Reshape Object

Form: Move Coordinates

Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool and enter "reshape mode."

A Properties of Object form will display with various drawing constraints. Choose the option that will best assist in reshaping the object. The None option allows movement in any direction. The other options are intended to control movement along a specified coordinate, radius or length.

In reshape mode, click on a shell, frame or joint and modify it in one of several ways. If you have difficulties using any of the methods, try using the method in a different view (Plan, Elevation or 3D):

Reshape Shells. When in reshape mode, click on a shell and a series of selection handles (squares that are the opposite color from the background color) will display at all corners of the shell, indicating that the program is in reshape mode and that the shell has been selected. Then move the shell by dragging or reshape it by dragging or specifying coordinates, as follows.
- Move a Shell by Dragging. The shell retains its original shape; it is simply relocated.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on the shell.
  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag it to a new location.

- Reshape a Shell by Dragging a Corner. The other corner joints remain in their original locations; the shell takes on a different shape.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on one of the corner joints of the shell.
  3. While holding down the left mouse button drag the corner joint to a new location.

- Reshape a Shell by Specifying Coordinates. The other corner joints remain in their original locations; the shell takes on a different shape.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on the shell to display the selection handles.
  3. Right click on one of the selection handles to access the Slab Object Information form.
  4. Use the form to modify the Joint Global X, Y or Z coordinates of the corner joint.

Note: When a shell is moved by dragging, the corner joints of the shell are disconnected from any other shells to which they might have been connected. Similarly, when the corner joint of a shell is moved by dragging or by specifying coordinates, the corner joint is disconnected from any other shells to which it might have been connected. Thus, moving or reshaping the shell using these methods affects only the shell, not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

Reshaping Frames. When in reshape mode, click on a frame to display selection handles (large circles that are the opposite color from the background color) at the ends of the frame, indicating that the program is in reshape mode and the frame has been selected. Then move the frame by dragging or reshape the frame by dragging or by specifying coordinates, as follows.
- Move a Frame by Dragging. The frame retains its original length; it is simply relocated.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on the frame.
  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag it to a new location.

- Reshape a Frame by Dragging. The other end joint remains in its original location; the length of the frame changes.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on one of the end jonts of the frame.
  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the end joint to a new location.

- Reshape a Frame by Specifying Coordinates. The other end joint remains in its original location; the length of the frame changes.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on the frame to display the selection handles.
  3. Right click on one of the selection handles to access the {Beam, Column, Brace} Object form.
  4. Modify the Joint Global X, Y and Z coordinates of the end joint on the Geometry tab.

Note: When a frame is moved by dragging, or an end joint of a frame is moved by dragging or specifying coordinates, the end joints of the frame, or the moved end joint is disconnected from any other frames/shells to which they/it may have been connected. Thus reshaping the frame using these methods affects only the frame, not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

Reshaping Frames/Shells by Moving a Joint. When in reshape mode, click on a joint to display a selection handle (large circle with a color different from the background color) on the joint , indicating that the program is in reshape mode and the joint has been selected. Unlike shells and frames, when a joint is moved, the joint does not disconnect from the frames/shells to which it is attached. Thus, when a joint is moved by dragging or specifying coordinates, all of the frames/shells connected to the joint also move; they are either reoriented or resized, or both. Move a selected joint, and thus reshape a frame/shell, by dragging or by specifying coordinates as follows.
- Move a Joint by Dragging.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on the joint..
  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the joint to a new location.
- Move a Joint by Specifying Coordinates.
- 1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
  2. Left click on the joint to display the selection handle.
  3. Right click on the selection handle to access the Joint Object Information form.
  4. Modify the Joint Global X, Y and Z coordinates on the Geometry tab.

Reshaping Dimension Lines. Dimension lines cannot be lengthen or shorten, even using the reshaper tool. Instead, use the reshaper tool to move a dimension line to a new location, where it will retain its original length. The leader lines will adjust automatically as appropriate. Relocate a dimension line as follows:

1. Click the Reshaper button or select the Draw menu > Reshape Object command to activate the Reshaper tool.
2. Click on the line so that the selection handles (large circles that are the opposite color from the background color) appear at the ends of the dimension line.
3. Left click on the dimension line.
4. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the dimension line to a new location.

Note this important information about Moving/Reshaping Objects in the Z Direction. Objects can be moved in the Z-direction within their own story level or to the maximum Z coordinate (top) of the story level below or the minimum Z coordinate (bottom) of the story level above; ETABS will ignore a delta Z dimension that requires an object to move beyond these minimum and maximum Z coordinates.

Example:

A four-story building has 10-foot-high stories at all levels. Thus, the first story level is at an elevation of 10 feet, the second story level is at 20 feet, the third story level is at 30 feet and the fourth story level is at 40 feet. The corner joint of a shell that occurs at the mid-height of the third story level (i.e., elevation of 25 feet) is being moved. Note that the distance between the second and third floors is 10 feet. Thus,

- If a Delta Z between -5 feet (elevation 20 feet) and +5 feet (elevation 30 feet), say -3, is specified, ETABS moves the joint to the specified location (elevation 22 feet).
- If a delta Z dimension less than the -5 feet (e.g., -10 feet which would be elevation 15 feet) is specified, ETABS moves the joint to the second story level elevation (i.e., elevation 20 feet), but not beyond because objects cannot be moved in the Z direction across story levels.
- If a Z coordinate greater than +5 feet (e.g., 10 feet which would be elevation 35 feet) is specified, ETABS moves the joint to the third story level elevation (i.e., elevation 30 feet), but not beyond because objects cannot be moved in the Z direction across story levels.

Deactivate the Reshaper tool and exit reshape mode using any of the following methods

Click the Select Object button, .

Press the Esc key on your keyboard.

Choose one of the drawing options from the Draw menu or the toolbar.

Click on one of the select items in the Select menu.

Run an analysis.