ProtaSteel Toolbar & User Interface

Toolbars Menu

The top menu contains various ribbons that group the relevant toolbars to most frequently used commands & functions.
To display the tooltip of a button, hover the mouse cursor over that button. Read the information carefully as it contains detail instruction on how to use the function. 


Most toolbar buttons, like the Purlin, Sag Rod command, accept "Shift" key + Left button clicks : 

  1. This opens a dialog box displaying the default settings of that command, example setting profile type. 
  2. You can change it and then Set As Default to be reused henceforth.

The main toolbars are summarized below :

File

  1. Create New Project : Create a new empty ProtaSteel Model.  
    1. This is only meant for testing purposes.  Always create the model in ProtaStructure & export to ProtaSteel
  2. Open Existing Project
  3. Save Project
  4. Save As : Save the project as another name
  5. Project Preferences : Set preferences such as connection design code, steel grades, plates thickness, bolts, etc. 
  6. Close Project
  7. Settings :
    1. General Settings : Set Project Home Directory, Autob=Backup & AutoSave intervals , etc. 
    2. User Interface : Set Background color, OpenGL Driver, Language, etc
  8. About ProtaSteel : Show license information, version & Prota offices address, contact & emails. 
  9. Exit

Steel


  1. Steel Elements Tool : You can only create joist, purlin, girt & stair member (Stringer).  Main members such as beam, column & brace must be created in ProtaStructure.
    1. Purlin : Create steel purlin
    2. Girt : Create steel girt
    3. Joist : Create steel joist
    4. Stringer : Create steel stringer (staircase member)
  2. Detailing Tool : Detailing tools such as weld creation, section plate creation, chamfer, bolt creation and detailing Item Manager.
    1. Plate : Create steel plate
    2. Sectional Plate : Create sectional steel plate
    3. Chamfer : Create chamfer for plate
    4. Bolt : Create bolt group or bolt holes for holding down bolt
    5. Weld : Create weld between steel members
    6. Eaves : Create eaves beam
    7. Embed Fishmouth : Create embed fishmouth
    8. Detailing Item Manager : Create section/connection detailing. For more information, please refer to Detailing Item Manager.

IntelliConnect


  1. IntelliConnect Wizards : IntelliConnect can automatically create connections for various types of elements and profiles. IntelliConnect can provide solution for 36 different cases grouped in 11 categories.
  2. IntelliConnect Tools : Node Control and Clear Node information can be perform to ensure connection can be create properly.
For more information on IntelliConnect, please refer to IntelliConnect.

Edit


  1. Copy & Move : Commands to copy, move, mirror or rotate members
    1. Copy by Entering Distance  : Replicates the selected items by applying distance.
    2. Copy by Selecting Two Points : Replicates the selected items by selecting start point and destination point
    3. Move by Distance : Moves the selected items by applying distance.
    4. Move by Selecting Two Points : Moves the selected items by selecting start point and destination point
    5. Mirror : Replicates or moves selected items with respect to specific plane of symmetry
    6. Rotate : Replicates or moves the selected items by rotating around a specified axis
  2. Cut Operations : Commands to cut members. For more explanation, please refer to Cut Function.
  3. Reference Objects : Commands to measure, create/modify existing grid, construction lines, points and dimension.
  4. Selection : Commands to filter select, show and hide members
  5. Misc. : Commands to edit material, add/remove profile annotation and edit frame manually.
    1. Material : add/modify/delete member Material in ProtaSteel
    2. Profile Annotation : Assign profile annotation to shows in modelling view. (Ensure General Definition > Annotation has been set)
    3. Edit Frame: Break/Join Frame(s). While "End Point Operations" allow user to select/swap/adjust member insertion points.

View


  1. Model View : Commands to add views, adjust draw mode, Projection mode, set visibility, view filter, zoom and view view arrangement
    1. Object Draw Mode : Solid, Contour Solid, WireFrame, Line

  2. Set Workplane : Commands to set/reset workplane
  3. User Interface : Commands to modify user interface in ProtaSteel

Drawings & Reports


  1. Drawings : Command to access Drawing Module, Perform Numbering and create/open part/assembly drawing. For more information on Drawings, please refer to Engineering Drawings Overview.
  2. Material List : Quantity take off can be view and produce here. For more information, please refer to Creating Material TakeOff for Steel Structures
  3. Connection Design Checks : Location where user can create/show connection report and connection design summary.

Tools


  1. Database : Command to allows user to create/modify/remove member and bolt profile in ProtaSteel. 
  2. Diagnostic Tools : Clash check, audit model can be performed to highlight modelling mistakes and connection macro can be reset to default setting here. Please refer to Diagnostic Tools

BIM


  1. Bim Links : BIM supported tool to import model from ProtaStructure, DXF or export to IFC/NC/Tekla.

Help


  1. Help : Quick access to Prota Help Center, Basic Training Guide, shortcuts keys and ProtaSteel information (e.g. version).

Actions & Shortcuts

Pressing F3 key will launch the Actions & Shortcuts menu. 
This allows you to search and execute any commands, as an alternative to clicking the icons in the main toolbar menu. 

The below are description of the functions with reference to the above dialog : 
1.  Search :  Type text or keywords to search for the action or command. 
2.  Action & Keyword :  List all the action / commands & the associated Keyword.
  1. This list re-sort and narrow down depending on words typed in Search field above. 
  2. Assign Keywords to the command to ease your search. 
  3. Select the Action / Command you wish to execute. 
3. Hint : Show hint or description of the command selected.
4.  Filters :  Apply these filters to narrow down the Search.
5.  After selecting the Action command, the following buttons can be executed : 
  1. Properties (right-click) : Brings out the associated Settings dialog  (wait abit for the dialog to appear)
  2. Execute (double-click) :  Execute or run the selected command
  3. Change Shortcut : Change the keyword of the selected command


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