Form: Draw Rectangular Slabs/Areas
Toolbar button:
Use the Draw menu > Draw Rectangular Slabs/Areas command to add rectangular area objects to the model in the model datum plane that can be assigned slab properties, openings, soil properties, or surface loads.
Click the Draw menu > Draw Rectangular Slabs/Areas command to access the floating Draw Rectangular Slabs/Areas form, which displays the parameters for the area to be added. There is a Type of Object (Slab or Opening) and a Property (Drop, None, previously defined slab property, or Stiff for slabs or Unloaded for openings) drop-down list.
If needed, modify the displayed data by selecting from the drop-down lists or by typing directly into the edit boxes before drawing areas. If the area object is being used for some reason other than defining a slab or opening, such as for adding soil properties or loads, select None from the Property drop-down list and then select the area object at a later time and use the Assign menu to assign the desired property.
To place a rectangular area object in the model, click and hold the left mouse button on a grid intersection or at any other location on the datum plane to draw the first corner. Then drag the mouse cursor to expand the rectangle to the desired size. Note that dimensioning is shown as the object is being drawn, and the object is added when the mouse is released. The object can be removed using the Edit menu > Undo command or by selecting the object and clicking the Edit men > Delete command or the Delete button on the keyboard. The size of the shape can be changed using the Edit menu > Reshape Object command.
Slabs/areas can be drawn on the datum plane only, so working in a plan view is usually best. This command cannot be used to draw walls or ramps; use the Draw menu > Draw Walls command for these objects.
To exit the draw rectangular area object mode, click on the button 
or hit the Esc key to activate the select mode. Data associated with an area object can be reviewed and modified by right clicking on the area to access the {Type Area} Object Information form.
See Also