Engineering Solutions

Picking Entities on the Screen

Picking Entities on the Screen

Previous topic Next topic No expanding text in this topic  

Picking Entities on the Screen

Previous topic Next topic JavaScript is required for expanding text JavaScript is required for the print function  

After you select the correct data type, you can use the mouse to pick the desired entities in the graphics area of the screen. Each type of entity has a pick handle that allows you to select the entity.

Note:For more information about picking entities, see Entity Selection.

The following list indicates the pick handle locations for each type of entity:

Nodes

The pick handle for a node is located at the node. To select a node, move the mouse to the location on the screen where the node resides.  If you need to select nodes on geometry or on an element where nodes do not currently exist, see Picking Nodes on Geometry or Elements.

Elements

Shell and solid element pick handles are displayed as pixels at the centroid of the element. 1D element pick handles are displayed as letters at the centroid of the elements:

 


K
M
BAR2
BAR3
R
RL
W
RBE3
J
ROD
GAP

spring
masses
bar2
bar3
rigid
rigid link
weld
rbe3
joint
rod
gap

 

Click the Display Element Handles icon on the Display toolbar to switch the display of element handles on or off. Element handles can be selected whether or not they are displayed.

Lines

Each segment of a line has pick handles along its length. Each pick handle is displayed as a small "+."  If there are many pick handles, a "+" is displayed at only some of the pick handles.

Click the Display Element Handles icon on the Display toolbar to switch the display of element handles on or off.

Surfaces

Surfaces do not have pick handles. Surfaces can be selected along their edges or on interior UV lines (also known as surface lines).

Components

Components do not have pick handles. A component can be selected by picking an element, line, or surface within that component.

Systems

The pick handle for a coordinate system is located at the origin of the system.

System Collectors

System collectors do not have pick handles. To select a system collector, simply select a system within that system collector.

Loads

The pick handle for a load is located at the pick handle of the entity to which the load is applied.

Load Collectors

Load collectors do not have pick handles. To select a load collector, simply select a load within that system collector.

Plots

A plot can be selected by picking within its border.

Blocks

Blocks do not have pick handles. Blocks are drawn in shaded mode with transparency and can be selected by picking anywhere on the entity.

Titles

A title can be selected by picking  within its bounding box.

Vectors

Vector pick handles are located at the arrow tip of the vector.

Curves

A curve can be selected by clicking anywhere along the curve.

 

 

See Also:

Entity selectors

Input Controls