Download Part 2: PowerFrame Reference Manual

3.1.2.3 Using the ‘Ctrl’ or ‘Alt’-button
As will be further explained, several structural elements can be combined into
one specific ‘Type’. All elements belonging to one specific type can easily be
selected simultaneously. Click the ‘Ctrl’-button and, while keeping it activated,
use the mouse to choose all members to be selected. All members of the
same type will now be selected and shown in bold on the screen.
PowerFrame also uses a group concept, to take into account the fact that
several structural members actually correspond to one single physical
element. This group concept will further be treated to full depth. For the
moment, it is sufficient to know that a bar that has been divided into several
sections remains known to PowerFrame as a single group. Selecting any
element of a particular group by keeping the ‘Alt’-button pressed down will
select the entire group.
3.1.2.4 Combined selections
Several selection methods can easily be combined. For example, the user
can make a selection of elements using any of the previously explained
methods and then complete the selection using a different method or
criterion. To make sure the current selection remains active, the user should
keep the ‘Shift’-button pressed down.
3.1.3 Intelligent cursor
PowerFrame is equiped with an intelligent cursor able to automatically snap
to specific points of interest. To check if this cursor can be used, the user will
first verify whether the intelligent cursor has been activated. Use the menu
‘Edit – Preferences’ from the menu bar. In the dialogue window which
appears, a section ‘Fly-over snap’ is available. To activate the latter, make
sure the option ‘Use object snap’ is selected. A snap distance can be chosen
by specifying the number of pixels.
The intelligent cursor is able to snap to members, to end nodes of members,
to the mid-side nodes of members and to the orthogonal projection on
members, as shown below.
3.1.4 Zoom & pan
To facilitate the use of the model, PowerFrame provides the user with ‘Zoom
in’ and ‘Zoom out’ functions through the icons
and
in the icon toolbar.
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