Basic concepts
User interface
Each module has a similar user interface and consists of the following parts:
Menu bar | Tab menus | Toolbars | Application window | Quick tools | Status bar | Tool palette | Dialog
Menu Bar
The Menu bar contains file operations (File), editing commands (Edit), drawing (Draw), assistant tools (Tools), settings (Settings), views (View), window-system (Window) and user-guides, license info and about (Help).
Menu commands having icons next to their names can be organized in Toolbars around the Application window. Some commands can be executed by hotkey displayed behind the command name.
Tab menus
Tab menus contain the main functionalities and their order displays the recommended structural design workflow.
Tab menu | Function |
Tools to define axis and storey system, structural elements, supports and connections | |
Tools to define load cases, loads, load combinations and load groups | |
Tools to define finite elements and finite element mesh | |
Tools to run analysis for the current project and to display results | |
Foundation design | Tools to run automatic and manual design for foundations and to display results |
Tools to run automatic and manual design for concrete elements and to display results | |
Tools to run automatic and manual design for steel bars and to display results | |
Tools to run automatic and manual design for timber elements and to display results | |
Performance based design | Only available for Turkish seismic analysis |
By default, Tab menus have different Object layer settings to protect their elements from the others. That means, for example, structural elements (defined at Structure tab) are protected against load editing (Load tab) although they can selected for load definition. Of course, the available layers of tabs can be customized (Status bar > Current layer). The optional module Documentation can be launched from the Tab menus bar
Toolbars
The Menu bar commands can be grouped in toolbars with their icons and placed next to Application window.
By default, all five toolbars are displayed. If you right-click anywhere on the menu or on one of the displayed toolbars, a list appears, where toolbars can be set visible or hidden.
Customize… allows you to edit the command content of the toolbar, on which the right-click is used. A toolbar can be moved into new position by dragging it with its “Top/Left thick horizontal/vertical line”.
Application window
Two main windows types are available in FEM-Design:
- Graphical window
It works as a drawing board and displays the model defined in the current project. - Detailed result window
Analysis and design results with detailed background calculation formulas (code references), figures and tables can be displayed by single elements or by design groups in separate windows. Quick navigation is powered with zooming details.
An arbitrary number of windows can be opened (Window menu) to show for example a model in different views at the same time. The list of the currently available windows is shown at the bottom of the windows (tabs) and in the Window menu. You can swap between the windows by clicking on their name tabs or by choosing the requested one in the Window menu. Applied windows can be arranged by Window > Arrange. Right-clicking on a window tab, the window’s name can be edited.
Quick tools
Quick tools is a tool window that contains the often used functions such Layers, Results and Filter.
Quick tools can be enabled in several ways:
- Settings > Environment > General > Quick tools
- Right click on the toolbars > Quick tools
- Window tab > Other windows > Quick tools
Quick tool window can be placed anywhere on the screen and it can be docked to the left and right side of the FEM-Design model view area. The docked Quick tool window can be also collapsed.
Status bar
The Status bar is situated under the Application window and separated into the following parts.
- Command
Field to enter coordinates and shortcut commands. Command line also displays additional messages to show the steps of the current command. - Selection
Number of the selected elements (bars, shells, supports, loads, etc.) can be seen in the lower part of design area. - Co-ordinate box
It shows the exact coordinates of the crosshair cursor in the current co-ordinate system. Coordinates can be also given for point/direction definition in a dialog appears after clicking on the Co-ordinate box (see Entering Co-ordinates). - Layer button
Clicking the button opens the Quick tools-tab. All layer operations like defining new, renaming, color-assignment, showing/hiding and deleting are available in the layer-system dialog. - Point/Direction editor
Editor tools provide reference points and lines by using existing lines and points during element definition, drawing and editing. - Object snap tools
Here you can set the snapping distance and turn object snaps on and off.
Tool palette
In most cases, a command/tool has own palette (Tool palette) that contains its definition and setting tools.
Figure: An example for tool palette (Beam command in 3D Structure module)
The parts of a tool palette are:
- Toolbar - It gives the editing modes and their additional tools. The main editing modes are:
- Define: creates new objects according to its current settings (“Default settings”).
- Properties: asks and/or changes the properties of selected object(s).
- Default settings - If this button has 3D shape, then you can set all default parameters for the new object. Otherwise, it only shows the symbol of the function.
- Main settings - The frequently changed parameters of the new object (Define) can be set directly in tool palette.
You can usually use a dialog to modify the settings, the properties of a command; it contains text and number fields where you can set parameter values.
The main difference between dialogs and Tool palettes is that you can work beside an opened tool palette, but cannot at a dialog.
There are three main switch types at a dialog or a tool palette: check boxes, radio and chain buttons.
Figure: Function of chain buttons
In case chain button exists and it is “Active” (pushed in), any changes made to the related edit box will be transferred to the next edit box automatically. It gives a quick definition of defining surface elements with constant thickness, loads with constant intensities etc.
Dialog
The Default settings dialog is used to change the properties of new objects. It usually contains a General tab where many commands and identifiers are shown, some dialogs also contains tabs for cross sections, materials and boundary conditions/connections.
Program Settings
Clicking Settings > All opens a dialog with all available settings of the program and the current project.
Figure: Project and program settings
The settings are valid for the current project, but they can be extended for later projects by saving them as default settings. OK closes the dialog and validates the settings for the current project. Save as default set the “selected” project settings available for next projects and new files.
“Selected” means that Save as default works only for the branch belongs to the list/folder title selected by the cursor. For example, apply Save as default for “Environment” to save the General, the Directories and the Cursor settings as default, or select “Settings” and click Save as default to store all current settings as default values.
The range of available settings depends on the currently opened Tabmenu. For example, all setting are available at launched “Structure” tabmenu, but the settings are reduced with e.g. finite element (Mesh) settings in case of activated “Analysis” tabmenu.
The program stores project and default settings in the fem.ini file can be found in the “FEMData” folder of the installed program.
New program release can use the default settings of the previous release, if you keep them after the first running of the new release in a warning message dialog.
Environment
General settings enable the user to adjust the main program settings affect on startup, system, rendering and display style.
- Check for update at start
By default, the program informs the user if a new official release of the current FEM-Design version is available.
- Check for upgrade at start
It sends a message if a newer commercial FEM-Design version is released. In this case, the newer version can be downloaded, but it can be run only in demo mode till renewing the current license agreement (please contact your local distributor).
- Auto load last drawing
Checking this box opens the last project at program start-up.
- Language
By default, the user interface is displayed in the installation language. Ask your local distributor about the available languages in your country.
- Timesave [min]
It defines the time period in minute for automatic project saving. Read more at Data safety.
- Undo steps
The number of executable undo steps can be set in the field. But do not forget, that there are some complex calculation processes (analysis, mesh preparing etc.) Undo does not work on.
- Graphic engine
The suitable graphic engine can be set here by choosing “DirectX” or “OpenGL” according to the video card.
The DirectX graphic engine is faster than OpenGL on most of the computers. We recommend the User to check which graphic engine performs better on his computer.
For more information about the graphic engine read the Remarks.
If you have any rendering problem with the default graphic engine, apply the other one. In case of further troubles, download the latest driver of your graphic card.
“Safe mode” is developed to protect the program from possible video drive crashes. If no graphic problem is detected with the current driver, uncheck this box to take the full advantage of the new powerful graphic engine and to reach the maximum rendering speed.
- Enable Win8/Win7/Vista style
By default, the user interface is developed in the height of Microsoft Windows 8, 7 and Vista fashion. Unchecking the box a simpler interface will be available after restarting the program.
- Window background
The color of the drawing background (graphical windows) can be set here. The default and suggested color is white. Objects having the same color with the background are always displayed in inverse color.
- Display information pop-up
If there is no running command, moving the cursor over an element displays an Information pop-up with the element’s main properties. Depending on the currently used working mode (Structure, Loads etc.), pop-up is available for different elements (structural elements, loads etc.) only. For example, the pop-up displays the ID, the material, the thickness, the alignment and orthotropic features for Plates in Structure mode.
Figure: Information pop-up examples
Directories settings allow the user to specify the location of FEM-Design files.
- Temporary
The program stores temporary files during calculations and mesh generations in the given folder, which will be automatically removed, if the operations are done successfully. Remained temporary files can be erased from the Temporary folder after closing the currently opened project. The changes made in Temporary directory will affect after the program is restarted.
- Working
The default favorite folder can be set here for the open and save commands.
The style of cross-hair cursor can be set in Cursor dialog. It can be full-sized in graphical windows or custom-sized (Limited) by the scroll tool.
Drawing
Title dialog allows the user to specify the content of drawing title block (Draw > Title information table) and the header title of printing (File > Print). Project, Description, Designer, Signature and Comments attributes are autotexts. That means, modifying their content updates all titles used in the current project. These five title attributes can be used in documentation and reinforcement list templates with the help of Field tool (Draw menu).
Figure: Title information table
Scale has effect in displaying texts, line types and wall hatches in graphic windows. Of course, printing scale can be set independently from drawing scale.
Param settings allow the user to specify the default initial settings for drawing (Draw menu commands) in the current or later projects (Save as default). Line type, pen width and drawing color can be edited independently from the default values with the Status bar tools “Current style”, “Current layer” and “Current color”.
Text settings enable the user to set the default font style and sizes for general text items.
Text setting effect | |
Drawing Title block | yes |
Structural element ID and label | yes |
Design data label | yes |
Load label | yes |
Mass label | yes |
Support ID and label | yes |
Default settings of Draw > Text | yes |
Default settings of numeric result values | yes |
Draw > Dimension | no |
Grid axis label (Structure > Axis) | no |
Storey label (Structure > Storey) | no |
Finite element and node ID (Settings > Display > Mesh) | no |
Table: List of elements on which Text setting has effect or not
Dimension, Axis and Storey tools and the finite element display have individual text settings from the general Text settings.
Script solves the character problems of different languages. For example character “ő” appears as “õ” in “Western”, but as correct “ő” in “Central European” script.
Size is defined in real values (mm), so text size varies on drawings by modifying its Scale.
The Width factor 1.0 refers to the normal character width, so factor smaller/greater than 1.0 results a condensed/extended text.
For “italic” style use Slant between 10 or 15 degrees.
Calculation
Calculation includes settings influence structural behavior, finite element mesh generation, analysis and result.
Code displays the current and available design code for the current project. Code influences:
- the range of available modeling materials,
- automatic combination of load groups, and
- the method and result of reinforcement, steel and timber design.
Changing the current code erases the materials, the design parameters and the results in the project, so these properties have to be redefined to run valid calculations later.
Read more details from other Calculation settings in the connected topics:
- “Rigid” values
The default value of “infinite rigidity” can be set for supports, connections and fictitious bars by types.
- Mesh
Mesh and peak smoothing settings of automatic finite element mesh generation.
Perform gives additional features to data safety.
- Analysis
In Analysis you can decide the way of Automatic save, in Find identical copies before calculation for you can set if the program should check the identical copies of structural elements and/or loads and in Warnings it can be checked if the program should warn about using non-linear elements in a linear calculation.
- Result
Options define the calculation sections of bars and affect on detailed results of bars.
Display
The current and default display settings of the drawing elements, numbers, structural objects, loads and finite elements/mesh can be set here.
Displaying structural and analytical element ID’s is separated in order to avoid duplicate labels on the screen. The required ID can be set by Bar and Shell elements in Display settings dialog.
Figure: Display settings (Bar, Shell)
Window
Co-ordinate systems include the display settings of the Global and the User-defined (UCS) co-ordinate system symbols. The symbols are shown in the defined size in working windows, but they can be hidden by unchecking the Display co-ordinate systems box.
Grid defines the distribution settings of the visible Construction grid. The grid can be hidden by unchecking the Display grid box. The grid lines can be set to be parallel with the axis directions of the Global (Ground) or UCS system.
All default settings of Object Snap tools are grouped in Snap dialog.
In different windows different scales can be defined, which is especially useful in documentation module. By choosing an appropriate scale factor the displayed labels are easy to read. In another window the parameters can be decreased to highlight another result.
Units setting offers various unit types for modeling (length, angle, force, mass and cross-sectional data) and for results. Stress and displacement units can be set independently of the length and force units.
Figure: Available units
Data Safety
Time saving and protection system ensures more the data safety of working files.
Time Save
FEM-Design automatically saves copy of the working file by given time period.
The saving time period can be set in minutes at Settings > All > Environment > General > System > Timesave.
Working on a project file called e.g. “steel construction.str” in the 3D Structure module with a 15-minute time save period, an extra file will be generated and updated by the time period (0, 15, 30min …) with special extension and in a hidden folder:
Rules of time save:
- In case of a program crash, the last saved copy opens automatically in the right module.
- If you successfully exit from FEM-Design after saving the current project, its time save copy will be erased from the recovery folder.
- The location of time save files cannot be modified for data safety.
Additional automatic savings can be set before and after calculations at Settings > Calculation > Analysis > Automatic save…, but automatic savings overwrite the original project file.
Recovery files
Recovery file command in File menu is for managing time-save files which are generated after some unexpected events. Its tool-window:
Figure: Recovery file dialog
You can open the desired version and delete the useless ones, and you can also set the sorting criterion, by clicking on File / Date / Size.
Protected Work File
All working files are locked not to be modified, overwritten by another user or process. Starting a project, a file having the project name with .lck extension is generated automatically, which guarantees the protection till closing the working file.
Opening a protected file sends the warning message: “The file is locked by another user or process.” You are allowed to open and modify the content of a protected file, but changes can be saved only under a new name (File > Save as).
Element Types
Two main types
Two main types of elements are available in FEM-Design: Drawing elements and (structural) Objects. These element types are stored in different Layer-systems and have different kind of property and display settings.
Drawing Elements
Type | Command | Property and Display Settings |
Point | Draw > Point | Settings > Drawing > Param, “Current layer” |
Line | Draw > Line | Settings > Display > Drawing elements, |
“Current style”, “Current layer” | ||
Rectangle | Draw > Rectangle | Settings > Display > Drawing elements, |
“Current style”, “Current layer” | ||
Arc | Draw > Arc | Settings > Display > Drawing elements, |
“Current style”, “Current layer” | ||
Circle | Draw > Circle | “Current style”, “Current layer” |
Region | Draw > Region | Settings > Display > Drawing elements, |
“Current style”, “Current layer” | ||
Solid | Draw > Solid | Settings > Display > Drawing elements, |
“Current style”, “Current layer” | ||
Text | Draw > Text | Text tool > Default settings, |
Field | Draw > Field | Field tool > Default settings |
Dimension | Draw > Dimension | Dimension tool > Default settings, “Current style” |
Title information table | Draw > Title information table
| Text tool > Default settings, “Current style”, Settings > Title, “Current layer” (! Object layer)
|
Table: Drawing elements
Objects
Type | Command | Property and Display Settings |
Axis | , Axis | Axis tool > Default settings, “Current layer” |
Storey | , Storey | Storey tool > Default settings |
Soil | , Soil | Settings > Display >Soil and foundation, Soil tool > Default settings |
Borehole | , Borehole | Settings > Display >Soil and foundation, Borehole tool > Default |
settings | ||
Isolated | , Isolated foundation | Settings > Display >Soil and foundation, Isolated foundation |
foundation | tool > Default settings | |
Wall | , Wall foundation | Settings > Display >Soil and foundation, Wall foundation |
foundation | tool > Default settings | |
Foundation | , Foundation slab | Settings > Display >Soil and foundation, Foundation slab |
slab | tool > Default settings | |
Beam | , Beam | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Bar |
“Current style”, “Current layer”, Beam tool > Default settings | ||
Column | , Column | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Bar, |
“Current layer”, Column tool > Default settings | ||
Intermediate | , Intermediate section | Intermediate section tool > Default settings Drawing elements |
section | and Bar | |
Apex | , Apex | Apex tool > Default settings |
Corbel | , Corbel | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Bar Corbel tool > Default settings |
Truss member | , Truss member | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Bar, |
“Current style”, “Current layer”, Truss member tool > Default settings | ||
Plate | , Plate | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Shell, |
“Current layer”, Plate tool > Default settings | ||
Wall | , Wall | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Shell, |
“Current layer”, Wall tool > Default settings | ||
Profiled panel | , Profiled panel | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Shell, |
“Current layer”, Profiled panel tool > Default settings | ||
Timber panel | , Timber panel | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Shell, |
Timber panel tool > Default settings | ||
Support | , , | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Support, |
Supports | Settings > FEM > “Rigid” values, Support tools > Default settings, “Current layer” | |
Connection | , , Connections | Settings > Display > Drawing elements and Connections, |
Settings > FEM > “Rigid” values, Connection tools > Default settings, “Current layer” | ||
Fictitious bar | , , Fictitious bar | Settings > Display > Drawing elements, “Current layer” |
Settings > FEM > “Rigid” values, Fictitious bar tool > Default settings | ||
Fictitious shell | , , Fictitious shell | |
Load | , , | Settings > Display > Load, “Current layer”, |
Loads | Load tools > Default settings, | |
Finite element | , Finite element tools | Settings > Display > Mesh, “Current layer”, |
Settings > FEM > Mesh and Calculation | ||
RC bar | , | Settings > Display > Design, “Current layer”, |
Auto design and Manual design | Auto design and Manual design tools > Default settings | |
Steel bar | , , | “Current layer” |
stiffener | Steel bar stiffener |
Table: Objects
Layers
The FEM-Design
The FEM-Design layer-system helps you to work in a well-organized way in drawings and in models while constructing and documenting. The layers can be considered as transparent papers put on top of each other will seem to be one drawing. All layers can be reached in a dialog appears by pressing the Current layer button.
Layer Types
Regarding the element types there are two main layer types: “Drawing” and “Objects”.
Figure: “Drawing” and “Objects” layers
“Drawing” layer contains all drawing elements defined by the Draw menu commands or generated from DWG and DXF imports. Drawing layers can be renamed and erased, and their colors and states can be edited. Only the default “0” layer cannot be deleted and edited. At the same time only one drawing layer called “Current” can be used for drawing. The name of the “Current” layer is appears on the Current layer button. The “DIM” layer is a special drawing layer for the dimensions. It is automatically created by using the Dimension command (Draw menu). ”Drawing” Layers can be excluded from the Object Snap by dechecking the „No snap” option in the Sn column.
Figure: „No snap” option
“Objects” layers are built-in layers for objects like plate, wall, column, supports, loads etc. Each object type has an own layer (e.g. walls are displayed on the “Wall” object layer). Objects layers are not allowed to be deleted and renamed, but their states and the display colors and pen width of objects can be edited. ”Objects” Layers can also be excluded from the Object Snap by checking the „No snap” option.
Layer Status
Layer Status | Symbol | Function |
Hidden | The layer content is hidden in graphic windows | |
Protected | The layer content is visible, but protected from editing | |
Active | The layer content is visible and editable in graphic windows |
Table: Layer status
In Layers dialog changing the layer status is real-time, which means that the selected active (hidden) drawing or object layers become hidden (active) without closing the dialog.
Editing Layers
Tool | Function | Available for layer type |
Make current | Sets selected layer to be the current one | Drawing |
New… | Creates new layer in the available layer list | Drawing |
Delete | Deletes the selected layer from the layer list Delete function cannot be undone All elements will be erased of a deleted layer | Drawing |
Clear | Removes all elements of the selected layer Clear function cannot be undone | Drawing |
Color | Modifies the current color of the selected layer Defines the current drawing color Defines the display color of Objects Color can be modified by elements with | Drawing, Objects Drawing Objects |
Pen | Sets the pen width assigned to the selected layer Defines the current drawing pen width Defines the display pen width of Objects Pen width can be modified by elements with | Drawing, Objects Drawing Objects |
Save> | Save the current settings for the layers | Objects |
Load> | Restore saved layer settings | Objects |
Delete> | Delete saved settings | Objects |
Table: Editing layers
The full content of an Objects layer can be erased with Tools > Delete all. The objects deleted with Delete all can be restored with Edit > Undo. Delete all erases the objects of protected layers too!
Co-ordinate Systems
Various co-ordinate systems are available in FEM-Design with different function, properties and display settings.
Global co-ordinate system | User-defined co-ordinate System (UCS) | Local co-ordinate System | |
Function | Definition of co-ordinates Definition of directions Interpretation of results - | Definition of co-ordinates Definition of directions - - | - Definition of directions Interpretation of results Definition of profiles |
Type | Right-handed Cartesian | Right-handed Cartesian | Each structural object has got Its own right-handed Cartesian co-ordinate system |
Axes | X, Y, Z | X, Y, (Z) | x’, y’, z’ |
Symbol | |||
Symbol color | Fixed 3 colors, X = green Y = red Z = blue | Fixed 2 colors, X = cyan Y = orange | User-defined 3 colors, Settings > All > Display > Local systems |
Position | Fixed | User-defined: - View > UCS - moves the origin to the position of the cross-hair cursor - + moves origin back to the origin of the Global system | Fixed for an object |
Direction | Fixed | User-defined: - View > UCS - + resets the directions to the original state | Changeable: Edit > Change direction |
Show/Hide | Settings > All > Window > Co-ordinate systems | Settings > All > Window > Co-ordinate systems | By element types: Settings > All > Display |
Symbol size | Settings > All > Window > Co-ordinate systems | Settings > All > Window > Co-ordinate systems | By elements types: Settings > All > Display |
Table: Co-ordinate systems
User-defined co-ordinate system (UCS) is developed in order to easily define coordinates and directions in a 2D user-defined working plane.
Point Definition with Co-ordinates
Points can be defined with their co-ordinates in Descartes or Cylindrical co-ordinate systems.
Figure: Co-ordinate system types for point definition
Point co-ordinates can be defined in various unit types available at Settings > Units (Length and Angle).
The crosshair cursor position can be displayed on the Status bar in the Descartes or in the Cylindrical co-ordinate system by clicking the symbol of the Co-ordinate box.
Descartes Orthogonal Co-ordinate System
(Cartesian co-ordinate system)
The individual co-ordinates represent the distance of the point from the origin of the orthogonal co-ordinate system (absolute) or from a previously defined point (relative) measured along X, Y and Z axes. Cartesian co-ordinate system is available for co-ordinate definition both in the Global co-ordinate and the UCS systems.
Cylindrical Co-ordinate System
(Polar co-ordinate system)
Point is defined by three components: an angle (a1) and two distances (d1 and d2). The a1 and d1 co-ordinates define the point position in the XY plane of the Global co-ordinate and the UCS systems, d2 sets the distance from the XY plane. The angle and the distances can be given from the origin of the co-ordinate systems (absolute) or from a previously defined point (relative).
Co-ordinate Definition Modes
Point co-ordinates can be defined by typing them in the Command line or the Co-ordinate box of the Status Bar, or just by mouse-clicking combined with the Object snap tools in the drawing area or in special points.
Absolute co-ordinate definition
Co-ordinates of a point are defined as distances/positions from a co-ordinate system origin.
Command line |
Co-ordinate box |
Figure: Absolute co-ordinates given in Command line and Co-ordinate box
Descartes Orthogonal System | Cylindrical co-ordinate system | |||
Global co-ordinate system | UCS system | Global co-ordinate system | UCS system | |
2D | ||||
Command line | - | X_Y or X,Y Example: | - | P_a1_d1 Example: |
Co-ordinate box | ||||
3D | ||||
Command line | - | X_Y_Z or X,Y,Z Example: | - | P_a1_d1_d2 Example: |
Co-ordinate box |
Table: Absolute co-ordinate definition modes
Rules of co-ordinate definition:
- Co-ordinates given in Command line are valid only in UCS. But, if the UCS and Global system are in the same position (same origin and same axis directions), the defined point will be in the similar position in both two systems.
- Decimal point has to be defined as “. ” and not “,”.
- If you do not give Z value in the 3D modules, its value will be automatically zero.
Relative co-ordinate definition
There are three ways to define a point with given distance from another point (called “relative co-ordinates”).
Relative coordinates can be defined both in the Descartes and the Cylindrical co-ordinate systems and both in the Global and the UCS systems.
Relative (A): Distance from the last defined point
Distance from the last point can be defined in the Command line or with the Co-ordinate box. This mode is useful while creating line/polyline/polygon/surface with the distance from the start/previous point.
Steps | Command Line | Co-ordinate box |
1 | Define the start/previous point | |
2 | 2D | |
Type the distance co-ordinates as: R_X_Y or @X,Y Example: | Launch the Co-ordinate box dialog, change Origin to Last point, and give the distance co-ordinates. Example: | |
3D | ||
Type the distance co-ordinates as: R_X_Y_Z or @X,Y,Z Example: | Launch the Co-ordinate box dialog, change Origin to Last point, and give the distance co-ordinates. Example: |
Table: Relative (A) co-ordinate definition modes
Figure: Meaning of Relative (A) way in case of beam and plate definition
Relative (B): Distance from a selected point
With the help of function key and the Co-ordinate dialog box, a point can be defined from the point on which the cross-hair cursor is left. The steps of definition:
- Leave the cursor above the required point found by one of the Object snap tools, which you would like to define the distance from.
- Click function key.
- Set the distance co-ordinates in the Co-ordinate dialog according to a selected co-ordinate system.
Figure: Column definition with the distance from a slab corner or from a beam endpoint (Relative (B) way)
Relative (C): Point defined on line/edge with the distance from the end point
With the help of function key and the Co-ordinate dialog box, a point can be placed accurately on a line/edge defined with a given distance from the closer end point of the line/edge. The steps of definition:
- Leave the cursor above the required line/edge found and next to its end point you would like to define the distance from. The “Nearest” Object snap tool helps you to find the line/edge.
- Click function key.
- Set the distance (d) from the closer end-point you left the cursor in the appeared dialog box.
Figure: Column definition on a beam by using the Relative (C) definition mode
Calculator
If you press while defining numeric values in a field of a dialog box, the Windows Calculator comes up. It is automatically filled with the content of the edit box. When you close the Calculator, the value calculated or typed in it will be written into the numeric field. It can be used with both Normal and Scientific views of the Calculator.
Figure: Calculator used in numeric fields of dialog boxes
Working Plane
The default working plane