How to Specify Options for Multiple Parts

When modeling an assembly that has many parts, it can be time-consuming to select each individual part and specify the element and material properties. However, the process can be made faster and easier by using the <Ctrl>-<Shift>-M capability to collapse the part branches in the tree view of FEMPRO's FEA Editor environment.

To use this method, do the following:

1. Click anywhere in the tree view (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: To specify options for multiple parts, first click anywhere in the tree view.

2. Press <Ctrl>-<Shift>-M and the part branches will collapse so that only the part headings are shown (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Press <Ctrl>-<Shift>-M to collapse the part branches.

3. To select all parts, click on the heading for Part 1 and then press and hold the <Shift> key and click on the last part heading. Alternatively, you can select multiple parts by pressing and holding the <Ctrl> key and then clicking on individual part headings. For more selection options, see How to Specify Selection Methods in the FEA Editor Environment.
4. Right click on any selected part in the tree view or anywhere in the display area to access a pop-up menu of options (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: After selecting the parts that you want to modify, right click on any selected part in the tree view or anywhere in the display area to access a pop-up menu of options.

You can specify any of the available options for all of the selected parts at once including specifying the element type, element properties or material properties.

Note: In order to specify the element properties, all selected parts must be of identical element type; and, in order to specify the material properties, all selected parts must be of identical element type and material model.

Thus, the capability to use <Ctrl>-<Shift>-M to collapse the part branches in the FEA Editor environment tree view provides a way to quickly and easily select multiple parts and specify options including element and material properties.

For more information about specifying options for multiple parts, see the ALGOR User's Guide.