Draw / Modify Features

There are several graphic editing features that make the creation and modification of models quite easy. Use the Draw Elements tools on the Home ribbon and the tools on the Modify ribbon to utilize these features in the model view. To create new members, plates, etc., you can draw them using a drawing grid or draw "dot to dot" from existing nodes. Once you have created these items you may use other graphic features to load the model and set boundary conditions.

See Members for more information on drawing and modifying Members.
See Plates/Shells for information on drawing and modifying Plates/Shells.
See Boundary Conditions for information on creating and modifying Boundary Conditions.
See Loads - Point Loads for information on drawing Point Loads.
See Loads - Nodal Load / Displacement for information on drawing Nodal Loads.
See Loads - Distributed Loads for information on drawing Distributed Loads.
See Loads - Surface Loads for information on drawing Surface Loads.
See Loads - Area Loads for information on drawing Area Loads.

All model data is automatically recorded in spreadsheets and are always in tune with the model view. As you edit a model graphically, the spreadsheets are automatically updated and as you make changes in the spreadsheets the model views reflect these changes immediately.

All of the graphical modeling tools may be found on the Home and Modify ribbons as shown in the following images.

Click on image to enlarge it

Where to Start

The Project Grid and Drawing Grid are often useful when you are starting a new model from scratch or adding a new section to a model. They allow you to set up grid lines which may then be used to define the members, plates, and boundaries. The differences between the two grids are simple. The Project Grid is part of the model. The Project Grid is limited to the model 'plan'. The Drawing Grid is independent of the model so you may change the grid and place it anywhere, without affecting the model and whenever it is convenient. The Drawing Grid may be placed in any global plane so you may draw in 'plan' or in 'elevation'.

There are also times when it is simpler to define nodes in the spreadsheet and then draw the members or plates between them. This might be the case if you are working with just a few nodes, or if the structure is irregular and does not lend itself to a grid.

Apply Options

The Properties Panel makes it very easy to apply modifications to a single member and multiple members. For example, changing the material of a beam from A36 steel to A572 steel can be accomplished through the Members Spreadsheet. However, if you had to apply this change to 100 beams you would not want to do that for each of them. A better way to do this would be to graphically select all of the beams and then apply the changes all at once in the Properties Panel.

Use the tools on the Selection Toolbar to choose the items you want to modify and then make the changes in the Properties panel to apply the modifications to all selected items at once. See Graphic Selection for more information on the selection tools.

Note:

The selection and viewing tools override the graphic editing modes so that as you are editing the model you can alter the selected state. The Properties Panel will update based on the selection you make.
You may also click any single node, member, or plate to view and edit it’s properties in the Properties Panel.
To correct any modeling errors it is a good idea to run Model Merge before performing a solution. Becoming familiar with this feature will also allow you to take shortcuts while modeling. See Model Merge for more information.