Scene content entity categories
The following paragraphs describe some of the most important entity categories of Scene Content.
Architectural Grids
Allows you to show or hide architectural grids in 3D views. When selected, architectural grids are displayed at the lowest level of the model.
Grid & Construction Lines
Allows you to show or hide grid and construction lines at individual levels in both 2D and 3D views.
You can control the levels at which grids are or are not displayed in the Properties window for each level. Grids are only displayed in 3D views if the Show grids in the 3D view option is selected and in 2D views if the Show grids in plane view option is selected.
Members
Allow you to manage how each member type is displayed. For each of the mentioned elements, you can display the following information:
Geometry
Displays the faces of the member by shading them according to the member type.
The following image displays a concrete beam and column example with the Geometry and Architectural Grids options selected.
InsertionLine
Displays a solid line between the start and end node of the member.
The following image displays the concrete beam and column example with the InsertionLine and Architectural Grids options selected.
LoadingLine
Displays a solid line through the center of the member. Any member loads are applied along the line.
The following image displays the concrete beam and column example zoomed with the InsertionLine and LoadingLine options selected.
Normals
Displays the normal directions at each corner of the member.
The following image displays the concrete beam and column example zoomed with the Geometry and Normals options selected.
Text
Displays the member name.
The following image displays a composite steel beam example with the Geometry and Text options selected.
Text2D
Displays the member name, section and class in the 2D plane of the member.
The following image displays the composite beam example with the Geometry and Text2D options selected.
Direction
Displays the direction from end 1 to end 2 of the member.
If the direction is incorrect, go to the Edit tab and click Reverse.
The following image shows the composite steel beam example with the InsertionLine and Direction options selected.
BoundingBox
Displays the bounding box of sections. Selecting the option may simplify right-clicking sections of a small cross section.
The following image displays the composite steel beam example with Geometry and BoundingBox selected.
Decking
Displays the strip of decking that is connected to the member.
The following image displays the composite steel beam example with Geometry and Decking selected.
Plan
The Plan entity category is only available in 2D views.
- General arrangement
- Beam end forces
- Foundation layout
- Loading plan
- Slab/mat layout
You can also select the individual drawing layers to be overlaid. The Plan category can be very useful, as it allows you to display information that would otherwise not be available whilst modeling.
To use the Plan category, do the following:
Example
To illustrate how the Plan category would typically be used, consider the following composite beam example designed to the AISC 360 ASD head code:
In the following floor view, the standard beam labeling for modeling is applied. The labeling consists of the beam name, section, grade, number of connectors, and transverse reinforcement.
When you produce drawings, additional design information would probably also be conveyed. The information can contain, for example, the amount beam camber required. The camber is included in one of the drawing layers, so you can include it in the 2D scene view, as long as you know the layer it belongs to.
- Open a 2D scene view containing the beams.
- In
Scene Content, select
Plan.
Depending on the current scene content selection, there may be a substantial duplication of axes, members, labeling, and so on.
- Expand the
Plan category and do the following:
- Clear the Members and Slabs/Mats options.
- Select options according to the following images:
The scene view should now appear less cluttered, as shown in the following image.
-
On the Draw tab, click Settings and adjust the drawing settings as follows:
- Go to .
- Go to the Beams tab.
- Ensure that the Camber option is selected.
- Go to the Slabs/Mats tab.
- Clear all Panel Labelling options and the Include panel span direction symbol option.
- Click OK.
The drawing is updated to match the new drawing options.