Works without RFEM
The structural report is read from the .rf6 file itself — no running RFEM, no connector and no licence seat needed to find out what a model contains.
EN 1990EN 1991
Understand an RFEM file without opening RFEM
Reads an attached .rf6 file and reports what the structure is, its dimensions and weight, how it is loaded and whether it has been calculated — from the file itself, with no RFEM session and no licence seat. It then offers to open the file in RFEM for the materials and cross-sections, a visual view of the structure, and the calculation when the model has loading but no results.
Worked exampleSKL-000060
An uncalculated timber frame
Transparent stepsStandards-basedDocument as PDF
Worked example
An uncalculated timber frame
- Structure
- Classified from the object counts, bounding box and support layout read from the file
- Dimensions and weight
- Bounding box in m and total weight in kg, or marked as not stated when the file records none
- Loading
- Load-case, combination and result-combination counts, plus code and National Annex
- Calculation state
- Read from the model's own HAS_RESULTS flag, not inferred from leftover solver files
Analyze the attached RFEM .rf6 file and tell me what the structure is, how heavy it is, and whether it has been calculated.
Calculate the example with MiaRequired inputs
- An RFEM .rf6 file attached to the conversation
- Only for materials, cross-sections, the view and the calculation: RFEM running with the Dlubal Connector
What you receive
- Structure type and static system, with the counts that justify it
- Overall dimensions and total model weight
- Load cases, combinations, governing code and National Annex
- Active design add-ons and analysis types
- Calculation state, and result summary when the model is calculated
- Materials and cross-sections actually assigned, with the member count per entry
- One visual view of the structure, labelled by how it was produced
- A diagnosis with a proposed fix when a calculation fails
Reviewed calculation example
Prepare your calculation
Choose what the file report should cover
System sketch
Yes
Yes
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Yes
All required fields completed
Yes
Yes
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All required fields completed
Yes
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All required fields completed
Yes
Yes
All required fields completed
Inputs completeReady to calculate
What this skill checks
Structure, size and weight
Structure type and static system from the object counts, bounding box, support layout and total model weight.
Loading and codes
Load cases, combinations and result combinations, whether the cases carry loads, the governing code and National Annex, and the active design add-ons.
Calculation state
Whether the model has results and which loadings carry them — and, when it has loading but no results, an offer to calculate it in RFEM.
Materials, sections and a view
With your agreement the file is opened in RFEM for the materials and cross-sections actually assigned, and one visual view of the structure. Where RFEM cannot render a view, a schematic is drawn from the model geometry and labelled as one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need RFEM running to use this?
Not for the core report. The structure, dimensions, weight, loading and calculation state are read from the .rf6 file itself. RFEM is needed for the materials and cross-sections, the rendered view and the calculation, and you are asked before the file is opened.
Will it calculate my model without asking?
No. It reports the offline findings first, and only asks about calculating when the model has both load cases and loads. If you decline, the offline report is the final answer.
What if the model has no load cases?
Then there is nothing to calculate, and no calculation is offered. The report says what is missing and points to 000041-load-combination-prepare for defining the loading. The materials, cross-sections and the view are still available, since those do not depend on the model being loaded.
Why are materials and cross-sections not in the offline report?
Those live in the file's internal database, whose schema changes between RFEM versions, so reading them offline would risk reporting the wrong section. They are read from RFEM instead, once you agree to open the file.
Where does the visual view come from?
From RFEM's own 3D view where the connected version can export an image. If it cannot, a schematic of the members and supports is drawn from the model geometry and labelled as a schematic, with what it omits stated. No view is ever fabricated.
Standards & references
EN 1990EN 1991
Ready for your first check?
Start with the example and adapt it to your structural system.
New calculation