Editing functions

The majority of SeismoStruct modules feature a spreadsheet where all input parameters are kept and displayed. The data contained in these module tables can be manipulated with the following tools:

Adding new entries

When users click on the Add button a dialog box appears, where the properties and characteristics of a new model component (materials, sections, nodes, loads, etc.) can be introduced and fully defined. The procedure is straightforward, since all dialog box entries possess a descriptive text for guidance.

Multiple selection (using the Control or Shift keys) can be employed to apply a particular restraint or load to more than one node at a time, for as long as the multiple node selection is made before the user opens the Add Dialogue Box. Further, when using drop-down lists with many entries, users can start typing an item's identifier so as to reach it quicker.

Editing existing entries

If users wish to modify or check the properties of an existing module entry, they can make use of the Edit facility, which is accessed either through the Edit button by double-clicking over the table entry of the item that is to be modified or, by double-clicking over the corresponding node or element on the 3D plot of the model (the latter for nodes and elements only); an Edit dialog box opens, allowing for changes to be applied. Again, multiple the selection and editing facility can be employed to modify any given input parameter in a multiple set of nodes, elements, restraints or assigned loads.

Removing unused entries

Users can remove one or more items by selecting these and clicking the Remove button or using the Delete key on the keyboard.

Sorting table entries

Clicking on the column headings of each of the modules' tables, allows users to sort its items in ascending (one click) or descending (two clicks) order. For example, if a user clicks on the section names heading, SeismoStruct will sort the sections alphabetically, whilst if nodal x-coordinates heading is clicked instead, the nodes will be sorted according to their x-value. It is noted that by right-clicking on the nodes and elements tables in the respective module, the tables can be sorted by name or by number.

By default, whenever table entries are in number (e.g. 100) or word+number (e.g. nod20) formats, algebraic sorting is carried out, whilst if word format is used (e.g. beam_A) then alphabetical sorting is employed.

Note: Entry sorting is a program-wide feature, meaning that the way in which model components (e.g. nodes, sections, elements, etc.) are sorted in their respective modules, reflects the way these entries appear on all dialogue boxes in the program. For instance, if the user chooses to employ alphabetical sorting of the nodes, then these will appear in alphabetical order in all drop-down menus where nodes are listed, which may, in a given case, ease and speed up their individuation and selection.

Copying and pasting table entries -  

Users can copy and paste data to and from all module spreadsheets, be it within inside SeismoStruct or in interaction with any other Windows application (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, etc.). Copying and pasting can be carried out either through the program menu (Edit > Copy Selection and Edit > Paste Selection), through the respective toolbar buttons, through the table popup menu (available with the right-click mouse button) or through the keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V).

You can use this facility to ease the creation of any model component by copying an already defined module entry and pasting it in the respective module spreadsheet, noting that a star superscript (*) is added at the end of the new entry's name so as to avoid duplications. In addition, users can also create their component listing in a different application (e.g. Microsoft Excel) and then paste into SeismoStruct, for as long as the entries are consistent with the format of the respective module.

Copying 3D Plot - 

Users can also copy, to an external Windows application (e.g. Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint), the 3D plot of the structural model being created. This is accomplished through the program menu (Edit > Copy 3D Plot), through the respective toolbar buttons, through the plot popup menu (available with the right-click mouse button) or through a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+C).

Undoing and redoing operations -   

There is an undo-redo facility in SeismoStruct, accessible through the program menu (Edit > Undo and Edit > Redo) or through the respective toolbar buttons.

Note: The identifiers (names) of module entries (materials, sections, nodes, loads, etc.) may be up to 32 characters long and should not contain spaces, #, & and punctuation marks (i.e. "." and ",").