# Konstru and CSI (SAP and ETABS) ## ETABS Floor Extrusion Directions After importing a model to Etabs you might spot varying extrusion directions of floors. Some might be extruded upwards why others are extruded downwards. But all floors have justifications (Cardinal point) set to middle. This is a rendering issue only and does not affect your calculations. We cannot change the cardinal point using the Etabs API. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/360000401172/mceclip0.png) ## Convert Shafts to Hosted Openings Konstru now lets you convert shafts automatically to hosted openings in CSI tools. So far, shafts haven't been translated because they didn't exist as such in CSI tools. This new option allows you to convert any Revit Shaft into multiple openings placed on floors within the shafts range. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/360000007391/mceclip0.png) **On Download** Openings will be created from Shafts **On Upload** Openings will be removed automatically from floors before upload. **Please note:** Currently Konstru will still indicate floors as changed on upload, however this is not the case - floors won't be modified. We will improve this messaging soon. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/360000011991/mceclip2.png) ## Importing Grids to ETABS {% content-ref url="/pages/-LK2VyqOyMFxj5kl6Pb2" %} [Konstru ETABS Grid Importer\*](/konstru-manual/konstru-revit/konstru-etabs/konstru-etabs-grid-importer.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ## Join Walls and Frames ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002667952/mceclip0.png) Similar to joining walls and floors you can join beams in Etabs on upload. Konstru joins frames (bemas and columns) by groups. **Add elements you want to join into a group starting with KonstruJoin** eg. "KonstruJoin Beams A" - once you check the join elements option in the Konstru dialog those frames will be joined into one single frame: ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002667972/mceclip1.png) Konstru will build a frame across the input geometry using start and endpoint from maximum extends of all elements within the group. This means both elements don't have to be connected necessarily. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002667992/mceclip2.png) On Upload, when applying properties, Konstru goes by majority. So if 3 elements have section A and 2 section B, Konstru will apply section A to the overall joined element. When downloading Konstru applies properties of the single element to all 5 children the same. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115003814632/blobid0.png) ## Join Walls and Floors ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002295791/mceclip0.png) Konstru supports **joining Etabs Walls and Floors into single elements.** So your meshed etabs model can be translated into a proper and clean model in Revit or any other Konstru-supported platform. We implemented this workflow as close as possible to our users existing workflows so we are joining walls and floors by groups and across levels. [Also see: join frames if you are interested in joining beams and columns](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001977212) This feature works both ways: * **on upload:** segmented areas are being joined into one * **on download:** properties of the single element are applied to all segments the same. On Upload, when applying properties, Konstru goes by majority. So if 3 elements have section A and 2 section B, Konstru will apply section A to the overall joined element. When downloading Konstru applies properties of the single element to all 5 children the same. Walls (joined by Group) ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002667852/mceclip0.png) Etabs walls (vertical areas) can be joined automatically by group across levels. **All walls being in the same group named with a prefix called "KonstruJoin"** will be translated into a single wall. Please make sure your walls can be joined, which means: * walls should be connected * walls should form an overall rectangular shape ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002650191/mceclip1.png) Floors (joined by Group) ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002310732/mceclip0.png) Etabs floors (horizontal areas) can also be joined automatically by group. Your floors have to be in a **group starting with "KonstruJoin"**. Elements within the group can span across multiple levels, Konstru will translate them into single floors per level. For best results, please make sure: * floors are connected * floors form and overall rectangular shape (optimal, however other shapes should work) * avoid holes in floors you want to connect To activate the join feature make sure you are **checking the "Merge Walls by Pier Label and Floors by Groups" checkbox** when selecting Up- or Download in the Konstru dialog: ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115002296251/mceclip0.png) ## Sloped Elements ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115001456731/2017-08-08_15h00_13.png) Konstru supports **Floors as purely horizontal** elements and **walls as vertical** elements. This means, if your floor is sloped in Revit, it will arrive horizontal in Konstru. This is due to a limitation of the Revit API, but we are currently working on a solution to improve this and support slab shape point edited elements. We won't be able to create sloped walls in Revit at the moment and the near future. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115001458791/2017-08-08_15h18_45.png) Currently Konstru is setup in a way so it identifies areas from ETABS and SAP as **walls if they are within a small tolerance of being fully vertical**, and the same for **floors if they are horizontal**. Every element in between will be identified as an area element. Those areas are not supported in all platforms. ![](https://konstru.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/115001457232/2017-08-08_15h29_54.png) Similar for Columns, Braces and Beams. From ETABS and SAP Konstru identifies almost **vertical elements as columns and horizontal ones as beams, while all in between will become braces**. In Revit this is handled by type, if the element is a column it will remain one. Same for braces and beams. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://konstru.gitbook.io/konstru-manual/konstru-general-knowledge/konstru-and-csi-sap-and-etabs.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.