Adjusting the scales

The entities displayed on the screen are displayed in a specific scale. The user can control the scales through settings made in the Scales manager.

The scales are stored and can be adjusted in the Scales manager. This allows the user to have several "sets" of defined scales for different purposes and to simply swap between them.

The Scales manager always contains the set named "Current". The "Current" set is always associated to graphical windows. All graphical windows use the same set of scales. In addition, you can define as many user-defined sets of scales as required. When you create a new set of scales and assign it to the graphical window, this set is stored in the Scales manager under the name you define and it is also copied to the "Current" set. This way, the graphical windows are always associated with the "Current" set of scales.

Toolbar Scales

Scales toolbar contains the following controls:

Control for fast adjustment of  scale for additional data

This control enables you to quickly multiply all the scales for additional data by the factor in the control.

Control for fast adjustment of  scale for results

This control enables you to quickly multiply all the scales for results by the factor in the control

Button "Scale settings" for access to Scales manager

This button opens the Scales manager.

Scales manager

The Scales manager is a standard database manager. It can be used to:

  1. create a new set of scales,

  2. edit the existing set of scales,

  3. activate one of the defined sets of scales,

  4. copy, delete, export or import the sets of scales.

Note: The "Current" set of scales cannot be deleted.

Scales parameters

General parameters

Name

Specifies the name of the set of scales. (The "Current" set of scales cannot be renamed).

Group data

Scale type

Symbol size

You define the absolute size of the symbol that is used for each type of entity. The multiplier is taken into account during drawing.

Real ratio

You define the scales for individual types of entities. This scale is used directly (taking into account the multiplier) to display the data.

Automatic ratio

You define the scales for  individual types of entities. These scales, however, are used only to determine the ratios between the size of individual entities. The absolute size is determined using the following algorithm: the largest entity (e.g. the largest force) is so scaled, so that its size in the graphical window is 1 metre. All other entities are scaled using the calculated ratios. The multiplier is taken into account, which means that if the multiplier is set to 2, the size of the largest entity is 2 metres..

Multiplier

This multiplier is used to increase (or decrease) the real size of the displayed entities.

Point data

This value specifies the scale for "point" data such as point load, concentrated moment, etc.

Line data

This value specifies the scale for "line" data such as line load, line moment, etc.

Surface data

This value specifies the scale for "surface" data such as surface load, etc.

Group Result

Scale type

See Group Data (above).

If Symbol size option is selected for the results, the behaviour is similar to Automatic ratio, but each group of entities (beams, slabs, etc.) is treated separately. It means that the largest value is determined for every group of entities.

Multiplier

See Group Data (above).

Reaction, Deformation, Internal forces, Stress, Contact stress, Unity check, Other results

The value specifies the scale for individual type of result value.

Group Symbols

Scale type

See Group Data (above).

Multiplier

See Group Data (above).

Point symbols, Line symbols, Surface symbols, Structure node symbol, Local axis symbols, Other symbols

The value specifies the scale for individual type of symbols.

The procedure to open the Scales manager
  1. Use function Scale settings in the status bar or

  2. search for Manage scales via the SCIA Spotlight.

 
The procedure to create a new set of scales
  1. Open the Scales manager,

  2. Click button [New].

  3. Define the name of the Scales set and, if necessary, adjust the individual parameters.

  4. Close the Scales manager.

The procedure to assign a set of scales to the graphical window
  1. Open the Scales manager,

  2. Select the required Scales set.

  3. Close the Scales manager.