What's New in Version 2.0.0?
Introduction
Required Hardware and Software
Limitations
User Interface
Steel Section Database and Custom Object Tools
Object Manipulation Tools
Drawing Area Navigation Tools
System Menu Functions
Drawing Aids
Register Your Copy of ShapeCAD
History

Introduction

ShapeCAD is a highly graphical tool for assembling, and calculating section properties for, built up structural shapes. Sections are created using a built in section database for all common structural shape types, and tools for defining custom shapes using plate, square and round bar sections. Any combination of sections, plates and bars can be combined to develop highly customized structural shapes.

Individual elements, multiple elements or the entire assembled shape can be manipulated using familiar CAD methods such as Rotate, Mirror, Move, etc.. Cut and paste ability is also available for copying some or all elements. Advanced CAD aids are used to simplify graphical precision, such as automatic proximate node detection and snapping, as well as traditional tools like grid snapping.

All commonly required section properties are calculated in realtime as shapes are added or manipulated. Section properties can be calculated about a global real world axis, or about the principal axis of the built up section. Section properties can be calculated in both S.I. and Imperial/U.S. units.

Below is a description of the section properties ShapeCAD provides:

• A: Cross sectional area.
• y: Distance to centroid of section, weak neutral axis.
• x: Distance to centroid of section, strong neutral axis.
• d: Section depth.
• b: Section width.
• Ix: Moment of Intertia about strong axis.
• Sx: Elastic section modulus about strong axis (minimum).
• rx: Radius of gyration about strong axis.
• Zx: Plastic section modulus about strong axis.
• Iy: Moment of Intertia about weak axis.
• Sy: Elastic section modulus about weak axis (minimum).
• ry: Radius of gyration about weak axis.
• Zy: Plastic section modulus about weak axis.
• J: St. Venant torsional constant.
• Cw: Warping torsional constant.

ShapeCAD's user interface has the following areas:

Drawing Area:
The drawing area is where all shape objects are added and manipulated. After selecting an object with the shape toolbar, use the mouse to insert objects here. Click on an already inserted shape and the shape's recognized nodes will be highlited. At this point, manipulation tools such as Rotate or Move will affect the object. Objects that are not selected will not be affected by manipulation tools. You can select as many objects as you like. Clicking the whitespace away from any object will de-select all selected objects.

Calculation Area:
This area shows the section properties for the object you have created. It is updated realtime every time a new object is added or an object is manipulated.

Status Bar:
The status bar has the following features:

- Coordinate tracker (far left). It shows the coordinates of the mouse cursor at any time when it is in the Drawing Area.

- Message Box. Next to the coordinate tracker, a text box shows the name of the most recently inserted object or most recently selected object. It also shows ShapeCAD Quick Help items (if this option is selected) while performing common tasks. If you're not sure what the next step is when performing a task in ShapeCAD, look at the Message Box to see if Quick Help is available.

- Text entry area (far right). When an object is inserted and when certain object manipulation tools are used, the text entry area becomes active. This is used for more precision than might be attainable using the graphical tools. Most object manipulation tasks can be accomplished by either graphical or text entry means. The syntax for each text entry method is shown below for each applicable type of action.

Toolbar:
The toolbar has the following features:

Standard file access utilities:
New, Open and Save. These are also available through the system menu (see below).

Print utility:
To print the current shape layout and associated section properies. Printing is also available under the system menu (see below).

Undo utility:
You can undo multiple actions in ShapeCAD if you make a mistake or want to revert to a previous shape state.

Undo utility:
After using the Undo feature, you can Redo multiple commands.

Standard Cut/Copy/Paste functions:
These are used specifically to place objects in the clipboard, retrieve objects from the clipboard and make copies of objects. This is useful for inserting several copies of the same type of object without having to select the object from section database, or re-create it with it with the custom shape tool. These function are also available using the system menu (see below).

Example: To copy an object and insert a second copy: Insert an object in the Drawing Area (see below for how to do this). Click anywhere on the object to select the object. The object's identified nodes will be hi-lighted when the object is selected. Click the "Copy" button in the button bar (holding the mouse cursor over a button without clicking it will display a "tool tip" with the name of the button if help identifying a button is required). This will place a copy of the object in the clipboard. Next hit the "Paste" button. A copy of the selected object will be inserted in the Drawing Area near or adjacent the original object. The copy can now be moved or manipulated to a desired position.

Section Database and Custom Object Creation Tools:

Section Database Tool:
This button brings up a floating tool bar where various types of structural shapes can be inserted. Currently, only sections from the North American market are available, conforming to standards derived from information from the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction. The following types of sections are available in the built-in database:

• "I" type shapes: This button gives a list of Wide Flange (W), Welded Wide Flange (WWF), Standard 'I' shapes (S), Pile shapes (HP) and Light Structural shapes (M and SLB).
• "C" shapes: Channel (C) and Miscellaneous Channel (MC) shapes.
• "L" shapes: Standard Angle shapes (imperial types only).
• "T" shapes: Tee sections derived from wide flange and welded wide flange shapes.
• "HSS" shapes: Square and Rectangular Hollow Structural shapes, (or tube shapes).
• "CHS" shapes: Round Hollow Structural shapes, (or tube shapes).

To insert a shape from the built-in database, hit the shape database button, then select the appropriate type of section. A list of available sections will then be displayed. Highlite a section and hit "OK" to select it (or double click the section in the list). A dialog will then be displayed where the user can define the rotation about the global axis it will be inserted, as well as whether the section should be mirrored about it's weak axis before inserting. Fill in the values, or leave blank to insert the section square to the global axes. The section will now follow the mouse cursor throughout the drawing area. Click anywhere in the drawing area to place the section where desired. Note that the location specified will apply to the bottom, left corner of the section, not the centroid. See the Preferences help section below for a discussion of the use of node snapping and other drafting aids when inserting objects.

Objects can be placed with the following alternate text input method: Once a section is ready to be placed in the drawing area, the text entry box in the status bar is activated and the user can enter text using the keyboard. The syntax for placing an object at a precise location is as follows:

XX, YY (ENTER key)

Where XX is the position along the x axis of the global axis, and YY is the position along the y axis of the global axis. Example: ''100, 200'' to place the bottom left corner of the object at position x=100 and y=200. A text entry with errors will be ignored.

Custom Shape Tool:
This button brings up a floating tool bar where various types of custom shapes can be inserted. Currently, only plates/sqaure bars as well as round bars can be created.

To insert a custom shape, hit the custom shape button, then select the appropriate type of shape. A dialog will then be displayed asking for the geometry of the shape as well as the rotation about the global axis (if applicable). Fill in the values, or leave blank to insert the section square to the global axes. The section will now follow the mouse cursor throughout the drawing area. Click anywhere in the drawing area to place the shape where desired. Note that the location specified will apply to the bottom, left corner of the shape, not the centroid. See below for the use of node snapping and other drafting aids when inserting objects.

See the section database tool help above for a description of the alternate text input method.

Object Manipulation Tools:

Erase Tool:
The erase tool will delete any selected section.

Move Tool:
The move tool is used to move and relocate selected objects.

To move an object, select it by clicking the mouse cursor anywhere inside of the outline of the object. The object's nodes will be visible when it is selected. Select multiple objects if desired. To begin moving an object or objects, click the mouse anywhere in the drawing area as a reference point to move the objects relative to. Then move the mouse cursor the desired distance and direction from the reference point to match the distance and direction you would like the object to move, then click again in the drawing area to drop the objects. See the Preferences help section below for a discussion of the use of node snapping and other drafting aids when inserting objects.

Objects can be moved using the following alternate text input method: Once the move button is pressed, but before the movement reference point is selected, if at least one object is selected, the text entry box in the status bar is activated and the user can enter text using the keyboard. The syntax for moving an object to a precise location, or a precise distance and direction, is as follows:

[+/-]XX, [+/-]YY (ENTER key)

Where XX is the position along the x axis of the global axis, and YY is the position along the y axis of the global axis. The + and/or - qualifiers are optional for either axis. Adding a + or - will move the object relative to it's current position, whereas omitting the + or - qualifer will move the object to an absolute position. Example: ''100, 200'' to move the bottom left corner of the object to position x=100 and y=200. Example: ''+100, 200'' to move the obect 100 units to the right and to move the bottom extent of the object to exactly position 200. Very important: You must use the relative +/- symbol and '0' (zero) if you want to move something along one axis only. Example: ''+100, +0'' moves the item(s) 100 units along the x axis only. Leaving out the '+' before the zero would move the object(s) 100 along the x axis and to the zero position along the y axis. A text entry with errors will be ignored.

Rotate Tool:
The rotate tool is used to rotate selected objects about a reference point.

To rotate an object, select it by clicking the mouse cursor anywhere inside of the outline of the object. The object's nodes will be visible when it is selected. Select multiple objects if desired. To begin rotating an object or objects, click the mouse anywhere in the drawing area as a reference point to rotate the objects about. Then move the mouse cursor around the reference point until the desired object rotation is achieved, then click again in the drawing area to drop the object(s).

Objects can be rotated using the following alternate text input method: Once the rotate button is pressed and after the rotation anchor point selected in the drawing area, and if at least one object is selected, the text entry box in the status bar is activated and the user can enter text using the keyboard. The syntax for rotating an object a precise amount, is as follows:

[+/-]ZZ (ENTER key)

Where ZZ is the number of degrees to rotate the object about the reference point.The + or - qualifiers are optional (+ is assumed if they are omitted). Example: ''45'' will rotate the object exactly 45 degrees counterclockwise about the reference point. A text entry with errors will be ignored.

Mirror Tool:
The mirror tool is used to mirror or flip selected objects about a principal global axis.

To mirror an object, select it by clicking the mouse cursor anywhere inside of the outline of the object. The object's nodes will be visible when it is selected. Select multiple objects if desired. To begin mirroring an object or objects, click the mouse anywhere in the drawing area as a reference point to mirror the objects about. Then move the mouse cursor around the reference until the desired mirror direction is achieved. Note that mirroring is restricted to mirroring about the global principal axes. Now click the mouse in the drawing area to drop the object(s).

Drawing Area Navigation Tools:

Zoom In:
Press the zoom in button to reduce the drawing area scale and make objects appear larger.

Zoom Out:
Press the zoom out button to increase the drawing area scale and make objects appear larger.

Pan Left:
Press the pan left button to shift the drawing area to the right, thus all objects the drawing area to the left.

Pan Right:
Press the pan right button to shift the drawing area to the left, thus all objects the drawing area to the right.

Pan Up:
Press the pan up button to shift the drawing area down, thus all objects the drawing area up.

Pan Down:
Press the pan down button to shift the drawing area up, thus all objects the drawing area down.