Bar Bending Schedule (BBS) Excel Program: User Guide & FAQ | SP Engineers

Welcome to the official help guide for the SP Engineers Bar Bending Schedule (BBS) Program in Microsoft Excel. Whether you are calculating rebar cutting lengths, managing machine bending formulas, or generating detailed automated BBS reports, this guide covers everything you need to use our macro-enabled templates efficiently.

How Our Excel BBS Program Works

This advanced BBS software utilizes two interconnected Excel files that must be open simultaneously:

  1. Working File: The primary spreadsheet interface where you enter your rebar and project details.

  2. Program File: The background file that contains the macros required to automate your calculations.

Manual vs. Machine Bending: The Program file contains distinct settings for manual and machine bending. You must select the appropriate option, as rebar cutting length formulas differ based on the variance in the bend radius.

Getting Started with the BBS Macro

Open both the Working File and the Program File. The Program file will run securely in the background and hide itself when you activate your working sheet, but it will continue to automate your calculations.

  • Data Entry: The first 16 columns (from the left) are designated for data entry, while the right side displays the final weight summary.

  • Instant Automation: The macro runs automatically the moment you enter a shape code, instantly calculating dimensions. (See the included BBS Demo file for a visual overview).

Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Detailing

  • Ctrl + Q (Multiple cells selected): Generate rebar shapes and calculate cutting lengths for the selected range.

  • Ctrl + Q (Single cell selected): Open the built-in Shape Code finder form.

  • Ctrl + T: Open Print Options.

Recommended Excel Settings for BBS Templates

For the best performance, configure the following settings in Microsoft Excel:

  1. Disable "Move Selection After Enter": Go to File > Options > Advanced, and uncheck "After pressing Enter, move selection."

  2. Optimize Border Styles: Use the "Hairline" (thinnest) border style for the BBS format, OR remove borders entirely and print using standard gridlines (Page Layout > Print Gridlines).

  3. Setup Print Areas: The summary is located to the right of the detailed BBS. To print the summary as the first page, set a multiple print area range (e.g., S1:AB27, A:Q).

Troubleshooting & Excel BBS FAQ

Calculation & Macro Errors

  • Why is the Excel Undo button disabled after running the BBS macro?

    • Excel automatically clears its clipboard memory when any macro executes. There is no bypass for this, so please note that actions cannot be undone via Ctrl + Z after a macro runs.

  • Why does "VOID" appear in the rebar cutting length cell?

    • Mandatory parameters are missing. Ensure the Bar Size, Number of Bars, and Shape Dimensions (A, B, C...) are entered correctly.

  • Why does "FALSE" display in the cutting length cell?

    • A formula mismatch occurred with the shape code due to an unexpected action. Simply re-enter the shape code to reset the cell.

  • How do I fix the "#VALUE!" error in BBS weight calculations?

    • Non-numeric data was entered in the Size, Number of Bars, or Dimensions cells. Check for any cells displaying "VOID" or "FALSE" and ensure all entered dimensions are strictly numeric.

Formatting & Visual Issues

  • Why did the cell color in the Weight column change to blue?

    • The required formula in that cell has been deleted or overwritten. Copy the formula from the cell directly above it and paste it into the blue cell to fix it.

  • What does the red diagonal border mean in a Dimension cell?

    • This dimension is not required for the current shape code (e.g., changing an L-bar to a straight bar leaves leftover data). Manually delete the contents of the cell to clear the red border.

  • Why is there a red diagonal border in the Cutting Length cell?

    • A cutting length was manually typed in before the macro could run. Delete the manual entry and re-enter the shape code.

  • Why do my rebar shapes appear distorted or resized after copy-pasting?

    • The Excel row height is too small for the pasted shape. Re-enter the shape code to auto-adjust the row height, or select the affected shape codes and press Ctrl + Q.

  • How can I speed up the BBS macro in older Excel versions (Excel 2007)?

    • We highly recommend upgrading to Excel 2010 or newer for proper processing speeds. Hiding rows that contain shapes can temporarily improve speed on legacy systems.

Automated Features of Our Excel BBS Template

  1. Built-in Shape Code Library: You only need to memorize common codes (straight bar, L-bar, U-bar, crank, rings). All other shapes can be found instantly by pressing Ctrl + Q.

  2. Error Prevention System: The cutting length safely displays "VOID" to prevent miscalculations until all required parameters are accurately entered.

  3. Auto-Expanding Rows: The program automatically extends formatting and formulas downward as your data entry reaches the bottom of the spreadsheet.

  4. Smart Formatting & Auto-Navigation: The Description column automatically capitalizes text, and your cell selection automatically jumps to the next required entry field.

  5. Strict Data Validation: The Bar Size column is restricted to prevent the accidental entry of non-standard rebar sizes.

Program Limitations

  1. No Direct AutoCAD Interface: The program cannot automatically extract or assign BBS data directly from computer-aided drawing (CAD) files. Data must be entered manually into the template.

  2. Fixed Shape Library: To ensure calculation stability, users cannot create or add custom shape codes to the built-in macro library.