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To add beams by drawing on a grid

1. On the Geometry ribbon tab, select the Grids > Snap Grid Beam tool in the Structure group.

The Snap Node-Beam dialog opens and the current grid is displayed in the ac ve View window.

Tip: The dialog and grid are automa cally opened if you select Start adding beams in the New model wizard.

2. (Op onal) Either:

click Edit to edit the currently selected grid

or

click Create to create a new custom grid (radial and irregular grids must be custom)

3. (Op onal) Set the Snap to exis ng nodes too

Note: Exis ng nodes have precedence over grid intersec ons, in order to prevent crea ng duplicate nodes.

4. If it is not already ac ve, click Snap Node/Beam in the Snap Node/Beam dialog.
5. In the Ac ve view window, click any grid intersec on or exis ng node (if the op on was set) to select the start point of a
new beam member.

A cross icon "snaps" to the nearest grid line intersec on or exis ng node to the mouse pointer. This indicates the
tenta ve point for placing a beam end. Once the start end is selected, a red circle indicates the start point and a line is
rubber-banded to the snap point nearest the mouse pointer.

6. Click the end point of the beam.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 un l you are finished drawing beams.

8. To stop drawing beams, either:

press <Esc>

or

click Snap Node/Beam in the Snap Node/Beam dialog