a guide to the ribbon menu system for strucad evolution

A Guide to the Ribbon Menu System for StruCad

evolution

StruCad evolution ‐ Hints & Tips

A Guide to the Ribbon Menu System for StruCad evolution ‐ V1.0.0.0 of 10

A Guide to the Ribbon Menu System for StruCad evolution

StruCad's menu system has been updated to include features such as;

• The latest Microsoft Office™ style of Ribbon Toolbars. • Improved presentation and menu structure. • New tooltips for each command. • Context menus now support several tiers with a comprehensive command set. • Quick access Tool Bar for common commands, a simplified menu, quick layer/line properties. • Search and suggest facility for command line. • Auto location of typed commands in the ribbon. • Double click option for some entities. • Full menu system can be customised by the user. • Easily add new commands, and transfer menu layouts between users. • Improved status bar, with quick commands selection.

All of the above features make the new menu system in StruCad evolution easier and quicker to use for new and existing users. In this edition of the StruCad evolution Hints & Tips we will look at some of these features and how to use them to your advantage.



The Ribbon Menu

The ribbon menu lives at the top of all StruCad evolution environments, from 3D and 2D, through to the Workspace and StruWalker. Commands and features are grouped together based upon their function and purpose. So in the wireframe for example, all the drawing production commands are grouped together on one tab called 'Output', along with the other commands that produce output information. The same goes for the 'Cad' tab in 3D; all of the cad commands are grouped together, from adding lines, copying and moving, right down to member commands and solid model generation. As a result the ribbon menu is easier to use and allows access to more commands, quicker and using less screen space. The ribbon menu combines the Toolbars, Drop Down menus and main icon menu together providing one location to find all commands.

The command names are now verbose and more descriptive, such as Edit Members or Multi Copy. These would previously have been abbreviated to EDMEM or MCOPY. You will not have to remember commands names, abbreviations and descriptions. The drop down style menus allow not only the descriptive command names to be seen but also a short description of the commands function allowing you to understand what a command does before you use it. The improvements made to the ribbon menu have also been transferred to the right click context sensitive menus. The combination of command names, the multiple tier structure, tool tips and shortcut prompts such as 'CTRL+C' for copy make the menu much more efficient to use, resulting in less mouse clicks per command. Hint: Right click anywhere on the ribbon menu and choose the option 'Minimize the Ribbon', this will hide the ribbon menu until you click on it, allowing for more modelling screen space. Go back and select 'Minimize the Ribbon' to re‐display the full menu.



Quick Access Tool Bar

The 'Quick Access Tool Bar' can appear either above or below the ribbon menu, providing you with one‐click shortcuts to commonly used functions.

The quick access toolbar contains quick links to common commands for view manipulation along with quick layer and line type controls. You will also see the 'Recent Commands' drop down which contains a list of commands used in the session. Hint: The 'Recent Commands' menu can be accessed from the bottom of any right click menu and the quick access toolbar. This is a very efficient way of finding commands previously run while you are getting to know where they are in the menu interface of StruCad .

You can choose to hide the quick access toolbar by clicking the down arrow icon immediately to the right of the toolbar. You can also choose to move the quick access toolbar to be either above or below the ribbon. Hint: Try combining the minimized ribbon menu with the quick access toolbar above to maximise the screen space available. Particularly useful on laptops or PC with smaller screens.

Hint: You can add any command to the quick access toolbar by simply right clicking on it in the ribbon menu and choosing 'Add to Quick Access Toolbar'.



Improved Command Line Search and Suggest

The StruCad evolution command line has been improved, allowing for greater control over the command you are using and allowing new and existing users to benefit from using 'Typed' commands without having to know the shortcuts and command abbreviations. This can be achieved using the search or suggest modes. This allows you to find commands based on the command name or the description of the command. You can switch between search and suggest mode using the 'Commands: Search/Suggest' button on the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Click the area highlighted to toggle between the 2 modes.

Suggest Mode will search the command name and abbreviation to find matches based on what you have typed. The matching commands will be displayed in a list above the command line. You can click on any command in the list to start it. So typing 'FAB' will find 4 commands relating to the generation and management of 'Fabrication Details'.

Typing 'ED' will find 15 commands starting with ED.

Search mode will find any commands were a match can be found in the description of the command. So typing 'FAB' will return 6 results and 'ED' will return 30+ results. Matched text is highlighted in Red.

Hint: The 'Search' mode can be used to find a command when you do not know what the command name is but know what it does, such as EDITING or CUTTING etc.

Hint: The more you type the more accurate the results. Try typing the first few letters of a command and you will receive a big list. Type a few more letters and the list will get shorter.



The command line can also be used to find commands in the ribbon menus. When in search mode, hover the mouse over the commands details. A tooltip is displayed with the location of the command in the menu system, it will then automatically jump to the correct ribbon tab and highlight the command as shown below.



Double Click Functions

StruCad evolution sees the introduction of 'Double Click' functionality. This allows the user to double click the left mouse on certain entities or areas of the screen and then run a set command automatically. Hint: Double clicking on a member will start 'Edit Member Properties'. Double clicking a joint or a clash symbol will load the joint. The Double Clicking options are available in the 3D wireframe, Interactive Joint, 2D and can be customised to behave differently in each environment. Below are a list of the entities and screen areas that can be customised for 'Double Clicking'; Entities: Wire Member, Grid Line, Text, Line, Arc, Fill, Blocks, Curve Member, Member Solid, Joint, Assembly, 2D Group, Link, Clash, Plate, Cleat, Bolts, Holes, Welds and Cuts. Screen Areas: Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right, Left Edge and Right Edge. To customise the double clicking properties, right click anywhere on the ribbon menu and choose 'Customise'. Click the 'Actions' button in the bottom left and select 'Double‐Click Tools'.

In the dialog select the box next to the entity or screen area and choose the command from the list. Close the dialogs to return and use the new double click settings.

Hint: Try adding 'Unload Joint' to the 'Interactive Tool' for the Top/Bottom, Left/Right Context. Allowing you to double clicking anywhere in the screen while in a joint will unload the joint.



Menu Customisation

It is now possible to fully customise all aspects of the StruCad evolution menu system using a simple GUI interface and to see the effects of the changes instantly. Every part of the menu system can be customised in 3D, Interactive and 2D. From the ribbon menus, to the right click and in screen menus.

Customising the Ribbon Menu

The Ribbon Menus can be fully customised, adding new tabs, command groups and commands. You can also load and save different ribbon menus. Hint: To save time and to keep all StruCad stations the same, configure the Ribbon Menus on one copy of StruCad, then save the layout and load it into other workstations. Using the 'Actions' ‐> 'Load or Save Ribbon Layout' option on the 'Customise the Ribbon' dialog. Start by right clicking anywhere on the ribbon menu and selecting 'Customise'. Hint: Don't be scared to make changes, you cannot break the menus. If you don't like what you've done use the 'Actions ‐> Load' option and browse to <StruCad Install Location> \ StruCad \ Cad3D \ Command and select the default 2D/3D layout for your language.

This will open the 'Customise the Ribbon' dialog. This dialog is used to customise all aspects of the menu system. Select the 'Commands & Menus' Tab. On the left side you will find a list of commands available to be added to the ribbon menu. Use the search tool to filter the list and find the command you're looking for. On the right side you have control over which ribbon tab and command group the command appears in. Use the drop down menus to select a tab and then a group. You can Edit, Add and Delete ribbon tabs and command groups using the three button to the right of the drop down list.

To add a command to the tab select it on the left and click the 'Add > >' button in the middle of the dialog. Use the Up and Down arrows on the right of the dialog to move the position of the command. Right click on a command to set the size of the button, ranging from just an icon with no text up to a full button with text underneath it. You can also add the commands to groups, see the '3D Home' tab, 'View' group for an example of this.



Let's try adding the 'Layer Off' command to the ribbon menu.

1. Open the 'Customise the Ribbon' menu and select the 'Commands & Menu' tab.

2. Search for the 'Layer Off' command and select it in the left hand list.

3. Now select the 'Construction Tools' tab and then the 'Visual Properties' group. You will see the Ribbon Menu jump to this location in the background.

4. Click the 'Add > >'button in the middle of the dialog, between the 2 command lists. This will add the 'Layer Off' command to the ribbon after the 'Hilite' command. Again you will see the change appear instantly in the background.

5. Right click on the 'Layer Off' command and choose the option 'Preferred Size' ‐> 'Large' to turn it into a big button.

6. Now use the Up and Down arrow on the right of the dialog to move the 'Layer Off' command to appear before the 'Edit Properties' button.

7. Click 'Close' to save the changes and return to the wire frame.

You should have something that looks like this: Hint: Try creating 2 new tabs, one for interactive and one for the wire frame, then add the commands you use all the time to them. This will leave you with just one tab that you will use most of the time resulting in less mouse moves and clicks per command, speeding up the detailing process.

Customising the Right Click & Quick Access Menu

The 'Right Click' and 'Quick Access' menus can be customised just as easily as the ribbon menus. Using the 'Customise the Ribbon' dialog, select the 'Customise Menu' tab for the right click menus and the 'Quick Access Toolbar' tab for the quick access toolbar. On each screen you will find the list of commands on the left and the list of editable menus on the right.

Improved Status Bar

The Snaps, UDS and Family information on the status bar now interacts with the user. Clicking the information will launch the Snaps, UDS commands and allow the Family option to the toggled on/off.

Hint: If you intend to make lots of changes, try saving what you have done periodically using the 'Actions ‐> Save' option. That way you won't have to redo too much if you change your mind.

a guide to the ribbon menu system for strucad evolution

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