Drawing

Entering Draw Mode & Creating Nodes

Press Ctrl+D or click the Draw toolin the toolbar to enter Draw mode.

1. Click anywhere on the canvas to place a node
2. Click again to place another node - a member is automatically created between them
3. Continue clicking to create connected members
4. Press Escape to finish the current chain
5. Click on an existing node to start a new chain from that point

Snapping

AutoCalcs provides intelligent snapping to help you draw accurately:

• Node Snap - Snap to existing nodes
• Midpoint Snap - Snap to member midpoints
• Axis Snap - Snap to X, Y, or Z axes from the last point
• Angle Snap - Snap to 30° or 45° increments

  Note: This only works when drawing in a 2D plane.

Toggle snapping options using the Snapping buttonin the top ribbon.

Coordinate Input

For precise placement, you can type coordinates directly into the input fields at the top right of the screen while drawing:

• Absolute Coordinates (X, Y, Z):

  After entering Draw mode, type the X, Y, and Z coordinates separated by pressing Tab (e.g., 5 Tab 0 Tab 3) to place the starting node at that exact global position. You can navigate between these input fields using the arrow keys.

• Distance:

  Once the first node is placed, a distance input field appears in the top right. Move your mouse to define the direction, then type the desired length and press Enter to draw the member.

• Distance & Angle:

  When drawing in a 2D plane (such as Top or Front view), an additional angle input field appears. You can specify both the length and the angle (e.g., length 5 and angle 45°) to draw the member precisely.

Drawing Tips

• Use standard views (1-9 keys) for drawing in specific planes (e.g., Top, Front).
• Zoom in for more precise node placement when not using coordinates.
• Use the coordinate input for exact dimensions to ensure accuracy.