# Navigating UI

Overview: This section introduces the different parts of the GSA interface, and some of its most common tools.

interface

# 1) Toolbars

GSA's toolbars are a shortcut to frequently used commands. They are arranged initially along the top and sides of the interface, but are also dockable. Toggle toolbars on/off by going to:

View > Toolbars and Dockable Panes

Tip: Use the dropdown arrow at the end of each toolbar to add or remove buttons for additional commands.

# GSA toolbar

Provides access to some of the main GSA tools, including view panes, design and analysis options.

gsa-toolbar

# Data options

Modify your model's data, and how it is displayed here.

data-tools

# Sculpt

Sculpt (opens new window) tools allow you to edit your model in the graphic view.

sculpt-tools-command

# Labels

Display model attributes by applying labels (opens new window) to you model.

label-tools

# Diagrams

Access frequently-used diagram (opens new window) displays.

diagram-tools

# Contours

Apply contours (opens new window) to nodes and elements from here.

contour-tools

# Orientation

Change your display orientation (opens new window) here.

orientation-tools

# Cursor mode

Change your cursor modes (opens new window).

cursor-tools

# Graphic display

Access tools to modify the appearance of your display (opens new window) here.

graphic-display-tools

Visit the GSA References entry on toolbars (opens new window) for more on this topic.

# 2) Explorer pane

The Explorer pane is where your model's data is contained. It is split into three tabs: Data, Output and View.

Note: Both the Explorer and Properties panes are dockable, they can be maximised, minimised and moved freely around the interface.

explorer

Within each tab you can:

  • Right click on a field to delete, copy, and paste.
  • Use Ctrl + select to open multiple data items.

The data tab displays a list of input fields available in GSA. Click on a field to open its corresponding data input table.

The output tab displays a list of available data output options, depending on the state of the model.

The view tab presents a list of graphic and output views. You can also save preferred settings for views, which are available to access here.

  • A graphic view displays a graphic image of the structure (i.e., on the central graphic interface).
  • Output view displays tabular output.

Tip: Tabular views may be useful for editing data with very large records (e.g., nodes), or for presenting corresponding modules alongside one another, (e.g., beam sections and beam loads).

# 3) Properties Pane

From the Properties Pane, you can edit the data inputted into your model.

Note: All tabs in properties pane offer the Lock Image Update command. This feature is useful for large models which take a considerable time to update the view. Rotating, zooming, or panning the view will unset Lock Image Update.

# Properties

Configured according to the current definition entity. To set this,

  1. Click on an entity in the graphic view.
  2. Go to Explorer Pane > Views > Graphic Views, where it will be highlighted.

properties-pane

# Graphics

Displays a list of frequently used graphic view settings. Icons in the graphics pallet include:

  • Wizard – adjust graphic settings here.
  • Reset display adornments – re-sets graphic settings to current defaults.

graphics-pane

# Entity display

Presents the entities displayed in the current graphic view.

  • Highlight mode - highlights selected entities in the graphic view.
  • Check boxes - view list of entities with check boxes, to allow multiple selection.
  • Reset to all entities - resets display list to ‘all’, and clears ‘volumes’.

entity

# Labels

Adjust label display in the graphic view.

  • Hide labels - toggles on/off, without adjusting labelling settings.
  • Reset - default settings.
  • Labels and display methods - opens label and display methods dialog box.
  • Apply adornments to selection - applies to current selection only.

labels

# Contours

Set contours in the graphic view.

  • Hide contours - toggles on/off.
  • Reset - default settings.
  • Layer combo - sets output layer for 2D element stress contours.
  • Contour settings - opens contour settings dialog.
  • Apply adornments to selection - applies to current selection only.

contours

# Diagrams

Set diagrams in the graphic view.

  • Hide diagrams - toggles on/off.
  • Reset - default settings.
  • Layer combo - sets output layer.
  • Diagram settings - opens contour settings dialog.
  • Apply adornments to selection - applies to current selection only.

diagrams

# 4) Object Pane

The Object Pane consists of messages, results and reports.

  • Messages displays properties for a selected item.

  • Results displays specific results for a selected node or element.

  • Reports presents an output log from processes such as a data check or analysis.

# 5) Graphic Interface

The central graphic interface (or graphic view) is where your model's structures are displayed. Any number of graphic views may be opened for a document.

# Views in the graphic interface

# Moving windows

alt-text

Note: You can also move windows using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Nos. 1-9 on the number pad.

# View settings

Use the paintbrush icon in the top toolbar to copy view settings to another graphic view:

paintbrush

alt-text