Menu and tool button

There are two types of user interfaces to launch or execute functions of VisualFEA: menu and tool button. They are used in most software with graphical user interfaces. There f o re, it is not necessary to explain what they are. Instead, it is worth mentioning that their characteristics and roles in VisualFEA are distinctively separated. Menu is generally used to start or execute a single operation, while tool palette is used for sustained operation. For example, intersecting two curves is a function achieved by one time execution, and is activated by selection of a menu command. On the other hand, creating a spline curve is a sustained operation requiring a continuous input, and thus launched by clicking a button in tool palette.

Roles of menu and tool palette are completely separated. That is, no menu commands and tool button commands are overlapped with each other. However, a tool palette command may be launched while a menu command is being executed, and vice versa. In fact, tool button and menu commands are separated chiefly in order to enable activation of multiple functions at the same time.

>  Menu

Menu consists of a menu bar and pulldown menus. The menu bar has a number of head menu items. The menu bar items are changeable depending on the command in action, but the following items are always shown: 

	File : menu has items related to opening, closing, saving, and printing files. This menu also has commands for getting information or updating the status on the current file.
	Edit : menu has editing commands including duplicating, intersecting and linking objects. There are many other commands for inputting and editing data.
	View : menu has commands related to grid setting and view transformation of the main window.
	Render : menu has the options related to the method of rendering the model, and the method of view projection.
	Divide : menu has the command to divide curves for mesh generation, and items to set curve divisions and weights.
	Mesh : menu has the commands to generate surface and volume meshes by various mesh generation schemes.
	Assign : menu has the commands related to assigning attributes and various conditions to the model.
	Solve : has the command to execute the finite element analysis of the model. The menu also has other items related to finite element processing and education of finite element method.
	Postpro : menu has the items related to visualization of the analysis results.

 A menu command is issued by choosing the corresponding menu item. There are menu items with alternative commands, which can be invoked by pressing option key when choosing the menu item. Some menu items are disabled when the command cannot be issued. Some items have a submenu which also has menu items.

> Tool button

	The tool palette contains buttons and editable text boxes. Various functions or commands are executed or launched by pressing one of these buttons. The selected button is highlighted for indication of its pressed state. Always one and only one button is highlighted. There are 6 parts in the tool palette as follows:
		Input tools: create curves or primitive surfaces by inputting the coordinates of their control points.
		Selection tools: select objects including curves, primitive surfaces, nodes, elements, and meshes.
		Object operation tools: do various operations such as reshaping, moving, rescaling , or rotating the selected objects. Visual aids such as contour marks, parallel planes, c ross planes, or cutting planes can also be set by using one of these tools.
		Grid tools: manipulate the grid system. Each one of the xy, yz, and zx grid planes can be moved, resized, or turned on and off by using the grid tools. Three dimensional cursor may be popped, and be set at the desired location in 3-D space.
		View transformation tools: change the view of the models in 3-dimensional space. Virtual trackball to rotate the view direction, zoom dial to zoom in or out, and instant zoom buttons are included.
		Data edit texts: a re used for keyboard input of coordinates, angles, and other digital values relevant to the action in progress.

	The tool buttons are displayed in one of the following 3 states:
		Pressed button : The command associated with this button is now in action. There is always one and only one pressed button in the tool palette.
		Active button : This button is not pressed, but can be pressed to launch the function associated with this button.
		Inactive button : This button is disabled, and can not be pressed .
	Activation and deactivation of the tool buttons are automatically determined by VisualFEA, as appropriate for the current state of action.