I am using STAAD.Pro 2003 and I want to use physical members to do a steel design. I know how to manually create physical members by selecting the individual members, right-clicking the mouse and choosing Form Member. But if I have hundreds of these members, can I do it faster?

In STAAD.Pro 2003, you can use the Auto-Form member option to let the program automatically create physical members for you. From the Member Design page in the Steel Design Mode, go to Member Design | Physical Members | Auto Form Members. The rules it uses to create physical members are as follows:

1. All elements must form a single continuous line. But they do not have to form a straight line. Thus curved members may be formed.
2. There must be a free end. Whilst curved members are allowed, they cannot form a closed loop.
3. All elements should have the same beta angle.
4. All elements must point in the same direction. Check with the orientation labels if necessary. Use the reverse element command on elements that point the wrong way.
5. None of the elements can be part of another member.
6. The section properties must be consistent at each element end. Elements can taper along their length, but where one element ends and the next starts, they must have the same section reference.
7. All elements must be made from the same material.
8. Vertical segments are converted into columns first.