Thanks Dan, I have read the pragmatic programmers book but that was a while back and unfortunately I have a deadline submission I need to meet next week, i've managed to get the C++ side of the coding done but am struggling with the Ruby and don't have time to re-assess what i've learnt, just need to sift through the relevant information and collaborate it.

@zane said: That's great! Thanks Dan and Chris No problem, I fixed a mistake in the done=() method of the second example (above.)

Just another thought (while browsing around the forums..) depth = width = length = nil File.open("My Documents\\slabout.text") { |fp| depth, width, length = fp.gets, fp.gets, fp.gets }

Being an old metal building detailer I would also love to see something like this developed but I think the variables would be endless. My best solution would be to create say a I-Beam column as a dynamic component with the variables you need it to have like size,pitch,plates, and things of that nature. I may be way off track on what you were talking about if so I'm sorry.