The File menu contains those commands that you can use to perform file-related operations.

The ribbon consists of a number of toolbars, placed on various tabs. Each toolbar contains related commands organized into logical groups.

2D views, 3D views and solver views, of the model, sub models, frames, construction levels and individual members can be displayed in tabbed windows.

For more information, see: How to open scene views, switch view regimes and control scene content

The Project Workspace is a central location of organizing the entire model into a hierarchical structure.

It provides access to a range of functions and is a key tool in creating and controlling your model.

For more information, see: How to use the project workspace

The Properties window facilitates the input, review and editing of model properties.

The Properties window is used to:

• input data when a command is run from a toolbar.

• review or edit existing properties when individual or multiple items are selected in the active scene view.

• review or edit properties when a branch of the Properties window is selected.

The properties displayed vary according to the selection. You can edit all of the properties, unless they are greyed out.

A key feature of the Properties window is that it enables the editing of multiple items at the same time. Existing properties of selected items are only displayed when if are identical for all selected items. If the properties differ, the property field is left empty.

By default, the Properties window is docked at the bottom left of the main window, but you can reposition it if required.

Click to display the Process Window, (described in the next section 9. Process Window below).

Initially, the Process Window is closed. It can be displayed by clicking the Show Process button, located at the left end of the Status bar.

The program is automatically in ‘select mode’ when no other commands are being performed. In this mode you can hover the cursor over an entity and its name will be displayed in the Select Entity tooltip.

When the correct entity is displayed, click the entity to select it. If several entities are displayed, you can select one by using the Tab key or Up/Down arrow keys.

You can right-click anywhere within a 2D or 3D view to display a menu that is context-sensitive to the item that is currently highlighted.

You can use the Properties dialog box for viewing and editing parameters associated with an individual model object.

The Properties dialog box is displayed by right-clicking an object in the graphical display and selecting the Edit option from the context menu that appears.

• Ghost Unselected button is displayed in all 2D and 3D Views. It is used to toggle the display of selected and unselected objects, making it easier to focus on a particular subset of objects within the model.

  See: Use Ghost Unselected to focus on the selection

• Ghosted button is displayed in Sub Structure and Sub-model Views. It is also displayed in Level, Frame, and Slope Views when they have been toggled into 3D (via the 2D/3D toggle button). It is used to toggle the display of a ghosted view allowing you to see the current view in the context of the whole structure.

  See: Use Ghosted to see the view in the context of the whole model

2D/3D button is displayed in 2D Scene Views only. It is used to toggle the view between 2D and a 3D isometric projection.

Example of a level view in 2D:

The same level view when toggled to 3D:

The global XYZ axis system within which all other systems exist.

The principle axes of the building can be rotated about global Z if required.

The building direction axes can be switched on/off (and their labelling contriolled) in Structure Properties.

The Cutting Planes symbol is displayed in the bottom right corner of the scene view when any of the cutting planes are currently active.

The Loading list is permanently docked at the bottom edge of the main window.

The Loading list has two main functions:

When viewing results, first click the Loadcase, Combination, or Envelope button according to your needs. The, choose the specific loadcase, combination, or envelope name in the list.

The Status bar is permanently docked at the bottom edge of the main window. The Status bar performs a number of different functions.

The Status bar provides feedback by indicating:

In 3D views, you can click a vertex, edge, or face of the ViewCube to rotate the model to a preset view.

For more information, see: Zoom, pan, rotate and walk through the model

The Scene Content sidebar on the right side of the screen is used to control the displayed content in the 2D and 3D Scene Views.

The sidebar contains:

For more information, see: How to control scene content

The Tekla Online side pane is used to access Tekla Online services provided for users of Tekla Structural Designer, for example Tekla User Assistance and Tekla Discussion Forum.

The Trimble Connect side pane is used to access the the Trimble Connect project collaboration tool.

For more information, see: Working collaboratively with Trimble Connect

Signing in to your Trimble Identity gives you access to a greater number of online resourses.

You can sign in to one service and then browse to another online service without a need to log in again. Find the services landing page here: http://www.tekla.com/services