ICON BAR

The icon bar is designed to provide the user easy access to the most commonly used functions of eta/DYNAFORM.  The user can click on these icons to activate the functions instead of browsing the various menus. An illustration of icon bar is shown in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2 Icon bar

 NEW

Creates a new database file.

 

 OPEN

Opens or finds 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.

 

 TURN PARTS 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 nodes that there are not associated to 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.

 

 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 rotation about screen X-axis (SX) and screen Y-axis (SY). To manipulate SX, move the mouse cursor up or down. To manipulate SY, move the mouse cursor left or right. Moving the mouse cursor diagonally combines both actions. To dismiss the function, click once at the left mouse button.  This function can be initiated by simultaneously pressing Ctrl key and clicking left mouse button, following by moving the mouse cursor.

 

 

 PAN

This command enables the user to translate the model by following the movement of the mouse cursor. If the cursor is moved off the screen, it will be reset at the center of the display screen. To dismiss the function, click once at the left mouse button. This function can be initiated by simultaneously pressing Ctrl key and clicking left mouse button, following by moving the mouse cursor.

 

 CURSOR ZOOM

The function enables the user to reduce or enlarge of a model or selected region on the display screen.  To reduce or enlarge a selected region, position the mouse cursor at the region. Then, click and hold left mouse button, following by moving the mouse cursor up or down. This function can be initiated by simultaneously pressing Ctrl key and clicking right mouse button, following by moving the mouse cursor up or down.

 

 WINDOW ZOOM

This function enables the user to enlarge a selection region of a model on the display screen. The user defines the corners of the zoom window by positioning the cursor on the display screen. Then, clicks the left mouse button and drags the cursor diagonally down to obtained desired window size.  The entities included in the zoom window will be fully displayed on the screen after the left mouse button is released.

 

 FREE HAND ZOOM

This function is similar to window zoom. Instead of using drag window, the user defines a free region by pressing the left mouse button and dragging the mouse cursor on the display screen.  The entities included in the circled zone will be fully displayed on the screen after the left mouse button is released.

 

 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 on 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.

 

 FILL

Rescales and fits all the entities of the model on the display screen.

 

 TOP VIEW

Displays the model from the TOP or in the XY-plane.

 

 LEFT VIEW

Displays the model from the LEFT or in the XZ-plane.

 

 RIGHT VIEW

Displays the model from the RIGHT or in the YZ-plane.

 

 ISOMETRIC VIEW

Displays the model from the isometric plane (120-degree isometric).

 

 CLEAR

Remove 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 REDRAW function (e.g., when operating the dynamic zoom at the same time that the element normal are displayed, it is necessary to activate the REDRAW command to resize the arrows that shows the normal direction of elements).

 

 UNDO

Undo the last operation.  If no operation is recorded, the icon is disabled.

 

 REDO

Redo the last operation.  If no operation is recorded, the icon is disabled.