SOFiSTiK Section Builder

A browser-based tool for generating SOFiSTiK-compatible cross-section JSON, ready to paste into Grasshopper (Rhino) Python Script Components.

Live tool: mcldev.github.io/sofistik-section-builder

What it does

• Select a section type (solid or thin-wall) and shape
• Define dimensions as distances from the origin to each edge — Above / Below / Left / Right
• Snap the origin to any of 9 positions with the compass grid (↖ ↑ ↗ ← ⊕ → ↙ ↓ ↘)
• Preview the cross-section with dimension annotations, centroid marker, and origin indicator
• Copy the generated JSON directly to clipboard

Supported shapes

Type	Shapes
Solid	Rectangle, Solid Circle, Hollow Circle, T-Section, L-Angle
Thin-Wall	I-Beam, Box Girder, C-Channel, Z-Section

Configuration options

Option	Description
Unit	m, cm, mm, ft, in — applied to all coordinate output
Material ID	Top-level and per-element MaterialId
Edge distances	Above / Below / Left / Right from origin; total W = Left + Right, H = Above + Below
Origin presets	3×3 compass grid snaps origin to any corner, edge midpoint, or centroid
Segment type	PLAT (plate) or WELD (weld seam) for thin-wall shapes
Stress points	Adds StressPoint entries at the four extreme fiber locations
Corner radius	R field on rectangle corner points

Output JSON

Conforms to the SOFiSTiK section JSON schema. Includes:

• Points with optional fillet radius (R) and stress points at extreme fibers
• Loops for solid sections
• Circles for circular sections
• ThinWalledSegments with configurable segment type (PLAT / WELD)
• Variables and VariableDescriptions for parametric use in Grasshopper

Usage

Open index.html directly in any modern browser — no install, no build step, no dependencies.

Configurations are saved to browser localStorage and recalled via the Saved ↗ slide-out drawer.