Loaded with Features!
Hidden Features in VisualAnalysis, Part 2

Continuing our series of "It already does that!" features in VisualAnalysis that we began last month, we look to loading tips and tricks in this issue. Our goal here is to help you get the most out of your IES tools!

Member Loads
Believe it or not you do not have to split members in order to apply point loads at nodes in VisualAnalysis. The ability to apply member loads ANYWHERE on the member without a node has been in the software since 1994. (Don't laugh, this was standard practice in 1984 and some habits die hard!)

Applying Multiple Loads
Are you tediously applying one load at a time? Try this easy trick:

1. Hold the Ctrl key and click on the members that you want to load.
2. Then right-click the mouse and choose Apply Member Loads from the pop-up menu.

Copying & Scaling Loads
Tired of creating the same kinds of loads on the same members in 3 or 4 load cases? Try this:

1. Select all the member loads in the Model View (Shift+Click on a load).
2. Choose Model | Generate Copies...to copy the loads to another load case.
3. In version 5.x you also have the option to scale the loads in a linear (Ax + B) fashion by supplying the numerical factors A and/or B.

Copy & Paste Loading
You may also copy a load from one member to others using this procedure:

1. Select the load to copy by clicking.
2. Choose Edit | Copy.
3. Select the members to receive the load and choose Edit | Paste Load on Selected Members.

Calculating Tributary Area Loads
If you have VisualTools, you have the ability to automatically calculate area loads. The Member Load Generator distributes loads in a one-way or two-way fashion. Here's how:

1. Select all the members to receive loads.
2. Choose Load | Member Load Generator (in VA 4, use Tools | Member Load Generator).

[to Contents]

Customer Meetings

Terry has been traveling coast-to-coast this summer and taking the opportunity to meet with customers face to face. These meetings are providing IES with valuable insight as to why IES products help you succeed and how we can improve them in the near future.

Your ideas and insights are just as important! Please take a minute (perhaps while you are on vacation in August) to make an IES wish list, a gripe list, or just to tell us about something that works well in our tools. Use the suggestion box on our web site or send us an email or a CD in the mail, depending on the size of your list.