Overview of view parameters

Available view parameters

Tab Structure	Tab Labels	Tab Model
Tab Loads	Tab View	Tab Miscellaneous

Note: In addition to these general view parameters, there are a few specialised tabs with view parameters for a particular advanced module, e.g. Steel code check, etc. These tabs are not shown until such a module is initialised.

Note : The following list contains the available view parameters. It should be noted that not all of them are always offered in the Setup dialogue. The Setup dialogue offers only those parameters for which the appropriate entity type has been already defined. E.g. until you define at least one support in your model, view parameters for supports are not shown in the dialogue.

Tab Structure

Tab Structure > Group Service

Display on opening the service

If ON, entities appropriate for the service are automatically displayed as soon as the service is opened (in the tree menu). If OFF, no change of display takes place when a service is opened.

Tab Structure > Group Structure

Style + colour

It controls the style and colour of members of the model (beams, plates, shells, etc.)

normal: settings made in Setup > Colour/Lines dialogue are used,

by layers: each member is displayed in the colour of the appropriate layer, all members assigned to the same layer are of the same colour,

by material: each member is displayed in the colour of the appropriate material, all members made of the same material are of the same colour,

by cross-section: each member is displayed in the colour of the appropriate cross-section, all members of the same cross-section are of the same colour,

according to structuraltype: each member is displayed in the colour corresponding to its structural type.

Note : If e.g. two materials, two layers, two cross-sections have assigned the same colour, than the same colour is used for members of different controlling property.

Draw member system line

The system line (midline) is drawn if this option is ON.

Note: If this option is OFF and also Member surface is OFF, then the whole structure disappears from your view.

Member system line style

It controls the style of the member's system line (midline)

Definitions: System line is a line connecting the nodes of a member. This line is what you define when you input a new member. Fine elements are also generated on this system line. Reference line coincides with the system line if no eccentricity of a member is defined. If eccentricity is defined, the reference line is the centroidal axis of the member. Even if eccentricity is defined, the finite elements are generated on the system line (and the defined eccentricity is used in the relevant formulas of the finite elements). Bar is a highlighted system line. However, the bar is not drawn from the node to the node. It just indicates the member and leaves some space around the node for further information to be displayed.

system line: the system line of members is drawn.

$image\VF_SystemLineStyle_System.gif$

system line + reference line: system line (solid) and possibly reference line (dashed) is displayed

$image\VF_SystemLineStyle_SysLRefL.gif$

bar: highlighted "system line" is drawn

$image\VF_SystemLineStyle_Bar.gif$

system line + bar: the system line is displayed and it is highlighted with the bar

$image\VF_SystemLineStyle_SysLBar.gif$

Model type

You can define different geometry parameters for the "calculation model" of your structure and for the " structural model" of your structure. The calculation model is used for the numerical analysis, the structural model can be used for drawings, detailing, attractive presentations of your project, etc. For example, you can define different eccentricities in the two models, you can define cut-offs at ends of 1D members in the structural model, etc. This parameter tells the program which model you want to see on the screen.

analysismodel: the parameters relating to the calculation model are used to display the structure

structural model: the parameters relating to the structural model are used to display the structure

Example: When you open the property table of a member, the calculation-model-parameters are in the top part of the table. The structural -model-parameters are grouped lower in the table under heading structuralmodel.

$image\VF_ModelType.gif$

Member surface

It defines whether the surface of members should be displayed.

Rendering

specifies the style the surface of members is displayed

wired: only the wired scheme of the surface is displayed

$image\VF_Render_Wired.gif$

hidden lines: the real surface is calculated and those surface lines that are hidden from the view are not drawn

$image\VF_Render_HiddenLines.gif$

rendered with edges: the real rendered view with outlined edges is displayed

$image\VF_Render_RenderEdges.gif$

rendered: the real rendered view is displayed

$image\VF_Render_Render.gif$

transparent: the surface is filled but it is transparent (this rendering style may be e.g. useful when you want to present designed steel frame connections - the structure may be transparent, the connection may be fully rendered)

$image\VF_Render_Transparent.gif$

Example: The picture shows the combination of transparent rendering style for 1D member and full-rendering for connection.

$image\ConnectionTransparent.gif$

Draw cross-section

This option tells if the cross-section of a 1D member should be displayed.

Cross-section style

If the previous option is ON, this item defines the style of the displayed cross-section.

section: one section is drawn about in the middle of each 1D member. The section is 3D oriented, i.e. it is displayed AS IS in the structure and in some views may not be clearly recognisable.

in screen plane: one section is drawn about in the middle of each 1D member. The section is transformed into the screen plane so that it is clearly recognisable in all view of the structure.

longitudinal XZ: a short part of XZ projection of the 1D member surface is drawn. In other views than side view, the section may be hardly recognisable.

longitudinal XY: a short part of XZ projection of the 1D member surface is drawn. In other views than plan view, the section may be hardly recognisable.

Tab Structure > Group Structural node

Display

The FE nodes of the structure can be displayed or hidden. Especially in very large models, it may be convenient to hide the nodes when a picture of the whole model is to be drawn.

Mark style

Specifies the style )shape) of the node mark.

Mark size

Specifies the size of the node mark.

Tab Structure > Group Member parameters

Buckling lengths

Buckling lengths (in all directions) for individual 1D members are displayed.

Member non-linearities

If a non-linearity is assigned to a member, a symbol is displayed indicating the type of the assigned non-linearity.

FEM Type

Various FEM types can be assigned to individual members (tension only, normal 1D member) and a description indicating the selected type is displayed if this option is ON.

Tab Structure > Group Mesh

Draw mesh

The generated mesh is displayed (the mesh can be displayed only if it has been already generated).

Draw refinement

The FE mesh can be refined in manually defined area and the defined refinements are displayed if this option is ON

Note : The finite element mesh can ONLY be displayed if at one calculation has been already performed and its results are still available.

Tab Structure > Group Local axes

Nodes

Axes of local coordinate systems of individual nodes are displayed.

Members 1D

Axes of local coordinate systems of individual 1D members are displayed.

Members 2D

Axes of local coordinate systems of individual plate and shell members are displayed.

Tab Structure > Group Sections

Members 1D

Sections (i.e. sections for the evaluation of results) on 1D members are displayed.

Members 2D

Sections (i.e. sections for the evaluation of results) through plate/shell members are displayed.

Tab Structure > Group Calculation info

Display singularity

If a calculation fails, the problematic place is shown.

Tab Labels

Tab Labels > Group Beam labels

Display label

It controls the group as a whole - if ON, the selected labels are displayed, if OFF, no labels of the group are shown.

Name, Cross-section name, Cross-section type, Length, Layer, Type and priority

Individual labels correspond to individual items in the property table of a member.

Tab Labels > Group Node labels

The meaning is more or less self-explanatory.

Tab Labels > Group Slab labels

The meaning of most of the view flags is more or less self-explanatory.

Edges

Each edge of a slab has a unique number (unique within the single slab) and these edge numbers are displayed if this option is ON.

Tab Labels > Group Mesh

Display label

see above

Nodes

FE-node numbers

Elements 1D

Numbers of 1D finite elements.

Elements 2D

Numbers of 2D finite elements.

Note: The finite element mesh can ONLY be displayed if the calculation has been already performed and its results are still available or if the mesh has been generated by means of function Calculation > Generate mesh.

Tab Labels > Group Buckling lengths

Display label, Name

The meaning is more or less self-explanatory

Label

Description of the buckling length including the dimension.

Tab Labels > Group Sections

Display label, Name

The meaning is more or less self-explanatory.

Tab Labels > Group Non-linearities

Display label

The label of the defined type of non-linearity.

Tab Model

Tab Model > Group Service

Display on opening the service

If ON, entities appropriate for the service are automatically displayed as soon as the service is opened (in the tree menu). If OFF, no change of display takes place when a service is opened.

Tab Model > Group Supports

The meaning of most of the view flags is more or less self-explanatory.

Tab Model > Group Other model data

The meaning of the view flags is more or less self-explanatory.

Tab Model > Group Support labels

Displays the label of supports.

Tab Model > Group Labels of other model data

Displays the label of other model data such as hinges, cross-links, etc. This view parameter displays or hides the label for all the types of other model data at the same time. It is not possible to attach the label to e.g. one type of other model data only.

Tab Loads

Tab Loads > Group Service

Display on opening the service

If ON, entities appropriate for the service are automatically displayed as soon as the service is opened (in the tree menu). If OFF, no change of display takes place when a service is opened.

Tab Loads > Group Display loads

Display

If OFF, no load is displayed at all. This item controls the whole tab.

Style

If the style Colour by action type is selected, the loads are displayed depending on the type of action (forces, wind, snow, imposed displacement, temperature, etc...). Line colour and style can be configured in the palette for each type of action.

If the style Colour by load type is selected, the loads displayed depending on the type of force (point force, line force, surface force). Line colour and style can be configured in the palette for each type of load. Please note, that generated loads have their own, separate line styles.

Please note, that the style of some types of loads/actions do not depend on the selected display style. Those exceptions are:

Unused loads
Displacement loads
Thermal loads

Load case

You can select here the load case to be displayed.

Plane load generator

Displays the loading polygon of the plane load generator.

Absences

Displays the absences.

Absence

You can select here the absence group to be displayed.

Tab Loads > Groups for individual type of load

The meaning of the view flags is more or less self-explanatory.

Tab Loads > Groups Labels of loads

Display label

This item controls the display of load labels.

Name

If ON, the name of the load is attached to every loading impulse (force, moment, temperature load, etc.)

Value

Shows the "input" value of the load.

See the note below.

Total value

Shows the "real" value of the load.

See the note below.

Note: Items Value and Total value are significant for loads that are not defined directly by its force or moment impulse, but that were defined by means of a wind generator, load generator, or as a predefined load. For such loads, SCIA Engineer can display two different types of data. First, the input value (e.g. width load) can be shown, i.e. the value. Second, the calculated load per meter of length can be displayed (i.e. the total value).

Tab Loads > Groups Masses

Displays the masses.

Tab Loads > Groups Labels of loads

Display label

This item controls the display of mass labels.

Name

If ON, the name of the mass is attached to the mass symbol.

Value

Shows the size of the mass.

Tab View

Tab View > Groups Display tools

Disable tooltips

If ON, no tooltips in the graphical window are shown. I.e. no information concerning the entity under cursor is displayed. This option may reduce the response time in large projects. It also reduces the size of images in the Picture gallery.

Before this option takes effect, the screen must be regenerated.

Disable layers

If ON, no information on layers is stored in the data for the graphical window. This option may reduce the response time in large projects. It also reduces the size of images in the Picture gallery.

However, if this option is ON, it is not possible to e.g. make export of the drawing into DXF file including layers – only one "universal" layer is exported.

Before this option takes effect, the screen must be regenerated.

On the other hand, this option does not prevent you from using e.g. activity by layers. This feature is fully working regardless of this parameter.

View vector X, Y, Z

Enables the user to numerically adjust the view direction.

Clipping box

Switches the Clipping box ON/OFF.

Tab Miscellaneous

Tab Miscellaneous > Group Results diagram

Results

Displays the result diagrams on members.

Tab Miscellaneous > Group Construction stages

Display

Displays data relating to construction stages.

It controls the group as a whole - if ON, the selected labels are displayed, if OFF, no labels of the group are shown.

Already installed

Already installed members are displayed.

Currently installed

Currently installed members are displayed.

Not yet available

Members that are not yet available are displayed.

Already removed

Members that have been already removed are displayed.

Tab Miscellaneous > Group Construction stages data labels

Label local beam history

Attaches labels to the local 1D member history.

Tab Miscellaneous > Group Connection force

Display

Displays the forces in connections (in joints of several 1D members)

Tab Miscellaneous > Group Connection force labels

Display label

Displays the labels of connection forces.

It controls the group as a whole - if ON, the selected labels are displayed, if OFF, no labels of the group are shown.

Name

The name is attached to connection forces.

Tab Miscellaneous > Group Connection force

Display arrow on maximal deformation

Shows the view flags “Maximal translation” and “Maximal rotation” which are available after the calculation

Display arrow on small mesh elements

Displays the mark (arrow) on elements whose angle is smaller than 5° after the mesh generation, if any

Display arrow on mesh node

Displays the mark on the mesh nodes, if any was defined by the user using command SELMN