Build a transparent, tested Excel calc for a repeatable connection check
Generate an unlocked spreadsheet from a script, cite spec section numbers next to every formula, and test it against an independent hand calc so the workbook can be reviewed instead of trusted as a black box.
Structural Engineer · Structural · openpyxl · pytest
Content updated · Tool links listed below; vendor features and pricing change, so confirm with the vendor
Short answer
Generate an unlocked spreadsheet from a script, cite spec section numbers next to every formula, and test it against an independent hand calc so the workbook can be reviewed instead of trusted as a black box. Start here: write the limit states and algebra in a plain text formulas file with spec section numbers (no copied spec text). Keep a person in the loop: A tested spreadsheet is still a calculation aid. Users must own the current specification and verify results; it does not replace the engineer of record.
The problem
Build a transparent, tested Excel calc for a repeatable connection check. This is a common, time-consuming task for a structural engineer.
What this workflow does
Generate an unlocked spreadsheet from a script, cite spec section numbers next to every formula, and test it against an independent hand calc so the workbook can be reviewed instead of trusted as a black box.
How it works: Rules or specialist software perform the task. No AI agent is required.
Your checkpoint: A tested spreadsheet is still a calculation aid. Users must own the current specification and verify results; it does not replace the engineer of record.
Before you start
- Access to the named tool; confirm license, version and cost with the vendor.
- A small, non-confidential sample to try the workflow on first.
- A qualified person to review the output before it is used.
Tools and access
Follow the steps
- Write the limit states and algebra in a plain text formulas file with spec section numbers (no copied spec text).
- Generate the workbook from a script (openpyxl) so every formula is reproducible; color input cells and lock nothing.
- Build a flags sheet that marks geometry outside the sheet's intended scope as NG or CHECK.
- Compute the same worked example independently in Python and assert the workbook matches with pytest.
- Confirm changing the demand never changes a capacity cell (a common wiring bug).
- Publish a short hand calc of the default example alongside the sheet.
Try a small example
Replace the bracketed fields with your own project details. No tested sample run is published for this workflow yet.
Sample input
Fill in the bracketed [fields] in the text below with your project data.
Manual setup checklist
Review this list of limit states and formulas for a single-plate shear connection calc. For each, tell me which input cells it depends on and suggest a unit test that would catch a wiring error. Do not judge adequacy: [paste formulas]
Expected output
Not published yet. Treat any output as a draft and check it against the source documents.
Check the result
- Every value, citation or quantity traces back to a source document.
- Missing information is marked as missing, not filled in.
Limits and recovery
- A tested spreadsheet is still a calculation aid. Users must own the current specification and verify results; it does not replace the engineer of record.
- Check your organization’s data policy before sharing project files with third-party tools.
Stop or switch when: The source cannot be verified, permissions are missing, or the result contains unsupported facts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I build a transparent, tested Excel calc for a repeatable connection check?
Write the limit states and algebra in a plain text formulas file with spec section numbers (no copied spec text). Generate the workbook from a script (openpyxl) so every formula is reproducible; color input cells and lock nothing. Build a flags sheet that marks geometry outside the sheet's intended scope as NG or CHECK. The full step list is above.
Does this use an AI agent or regular software?
It is labeled Conventional automation: Rules or specialist software perform the task. No AI agent is required.
What tools do I need?
openpyxl, pytest. Confirm license, version and cost with the vendor, and try it on a small non-confidential sample first.
Can I use the output without checking it?
No. A tested spreadsheet is still a calculation aid. Users must own the current specification and verify results; it does not replace the engineer of record.
Has this workflow been tested?
Based on our own use · in regular use. Written from a workflow we built and use. Specifics are generalized and no project data is published. Not independently verified.
Evidence and maintenance
Written from a workflow we built and use. Specifics are generalized and no project data is published. Not independently verified.