Create and Modify Plate Pairs

Creating a New Plate Pair

Step 1 - Start Plate Pair Insertion

Begin insertion by clicking + Create, right-clicking in empty space, or using the Ctrl + Q keyboard shortcut and selecting Plate Pair .

Tip

You can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Q + P to begin inserting a plate pair.

Step 2 - Define the Plate Pair

Use the Plate Insertion panel to define the Plate Type, Plate Dimensions, and whether it should be Front/Back or Top/Bottom.

Step 3 - Place the Plate Pair

Choose an insertion point for the plate pair by clicking on a member on the truss.

Moving a Plate Pair

Step 1 - Select the Plate Pair

Click on a plate pair to select it.

Step 2 - Move the Plate Pair

Once selected, you can use the arrows that appear to incrementally nudge the plate pair or click and drag to move the pair to a new location. While clicking and dragging, Live Plating will activate.

Live Plating

Step 3 - Rotate the Plate Pair

Similarly to moving a plate pair, you can rotate a pair by clicking the rotating arrows that appear and dragging your mouse to the desired orientation.

Rotating Plate Pair

Deleting a Plate Pair

Step 1 - Select the Plate Pair

Select the plate pair by clicking on it in the scene. Alternatively, you can use the Right Sidebar to select a plate pair from the Collections subpanel.

Step 2 - Delete the Plate Pair

Once selected, you can press the Delete key. If the Right Sidebar is open and you have selected a plate pair, you can click Delete Selected Item(s).

Deleting All Plate Pairs

Step 1 - Open the Right Sidebar

If the Right Sidebar is not open, click the Toggle Right Sidebar arrow button to expand the panel.

Step 2 - Open the Plate Pair Menu and Select Delete All Plate Pairs

Click Menu next to the Plates collection to access the tools within and select Delete All Plate Pairs.

Locking and Unlocking a Plate Pair

Right-click a plate pair and select [Lock/Unlock] Plate Pair.

Note

If you modify a plate pair, it will automatically lock that pair.

Locking and Unlocking All Plate Pairs

Using the Actions Toolbar

Step 1

Click Lock in the Actions Toolbar .

Step 2

Choose Plate Pairs. You may need to click multiple times until the box is fully checked or unchecked.

Note

You can select a specific plate plate pair, right-click, and Lock Plate Pair . Use the same process to Unlock Plate Pair if the pair is already locked.

Using the Right Sidebar

Step 1

If the Right Sidebar is not open, click the Toggle Right Sidebar arrow button to expand the panel.

Step 2

Click Menu next to the Plates collection to access the tools within and select [Lock/Unlock] All Plate Pairs.

Locking & Unlocking Plate Pairs

Toggle Shear Lines

Step 1 - Open the Right Sidebar

If the Right Sidebar is not open, click the Toggle Right Sidebar arrow button to expand the panel.

Step 2 - Open the Plate Pair Menu and select Toggle Shear Lines

Click Menu next to the Plates collection to access the tools within and select Toggle Shear Lines.