> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.speckle.systems/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to use Speckle for ETABS

> Step-by-step guide for using the ETABS connector

export const app_3 = "ETABS"

export const app_2 = "ETABS"

export const app_1 = "ETABS"

export const app_0 = "ETABS"

export const versions_0 = "21 & 22"

export const os_0 = "Windows"

<Info>
  Speckle currently supports {app_0} versions: **{versions_0}**.
  The {app_0} connector works on **{os_0}** only.
</Info>

## Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the connector">
    Install your [{app_1} connector](/connectors/installation)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the ETABS connector">
    1. Go to **Tools**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd/images/connectors/etabs_toolbar.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd&q=85&s=70017a35eb9aac7effc39e0f1ba130b4" alt="ETABS toolbar" width="1296" height="864" data-path="images/connectors/etabs_toolbar.jpg" />
    </Frame>

    2. Select **Speckle** to open the ETABS connector.

    3) Select **Sign in** if you haven't linked your Speckle account.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd/images/connectors/dui_login.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd&q=85&s=86fa2dc39cdfb61ed5472ba570e40b87" alt="Login" width="1296" height="864" data-path="images/connectors/dui_login.jpg" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I manually load the connector?">
    If the plugin is not showing up under Tools, you can manually load the ETABS connector:

    1. Navigate to `Tools -> Add/Show Plugins...`
    2. Click `Browse` and navigate to the path `{localappdata}\Computers and Structures\ETABS xx\Speckle\`
    3. Select the `SpeckleConnectorCSI.dll` file. Click `Add` and then `Ok`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why is the Speckle plugin not showing up after I installed the connector?">
    1. Make sure your version of {app_2} is one of the supported versions.
    2. Uninstall and [reinstall your connector](/connectors/installation).

    Note: Make sure you are **not** selecting **Run as administrator** when installing - this will install for the administrator user, and not your own user.
    Instead, double-click the `.exe` or right-clicking and then selecting `Open` to run the installer.
    Installation issues can also be caused by conflicting plugins.

    If you're still experiencing problems, please report it in our [Community Forum](https://speckle.community/c/help) and include the following information:

    * Your application version
    * Your Speckle connector version
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What should I do if the plugin UI is empty or unresponsive, or if my application crashes?">
    If your connector window is floating, **try docking it to your application** to fix blank UI issues.

    For major issues, you can sometimes find a `log` file in your directory at `AppData\Roaming\Speckle\Logs`.
    Please report your problem in our [Community Forum](https://speckle.community/c/help) and include the following information:

    * Your application version
    * Your Speckle connector version
    * A copy of the log
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can't I add a new account?">
    This can happen if our **desktop service** isn't running. Desktop Service is used for authenticating new accounts. If it's not running, search for **Speckle Desktop Services** in Windows search and run it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I uninstall my connector?">
    All Speckle connectors are installed like any other program. You can uninstall them directly from your system's `Applications`. For a full uninstall, you should also remove **Speckle Desktop Services** as well as your Speckle connector.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I update my connector to the latest version?">
    You can always download the latest version of the connector [in the web app](https://app.speckle.systems/connectors).
    If a new version of the connector is available, you will also see a notification in your connector UI.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Publishing a Model

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select Publish">
    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/9rxydi43nI7TTwOi/images/connectors/dui-2-publish-only.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=9rxydi43nI7TTwOi&q=85&s=511fc917d07580207395f65a1388b283" alt="Publish-only" width="1620" height="1080" data-path="images/connectors/dui-2-publish-only.jpg" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a project">
    * Select an existing project
    * or select **New Project** to create one

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd/images/connectors/dui_publish_2.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd&q=85&s=0857c7878df8d5931bc9b6dacaeda8f9" alt="Publish" width="1296" height="864" data-path="images/connectors/dui_publish_2.jpg" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a model">
    * Select an existing model
    * or select **New Model** to create one

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd/images/connectors/dui_publish_3.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd&q=85&s=99565734d02032e77db685dde97bf7b5" alt="Publish" width="1296" height="864" data-path="images/connectors/dui_publish_3.jpg" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select objects to publish">
    1. In your application viewport, select the elements you want to publish.
    2. Select **Publish**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd/images/connectors/dui_publish_4.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd&q=85&s=918d1db7fb1605dd7365b66a70455af3" alt="Publish" width="1296" height="864" data-path="images/connectors/dui_publish_4.jpg" />
    </Frame>

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd/images/connectors/dui_publish_5.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=YrJFGLA1qDYoqsMd&q=85&s=d0f1dff98af5354bdac9758c6acd04df" alt="Publish" width="1296" height="864" data-path="images/connectors/dui_publish_5.jpg" />
    </Frame>

    3. Your model is now published to Speckle and is available to the rest of your team.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What types of ETABS elements can I publish to Speckle?">
    All selectable model objects can be published: `Joints`, `Frames`, `Tendons`, `Shells` and `Links`. Each published object contains the following information:

    * Type
    * Geometry as `Mesh` , `Curve` or `Point`
    * Children objects, such as `Joints`
    * Custom properties
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I see the custom properties on my published ETABS elements, like sections or area metrics?">
    All custom properties can be found under the `properties` field when you select and view an ETABS object in your browser.Custom properties vary depending on the type of ETABS element, and can include:

    * Assignments (e.g. `material` and `section`)
    * Geometry metrics (e.g. length or area)
    * Object ID (e.g. sub-classification for `Frame` -> `Column`, `Beam`, or `Brace` , label, and associated level)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where can I find the material or section used for an object in my Speckle model?">
    The specific properties for materials and sections will not appear on individual model objects. To view your model materials and sections in your web browser:

    1. Open the `Scene Explorer` tab in the Navigation Bar to the left (or press `Shift` + `E`)
    2. Click `Switch to Dev Mode`. This will give you full access to all objects and properties in your model.
    3. Expand the `sectionProxies` or `materialProxies` item.
    4. Expand any item in this list to see a `Section` or `Material` with all of its properties.The section can be matched back to any element based on its `name`, and the material can be matched to any section based on its `name`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which object properties do not get published with the ETABS connector?">
    Currently\*\*,\*\* the following properties are *not* published on objects:

    * Load cases, patterns and combinations
    * Analysis results
    * Grids and grid information
    * Levels information
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why does my model have the wrong colors in the web browser viewer?">
    In the viewer, select the **View Modes** button in the side bar, and switch the view mode to **Shaded**. If you still don't see your object colors, let us know in our [Community Forum](https://speckle.community/c/help)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are bitmap or image-based material textures supported?">
    **Image texture files are not supported.** Speckle does **not** transfer bitmaps or other image maps (such as JPG or PNG files) embedded in materials from the source application.

    Speckle **does** carry [PBR-style material data](/developers/sdks/python/guides/understanding-speckle-mesh#render-materials) in general—where a connector maps to it, materials can include properties such as base colour, opacity, metalness, roughness, and emissive colour. That is not the same as shipping texture images: you get numeric material parameters, not image assets used for wood grain, brick patterns, and similar in the authoring tool.

    Different materials can still appear separately in the destination with distinct colours and PBR fields. What you see may look closer to a consistent shaded or PBR preview than to the full render-appearance with image maps in tools such as Revit or SketchUp. To use image textures in your target application, apply or remap them locally after you publish or load.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why are some objects that I published missing from my model?">
    After you publish a Speckle model, click on the **Report** button to see any errors that may have occurred.
    Click on any item in the report to highlight that item in your application. Some objects may not be supported for publishing.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Loading a Model

<Note>The {app_3} connector is publish-only.</Note>
If you would like to be able to load a model into {app_3}, please reach out on our Community Forum: [https://speckle.community/c/features](https://speckle.community/c/features/7)
Include the following information:

* Which application your Speckle model is published from
* Why you want to load your model into {app_3}
* How frequently you would use this workflow (daily, weekly, monthly, longer).