The RAM Structural System V8i

SELECTseries 5TM

3D Viewer
Release 14.05
July 2012

Bentley Systems, Inc.

2744 Loker Avenue West, Suite 103
Carlsbad, CA 92010
Telephone: (760) 431-3610
Toll Free: (800) 726-7789
Fax: (760) 431-5214

DAA036830-1/0012

TRADEMARK NOTICE
Bentley and the "B" Bentley logo are registered or non-registered trademarks of Bentley Systems,
Incorporated.
RAM Structural System, RAM SBeam, RAM Manager, RAM Modeler, RAM Steel, RAM Frame, RAM
Foundation and RAM Concrete are registered or non-registered trademarks of Bentley Systems,
Incorporated.
All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright (c) 2012 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
Including software, file formats, and audiovisual displays; may only be used pursuant to applicable software
license agreement; contains confidential and proprietary information of Bentley Systems, Incorporated
and/or third parties which is protected by copyright and trade secret law and may not be provided or
otherwise made available without proper authorization.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Objective Grid C++ Library Copyright Rogue Wave Software, Inc.
Virtual Print Engine (VPE) Copyright IDEAL Software
CM2 MeshTools Computing Objects SARL
Math Kernel Library (MKL) Intel Corporation
The Boost Graph Library (BGL) Siek, J.G., Lee, L., and Lumsdaine, A.
Ultimate Toolbox Dundas Software Ltd.
TurboDXF Ideal Engineering
Portions Copyright Microsoft Corporation
Includes Adobe(R) PDF Library technology. Portions Copyright (c) Adobe Systems, Inc.
Clipper library Angus Johnson
zlib software Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.

RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGENDS

If this software is acquired for or on behalf of the United States of America, its agencies and/or
instrumentalities ("U.S. Government"), it is provided with restricted rights. This software and accompanying
documentation are "commercial computer software" and "commercial computer software documentation,"
respectively, pursuant to 48 C.F.R. 12.212 and 227.7202, and "restricted computer software" pursuant to 48
C.F.R. 52.227-19(a), as applicable. Use, modification, reproduction, release, performance, display or
disclosure of this software and accompanying documentation by the U.S. Government are subject to
restrictions as set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to 48 C.F.R. 12.212, 52.227-19, 227.7202, and
1852.227-86, as applicable. Contractor/Manufacturer is Bentley Systems, Incorporated, 685 Stockton Drive,
Exton, PA 19341-0678.
Unpublished - rights reserved under the Copyright Laws of the United States and International treaties.

DISCLAIMER
The software and related documentation, including this documentation, are protected by both United States
copyright law and international treaty provisions. Any unauthorized copying or reproduction is strictly
prohibited and subject to civil and criminal penalties. Please refer to the License Agreement for
authorization to make a backup copy of the software. You may not sell this software or documentation or
give copies of them away to anyone else.
Except as expressly warranted in the License Agreement, RAM International disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose, with respect to the software, the accompanying written materials, and any accompanying
hardware. All results should be verified to the users satisfaction. The contents of these written materials
may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors and may be revised without prior notice.

3D Viewer
Table of Contents
1
2

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
3D Viewer Basics ............................................................................................................................................ 3
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7

Invoking 3D Viewer.................................................................................................................................................... 3
Toolbars ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
The View Commands.................................................................................................................................................. 5
Other Commands ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
Coordinate Systems ................................................................................................................................................... 14
Print Screen, Preview and Setup ...............................................................................................................................15
Exiting ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15

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Introduction

1 Introduction
The 3D Viewer creates and displays a 3 dimensional (xyz axes) representation of the currently loaded
model. It can also display Plan (horizontal planar xy axes) or Elevation (vertical) views of the model.
Additionally, the 3D Viewer provides dialogs for specifying display of some common member properties
and for printing of the current view. The 3D Viewer provides model display for the RAM Manager, RAM
Modeler, RAM Steel Column, RAM Concrete, RAM Shearwall Forces and 3D View only.

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2 3D Viewer Basics
This chapter explains the basics of the 3D Viewer program, including invoking the program and using the
various view and navigation options.

2.1 Invoking 3D Viewer

3D Viewer is invoked by selecting the View 3D View command or clicking the 3D Viewer
button in either the RAM Manager or RAM Modeler.

2.2 Toolbars
Two (2) default toolbars exist in 3D Viewer. These toolbars are initially located at the top of the window
just below the menu but can be docked anywhere in the window. The toolbars provides a convenient and
graphical means of executing the commands. Buttons that are grayed out are currently unavailable for
selection. In the picture below, the vertically stacked buttons represent different graphics that may be
displayed on the same button.
Save not available in 3D Viewer
Print displays the print dialog
Model Notes launches models notes
View 3D displays the current model in 3D view (default view).
View Plan displays a dialog to select a floor to view in plan mode.
View Elevation turns the cursor into a target cursor. Click on a horizontal member,
excluding foundations, to view in elevation.
Find shows find members dialog for locating specific members on screen.
View Members displays the Member Options dialog to allow control over the display of
members on the screen.
View Extents displays the Select Extents dialog to allow control over what extent of
the model will be displayed on the screen.
View Nodal Loads displays the Nodal Load Options dialog to allow control over what
nodal loads information will be displayed on the screen.
Wall Openings shows wall opening numbers in wall openings

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View Zoom Full restores the screen to its original scale after a Zoom - Fence is
performed
View Zoom Fence is used for zooming in on a specified area. The desired zoom area is
enclosed by a rectangle drawn on the screen using the arrow cursor.
View Zoom In incrementally zooms in on the area currently displayed on screen
View Zoom Out incrementally zooms out on the area currently displayed on screen
View Zoom Previous returns to the most recent (previous) zoom location.
View Navigation Rotate/Pan toggles between rotate and pan modes. The icon
changes to represent current mode.

View Resolution Medium/High/Low switches graphics display between Low, Medium

and High-resolution shapes display. The icon changes to indicate current resolution.

View Projection Orthographic/Perspective toggles between orthographic and

perspective display modes. The icon changes to represent current mode.

Reset Model resets changes to the display that have been turned on by a module.
Pen Colors provides the user with means to change the color of the member types as
they appear on the screen using the Pen Colors dialog box.
Scale Text displays a dialog to adjust the size of the text displayed on screen.
Increase Text Size increases the size of the text on the screen by a given increment.
Decrease Text Size decreases the size of the text on the screen by a given increment.
Scale Symbols displays a dialog to adjust the scale of symbols displayed on screen.
Increase Symbol Size increases the size of symbols on the screen by a given increment.
Decrease Symbol Size decreases the size of symbols on the screen by a given increment.
Show/Hide Braces turns on or off the display of braces. (button shown in display
on state)
Show/Hide Gravity Columns turns on or off the display of gravity columns. (button
shown in display on state)
Show/Hide Gravity Beams turns on or off the display of gravity beams. (button
shown in display on state)
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Show/Hide Gravity Walls turns on or off the display of gravity walls. (button shown
in display on state)
Show/Hide Foundations turns on or off the display of foundations. (button shown in
display on state)
Show/Hide Grids turns on or off the display of grids. (button shown in display on
state)
Show/Hide Slab/decks turns on or off the display of slabs/decks. (button shown in
display on state)

2.3 The View Commands

The 3D Viewer provides two methods of accessing the View commands: a tool bar and a command menu.
The order of the commands in the View menu does not necessarily correspond to the order of the commands
on the toolbar. The commands are listed in this section in the order they appear in the toolbar. Those
commands not described below should be self-evident and are described briefly in the toolbar description in
Section 2.2, Toolbars. The view commands are used to manipulate the model (orientation, colors) and also
to determine what information is displayed on the screen.

2.3.1 View 3D
The View 3D command shows the structure in a three dimensional perspective allowing the user to view all the
members of the model on the screen at the same time.

2.3.2 View Plan

The View Plan command allows the engineer to select any story to display in plan. Once a
story is selected from the available list the screen will draw the selected story in plan view.

2.3.3 View Elevation

Selecting the View Elevation command causes the target cursor to appear. By clicking on
any horizontal member, foundations excluded, the elevation of the frame containing the
clicked-on member is displayed.

2.3.4 Find Member

A Find command has been added to the RAM Modeler, the 3D Viewer, and RAM Concrete.
It may be invoked by either selecting Find under the View menu or by clicking the
toolbar button.
The Find member dialog has three (3) data fields. The first is a drop down list box used for selecting a
story. The second is a list box used to select a member type. These list boxes are pre-filled with any
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available choices. The third field is a text edit box for the member number of interest and must be entered
by the user.
When the current view is in Plan mode, the story list box will have the current plans story automatically
selected. While in Plan mode no other story may be selected.
The member type selection defaults to Beam. This selection may be changed at any time.
After entering a member number to find, click the Find button. If the member is found, its coordinates
will be displayed in the dialog and its graphic will flash on the screen cycling through various colors and
then return to its original color. Clicking the Find button again will cause the member to re-flash.
The following is an example of a Plan mode Find dialog where beam 8 has been found on the Roof
level:

Figure 2-1
If the member is not found, a Not Found message will be displayed on the dialog as follows:

Figure 2-2
When Find member is invoked while in elevation or 3D view a story must be selected. The following
shows an example of the story drop down list when Find is used while in either Elevation or 3D view
display modes:

Figure 2-3
While Beam is the default find member type, Column, Brace or Wall may also be selected:
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Figure 2-4

Figure 2-5
When using Find in the RAM 3D Viewer or RAM Concrete modules the model may also be
zoomed, rotated and panned and the Member Show Options may be changed.
The Find command does not take into account the current models zoom, rotation or pan. If the member
should be in the current view (indicated by its coordinates being displayed) but it does not appear to flash on
the screen or turn white, try resetting the zoom to full, or rotating or panning the view to bring it back into
the visible display area.

2.3.5 View Members

The View - Members command provides means for controlling the display of members on the
screen using the Member Options dialog box (see Figures 2-6).

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Figure 2-6
There is one tab per member type. Clicking the tab will cause it to move to the top of the stack. On the tab
are check boxes indicating display options. Putting a check in a box indicates that the attribute is to be
displayed. Clearing the check from the box indicates that that attribute should be hidden.
The Decks/Slabs tab allows turning off the loading of a models decks for cases where meshing takes too
long. The display of deck orientation, unique deck property colors and deck transparency level are also set
from this tab.

The Apply button directs the 3D Viewer to redraw the screen with the new options without closing the
dialog box. Interact with the model (rotate, etc.) while this dialog box is displayed by first clicking on the
model view to make it active.

2.3.6 View Extents

The View - Extents command provides control over what extent of the model will be
displayed on the screen using the Select Extents dialog box (see Figure 2-7).

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Figure 2-7
The extent can be indicated as a story range or as a set of specific coordinates. In either case, the status
indicator to the right of the extent controls graphically depicts the amount of the model that will be
displayed.
The Apply button is used to redraw the screen with the indicated extents. The Set to Max button is used to
return to the full view of the model.

2.3.7 View Nodal Loads

The View Nodal Loads command displays the Nodal Loads Options dialog box. Select the
Nodal Load Case(s) to view by clicking on them in the list on the right. Select Display to
display the x,y,z components of the load (represented by arrows). Select Labels to display either the Load
Labels or the Magnitude of the loads as text labels on the arrows. See Figure 2-8.

Figure 2-8

2.3.8 View Wall Openings Numbers

The View Wall Opening Numbers command toggles display of wall opening numbers in the
center of any wall openings.

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2.3.9 View Navigation Rotate/Pan

Selecting the View Navigation Rotate/Pan command toggles the navigation function
of the arrow keys between rotate and pan modes. The F3 function key also toggles
the current navigation mode.

Rotate Pan

Only a single toolbar button is displayed at a time. Its icon indicates the current navigation mode.
Both Rotate and Pan modes are available when the model is being displayed in 3D. When a model is
displayed in plan or elevation, only Pan mode is available. Navigation is automatically set to pan mode for
both of these views. See the arrow key functional descriptions for further information.
NOTE: The tooltip (popup text) that is displayed DOES NOT indicate the current navigation mode but
rather indicates the navigation mode that will be switched to if the button is clicked.

2.3.10

View Resolution Low/Medium/High

Selecting the View Resolution Low/Medium/High command switches the
graphics representation of members between simple lines

Low

Medium

High

(low), 3D extruded shapes (medium) and 3D detailed extruded shapes (high). The F4 function key also
switches the current resolution.
A single toolbar button is displayed at a time indicating the current resolution.
NOTE: The tooltip (popup text) that is displayed DOES NOT indicate the current resolution but rather
indicates the resolution that will be switched to if the button is clicked.

2.3.11

View Projection Perspective/Orthographic

Selecting the View Projection Perspective/Orthographic commands
switches the model display mode between perspective and

Perspective

Orthographic

orthographic projections. The F5 function key also switches the current resolution.
A single toolbar button is displayed at one time indicating the current projection mode.
NOTE: The tooltip (popup text) that is displayed DOES NOT indicate the current projection mode but
rather indicates the projection mode that will be switched to if the button is clicked.

2.3.12

Reset Model
The Reset Model command redraws the model removing any text or graphics that were not
displayed through the View Members command. (See Section 2.3.5 for more information on
the View Members command.)

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2.3.13

View - Options - Pen Colors

The View - Options - Pen Colors command provides the user with means to change the color
of the member types as they appear on the screen using the Pen Colors dialog box. The online help provides specific instructions as to how this is done.

2.3.14

View - Options - Scale Text

The View - Options - Scale Text command is used to modify the text size so it is more
easily read on the screen.
The text scale can also be increased or decreased by clicking on the Scale-Up
or Scale-Down icons on the tool bar.

Scale-Up

2.3.15

Scale-Down

View - Options - Scale Symbols

The View - Options - Scale Symbols command is used to modify symbol sizes so they
are more easily seen on the screen.
Symbol scale can also be increased or decreased by clicking on the Scale-Up or
Scale-Down icons on the tool bar.

Scale-Up

Scale-Down

2.4 Other Commands

2.4.1 Model notes
The Model Notes command opens a text file that may be used for entering notes to keep on the currently loaded model.
The model notes file is stored in the same directory as the models files and will have the format modelname.txt.
Invoke the Model Notes command from the File menu.

2.4.2 Arrow Keys

The left, right, up and down arrow keys on the keyboard are used to move the users viewpoint with
respect to the model. The arrow keys functionality depends on the current navigation mode (rotate or pan)
as follows:
Rotate mode:
Left arrow key
Right arrow key
Up arrow key

rotate model counter clock-wise about the models center.

rotate model clock-wise about the models center.
rotate the model forward about the models center (downward in front, upward in

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Down arrow key

back).
rotate the model backwards about the models center (upward in front, downward
in back).

Pan mode:
Left arrow key
Right arrow key
Up arrow key
Down arrow key

move viewpoint left, scrolling the model to the right.

move viewpoint right, scrolling the model to the left.
move viewpoint up scrolling the model to the down.
move viewpoint down, scrolling the model to the up.

2.4.3 F1 Key
The F1 function key displays the 3D Viewer help file.

2.4.4 F2 Key
The F2 function key displays onscreen help for 3D Viewer navigation and the current navigation settings.
See Figure 2-9

Figure 2-9

2.4.5 F3 Key Navigation Mode Rotate/Pan

The F3 function key toggles the current navigation mode. See Section 2.3.9, View Navigation Rotate/Pan

2.4.6 F4 Key Resolution (Low/Medium/High)

The F4 function key switches the current display resolution. See Section 2.3.10, View Resolution
Low/Medium/High

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2.4.7 F5 Key Projection Mode (Perspective/Orthographic)

The F5 function key toggles the current projection mode. See Section 2.3.11, View Projection
Perspective/Orthographic.

2.4.8 F6 Key Zoom/Fly-through Mode

The F6 function key toggles the function of the I/+ and O/- keys.
In Zoom mode the I or + keys enlarges the display of the model about the center of the screen. The O
or - keys perform the reverse function, shrinking the display of the model about the center of the screen.
In Fly-through mode the I or + keys move the viewpoint towards the center of the screen allowing the
user to fly-through the model. The O or - keys perform the reverse function, moving the viewpoint
away from the center of the screen.

2.4.9 F7 Key Reset View

The F7 function key resets the current view to its initial position.

2.4.10

Left-Click Dragging (Panning)

Left-clicking on the model when the cursor is an arrow changes the cursor to a hand icon. While the
cursor is displaying as a hand the model can be dragged in any direction to move it around the screen.
Left-click dragging is provided as an alternate method for panning the model around the screen. Note
that the pan effect is scaled depending on the size of the model and the current zoom level.

2.4.11

Ctrl + Left-Click Dragging (Rotating)

Holding Ctrl and Left-click dragging will rotate the model in the direction of the drag around the center
of the model.
Ctrl + left-click dragging is provided as an alternate method for rotating the model.

2.4.12

Mouse Scroll Wheel Zoom

The mouse scroll wheel will now zoom in (enlarge) or out (shrink) the display of the model about the
center of the screen.

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2.5 Coordinate Systems

2.5.1 Global Coordinate System
The Global coordinate system defines the geometry of floor types. The origin of this coordinate system is
selected arbitrarily by the user. The X and Y axes are fixed by RAM Modeler and are always in plan, the Z
axis is vertical.
Member coordinates are defined in terms of the global coordinate system as shown in Figure 2-10.

Reference Point
Figure 2-10 Plan View of 3D Viewer Global Coordinate System.

2.5.2 Local Coordinate System

The local coordinate system defines the orientation of individual members such as beams, columns, braces
and walls. In general, xy defines the plane of the member.
The following quantities are defined according to the members local coordinate system:

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1. Member forces
2. Element section properties such as moments of inertia.
Z

i
Y

Figure 2-11 Local Coordinate System for an Element.

2.6 Print Screen, Preview and Setup

The current screen view can be printed using the File - Print Screen command or the Print button. File Print Preview provides a means of viewing what the printout will look like before it is printed. File - Print
Setup provides a means of modifying printer selection and settings.
When the view of the screen is printed, the black background is printed white and any white entities are
printed black.

2.7 Exiting
To exit the 3D Viewer:
Double clicking the Control Bar in the upper left corner of the 3D Viewer Window or alternatively click the Control Bar
and selecting the Close command from the drop down menu will close the 3D Viewer.
Select the File - Exit command.

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Index
Nodal Loads .................................................................................... 9

A
Arrow Keys .................................................................................... 11

C
Click and Drag ............................................................................... 13
Colors ........................................................................................ 4, 11
Coordinates
global ....................................................................................... 14
local ......................................................................................... 14

E
Extents ............................................................................................ 8

F
Fly-through ................................................................................... 13

P
Pan ............................................................................................... 12
Print Preview ................................................................................ 15
Print Screen .................................................................................. 15
Projection ..................................................................................... 13

R
Reset....................................................................................... 10, 13
Resolution .............................................................................. 10, 12
Rotate ........................................................................................... 11

T
Toolbars.......................................................................................... 3

Left Click ....................................................................................... 13

Local Coordinate System .............................................................. 14
Low Resolution ............................................................................. 10

View
3D 5
Elevation ................................................................................... 5
Extents ...................................................................................... 8
Members ................................................................................... 7
Navigation ............................................................................... 10
Nodal Loads............................................................................... 9
Options
Pen Colors .......................................................................... 11
Options - Pen Colors.................................................................. 4
Plan ........................................................................................... 5
Projection ................................................................................ 10
Resolution ............................................................................... 10
Zoom - Fence............................................................................. 4
Zoom - Full ................................................................................ 4
View Commands............................................................................. 5
View Menu ..................................................................................... 5

Medium Resolution ...................................................................... 10

Members ........................................................................................ 7

Zoom ........................................................................................ 4, 13

G
Global Coordinate System ............................................................ 14

H
High Resolution............................................................................. 10

N
Navigation............................................................................... 10, 12

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