to draw a straight or curved frame object, a cable, or a tendon.Use the Draw menu > Quick Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon command or the Quick Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon button to draw a straight or curved frame object, a cable, or a tendon.
Click the View menu > Show Grids command to turn the grids on.
Click the Quick Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon button or the Draw menu > Quick Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon command to display the floating Properties of Object form and switch to drawing a frame object on the grid lines between grid intersections.
Click the Line Object Type drop-down list to display the available options for the object: Straight Frame, Curved Frame, Cable, or Tendon. Choose the appropriate option. Use the other drop-down lists and edit box to select additional parameters, such as the Section (frame, cable, tendon), Moment Releases, XY Plane Offset Normal, and Drawing Control Type.
Straight Frame option.
Click on a grid line to quickly draw a straight frame section along the grid line between the grid intersections. Every subsequent click will add another straight frame object unless a double click on the same grid line is performed or the Enter key is pressed. Pressing the ESC key will also terminate the sequential drawing mode and enable Select mode.
Curved Frame option.
Click on the grid line to locate the beginning and ending points for the curved frame. When the mouse button is released, the Curved Frame Geometry form displays. Use the form to review/change the section property, number of linear segments, computed coordinates of the linear segments and so on.
Cable option.
Click on the grid line to quickly draw a cable along the grid line between grid intersections. When the mouse button is released, the Cable Geometry form displays. Use the form to review/change the section property, cable unit weight, number of linear segments, computed coordinates of the linear segments and so on.
Tendon option.
Click on a grid line to quickly draw a tendon along the grid line between grid intersections. When the mouse button is released, the Tendon Data for Line Object {Number} form displays. Use the form to review/change the section property, cable unit weight, number of linear segments, computed coordinates of the linear segments and so on.
Example: Use of this command is demonstrated in Problem Q.
See Also