This tip only applies to the MicroStation version of ProStructures SELECTseries 6 (not release yet)
With ProStructures SELECTseries 6 for MicroStation, you will notice a new page available in the Global Settings called "Snaps".
In this page you have the option to enable what is called the "ProStructure snaps" or the "ProStructure legacy snaps" and to enable the "ProStructure tooltip" as well.
What happens if I don't activate any of the two snaps? What is the difference between the two snaps? What is the tooltip for? I'll explain this in this tip.
Q.1) What if I don't use neither of the snaps?
A.1) In this case you will be using the standard MicroStation snaps. The Tooltip option, even if enbled will not display.
Q.2) What do the ProStructures snaps do?
A.2) When activated the selection of insertion points will forget the MicroStation snaps and use the shape's start point, end points and mid point to distribute.
You can change these to the MicroStation "Keypoint Snap Divisor" by pressing the "K" key and selecting the number of division you want. For example 6 in the image bellow.
You will also get the option to flip from all 10 available snaps points at each division point allong the shape using the keyboard Arrows, PageUp, PageDown, Home & End keys.
The keys do the following:
- Arrow keys = "up/down" (1-4-7 if starting at point 1) or "left/right" (1-2-3 if starting at point 1)
- Page Up/Page Down = cycles between ALL points sequentially
- Home = goes to the insertion point
- End = goes to the center of gravity (point 10 in the image above if the element is an angle)
Q.3) What do the ProStructures legacy snaps do?
A.3) When using only legacy snaps, you will get standard MicroStation snaps and centerline snaps at both ends and divisions (MicroStation "Keypoint Snap Divisor" once again) of the shape.
Q.4) What is the tooltip and how do I customize it?
A.4) When activated the tool tip will show while selecting insertion points. The information shown by default is the following:
This infornation can be customized by editing the tooltip.ini file located in the PRG folder.
Lets say we want to change the tooltip to show the name, length, material & description index.
This is the original line we would need to change:
Form=Postion=%POSITION%\nPickPoint=%PICKPOINT%\nType=%TYPE%\nShapeName=%NAME%\nZcoordinate=%ZCOORDINATE%
This is the new line to use:
Form=Name=%NAME%\nLength=%LENGTH%\nMaterial=%MATERIALNAME%\nFDF=%FREEDESCRIPTION%
Note: In order to get a better result with these snaps it is suggested to be in wireframe mode.