You are reading the online version of the LimitState:GEO manual, which is also available as a pdf.

The Graphical Interface

Introduction

The LimitState:GEO graphical interface is designed to give the user maximum flexibility over defining the problem and setting problem parameters while providing new users a clear framework for setting up problems. The default LimitState:GEO screen is divided into a number of areas as shown in the figure below.

---

---

The areas shown by default are as follows:

• title bar,
• menu bar area,
• top toolbar area,
• left hand toolbar area,
• Materials Explorer,
• Viewer pane,
• Property Editor,
• Geometry Editor,
• Output pane,
• status bar.

A brief overview of each area is given in the following sections. A fuller description is given in later Chapters. A full list of toolbar and menu items may be found in the Menu and Toolbar reference.

Additional items not shown by default are the:

• Vertex Explorer
• Boundary Explorer
• Solid Explorer
• Calculator

Title Bar

The buttons Minimize, Restore Down and Close may be accessed by left-clicking the relevant icons at the right end of this bar. These functions may also be accessed via the Title bar context menu by right clicking anywhere on the bar.

Menu Bar

Menu items may be selected by left-clicking on the relevant entry. There is no right-click functionality on this bar.

Toolbars

Toolbar buttons may be activated by left-clicking on the relevant button. Right clicking on any part of a toolbar, brings up the explorer and toolbar selection context menu as depicted in Toolbar selector. Tooltips are available by hovering the mouse over any button for a short period. Further description of the toolbars may be found in the toolbar reference section.

---

---

Materials Explorer

This pane displays the materials available to the user. These are divided into two sets: pre-defined (read only) materials and user defined materials. The user defined materials are displayed first. The following actions are possible:

• The materials may be selected by single clicking with the left mouse button. If selected their properties appear in the Property Editor.
• Materials may be dragged and dropped onto the Viewer pane by clicking on them with the left hand mouse button and then with this button held down, dragging them with the mouse to the required location. For further information see Drag and Drop.
• Right-clicking on any material brings up a material specific context menu.
• Right-clicking elsewhere in the explorer window brings up the general context menu.

Viewer Pane

This pane displays the current problem geometry. It provides access to user editable geometry objects. Properties may be edited using the mouse or keyboard or both depending on their nature. A full description may be found in Chapter . Specific geometry objects may be selected by left-clicking with the mouse. The properties of the objects are then displayed in the Property Editor.

Property Editor

The Property Editor provides core access to problem parameters in a direct and intuitive way. In general the properties of any material or geometry object may be displayed simply by selecting it in the an Explorer or the Viewer pane. In addition, global project level parameters may be displayed at any time by left-clicking on an empty part of the Viewer pane with the mouse. The Property Editor is shown in the below figure.

Single clicking on any item in the Property column of the Property Editor gives an expanded explanation of the parameter in the window at the base of the Property Editor. In turn this expanded explanation may contain one or more hyperlinks to the manual to take the user to a more comprehensive source of information. A symbol next to an item in the Property Editor indicates that there are additional sub-parameters relating to that item, that may be viewed. Click on the symbol to access these. Left-clicking on a value in the Property Editor allows you to modify it by typing or selecting your choice (unless it is read only). For specific parameters a clickable button may also appear which gives access to a further dialog to provide additional functionality.

The calculator may be used in any numeric data entry cell.

Right clicking on items that have been selected, brings up a context menu relevant to that item.

---

---

Geometry Editor

The Geometry Editor provides direct access to the co-ordinates of any geometry object. When a geometry object is selected for example by left-clicking on it, the Geometry Editor displays the coordinate of each vertex associated with that object. Any value may be altered by clicking on the value, typing in a new value and pressing enter. The arrow keys may also be used to navigate through the coordinates.

When all new parameters have been entered to the user’s satisfaction, the apply button should be clicked to apply the new coordinates to the selected geometry object.

Right clicking on items that have been selected brings up a context menu relevant to that item.

Any or all values may be selected and copied and pasted to another application (e.g. a spreadsheet). Conversely a table of coordinates may be copied and pasted from another application to the geometry table. To copy, select any rectangular block of data (i.e. single cell, column, row or block of cells) and then right-click with the mouse to display the context menu. Then select copy.

To paste data, copy one or more cells from another application and paste to a cell in the geometry editor. The data will be pasted relative to this cell. Any data extending beyond the bounds of the geometry editor table will be ignored.

---

---

Output Pane

This pane is used to display messages and solutions to the user. Any portion of text may be copied and pasted to another window/text box or other application. To select text, perform the following steps:

• left-click on the text and drag with the mouse to select a specific block of text,
• double click on a word to select it,
• triple click on a line to select it.

To copy, press CTRL-C or right click and select Copy from the context menu.

Right clicking anywhere on the window, brings up the context menu.

Status Bar

The Status Bar is used to provide:

• Short term progress messages to the user.
• Drawing settings (described further in Snapping to other objects, and Modifying the geometry ):
  • TRACK
  • DRAG
  • ORTHO
  • SNAP
• display of the coordinates of the current mouse position, when the mouse pointer is within the Viewer pane.

Calculator

The calculator is used to facilitate entry of data into the Property Editor and the Wizards in the following circumstances:

• When the parameter needs computing from several source parameters.
• When the parameter needs to be converted from different units.

If the mouse is clicked on any wizard or Property Editor numeric data entry cell, the calculator button appears in the right hand end of the cell. Click on this to display the calculator. The calculator (Figure ) has all the normal functionality of a standard calculator plus the ability to convert units. The units conversions are displayed according to the parameter type in the cell. The value appearing the the results window of the calculator automatically appears in the data entry cell. There is no need to copy and paste to the cell in question.

---

---