Define a Structural Axis

Define a structural axis in a Cartesian system

1. Click Geometry Axis Definition.
2. Enter a name of an axis set in the Name box.
3. Select the Cartesian system.
4. If you want to set the position of the axis relatively to a point,
   1. Click Advanced Parameters.
   2. Select the Axes relative to the point option.
   3. Enter the coordinates of the point that will be used to set the position of the axis.
   Note: By default, the position of the structural axis is absolute.
5. If you want to rotate the structure axis,
   1. Click Advanced Parameters.
   2. Select the Axis / rotation angle option.
   3. Select the axis about which the axes will rotate.
   4. Enter a rotation angle.
   Note: Axes defined in a relative manner are rotated with respect to the insertion point.
6. For each axis, repeat the following instructions.
   1. Enter the point of origin in the position box.
   2. Enter the distance at which the end point must be created.
   3. If several coordinates of the axis must be created at an equal distance, specify how many times this point should be repeated in the structure.
   4. Select a type of numbering for the axis.
   5. Click Add.

   The list of created coordinates is displayed in the dialog.

7. Click Apply.
8. Click Close.

The structural axis is displayed in the graphical pane.

Define a structural axis in a Cylindrical system

1. Click Geometry Axis Definition.
2. Enter a name of an axis set in the Name box.
3. Select the Cylindrical system.
4. If you want to set the position of the axis relatively to a point,
   1. Click Advanced Parameters.
   2. Enter the XYZ coordinates of the point that will be used to set the position of the axis.
5. For each axis, repeat the following instructions.
   1. Enter the point of origin in the position box.
   2. Enter the distance at which the end point must be created.
   3. If several coordinates of the axis must be created at an equal distance, specify how many times this point should be repeated in the structure.
   4. Select a type of numbering for the axis.
   5. Click Add.

   The list of created coordinates is displayed in the dialog.

6. Click Apply.
7. Click Close.

The structural axis is displayed in the graphical pane.

Define a structural axis in an Arbitrary system

1. Click Geometry Axis Definition.
2. Enter a name of an axis set in the Name box.
3. Select the Arbitrary type.
4. Select a type of axis from the Type list.
5. Enter the coordinates of the points defining the axis in either of the following ways:
   • Click the Points defining axis box, and then click two points in the drawing area to define the start and end coordinates.
   • Type the exact coordinates in the Points defining axis boxes, and then click Add to create the new axis.
6. Optionally, set the type of numbering for each axis.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click Close.

The structural axis is displayed in the graphical pane.

Tip: You can also use existing bars and lines to generate structural axes:

1. Click Geometry Axis Definition.
2. In the structure model, select bars or lines, such as the edges of 2D or 3D objects.
3. In the Structural Axis dialog, click Create axes from selected bars/lines.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click Close.

The structural axis is displayed in the graphical pane.

Change the label of an axis

By default, vertical axes are numbered "A, B, C, ..." and horizontal axes are numbered "1, 2, 3, ...". You can change the numbering of an axis as follows.

1. Click Geometry Axis Definition.
2. Select a structural axis type.
3. Define the axis coordinates.
4. Select a numbering style from the Numbering list:
   • 1 2 3 ... : sets numbers as labels for the axis.
   • A B C ...: sets letters as labels for the axis.
   • Value: uses the axis position as label. This is especially useful for structures with stories.
   • Define: sets a user-defined value as label for the axis. This value is incremented for each additional axis of the list.
5. Click Add.
6. Click Apply.

Delete a structural axis / level

To delete a structural axis or level:

1. Select an axis from the list of generated axes.
2. Click Delete.

Note: To delete all structural axes or levels from the list, click Delete All.

Highlight a structural axis or level in the drawing area

You can highlight a structural axis or level in order to make it more visible in the drawing area.

1. Select an axis or level from the list of generated axes.
2. Click Single out.
3. Click Apply.