Structure
After creating a new structure study and pressing the Edit button, a window appear to define the calculation code :
Set the Code and Edition and press OK : new tabs appear in the ribbon menu on top of the application :
- Structure
- Load - click here to have more information about loading
- Review - click here to have more information about review tools
- Analysis - click here to have more information about analysis
The Structure screen consists of a ribbon menu (1), a 3D visualization engine (2) and a data panel on the right (3).
The Data Panel can be opened/closed with the shortcut F2
1. Ribbon menu
1.1 File
During the design of the model, every command is automatically saved in a temporary file (conception.~metaL).
You can decide to save the last modifications or cancel it and return to the study screen.
A floppy disk on the left side of the ribbon indicates the state of the file on disk :
means that everything has been saved.
means that something has changed and the MetaL need to be saved.
If the application crashes, MetaPiping will prompt to reopen the last modifications
1.2 Undo/Redo
Every command in MetaStructure is stored in a command list.
You can navigate through this list by pressing the Undo/Redo buttons.
1.3 Specification
This group of controls let you define the current Section/Material for the next beams.
You have an access to a window that defines the beam sections and materials for the current model.
You have an access to the model options (code, edition, calculation options…).
Click here to have more information about the Data button and the Model options button.
1.4 Elements & Link
Click here to have more information about element creation and link between piping nodes and structure nodes.
1.5 View options
show/hide the node name
show/hide the node point
copy the 3D view to the clipboard
show the structure in shaded mode
show the structure in hidden lines mode
show the structure in wireframe mode
show/hide the shadows
show/hide the origin symbol
show/hide the linked study models
show/hide the concrete
1.6 Modification tools
Click here to have more information about all modification tools.
1.7 Python scripts
MetaStructure lets you create your own tools.
If a tool is missing, user can create his own command that can interact with the user and modify the selected elements or the whole model.
MetaStructure will take care of the Undo/Redo mechanism.
Click here to have more information about python script creation.
See an example of a Design script : Create a beam support of a piping on a node
2. 3D Visualization
MetaStructure is equipped with a powerful 3D engine :
2.1 Navigation
You navigate inside the view with the middle button of the mouse pressed :
Hold down the CTRL key during navigation to translate the view.
You zoom in by scrolling the mouse wheel up :
You zoom out by scrolling the mouse wheel down :
You zoom all by double click the mouse wheel button :
2.2 Axis
The global axis are shown in the bottom left corner of the screen :
2.3 Predefined views
An interactive cube with predefined views is shown in the bottom right corner of the screen :
- Click on top corners of the cube to change to predefined axonometric view.
- Click twice on the faces of the cube to change to 2D views.
3. Data panel
The Data Panel can be opened/closed with the shortcut F2
3.1 Layers
MetaStructure lets you simplify your visualization by using the Layer concept :
By default, all elements are assigned to Layer 0.
To create a new layer, click on Add layer button.
Give it a name, for example “HORIZONTAL BEAMS”.
The layer “HORIZONTAL BEAMS” will appear in the list of layers and will become the current layer.
To modify the layer of objects, select elements and/or restraints and click on Assign current layer to selection button.
If you decide to remove a layer, click on - button next to the layer name. All elements and restraints of this layer will be assigned to the default Layer 0.
You can now show/hide elements and restraints by activating/deactivating the visibility buttons :
All layer manipulations support Undo/Redo mechanism.