> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.paragontruss.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.paragontruss.com/design/how-to/general/component-optimization.md). # Component Optimization Coming Soon! Available for Enterprise Plans only. D.A.N. Optimization currently only supports Profile Truss designs. Support for Feature Pattern Truss designs will be coming at a later date. ## Optimize Truss Designs with Paragon D.A.N. Before you begin, select a profile truss, such as a `Scissors` truss. Paragon D.A.N. compares alternative truss designs to help you find a passing design at a lower cost. You choose which changes D.A.N. can explore and which costs to include, then review the results before applying them. Use D.A.N. to optimize an individual component or search for improvements across all components for a whole project. You can also use it to explore alternatives when a component is having trouble passing analysis checks.
## Optimize a component ### **Step 1 - Click `Analyze`** This establishes the baseline truss design. Make any changes you want to members, splices and so on first. ### **Step 2 - Click `Optimization`** `Optimization` is the D.A.N. icon in the toolbar, the truss with sparkles. It opens D.A.N. Optimization. ### **Step 3 - Click `Settings`** ### **Step 4 - Review the prices under `Lumber` and `Plates`** Look for lumber and plate material that's in the truss but missing from the Pricing app. ### **Step 5 - Set the `Labor Factors` and `Bracing` costs to consider** ### **Step 6 - Set which changes D.A.N. can explore under `Algorithm Settings`** These control the changes to lumber and plates that D.A.N. explores. ### **Step 7 - Click `Run Optimization`** ### **Step 8 - Click `Run anyway` if some materials have no price** The app lists any materials in the truss that have no price. They aren't considered during the run. To price them first, click `Go back` instead. ### **Step 9 - Compare the original design with the best result so far on `Results`** Expand the cost sections to see which changes make up any difference in price. You can click `Stop` to end the run early. When the run finishes, `Explain changes` gives an AI-generated summary of the differences, and the `Selected result` section shows the breakdown of costs and the % change from the original design. ### **Step 10 - Click `Adopt`** `Adopt` applies the selected result, or the best result so far if the run hasn't finished. Paragon replaces the current component design with that result and runs a full upgrade and analysis. Review the resulting checks. To compare the original and adopted designs, see Compare the original and adopted designs below. ## Set the factors & costs D.A.N. compares The best result depends on the costs and options you select. A design with less lumber may require more plates, more fabrication labor, or more required bracing upon installation. Define the costs that matter to your operation so D.A.N. can compare those tradeoffs.
`Labor Factors` and `Algorithm Settings` used for optimization are saved to your browser for use across other component optimization sessions. #### Material prices Review the `Lumber` and `Plates` sections in `Settings`, including any notifications about missing organization prices. Prices affect which design D.A.N. considers preferable. Material price overrides apply only to the current component's optimization session and are not preserved. #### Labor Factors Enable the labor allowances you want included in the comparison: * **Cuts** * **Member Count ($/piece)** * **Unique Members** * **Joints** * **Splices** * **Lumber Volume ($/bd ft)** * **Plate Pairs** * **Two-Ply Assembly** * **Three-Ply Assembly** A factor that is turned off or set to $0 adds no cost. Member Count charges per piece; Lumber Volume charges per board foot. Both contribute to labor cost when enabled. For example, adding a labor allowance for each plate pair can favor a design with fewer plate pairs, even if it uses more expensive lumber. Choose values that reflect your operation; changing them can affect the preferred design. #### Bracing allowance Under `Bracing`, enable `Cost per 1,000 Board Feet` to include a material cost allowance for 2×4 bracing. The calculation considers brace count and truss spacing. A higher allowance favors designs that require less bracing. This helps account for cases where removing lumber from the truss increases the bracing needed in the building. Turn the allowance off or set it to $0 to exclude that cost. ## Choose the changes D.A.N. can explore Under `Algorithm Settings`, select the options for the run. | Setting | What it allows D.A.N. to explore | | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Optimize webbing | Alternative web arrangements | | Optimize heels | Alternative heel configurations | | Resize chords | Changes to chord sizes | | Optimize splices | Alternative splice locations | | Minimum cross-chord splice spacing (in) | A minimum horizontal distance between splices on different chords. A value of 0 applies no spacing filter | | Optimize ply count | Alternative ply counts, up to the selected maximum. | | Optimize plating | Plate design and cost as part of the optimization | | Try off-center/rotated plating | Consider off-center and rotated plate placements during plating optimization | It's recommended to include plating when comparing complete designs. With `Optimize plating` turned off, plate costs are excluded from the optimization comparison—even if plates appear in a preview. A candidate may also fail plating checks when it is adopted and fully analyzed. Use `Try off-center/rotated plating` when you want D.A.N. to explore additional plate placements. You can leave it off while still including plating in the optimization. ## Understand the results The `Results` tab shows the original design, the best result found so far, the cost difference, and progress through the optimization run. Expand the material and labor sections to inspect the breakdown.
### Why can a design with more material cost less? D.A.N. compares the combined costs enabled for that run. More lumber might reduce plate costs, fabrication allowances, or bracing enough to lower the total. Similarly, an extra plate pair may be worthwhile when it results in lower overall material cost. Compare the original and proposed designs within the same run. Changing the cost settings between runs also changes the basis of the comparison. ### Why can the best result cost more? If the starting design fails the checks being considered, D.A.N. can identify a passing alternative that costs more. In that situation, finding a passing design takes priority over showing savings against the failing design. ### Why does optimization take longer on some components? Larger and more complex trusses require D.A.N. to consider more combinations of webbing, splices, and plates. The options you enable also affect the work required. The progress count may advance unevenly as D.A.N. skips candidates that cannot improve on a result already found. The search also moves through multiple stages, so finishing one stage does not mean the entire run is complete. Treat the result as the best design found during that search, rather than a guarantee that every possible design has been evaluated. ### Why are utilization colors unavailable in the preview? Optimization previews do not include all detailed analysis results. If utilization colors are unavailable, use another coloring option, such as `Lumber Properties`, `Lumber Geometry`, or `No Coloring`. Review the full analysis after adopting the design. ## Compare the original and adopted designs After adopting a result: ### **Step 1 - Click `Analysis and History`** ### **Step 2 - Click `Compare analyses`** ### **Step 3 - Select the original and updated analyses** The comparison opens when you've selected two. ### **Step 4 - Expand the comparison sections to inspect the changes** They cover lumber, member lengths, board footage by grade, plate pairs, plate sizes, and cost. `Explain changes` gives an AI-generated summary. For a deeper comparison of individual checks and load-case results, enable `Detailed` in the analysis options and rerun the analyses you want to compare. {% hint style="info" %} Note Costs in Analysis History can differ from D.A.N.’s totals. Analysis History and its comparison show material costs; D.A.N.’s labor factors are not preserved with each analysis. Use the optimization results to review the comparison that includes your selected labor allowances. {% endhint %} ## Optimize a Whole Project ### **Step 1 - Click `Project Menu` and choose `Optimize Whole Project`** `Project Menu` is the three-dot button next to the project name. ### **Step 2 - Click `Settings`** Review the number of components and the settings. The settings used for individual optimization carry over to this dialog. ### **Step 3 - Click `Run Optimization`** ### **Step 4 - Review each component's `Status`, costs and `Savings`** Each row has the current and optimized costs, previews, and an explanation of the changes when one is available. Project totals include component quantities. ### **Step 5 - Check the designs you want to apply** ### **Step 6 - Apply the checked designs with `Apply Selected Designs`** Paragon applies the selected results and runs full analyses. Review the design check results. Use `Cancel run` to stop a batch optimization. Components with no savings may appear in the results; review them before deciding whether to apply a change.
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