so here's the situation:
1. i have to check deflection of a horizontal beam as a result of glass
weight on it.
if deflection is less than the acceptable limit, then everything is peachy.
if not, then i have problems.
- one option, is to reinforce it by inserting a steel member (tube or bar or
channel etc). the problem with doing this is that the deflection caused by
the steel's weight is often larger than the strength it can provide with its
'Iy' property. (the higher the Iy, the smaller the amount of deflection.)
so. now i have a table of steel, and its properties. - Ix, Iy, weight, etc.
on a Steel sheet.
2. if there is a problem with the deflection, i want the sheet to do an
automatic check through the list of steel to see which members have high
enough Iy value to counter: the original deflection + the deflection caused
by the steel's weight.

so. can I:
1. use a loop in a macro to go through my list of steel
2. (using a formula already set up) return a 'yes' or 'no' depending on
whether or not the above criteria are met.
3. click on a 'recommended steel type' cell block, and have a list of
steel
members which work drop down (from the returned 'yes' or 'no' loop)

Steel table/data:
a b c d
item name description Iy
1... bar 2x3 4.500
100 channel c3x4.1 1.70
101 channel c3x5.4 2.1
etc.

calc sheet:
a b c d e ...
1 Max defl. Iy item item
2allowable actual required number description
3 0.5 .62 2.1 (dropdown here) (when checked,
(001 - Bar 3X2 return info
here)
..101 - Channel C3x5.4)

note that the cell blocks aren't the exact cell blocks, but only used for
reference.
also, i have 3 criteria i have to meet. Max deflection, Stress 1, Stress 2.
if any of these are over, i ahve to check for a suitable steel type.

for 4 diff calculations, i will use 4 rows.
that way, when everything is done, i can tally up all the steel needed.
possibly, i'll be using up to 30 rows.. it will depend on the amound of
calcs needed.

i have an idea for how to do this, but i need help with the code:

can you do it with code? i have a feeling that that might be a bit better..
ie:

if or( any errors) then
x=0
for(steel Item Column=1, steel item column=(last - like 250),x++)
then some code where i run through whether or not adding the steel item
will solve my deflection and stress problem

if is solved, then
then some code which will add it to a dropdown list
end if
end loop
else if dropdown list is empty then
put 'no solution' in a dropdown list
end if

and set it up in the Worksheet code for each cell.
and then do multiple if statements for deflection stress combined... and
check to make sure stress is ok too.

helllp!