The Struxt3D interface: Simple and Full

Struxt3D has one 3D view and two ways of working around it. The setup steps build the model from a template. The workspace is where you analyse, design and edit. In the workspace you choose between the Simple interface — a few panels floating over the model — and the Full interface, with menus, toolbars, an explorer, a properties panel and tables. Both show the same project, selection and results.

#The setup steps

While you set up a model, the top bar shows four numbered steps: Template, Size, Materials and Supports & loads. A finished step shows a tick; click any step to go back to it. Steps after Template are available once the project has a model. On the right of the bar, Skip to workspace takes you straight to the workspace (or Open workspace if there is no model yet, for drawing by hand).

Each step is a panel on the left with the model beside it. The panel's header names the template (with a Change link back to the gallery), and its footer has Back and a Next button. The last step's button is Run analysis.

#The Simple workspace

#Top bar

From left to right: the Struxt3D logo, the project name (click to rename), the Simple | Full switch, the Model | Results switch, then undo, redo, open and save, and a primary button. The primary button is Run in Model mode; in Results mode it becomes Unlock, which returns to Model mode so you can edit.

#Model and Results modes

Model shows the structure as built, and lets you select and edit it. Results shows the analysis on the model: deflected shape, forces, utilization and more. Clicking Results before you have results runs the analysis. Any change to the model clears the results, and the app returns to Model mode — run again to see the new ones. Changing only a design setting keeps the analysis and drops just the design results.

#Left: tools and setup

In Model mode, a dock holds the drawing tools — Select, Member, Node, Support, Point load, Delete — and the view buttons Fit all, Isometric view, Top view and Front view. Below it, the Setup card summarises the template, size, materials and loads; click a line to reopen that step. In Results mode the dock keeps only the view buttons, and the card shows the load case and the Show list.

#Centre: hints

When a tool is active, a hint at the top of the view says what to click, with a Done button. At the bottom, a hint reminds you to click a member to edit it, with a Run button. In Results mode the colour legend sits at the bottom, with Animate at its left end when a deformed shape is shown.

#Right: inspector and summary

Selecting a member, node or footing opens its inspector on the right (see Editing the model). In Results mode a summary card shows the largest movement, the load on the supports, the number of load cases and combinations, and buttons for Run design, Calculation report and Shop drawings.

#The Full interface

Switch with Full in the top bar, or the Switch to Full link on the Setup card. The first time, the app asks whether to switch and offers Open in Full next time; tick it to make Full your default. Switch back with Simple, View › Simple interface or Help › Switch to the Simple interface. Full is a workspace layout: the setup steps look the same in both.

#Menu bar

Menu	What it holds
File	New from template…, New blank model, Open…, Save, Export the table as CSV, Calculation report…, Report of the selection…, Shop drawings…, Export to OpenSees (.tcl, .py)…
Edit	Undo, Redo, Delete, Clear the selection
View	Fit all, 3D view, Top view, Front view, Show analysis mesh, Selection, Tables and messages, Simple / Full interface
Define	Template and size…, Materials and sections…, Supports and loads… (reopen the setup steps)
Draw	The six tools: Select, Member, Node, Support, Point load, Delete
Assign	Member ends (Rigid ends, Pinned at both ends, at the start, at the end), Add a line load; node supports (No, Fixed, Pinned, Roller support), Add a point load
Analyze	Run analysis, Show the results, Edit the model
Design	Run design (Design again), Design settings…, reports, Shop drawings…, and switches for auto-sizing and each family of checks, plus the design tables
Results	Each result quantity, Bars only, Animate, Design table, Reactions and the other results tables
Help	Keyboard shortcuts, Switch to the Simple interface

Menus open with a click and can be walked with the arrow keys. Greyed items need something first — a selection, results, or a design.

#Toolbar

In Model mode: open, save, undo, redo; fit all, the selection switch and the views; the draw tools; a Loads shown list to draw one load case's loads on the model; and Tables and messages. In Results mode the toolbar holds a Result list, the load case or combination list, and Animate.

#Explorer

The Model explorer lists the project's Levels (click one to show only that level in the tables), Members by group with their sections, Panels by kind, Supports, Load cases and added loads, and Messages. Clicking a group selects all its members. In Results mode it becomes the Results explorer, with links to each results table and design count.

#Properties

Shows whatever is selected — a member, node, group or footing — with every editable field, including a member's rotation, end releases and line loads, which Simple does not show. With nothing selected it shows the project's code, material and counts, with links to the setup steps. Design › Design settings… opens the design settings here.

#Tables

The bottom panel holds tabs: Members, Nodes, Supports, Added loads and Messages in Model mode; after an analysis also Member forces, Reactions, Displacements and Modes, and after a design Design, Connections, Slabs & plates, Shear walls, Footings and Composite beams where the model has them. Members (group, rotation, ends) and nodes (X, Y, Z) can be edited in the table. Type in Filter rows to narrow a table, click a row to select it in the view, and use the download button to export the table as CSV. Hide or show the panel with View › Tables and messages.

#Status bar

Along the bottom: the state (Ready, Results ready, Analysed · not designed, or how many members fail), the node, member and panel counts, the selection, the active tool, the number of degrees of freedom and solve time, the units (kN, m) and the design code.

#Moving around the 3D view

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom and drag with the right or middle button to pan. Use the view buttons — fit all, isometric, top, front — to reset. The view is the same in both interfaces.