This work describes an interactive graphic system, FTOOL (Frame Analysis Tool), for teaching and automation of frame structural design process. The system uses design recommendation presents in the Canadian Standard "Limits States of Steel Structures" - CAN/ CSA-S16.1-94. The complete integration of pre-processing, structural analysis, post-processing, and design is achieved through a friendly and efficient user-interface. The results of a step by step modeling can be accessed by the students and used as information to determine the modeling modifications in the following step. When testing different structural conceptions, it is believed that the students can substantially improve the learning process of structural behaviour and design. With the implementations accomplished in the FTOOL program, Civil Engineering students and designers can speed up the structural design process. Several solutions can be tested in a short space of time, leading to a more economic structure. The program also enables the use of standard elements, which makes the fabrication and construction phases easier. The design requirements implemented in the program allow users not only the automation of the design stages, but also to explore the possibilities of understanding better the ultimate states limits that govern the behavior of the structural elements. The design process ranges from the section class determination to the accessment of ultimate limits states. These verifications are made through the results visualization of the global structure or through an individual quering of each structural member. A full description of the design process is generated by the program helping the students to understand all the stages of steel design.