Documentation

BeamBuddy Documentation

Everything you need to know about structural beam analysis in Excel. From installation to advanced features.

🚀

Getting Started

1

Download BeamBuddy

Get the add-in manifest from our download page

Download Now →
2

Install in Excel

Go to Insert → Add-ins → My Add-ins → Upload

3

Sign In

Use email/password or API key to authenticate

4

Start Analyzing

Create projects and add beams, loads, supports!

💡 Pro Tip: Enable Smart Assist features for automatic support placement and helpful defaults that speed up your workflow.

✨

Features Guide

Load Types

Point Loads

Concentrated forces at specific positions. Perfect for column loads or equipment.

Distributed Loads (UDL)

Uniform loads over a length - floor loads, snow, etc.

Trapezoidal Loads

Varying distributed loads with different start/end magnitudes.

Moment Loads

Applied moments for eccentric connections or imposed rotations.

Support Types

📍

Pinned

Prevents translation, allows rotation

🔄

Roller

Prevents vertical movement only

🔒

Fixed

Prevents all movement & rotation

🆓

Free End

No constraints - cantilever ends

Analysis Results

Reactions
Shear Force
Bending Moment
Deflection
Utilization
Pass/Fail
🤖

Smart Assist Features

Smart Assist automates common beam setup tasks. Access from the ⚙️ settings icon.

🎯

Auto-Add Default Supports

Places pinned at 0m and roller at beam length for simply-supported beams

When to use: Most beam analyses start with simply-supported conditions
📏

Auto-Adjust End Support

Automatically moves end support when beam length changes

When to use: Great for iterating on beam lengths during design
🎯

First Load at Center

Positions first point load at midspan automatically

When to use: Common starting point for most analyses
⚖️

Include Self-Weight

Automatically adds beam self-weight as UDL

When to use: Ensures realistic dead load assessment
🔐

Authentication

Microsoft SSO

Coming Soon

One-click sign-in with Microsoft 365. Available for AppSource installations.

  • No password required
  • Seamless authentication
  • AppSource only

Email & Password

Use your BeamBuddy credentials. Works for all installation types.

  • 30-day persistent session
  • Works everywhere
  • Recommended for sideloaded

API Key

Generate from dashboard. Perfect for automation or scripting.

  • Generate from dashboard
  • User-specific
  • Regenerate anytime

🔑 How to Generate an API Key

  1. 1Log in to your dashboard
  2. 2Click "Generate API Key" in the API section
  3. 3Copy the key (starts with bb_)
  4. 4In Excel, select "API Key" authentication
  5. 5Paste your key - authenticated for 30 days!
🔗

Excel Cell Linking

Link BeamBuddy inputs and outputs to Excel cells for dynamic, spreadsheet-driven analysis.

🔗

Linking Inputs

Click 🔗 next to any input field to link it to a cell.

  • • Beam length from parametric formulas
  • • Load magnitudes from load combinations
  • • Support positions from optimization
📋

Linking Outputs

Click 📋 next to results to write them to cells.

  • • Max moment → capacity checks
  • • Max deflection → serviceability
  • • Reactions → foundation design

💡 Pro Tip: Build entire design spreadsheets where BeamBuddy results feed into downstream calculations. Change a load case and watch everything update automatically.

📐

Beam Sections

Comprehensive library of British Universal Beam (UB) sections with full properties.

Light Sections

127mm - 203mm depth

Economical for moderate loads

Medium Sections

254mm - 356mm depth

General-purpose structural

Heavy Sections

406mm - 914mm depth

High-capacity for heavy loads

Section Properties Included

Depth (D)Overall section height
Width (B)Flange width
Thickness (t)Web thickness
Mass (kg/m)Linear mass
IxxSecond moment of area
ZxxSection modulus
E (GPa)Young's modulus
fy (MPa)Yield strength
📊

Diagrams & Visualization

Beam Configuration

Shows beam, supports, and all loads with labels

Bending Moment (BMD)

Sagging/hogging moments with peak values

Shear Force (SFD)

Shear variation with zero-crossing points

Deflection

Exaggerated deflected shape with max value

Diagram Features

🖱️
Interactive

Click elements to view detailed values

🎨
Color Schemes

Multiple themes including colorblind-friendly

📏
Resizable

Custom dimensions for report layouts

📄
Export

PNG, clipboard, or direct to Excel

🔧

Troubleshooting

❌ "Analysis failed"

Causes:

  • • Insufficient supports (need at least 2)
  • • Positions outside beam length
  • • Zero or negative beam length

Solution: Check all positions are between 0 and beam length. Ensure appropriate supports.

❌ "Unauthorized when generating API key"

Causes:

  • • Session expired or not logged in

Solution: Log out and log back in to refresh your session.

⚠️ "Add-in won't load in Excel"

Causes:

  • • Manifest file not trusted
  • • Office add-ins disabled
  • • Excel version too old

Solution: Go to Trust Center Settings → Trusted Add-in Catalogs and add manifest location.

Still need help?

Our support team is ready to assist you

📧 Email SupportView Support Center