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 beams, slabs, footings, etc., you can use a drawing grid or draw "dot-to-dot" between existing nodes. Once you have created these items, you may use other graphic features to load the model and set boundary supports.

• See Beams for more information on drawing and modifying Beams.
• See Slabs for information on drawing and modifying Slabs.
• See Boundary Conditions for information on creating and modifying Boundary Condition Supports. 
• See Loads - Nodal Load for information on drawing Nodal Loads.
• See Loads - Distributed Loads for information on drawing Distributed Loads.
• See Loads - Area Loads for information on drawing Area Loads.

All model data is automatically recorded in spreadsheets and is 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

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 beams, slabs and footings. The differences between the two grids are simple. The Project Grid is part of the model and is limited to the model 'plan'. The Drawing Grid is independent of the model, so you may change the grid whenever it is convenient and place it anywhere without affecting the model. The Drawing Grid may also 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 points in the spreadsheet and then draw the members or slabs between them. This might be the case if you are only working with a few points, 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 element, and multiple elements. For example, changing the material of a beam from 3000 psi concrete to 4000 psi can be accomplished through the Beams Spreadsheet. However, if you had to apply this change to 100 beams, you would not want to do that for each of them individually. Instead, you can 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. For more information on the selection tools, see Graphic Selection.