Application Interface

The Tutorials (a separate document) contain a tutorial that leads you through the RISA-2D interface with an actual model. Consider going through the tutorial if you have not done so already, as it is the fastest way to learn the program. Although it requires some time up front, the tutorial will save you time and brainpower in the long run.

The features that are available to you in RISA-2D may be accessed through the main menu, shortcut menus, toolbars and shortcut keystrokes. You may use any or all of these vehicles to interact with the software. The main menu has the advantage of containing all of the program options and features and may initially be the simplest to use, letting you learn just one system. The toolbars contain more common options and invoke with one click. The shortcut menus present options relevant to the task at hand. The shortcut keys provide a fast way to access features should you use the program often enough to make them familiar to you. All of these features are discussed in the sections below. There are many ways to access features and the method that you will use will simply be a matter of personal preference. The good news is that you have the options.

The bar along the top of the screen is called the title bar and contains the name of the file that is currently open. The three buttons  on the far right side of the title bar are used to control the main window. The left button will shrink the main application window to a button on the taskbar. The middle button will shrink or maximize the window on your screen. The right button will close the window, prompting you to save changes if necessary. You will also see these buttons in other windows and they have basically the same functions there as well.

The actual work that you do will be in the main area on the screen, which is called the workspace. When you open a model view, a spreadsheet or a dialog it will be opened in the workspace and listed in the Window menu. You may have as many windows open as you like.

Main Menu

All of the program features may be accessed through the main menu system at the top of the screen beginning with File on the far left and ending with Help on the far right. Clicking on each of these menus (listed below) will display sub-menus that contain options that you may choose from. You may also select the main menus by using the ALT key along with the underlined letter in the menu you wish to choose. You may then continue to use the keyboard to choose from the menu options. In addition, some of the menu options will have hot key combinations listed to the right of the option. These hot keys allow you to use the keyboard to access features without using the menu system.

File Menu

New will close the current file, prompting for saving if necessary, and will open a new file.

Open will close the current file, prompting for saving if necessary, and will open an existing file.

Save will save the current file, prompting for a name if necessary.

Save As will save the current file, prompting for a name.

Append will insert another RISA-2D model into the current model.

Import will close the current file, prompting for saving if necessary, and will open an existing DXF file.

Export will export the current file to a DXF or SDNF file.

For more information on the interaction between RISA and other programs refer to Appendix E.

Print will access RISA-2D printing options.

Page Setup will present page setup options for printing.

Recent Files The five most recent files will be listed at the bottom of the menu. Selecting one of these files will close the current file, prompting for saving if necessary, and will open the selected file.

Exit will close RISA-2D, prompting for saving if necessary.

Edit Menu

Undo will undo the last edit that was applied to the model whether it was made graphically or in the spreadsheets. You may continue to apply Undo to remove up to 100 model edits.

Redo will reverse the last undo that was applied to the model. You may continue to apply Redo to remove up to 100 undo operations.

Select Allwill highlight an entire spreadsheet all at once.

Copy will copy the selected spreadsheet cells or model view from the active window to the clipboard.

Paste will paste data from the clipboard to the spreadsheet cells.

Insert Line will insert a new line in the spreadsheet beneath the current line.

Delete Line will delete the current spreadsheet line.

Repeat Line will insert a new line in the spreadsheet beneath the current line and copy the data from the current line.

Mark All Lines will select all of the lines in the spreadsheet.

Unmark Lines will unmark any currently marked lines.

Delete Marked Lines will delete the marked lines in the spreadsheet.

Find will locate an item on the spreadsheet by its label.

Sort will sort the column containing the active cell.

Fill Block will fill the marked block of cells with a valid entry.

Math on Block allows you to add, subtract, multiply or divide the values in the marked block of cells.

Settings

Settings opens the Model Settings.

Units

Units opens the Units settings.

View Menu

New View will open a new model view window.

Save or Recall Views allows you to save a view or recall a view that has previously been saved.

Clone View makes a copy of the current view so you can modify one and maintain the other.

Refresh All will refresh all of the windows that are open in the workspace.

Select provides graphic select options that are also provided on the Selection Toolbar.

Unselect provides graphic unselect options that are also provided on the Selection Toolbar.

Save or Recall Selection States allows you to save a selection or recall a selection that has previously been saved.

Zoom provides options for zooming in and out of the current model view.

Rotate provides options to snap the model view to global planes or an isometric view.

Model Display Optionsopens the Model Display Options.

Render will turn rendering of the current model view on or off, depending on the current setting.

Drawing Grid will turn the display of the Drawing Grid on or off, depending on the current setting.

Axes will turn the display of the global axes in the model view on or off, depending on the current setting.

Boundaries will turn the display of the boundary conditions on or off, depending on the current setting.

Loads will turn the display of the model loads on or off, depending on the current setting.

Joint Labels will turn the display of the joint labels on or off, depending on the current setting. A third setting is also available where the joints themselves are not shown at all.

Member Labels will turn the display of the member labels on or off, depending on the current setting. However, if rendering is turned on, member labels will not be visible in the model view.

Insert Menu

The Insert Menu will help you insert new items into the model. Most of the options will provide a graphical method of insertion but some will open spreadsheets where appropriate. See Graphic Editing for specific information.

Modify Menu

The Modify Menu will help you modify existing items in the model. Most of the options will provide a graphical method of modification but some will open spreadsheets where appropriate. The Delete Items Dialog may also be accessed via this menu. See Graphic Editing for specific information.

Spreadsheets Menu

The Spreadsheets Menu provides access to any of the input spreadsheets. See Spreadsheet Operations to learn how to work within the spreadsheets.

Solve Menu

Clicking on the Solve Menu will immediately begin a solution to the model. See Solution for more information.

Results Menu

The Results Menu provides access to any of the results spreadsheets. See Results Spreadsheets for more information.

Tools Menu

Relabel Joints assigns new labels to the joints in their current order in the Joint Coordinates spreadsheet.

Relabel Members assigns new labels to the members in their current order in the Members spreadsheet.

Relabel Plates assigns new labels to the plates in their current order in the Plates spreadsheet.

Relabel Wall Panels assigns new labels to the wall panels in their current order in the Wall Panels spreadsheet.

Full Model Merge will merge the entire model.  See Model Merge for more information.

Round Off Joint Coordinates will round off the coordinates.

Delete all Wall Panel Regions will delete the regions on all wall panels. The regions will be automatically regenerated next time the model is solved.

Application Settings contain settings that let you customize the program. See Customizing RISA for more information.

Customize Toolbar allows you to modify the model view toolbar by adding, subtracting and re-ordering buttons. See the customizable toolbar section.

Reset All Program Defaults will reset all customized settings to the original factory settings.

Window Menu

In order to help you work with the model and the results, you are provided with many window arrangements to choose from. You may access them from the Window Menu. The best way to understand just what these 'tilings' do is to try them. Remember that once you choose a tiling you may adjust any of the windows as you wish. You may also use the Tile    button on the RISA Toolbar to access a list of tilings.

Help Menu

Help Topics opens the RISA-2D Help File so that you may search the contents and the index. See Help Options to learn about getting help.

Check for Update runs an internal check for possible program updates. If your program is up to date, you will receive a message saying you are up to date. If you are out of date, the check will offer you the option to email RISA Tech, Inc. for upgrade information if you are out of date for a major update. If you are out of date just a minor update, then we will send you to our website to upgrade.. This check is also offered during the installation process.

Licensing gives information about your subscription license and the option to Borrow or Return a license from your subscription.

About provides RISA-2D version and hardware key information.

Shortcut Menu

The Shortcut Menu is also referred to as the Right-Click Menu. This is because to access the shortcut menu you simply click the RIGHT mouse button where you are working to see options that are relevant to what you are doing. For example if you are working in a model view the right click menu will provide options to help you modify the view and edit the model graphically. If you are working in a spreadsheet the menu will provide editing tools for that spreadsheet.

This menu will appear wherever you RIGHT click the mouse. This way you do not need to move away from where you are working to select the features you want to use.

Toolbars

The Toolbars provide buttons to help you access common commands and popular options in the menu system discussed above. There are different toolbars that will appear as you work to build your model and browse your results. If at any time you are not sure what a particular button does, simply let your mouse hover over the button and a helpful tip will pop up and explain the button.

RISA Toolbar

The first horizontal toolbar located just below the Main Menu is called the RISA Toolbar. The buttons on this bar facilitate file and window access. You may use these buttons to open files and windows and also to analyze the model.

Window Toolbar

The Window Toolbar is the second horizontal toolbar located below the Main Menu. It gets its name because the buttons change as you move from window to window in order to help you with what you are currently doing. When you are working in a model view the buttons provide viewing tools, such as Rotate and Zoom, to assist you with that view. There are also many other results and information display toggles, including some icons with the drop down arrow next to them. Clicking the arrow will show you the different view options for that icon. Clicking the icon itself will bring you back to the default view. Note that this model view toolbar is now fully customizable. See below for more information.

Other model view windows that are open will not be affected so that each may show different information. When you are working in a spreadsheet, editing tools are provided that are appropriate to that particular spreadsheet. Note that not all tools are available with all spreadsheets. In fact there are many tools that are provided for one spreadsheet only. See Spreadsheet Operations for more information.

Note:

• - This button will allow you to take a snapshot of the current detail report you are viewing so that it can be added to a report. View the Printing topic for more information.

Customizable Model View Toolbar

The model view toolbar is fully customizable. By creating your personalized toolbar, you can quickly access your most frequently used buttons. This can be done quickly and easily in just a few steps.

1. Go to Tools menu and select Customize Toolbar.

2. Select one of the toolbars by clicking in the box Available toolbar buttons, and click on Add to place them on the current toolbar.

3. Once you’ve moved the buttons to the Current Toolbar, you can rearrange them by clicking on Move Up or Move Down.

4. Click Close and you will see your selections on the model view toolbar.

Note:

• You must have a model view as the current view to see this toolbar.
• If you add more buttons than will fit on the toolbar the buttons that are at the end of the "Current toolbar buttons" will be cut off.
• The changes you have made will automatically be saved on a per-user (Windows User) basis, such that next time you open the program the toolbar will be arranged per your Application Settings. These saved changes are saved in the registry in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\RISA Technologies\RISAProgram location with a String Value called "ToolbarState".

Selection Toolbar

The vertical toolbar on the left side of the screen is the Selection Toolbar. This toolbar will only be available when the active window is a model view. The buttons on this toolbar help you select and unselect items in the model in order to help you build and modify the model or view results. See Graphic Selection for more information.

Drawing Toolbar

Another toolbar that is available is the Drawing Toolbar. Unlike those mentioned above, this toolbar is located in the model view windows rather than in the main application window. This way the drawing tools stay close to where you are working. This toolbar controls modeling features that help you draw, load, and modify your model graphically. You may have more than one view open and a Drawing Toolbar for each view. This way you can simultaneously draw plates in one window and members in another.

The Drawing Toolbar may be displayed in any model view window by clicking  on the Window Toolbar while in the model view window. Some of the buttons on the toolbar are for one-time applications such as modifying the drawing grid. Other buttons place you in an editing mode, such as Draw Members, that remains active until you cancel it. The current mode is indicated by the mouse pointer and by the state of the button. While in an editing mode the button will stay down until you click it again or choose another button. See Graphic Editing for more information.

This brings us to an important point. Some of the toolbar buttons remain down when you press them to indicate that you are in a certain mode or that something is either on or off. For example the Box Zoom  button will stay down to indicate that you are currently in the zooming mode. The Show Drawing Toolbar  button will remain down when you turn on this toolbar for the active window. You may be in more than one mode at the same time as long as they are not mutually exclusive.

The Data Entry Toolbar is the vertical toolbar on the right side of the application window. It contains buttons that facilitate data entry through the spreadsheets. The buttons on this toolbar provide quick access to the spreadsheets that are also listed in the Spreadsheets Menu. You may open and close the toolbar by clicking the  button on the RISA Toolbar.

For additional advice on this topic, please see the RISA Tips & Tricks webpage at risa.com/post/support. Type in Search keywords: Data Entry.

The Results Toolbar is the vertical toolbar on the right side of the application window that is placed over the Data Entry Toolbar after the model has been solved. The buttons on this toolbar provide quick access to the results spreadsheets that are also listed in the Results Menu. You may open and close the toolbar by clicking the    button on the RISA Toolbar.

Dynamic View Controls

When your current window is a graphical model view, you can use the mouse wheel to dynamically zoom, pan, or rotate the graphical image. 

Dynamic Pan: Clicking and holding the mouse wheel button triggers the tool and allows the user to pan or drag the view to the limit of scroll bars.

Dynamic Zoom: This tool uses the wheel button on the mouse. Rotating forward zooms in and rotating backward zooms out.

Dynamic Rotate: This tool is triggered by clicking and holding the mouse wheel button while holding the Shift key. The rotational movement will be based on the how the user drags the mouse cursor over the screen and the projection of global axis on the screen. For rotation about X axis, drag the cursor perpendicular to the projection of the global X axis. The same logic applies for Y or Z axis rotations. When rotation is initiated, the system locks for rotation about that axis until the user releases the middle mouse button.

Zoom Previous/Next: Function keys F3 and F4 are associated with Zoom Previous and Zoom Next respectively. The system holds a doubly linked list of zoom info. This list has 10 zoom-states in the list. The F3 or F4 keystroke moves the active pointer forward or backward on the list. Each window has its own zoom list.

Dynamic Distance Tool: This tool triggers by pressing the F5 key. The user has to pick up two points on the screen and the system gives back the total and partial distance between points on the status bar.

Shortcut Keys and Hot Keys

Shortcut Keys and Hot Keys allow you to use the keyboard to quickly access features. The difference between the two is simply that the shortcut keys are related to a specific window and will only work in that window while the hot keys will perform at most any time.

General Hot Keys

Shortcut Keys available for Specific Windows

Spreadsheet Hot Keys that open spreadsheets

Status Bar

The Status Bar passes useful information to you as you work. It is divided into four parts located along the very bottom of the main application window, just beneath the workspace.

The left side of the status bar shows a solution flag to indicate the solved state of the model as follows:

To the right of the solution flags there are three message boxes.

The first and largest box lets you know what you are currently doing. If you are in a spreadsheet, this box will contain the explanation of the current cell. If you are working in a model view and select a graphic editing option, look to this box for information on how to use the feature.

The second box is used to pass you units of the current spreadsheet cell.

The third box indicates the coordinates of the mouse when a model view is active. The mouse coordinates that are displayed are the coordinates of the grid point or joint that is nearest to the mouse.

Windows

Modeling the structure will take place within model views and spreadsheets, each in their own window that may be moved around the workspace and sized as you wish. The ability to have multiple model views and multiple spreadsheets open at one time is a powerful feature. The options in the Window Menu are provided to help you manage these windows.

These windows contain three buttons    in the upper right corner to help you minimize, maximize and close the window, respectively. There are also scroll boxes to help you view information that is outside of the window viewing area. Click the scroll bar buttons or drag the scroll box to advance the display in one direction or another.

Model Views

Model View windows show a graphic view of the model. Open a new view with the    button.

You may open as many model view windows as you like. This is especially helpful when working in close on large models. You might have one overall view and a few views zoomed in and rotated to where you are currently working. You may also have different information plotted in multiple views.

One thing to remember is that the toolbars that are displayed depends upon what window is active. The active window is the one with the blue title bar. For example, if you are looking for the zoom toolbar button and the active window is a spreadsheet you need to select a model view first before you can access the zooming tools.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet windows are made up of rows and columns of data cells. If you wish to add or edit data in a spreadsheet cell you click on the cell, making it the active cell, and then edit the cell. This active cell is simply the green cell that moves around the spreadsheet as you hit the cursor keys (← , →), Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, etc. There is always one and only one active cell, which is the cell that has the “attention” of the keyboard.

You may also select blocks of data to work on. You can select a block of data by clicking and holding the mouse button on the first cell in the block and then dragging the mouse to the opposite corner of the block and releasing the mouse.

Dialogs

A Dialog is a third type of window and is used to access a specific function within the program. Another powerful feature is that most of the dialogs may be left open while you edit the model, making it easy to make adjustments as you work. You will find that dialogs are very easy to work with. There are Help buttons that will bring you directly to the relevant topic in the help file.

Window Tiling

Standard window tilings help you set up your workspace. Select the Tile    button and then select a tiling or choose them from the WindowSpecial Tiling menu.

The standard tilings include arrangements of spreadsheets and model view windows for creation of models and viewing results. Each of these groups have arrangements for working with joints, members, and plates and also loads. The best way to learn what these tilings do is to try them.

Modes

There are three basic program modes (View, Select, and Edit) and a mode hierarchy to allow you to move between them easily. While you are editing the model you may select items to edit. When you are finished selecting you will be returned to editing. Likewise, while you are selecting items you can adjust the view and then be returned to selecting.

Different mouse cursors are used with each mode to make it clear what the current mode is.

View Mode is the upper level mode that allows you to adjust the view by zooming in and out, rotating and setting Model Display Options. This mode supersedes all other modes so that you may do these things at any time, and then be returned to the previous mode. This mode does not cancel other modes so that when you are finished adjusting the view you are returned to what you were doing. See Graphic Display for more information.

Select Mode is the middle level mode that allows you to make a graphic selection of joints, members and plates.  This mode supersedes the Edit Mode but not the View Mode. This means that you can make a selection while in the middle of editing the view and when you are finished you are returned to the editing feature that you were using. It also means that you may adjust the view while remaining in the same Select Mode. See Graphic Selection for more information.

Edit Mode is the lower level mode that allows you to graphically edit the model. You may make selections and adjust the view while in the edit mode such that when you are finished selecting you will be returned to the Edit Mode.  Some Edit Mode features have options on how you apply the edit. See Graphic Editing for more information.

Note

• The default mode is the mode you are in if you are not in any other mode and is indicated by the standard  mouse cursor. The default mode is a selection mode where you can select/unselect individual items by clicking on them. You may also double-click on an item to view information about the item.
• You may use the ESC key or the right mouse button to cancel a mode.