User Guide

Tutorial 2 - Modifying
Version 5.0 69
These options control the graphic display of the plates and to a certain degree
mimic the member display buttons. Wireframe, Color Filled, Rendered and
Don’t Draw are the four main options across the top and are mutually exclusive.
These determine how the plates are displayed. Beneath each of these are
additional sub-options that may be included.
For example when viewing the plates in wireframe form, you may additionally
display the plate labels, material set, numerical thickness or local axes alongside
each plate. Remember that the indented sub-options below each main option
don’t do anything unless the main option is selected.
The Color Filled button causes the plates to be “filled” when displayed. They
will be plotted as a surface.
Click the button next to Wire Frame to select this option. The plate label option
is set to “X-Symbol”. Click OK.
Let’s take a closer look at the wire frame plates.
Press the [+] key on your keyboard 4 times to zoom in. You should now see this:
The plates are now displayed as rectangles with an “X” in the center. You select
and unselect individual plates just like you do with members, by pointing at them
with the mouse and clicking. The graphic selection tools apply to the plates as
well.
Return to the full plot by clicking on
.