables you to set structure and region specific settings that will cascade to any member that allow for lateral wind loads (currently studs and columns). If you find that you are mostly likely to reuse the same settings for every job, simply click the Save as Default button in the lower right corner of the window and Forte will keep these settings for every job moving forward. If you are not designing wind loaded studs or columns, you can skip this step.

9 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 9 2. Define level properties. When you select a level in the job tree, the level tab becomes active. Here you can rename, or change the Building Class (Residential or Commercial) for the level selected in the job tree. If you are using IBC as your building code, you will notice that there s an area for Lateral Wind Load Design Settings. This setting works in conjunction with the Wind Settings located at the Job level. However, these may be different per level, allowing for wall design with different finish, exposures, or roof heights.

10 Forte Software Getting Started Guide Add a member to the job tree. From the Add Members ribbon, you can click on the picture of a member to add it to your project. The available member types depend upon the structural system into which the member is being framed. Floor systems have the following member type options: Joist Flush Beam Drop Beam Wall systems have the following member type options: Header Stud Embedded Column Roof systems have the following member type options: Roof joist Flush beam Drop beam Ridge beam Also, you will see Post located on the far right, as it is independent from floor, wall, and roof systems.

11 Forte Software Getting Started Guide Define member properties. Changes in the Member Name are reflected in the Job Tree The Member tab is available when you click on a member in the job tree. Any properties set here affect only the member selected. Rename the member, assign it to a different level in the job tree, or enter member specific notes which will appear on the output for that member only. The Deflection Criteria section enables you to change the deflection criteria setting for an individual member. For roof members, you will also enter the Member Pitch on this tab.

12 Forte Software Getting Started Guide Enter dimension and support information. For horizontal members Spans and Supports tab For horizontal members, the next step is entering spans and supports. On the Spans and Supports tab you can specify: Dimension information for spans as they appear on the architectural plans Dimension and material information about the supports Accessories such as rim board, blocking panels and connector properties As you enter spans, Forte will dynamically update the graphic and the grid, allowing for more spans to be entered. Use the Right OH and Left OH cells to enter cantilever spans. Use the dimension templates to set dimension locations on the outside or inside faces of end supports. This makes it quick and easy to enter spans as they appear on the architectural plans. Enter your Bearing Length and Forte will automatically calculate your available bearing after considering accessories.

13 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 13 For vertical members Height and Supports tab For vertical members, the next step is entering the wall height and supports. On the Height and Supports tab you can specify: Wall Height Plate Size and Material Lateral Connectors Unbraced Length Forte will automatically update the member height, subtracting the support size from the wall height.

14 Forte Software Getting Started Guide Enter loads. Use the Loads tab to enter the loads being placed on the member being designed. For horizontal members f Note: Forte software only sizes the member being designed with the assumption that all loads placed on the member are supported by the member. Accessories such as rim board and blocking are not sized by this application.

15 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 15 For vertical members Eccentricity is the distance from the column centerline to the location of the applied load. To ensure structural integrity is not compromised, Weyerhaeuser recommends that all columns be designed with a minimum amount of eccentricity. To turn off eccentric loading, simply uncheck the Apply Recommended Minimum checkbox. Using the tributary width, (or o.c. spacing for studs) job wind settings, and the lateral wind load settings from the level tab, Forte automatically calculates your lateral wind load in pounds per square feet and applies it along the full height of the member.

16 Forte Software Getting Started Guide Specify the Weyerhaeuser products to design. Use the Product Series Filter to add products to the Product list. You can right-click in the Product Series Filter area and select/unselect all. You can select multiple products, depths, plies, and spacings by holding down the Ctrl key or the Shift key and clicking additional products. Alternatively, you can select <ALL> to view all the available depths, plies, and spacings. Once you have completed your product selections for a member, the Solutions and Report tabs (previously dimmed), become active in order to view the design results. You can also design all members in a job by clicking the Design All button on the Job tab (note that Design All will only work if a member has been previously designed).

17 Forte Software Getting Started Guide Compare Solutions and decide on a final product. Once you have made all your product selections for a member the Solutions and Reports tabs become active. You may go there to view the design results and choose from the offered solutions. Current Solution This displays the solution for the product that is currently selected. All Product Solutions This displays the solution for the list of products designed. You can choose to show the TJ-Pro Rating or one of three comparison value options. Click any product in the graph to update the current solution grid. Connector This displays the currently selected connectors and enables you to select an alternate connector. It also provides a link to information that you can use to manually select a connector.

18 Forte Software Getting Started Guide View and print a member report. The member report, available via the Report tab (bottom), displays in detail how the member was sized and the details on why the member passed or failed. 10. For each new member you add, repeat steps 3 through 9.

19 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 19 Optional Tasks Designing for Floor Performance The TJ-Pro Rating system is designed to take into account varying perceptions as to how a floor should feel when walked on, identifying the products and other components that will contribute to your floor design. The TJ-Pro Rating system evaluates factors that contribute to floor performance materials, installation methods, even customer expectations and develops relative performance ratings. Varying the components and developing a relative performance rating gives you options for enhancing the floor's performance. You can also compare the cost efficiency of various flooring options. Using the TJ-Pro Rating system, you can select various floor assembly components and options to produce a relative rating number (Performance Value) for the floor assembly. Usually, the preferred Performance Value is between 25 and 60. When applied to floor performance, the TJ-Pro Rating system considers many different criteria such as floor vibration and sheathing.

20 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 20 Adding Holes to Joists You add holes in members typically for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical purposes. You can add circular, rectangular, or square holes (to create a square hole, add a rectangular hole of equal height and width). You can only enter a hole in a joist member. If you are sizing a member that is not a joist, the Holes tab is disabled. If you select rectangular products as a joist, the holes will be ignored and not used in the design. A message on the report will state if the holes have been ignored. Entering Location Analysis Points Forte software allows you to choose points, or locations, along the span of horizontal members. This information is included on the report for critical shear and moment, as well as live and total load deflections for each defined location on the member. Location analysis does not influence the pass/fail status of any product. Location analysis results are provided as optional and additional information only.

21 Forte Software Getting Started Guide 21 Printing Job Information You can print all the members within a job, or you can print job summary information. These options become available from the Reporting ribbon when you are on the Job Summary page. The Job Summary report prints only the information included on this screen: Forte is a trademark of Weyerhaeuser Company, Federal Way, WA Weyerhaeuser NR Company. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.