Re-ordering Steel Groups

One idea that has floated around for years is to re-order our Steel Groups in Aegis Design. Currently, the Steel Groups are sorted in order from smallest depth to largest depth, and then by thickness, again from lightest to heaviest. When the Design program analyzes a truss and sizes the members, it cycles the steel being checked according to that order.

However, that order can be changed to be anything we want. For example, we can order the members from least expensive to most expensive. That way, when analyzing a truss, the Design program will start with the cheapest member, test if it will support the required load, then cycle to the next-cheapest member.

For USC material, the order would look like this:

1. 25 USC 035
2. 35 USC 035
3. 25 USC 046
4. 55 USC 035
5. 35 USC 046
6. 35 USC 057
7. 55 USC 046
8. 35 USC 073
9. 725 USC 046
10. 55 USC 057
11. 725 USC 057
12. 55 USC 073
13. 725 USC 073

The Ultra-Span Deluxe chords would have a similar order.

The biggest drawback to this idea (for chords at least), in my opinion, is that you would be required to "float" your steel sizes in Design. I much prefer to "Fix Size" for all my chords, and only cycle to a larger chord when necessary. However, my reasons for doing so may no longer be valid; plus, I see that many of us are not fixing our chord sizes already, and it seems to be working.

For web material, the USW order would be the same as current. For USWD, the new order would be:

1. 25 USWD 035
2. 3625 USWD 035
3. 60 USWD 035
4. 3625 USWD 046
5. 3625 USWD 057
6. 60 USWD 046
7. 3625 USWD 073
8. 60 USWD 057
9. 60 USWD 073

Sorting USWD material this way would not require any changes to the way we design trusses. I think that making this change for USWD material could save us money in steel cost, and it's worth trying right away.

Any suggestions? Has anyone ever tried this on a project? Does anyone have any similar ideas for more efficient truss designs? Please leave your ideas in the comments below!