Target Entities

Results Postprocessing > Freebody Plots > 12.3 Target Entities

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12.3 Target Entities

This is the Target Entity display of the Freebody plot form. This form is used to define the actual freebody of the model. For Freebody Loads the default is to plot on the entire existing display.


	Toggles the form to select target display entities for freebody plots.

This form creates a list of elements and/or nodes for defining the freebody for the freebody diagram or other vector display. The following table describes the widgets on this form and how to properly select target entities:


Entity	Description
Select By	Elements and nodes may be selected individually or by association to groups, material and element properties or adjacent elements. Set this pulldown to indicate which type of entity is to be selected. For freebody plots only elements are involved. For Interface Load plots both elements and nodes need to be selected which causes this to be a two step process. First select the nodes and then select the elements on one side or the other which will contribute to the determination of the interface load. For Forced Displacement plots, only elements are necessary to define except when bar elements are involved. Then it is necessary to define the outer edge with node picks since the selecting algorithm uses free edges as its criteria. Bar elements do not have free edges. The Adjacent Elements pick is convenient for adding layers or subtracting layers of elements.
Auto Add/Remove	If this toggle is set to either Auto Add or Auto Remove then whenever you graphically select an entity or pick from a listbox, all entities are automatically added or removed from the listbox that displays the freebody entities on this form.
Select/Entities	This is the listbox that will display the freebody definition. This definition will be made up of a list of entities (nodes and/or elements). The textbox can be edited manually but this is not recommended in case the syntax is not followed properly. It is best to fill the textbox by graphically selecting entities or selecting entities from a listbox of groups, materials, or properties. If nothing is in this listbox when Apply is pressed, the Freebody Load plot will be applied to whatever is visible in the current display. The Interface Loads require that you pick both target nodes and entities (see Description of Freebody Tool Plots, 6 for an explanation. Forced Displacements requires only elements except for bar elements which require nodes.
Add/Remove	Press the Add or Remove buttons to add entities into the freebody entities listbox. You only need to do this if you have not turned on either Auto Add or Auto Remove or that option is not available to you. (You cannot remove adjacent bar elements).
Undo	Undo clears out the last operation done and reverts to previous selected entities. Multiple undoes are possible.
Clear	Clear will clean out the Freebody Entities listbox completely and two Clears will clear the Undo memory dimming the Undo button.
Show Selected Elements	When switched ON, the viewport displays only what is in the Freebody Entities listbox. The freebody or other vector plot can be displayed on the freebody with only the freebody displayed or with the entire posted model displayed.
Show All Posted FEM	If ON, the entire posted model will be displayed. The freebody or other vector plot can be displayed on the freebody with only the freebody displayed or with the entire posted model displayed.
Create New Group	Turn this toggle ON if you wish to create a group from the selected target entities that define the freebody.
Include Nodes	If this toggle is ON the nodes of the target entity elements will be included in the new group.
Overwrite	Specifies whether you wish to overwrite the group if it already exists, otherwise you will be prompted for overwrite permission is the group already exists.
Group Name	The default name for the new group to be created will be Fbdy_Group. Change it if desired.
Create Group of Entities	Press this button to actually make the group.
Reset Plot	This will remove any freebody plot from the graphics screen.
Defaults	This will reset all widgets to their default values and will remove any plot.

When Apply is pressed, the display will update using the new entities and will retain whatever results and display attributes have been selected previously.


Important:	Once a target entity has been selected, it will remain the target entity for the freebody plot until the user physically changes it or he changes the Action/Object/Method or presses the Default or Reset buttons. This will reset the target entities selection to its default and clear the plot.