Working with the Sidebar

The SOFiPLUS(-X) sidebar supports common features for AutoCAD palettes like extraction into a separate palette, auto-hide, docking, etc.

System

The commands for the generally relevant parameters are available here. Use the context menu on items in the tree to see a list of available options.

Messages

If urgent warnings or errors occur while opening a drawing or working with the program, these are listed on the Messages tab. Some warnings and errors provide means to zoom to, edit or delete affected objects in the context menu.

Command Options

For some commands, additional options become available. For example, when using the Structural Area Wall or Structural Column commands the Height can be specified in this tab. Some additional information during a command is shown in ths tab, too. For example, when working with the prestressing commands or the command Create Objects between Placements.

Structural Elements

Commands for creation and modification of structural elements can be found in this tab.

Loads

Commands for creation and modification of free and elementbound loads.

Prestressing

The commands to define prestressing for beam, shell and slab systems can be found here.

Tools

In this tab important commands for input, organisation and visualisation of the structural system can be found.

Cross Section Editor

Commands for creation and modification of user defined sections can be found in this tab. This tab is visible, if the cross section editor work area is visible.

The cross section editor work area can be opened by double clicking on an existing cross section or by creating a new cross section via the context menu in the sidebar tab system.

Depending on the selected running mode, all special cross section editor will be available for use. When attempting to use a command that is not valid for the running mode, a message will appear to warn the user.

Filter

Filters can help to organize objects in a SOFiPLUS(-X) drawing by showing and hiding objects depending on conditions applied to their properties.

SOFiPLUS(-X) provides pre-defined filters which can be applied to the structure (element type and group) and loads (load element type and load case number).

User-defined filters can be used to create custom combinations of conditions on element types and properties. The list of available properties contains most of the element properties which are available in the regular AutoCAD/SOFiPLUS-X properties palette (command: _PROPERTIES) as well as a few useful properties especially designed to be used with the filters.

Note

The commands _ISOLATE and _LAYER interact with the filters, i.e. any elements hidden by those commands will stay hidden even if a filter would actually select them to be displayed.