Working with Labels

Dr. Frame3D supports both automatic labeling of maxima and minima, as well as arbitrary manual labeling via the Label Tool (). The figure below shows two automatically-generated max labels on the strong and weak-axis moment diagrams, respectively:

To create labels manually, use the label tool to click on the desired object:

1. Click on a point of the deflected shape to apply a displacement label
2. Click on a point of the underlying member on a auxiliary diagram to apply a moment or shear label. (Do not click on the plot line itself.)

To remove labels, select them and type the Delete/Backspace key. Note that you can remove both manually applied and automatic labels, but removing automatic labels is not recommended (the given member will no longer be able to automatically indicate maximum/minimum values).

Moving labels has two components: relocating where the label text appears; and relocating the reference point on the structure to which the label is attached.

• An automatic label's reference point cannot be moved. Its text location can be repositioned by clicking and dragging with either the Label or Select Tool.
• Labels applied to joints cannot have their reference points moved. Click and drag to reposition the label text.
• The reference point of labels manually applied to members can be moved by clicking on the label and then dragging along the member. The text location of member labels can be repositioned arbitrarily by holding down the control key while clicking and dragging.
  
  One can also use the member label inspection table for precise placement:

In general:

• A Label's value depends on the view of the structure it is associated with. In the main view labels will show displacements, moments, shears, and evelope values as appropriate.
• Label precision can be set in the Number Formatting dialog reached via the Options menu.

Displacement labels refer to vector quantities, and the following decomposition options are available:

1. Absolute displacement magnitude (this display option is used when the Vector Decomposition option is No Decomposition):

1. Absolute x-y-z displacement components (when the Vector Decomposition option is x-y Decomposition):

Controlling Automatic Labeling

Automatic labeling is controlled by the commands in the Options:Automatic Labels submenu.

The menu commands are relatively self-explanatory:

• Choosing Label Global Maximum will cause the overall maximum value to be labeled automatically.
• Label All Maxima causes maximum values for all members to be identified and labeled. For larger models, this can cause significant screen clutter.
• Label All Maxima and Minima will lead to two labels for each member being shown, one for the maximum positive value and one for the most negative value.
• Auto Labels Off hides all labels.
• Each time Cycle Auto Label Setting is chosen, the automatic label setting will bump down to the next choice in the menu, wrapping at "Auto Labels Off". With the keyboard accelerator, this makes for a quick way to change the label setting.
• When a member or set of members is selected, the menu items below the separator line become enabled, and one can apply similar label settings to individual members or sets of members accordingly.