ICON BAR

The icon bar is designed to give the user easy access to the most often used functions of eta/DYNAFORM. The user clicks on these icons to activate the functions instead of browsing the various menus.

NEW

Creates a new database file.

OPEN

Opens a database.

IMPORT

Imports CAD and FE model files, such as IGES, VDA, DYNA, etc into the current database.

SAVE

Updates the current database.

PRINT

Creates a postscript file of the display area, and sends the file to the printer (default) or to a file. Prior to printing, the postscript driver must be initialized to accommodate eta/DYNAFORM software.

PART ON/OFF

Turns the selected parts ON or OFF. The PART TURN ON/OFF dialog window is displayed to select parts.

DELETE ALL UNREFERENCED NODES

Deletes all free nodes on which there are no associated elements.

VIRTUAL X ROTATION

Dynamically rotates the displayed model about the global X-axis when the cursor is moved up or down.

VIRTUAL Y ROTATION

Dynamically rotates the displayed model about the global Y-axis when the cursor is moved up or down.

VIRTUAL Z ROTATION

Dynamically rotates the displayed model about the global Z-axis when the cursor is moved up or down.

SCREEN X ROTATION

Dynamically rotates the displayed model about the screen X-axis when the cursor is moved up or down.

SCREEN Y ROTATION

Dynamically rotates the displayed model about the screen Y-axis when the cursor is moved up or down.

ACTIVE WINDOW

This command allows the user to isolate a portion of the displayed geometry/model for more detailed viewing or editing. The user defines the region by dragging a window over the desired area. eta/DYNAFORM displays the elements, lines, and surfaces within the window (volume in space) as active. Other objects on the screen remain masked and inactive.

SCREEN Z ROTATION

Dynamically rotates the displayed model about the screen Z-axis when the cursor is moved up or down.

FREE ROTATION

This function is a combination of SX and SY. Moving the mouse up/down manipulates SX. Moving the mouse left/right manipulates SY. Moving the mouse diagonally combines the movements of both commands. Clicking the left mouse button stops the rotation. This function can be executed by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl key and left mouse button.

PAN

This command enables the user to translate the model by following the movement of the cursor. If the cursor is moved off the screen, it reappears at the center of the screen. Clicking the left mouse button stops the pan. This function can be executed by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl key and middle mouse button.

CURSOR ZOOM

The user picks a point about which to zoom. The model is centered about this point, and the user may move the cursor up or down to zoom in or out. This function can be executed by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl key and right mouse button.

WINDOW ZOOM

The user defines the corners of the zoom window by positioning the cursor on the display screen. The user presses the left mouse button and drags the cursor diagonally down until the desired window size is reached. Releasing the left button displays the entities included in the window in full screen.

FREE HAND ZOOM

The user defines a free region by pressing the left mouse button and dragging the cursor on the display screen. Releasing the left button displays the entities included in the region in full screen.

FILL

Rescales the model to include all entities that are currently displayed. FILL automatically zooms in or out until the model fits the viewing area of the screen.

TOP VIEW

Automatically displays the model from the TOP or in the XY-plane.

LEFT VIEW

Automatically displays the model from the LEFT or in the XZ-plane.

RIGHT VIEW

Automatically displays the model from the RIGHT or in the YZ-plane.

ISOMETRIC VIEW

Automatically displays the model from the isometric plane (120-degree isometric).

CLEAR

Removes the highlighted entities from the screen, such as those made with the commands, SHOW LINE, BOUNDARY CHECK, ID ELEMENTS, and DEFINE TITLE.

REDRAW

eta/DYNAFORM updates the screen after each command. Occasionally, the use of specific commands requires updating of the image with an additional step (e.g., when operating the dynamic zoom at the same time that the element normals are displayed, it is necessary to activate the REDRAW command to resize the arrows that represent the element normals).

UNDO

Undoes the last operation. If there is nothing to undo, the icon is disabled.

REDO

Redoes the last operation. If there is nothing to redo, the icon is disabled.