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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
B E A M C O O K B O O K
_____________________________
USER'S MANUAL
Shareware Evaluation Version 1.0
(Chapters 1, 2, and 3)
This manual is copyrighted 1994
by SoftEngineering
- All Rights Are Reserved -
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
C H A P T E R 1
GETTING STARTED
This chapter explains how to install and run Beam Cookbook.
When you have finished this chapter, you will be ready to work
with Beam Cookbook. Good luck!
In this chapter:
* The Beam Cookbook package
* What you need
* Running the installation program
* Loading Beam Cookbook into your computer's memory
THE BEAM COOKBOOK PACKAGE
The Beam Cookbook package includes the following:
* Your 3 1/2 or 5 1/4 program disks
* Beam Cookbook User's Guide
* Software registration and license agreement card
WHAT YOU NEED
The next two sections cover both necessary and optional equip-
ment supported by Beam Cookbook.
Necessary equipment
Here's what you need to run Beam Cookbook:
# Computer. Beam Cookbook runs on a IBM XT, AT, PS/2, and
fully compatible computers.
# Operating system. DOS 3.0 or higher.
# Memory. To run Beam Cookbook, you need at least 520K (or
532,480 bytes) of available random-access memory (RAM).
# Disk drive. Your computer must have hard disk with at
least 1 MB (1.5 MB for installation) of space required.
Optional equipment
You don't need the following equipment, but each enhances Beam
Cookbook's performance:
# Graphics card. If you want to display a graphic repre-
sent-ation of a beam with it's loads, and beam diagrams
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
(shear, moment, slope, and deflection) you need a graphics
card and a monitor capable of high-resolution graphics (a
color monitor is not necessary). However, you can print
the graphics without a graphics card.
* IBM Color/Graphics Adapter
* Hercules (monochrome) Graphics Card
* IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter (color or monochrome)
* IBM Video Graphics Array (color or monochrome)
* MCGA (IBM Model 30)
* IBM 8514 Graphics Adapter
* IBM 3270 PC
* AT&T 400 line
# Mouse. Beam Cookbook works with the Microsoft Mouse and
the Logitect Mouse.
# Printer. You can run Beam Cookbook with laser, inkjet,
and dot matrix (epson compatible 9 or 24 pin) printers.
# Math coprocessor. Beam Cookbook automatically detects
and uses any math coprocessor installed on your computer.
# Expanded memory card. You can add expanded memory cards
to your computer to increase the performance of in-
put/output windows and printing. Requires a minimum of
260k. Beam Cookbook works with any LIM 4.0 card.
INSTALLING BEAM COOKBOOK (see README.TXT if you do not have an
install diskette)
Beam Cookbook has an Install Program to copy the necessary files
to your hard disk.
* This program creates a BCBEVAL directory on your hard disk
and copies the contents of your Beam Cookbook into the di-
rectory.
To run the installation program:
1. Start your computer.
2. Insert the Installation Disk into drive A. (You can
also substitute another drive letter depending upon
your system.)
3. At the DOS prompt (> or C:>), type A: and press the
Enter key.
4. At the A:> prompt, type INSTALL. Press the Enter key.
2
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
5. Beam Cookbook will start the Install Program. Answer
the questions and follow the directions on your com-
puter screen.
6. When the installation is complete, store the original
Beam Cookbook disks in a safe place. They will be
your backup.
Once you've run the installation program, you shouldn't need to
run it again. If you want to use a different printer, choose
Options|Hardware|Printer in Beam Cookbook. To use a graphics
card, choose Options|Hardware|Graphics. For more details, see
Chapter 7, page 68.
QUICK START
If you want to start using Beam Cookbook now, then the following
steps will get you going in no time after installation. If you
have any trouble with starting or using Beam Cookbook, read the
rest of the book.
1. From your Beam Cookbook directory type BEAMEVAL.
See the following page for a list of the commands you'll use
most often.
3
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
Table 1.1 Quick start commands
================================================================
Key(s) Description
----------------------------------------------------------------
F10 Activates the menu bar.
F10 F N Opens a new beam file.
F10 F O Opens an existing beam file.
F10 F S Saves the current beam file.
F10 B Opens Beam Configuration input window.
F10 S Opens Supports input window.
F10 L C Opens Concentrated Loads input window.
F10 L M Opens Moments input window.
F10 L U Opens Uniform Loads input window.
F10 L R Opens Ramp Loads input window.
F10 M H Opens Hinges input window.
F10 M M Opens Moment Connectors input window.
F10 V Solves the current beam problem.
F10 W Z Zooms or unzooms the active window.
F10 W N Cycles through all open windows.
F10 W P Makes the previous window active.
F10 W R Lets you change the size of the active window.
F10 W M Lets you move the active window.
F10 W C Close the active window.
F10 W I Close all input windows.
F10 W O Close all output windows.
F10 W A Close all windows.
F1 Displays a help screen.
F2 Saves the current beam file.
F3 Opens an existing beam file.
F5 Zoom or unzooms the active window.
F6 Cycles through all open windows.
F7 Lets you change the size of the active window.
F8 Lets you move the active window.
F9 Solve the current beam problem.
Ctrl-F6 Makes the previous window active.
Alt-# Displays a window, where # is the number of
the window you want to view.
Alt-X Exits Beam Cookbook to DOS.
----------------------------------------------------------------
4
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
C H A P T E R 2
BEAM COOKBOOK: AN OVERVIEW
This section introduces you to some of the basic procedures in-
volved in using Beam Cookbook. It tells you how to
* start Beam Cookbook
* use specific keys and a mouse with Beam Cookbook
* use Beam Cookbook menus to issue commands
* use "shortcuts" to execute menu commands
* get on screen help about whatever you are doing
* use the Esc key to cancel a menu or prompt
* specify a new default directory
* enter data and make changes to it
* save and retrieve Beam Cookbook files
* switch to different display mode
* exit Beam Cookbook
STARTING BEAM COOKBOOK
To start working with Beam Cookbook (once you've installed the
program), you must load the program into your computers memory.
1. Get into the Beam Cookbook directory (the default is
C:\BCBEVAL) on your hard disk. For example, if the pro-
gram files reside in a directory called BCBEVAL, type
CD \BCBEVAL
and press the Enter key.
2. To run BEAMEVAL.EXE type
BEAMEVAL
at the C:\BCBEVAL> prompt and press the Enter key.
You can also start Beam Cookbook and load a beam problem at the
same time by entering the file name:
BEAMEVAL MYPROB (or)
BEAMEVAL MYPROB.BCB
THE BEAM COOKBOOK MAIN SCREEN
The Beam Cookbook main screen has four distinct areas: the menu
bar at the top , the desktop area, function key bar, and a help
line at the bottom.
"Using the Beam Cookbook menus" on page 9 describes how the menu
bar works. The follow sections discuss the desktop area, the
function key bar, and the help line.
5
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________________________________________________________________
The desktop area
The desktop area takes up most of your screen. It is the area
where you open input windows (similar to a spreadsheet) and out-
put windows. An input windows is where you define your beam
problem (loads, supports, and etc). An output window is where
the solutions are displayed. See chapter 4 "Input windows" on
page 26 and chapter 5 "Output windows" on page 35.
Function key bar and help line
The function key bar and help line appear at the bottom of the
screen.
The function key bar
* reminds you of basic keystrokes and shortcuts applicable
at that moment in the active window.
* lets you click the shortcuts to carry out the action
instead of choosing the command from the menu or pressing
the shortcut keystroke.
* displays the current file name at the left end.
* changes as you switch activities.
The help line
* offers one|line hints on any selected menu command, input
window item, and etc. (There is always a hint.)
A TOUR OF YOUR KEYBOARD
Certain keys on your keyboard have a special meaning in Beam
Cookbook. The arrow keys on the right side of your keyboard let
you move to different areas of the screen. The function keys ,
on the left or on top of your keyboard (F1 and up), automate
various commands. Both of these key groups are discussed in the
following sections. These an other special keys are described
in Appendix A, Beam Cookbook keys", on page 68.
Arrow keys
The Beam Cookbook arrow keys let you
* move around in input windows, and output windows
* position the cursor within an entry area during edit mode
* highlight menu items
* move around help screens
In a menu, you can use the arrow keys to highlight different
menu items. The up arrow and down arrow keys move you up and
down in the menu. The right arrow and left arrow keys take you
to adjacent menus if you are in the first level of menus pulled
6
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
down from the main menu bar. Home takes you to the first item
in the menu; End takes you to the last.
With help information displayed (press F1), use the arrow keys
to move the cursor to the text that is highlighted on the help
screen. When you press Enter, Beam Cookbook displays another
help screen with details about the text that is highlighted.
With the help index displayed (press Shift-F1), use the arrow
keys to highlight index items. When you press Enter, Beam Cook-
book displays another help screen with details about the index
item that is highlighted.
Function keys
The function keys on the left or top your keyboard (labeled F1
and up) perform often used commands with one keystroke. Some of
the keys have more than one function; to access further func-
tions, hold down Alt, Ctrl, or Shift, the press the function
key.
Appendix A, "Beam Cookbook keys", on page 68 describes function
keys and other special keys.
The Esc key
In Beam Cookbook, the Esc key is the all purpose "uh|oh" key. It
can't reverse mistakes you've already made, but lets you back
out of mistakes before it's to late.
Suppose that while editing or entering a entry field, you decide
you'd rather keep the old entry. Press Esc and the original en-
try returns-as long as you press Esc before you press Enter. If
you press Esc after pressing Enter or before editing a field
will close the input window or output window.
Similarly, if you choose a command that displays a prompt and
then decide not to carry out the command, Esc cancels the com-
mand. Within menus, you can press Esc to exit the current menu
and return to the previous menu.
If you have a mouse, the right mouse button duplicates the Esc
key.
General rules:
Primary rule-You can interrupt any sequence that ends with Enter
by pressing Esc before you press Enter.
Secondary rule-You can also close any menu or window by press-
ing Esc if there are no pending edits.
7
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
USING THE MOUSE
A mouse is a hand operated pointer device attached to your co m-
puter. The mouse has up to three buttons that send signals to
the computer when you press them, just as pressing keys on the
keyboard does. You can use a mouse to perform many tasks,
such as choosing commands or selecting entry fields.
If you have a mouse (and your mouse software is loaded), a
pointer appears onscreen. The pointer is a highlighted rectan-
gle with a diamond in the middle. To control the pointer, roll
the mouse across your desktop or mouse pad.
The diamond in the middle of the box pointer is what you need to
position.
Basic techniques
Table 2.1 describes the actions you need to know when using a
mouse.
Table 2.1 Basic mouse techniques
================================================================
Technique Action
----------------------------------------------------------------
Point Move the mouse pointer to a specific area
onscreen.
Click Quickly press and release the left button.
Double|click Quickly press and release the left button twice
in succession.
Hold down Hold down a button.
Drag Press the left button down and hold it down
while you move the pointer.
Release Let up on the left button after dragging.
Click right Quickly press and release the right button.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Use these techniques to perform the following general functions
with a mouse:
* Select an item or active an area. For example, you can
click to choose a command from a menu or activate a dif-
ferent part of the screen.
* Move a boundary. You drag to resize a window or to repo-
sition a window.
* Accept or cancel field entries and edits or entries in a
prompt box. Click on another field or click on the "OK"
(if there is one) for accept (same as Enter key) or click
the right button for cancel (same as Esc key).
8
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
More mouse shortcuts
On the function key bar you can click the highlighted shortcut
keystroke.
In addition to the function key bar, there are boxes on the i n-
put and output windows:
* A zoom box in the upper right hand corner of a window.
Click it to zoom or unzoom the window.
* A close box in the upper left hand corner of a window.
Click it to close the window.
* A resize box in the lower right hand corner of a window.
To change the size of a window, drag the resize box until
the window is the right size, then release.
* The move bar is the upper border of a window. To reposit-
ion a window, drag it to the right location, then release.
* Scroll bars along the bottom and right edge of each win-
dow. On both vertical and horizontal scroll bars, a
scroll box indicates the position of the selector relative
to the data onscreen. To move to a different part of
data, click on the scroll bar.
USING THE BEAM COOKBOOK MENUS
The menu bar is your primary access to all the menu commands.
The only time the menu bar is not visible is when you're viewing
graphical output. You'll see a highlighted menu title when the
menu bar is active; this is the currently selected menu. To
activate a menu press Enter.
If a menu command is followed by an arrowhead (>), the command
leads to another menu (a pop|up menu). A command without an ar-
row indicates that the action occurs once you choose it. This
action could display a dialog box or window.
To exit a menu without choosing a command, press Esc.
Here is how you choose menu commands using just the keyboard:
* Press F10. This makes the menu bar active.
* Use the arrow keys to select the menu you want to display.
Then press Enter. To cancel an action, press Esc.
9
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________________________________________________________________
As a shortcut for this step you can press the highlighted
letter of the menu title. For example, from the menu bar,
press F to quickly display the File menu.
At this point, Beam Cookbook either carries out the com-
mand, displays another menu, displays a dialog box, dis-
plays a input window, or displays a output window.
* If the menu command selected pops up another menu, then
use the arrow keys again to select the command you want.
Then press Enter.
Again, as a shortcut, for this step just press the high-
lighted letter of a command to choose it once the menu is
displayed.
Again, at this point, Beam Cookbook either carries out the
command, displays another menu, displays a dialog box, or
displays a window.
You can also use a mouse to choose commands. The process is
this:
* Click with the left mouse button.
* Click the desired menu title to display the menu.
* Click the desired command. To cancel command click with
the right mouse button.
You can also drag straight from the menu title down to the menu
command. Release the mouse button on the command you want. (if
you change your mind, just drag off the menu; no command will be
chosen.)
Note that some menu commands are unavailable when it would make
no sense to choose them.
Shortcuts
Beam Cookbook offers a number of quick ways to choose menu com-
mands. For example, mouse users can combine the two|step process
into one by dragging from the menu title down to the menu com-
mands and releasing the mouse button when the command you want
is selected.
From the keyboard, you can use a number of shortcuts (or hot
keys) to access the menu bar and choose commands. You can get
to, or activate, menu items by pressing hot keys that are on the
function key bar or the shortcut next to some of the menu items.
You can also click on shortcuts on the function key bar.
10
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
The following tables lists the most|used Beam Cookbook hot keys.
Table 2.2 General hot keys
================================================================
Key(s) Menu item Function
----------------------------------------------------------------
F1 Help Displays a help screen.
F2 File|Save Saves the current file.
F3 File|Open Opens a file.
F5 Window|Zoom Zoom the active window.
F6 Window|Next Cycles through all open windows.
F7 Window|Resize Resize active window.
F8 Window|Move Move active window.
F9 Solve Solve beam problem.
F10 (none) Takes you to the menu bar.
Alt-# (none) Displays a window, where # is the
number of the window you want to view.
Alt-X File|Exit Exits Beam Cookbook to DOS.
Ctrl-F6 Window|Previous Active previous window.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2.3 Online help hot keys
================================================================
Key(s) Menu item Function
----------------------------------------------------------------
F1 Help Displays a help screen.
F1-F1 Help|Help on Help Brings up Help on Help. Just press
F1 when your already in the help
system.
Shift-F3 Help|Index Brings up Help index.
Alt-F1 Help|Previous Topic Displays previous help screen
index.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2.4 Window management hot keys
================================================================
Key(s) Menu item Function
----------------------------------------------------------------
F5 or Alt-Z Window|Zoom Zoom the active window.
F6 Window|Next Cycles through all open
windows.
Ctrl-F6 Window|Previous Returns to previously active
window.
----------------------------------------------------------------
(continued on next page)
11
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
Table 2.4 Window management hot keys (continued)
================================================================
Key(s) Menu item Function
----------------------------------------------------------------
F7 or Alt-R Window|Resize Resize active window.
F8 or Alt-M Window|Move Move active window.
Esc Window|Close Closes active window.
Alt-# (none) Displays a window, where # is
(#=1, 2, etc) the number of the window you want
to view.
----------------------------------------------------------------
USING THE BEAM COOKBOOK WINDOWS
Most of what you see and does happens in a window. A window is
a screen area that you can move, resize, zoom, overlap, close,
and open. These windows are used to input data, view output
data, and to select options.
You can have all these windows open at same time (memory allo w-
ing), but only one window can be active at any time. The active
window is the one that you're currently working in. Any command
you choose or data you type generally applies to active window.
There are several types of windows, but most of them have these
things in common:
* a title bar
* a close box
* a resize corner
* a zoom box
* a window number
* scroll bars
Beam Cookbook makes it easy to spot the active window by high-
lighting the title bar. If your windows are overlapping, the
active window is always on top of the others.
The various parts of a typical window are:
* The close box of a window is the box in the upper left
corner. You click this box to quickly close the window.
(Or choose Window|Close or press Esc.)
* The title bar, the top most horizontal bar of a window,
contains the name of the window and the window number. You
can drag (using the mouse) the title bar to move the win-
12
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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dow around. To move a window from the keyboard, choose
Window|Move, press Alt-M, or F8.
* The window number is in the upper right hand border of
each of the windows you open in Beam Cookbook. You can
make a window active (bringing it to the front of all
other windows) by pressing Alt in combination with the
window number. For example, if the help window is #3 but
has gotten buried under the other windows, Alt-3 brings it
to the front.
* The zoom box of a window appears in the upper right co r-
ner. If the icon in that corner is an up arrow, you can
click the arrow to enlarge the window to the largest size
possible. If the icon is a double arrow, the window is
already at its maximum size. In that case, clicking it
returns the window to its previous size. To zoom a window
from the keyboard, choose Window|Zoom, press Alt-Z, or F5.
* Scroll bars are horizontal or vertical bars. You use these
bars with a mouse to scroll the contents of the window.
Click the arrow at either end to scroll one at line at a
time. The scroll bar represents the total rows
(horizontal bar) or the total columns (vertical bar). The
scroll box is positioned at the current highlighted item.
You can click the shaded area on either side of the scroll
box to quickly move to a spot in the window relative to
the position of the scroll box.
* The resize box is the lower right corner of a window. You
drag (using the mouse) the corner to make the window
larger or smaller. You can spot the resize corner by its
symbol the plus sign (+). To resize by using the ke y-
board, choose Resize from the Window menu, or press F7 or
Alt-R.
Window management
Table 2.5 gives you a quick rundown of how to handle windows in
Beam Cookbook. Note that you don't need a mouse to perform
these actions a keyboard works fine.
13
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
Table 2.5 Manipulating windows
================================================================
To accomplish this: Use one of these methods
----------------------------------------------------------------
Close a window Choose Window|Close, or press Esc, or
click on the close box of the window.
Activate a window Click anywhere on the window, or press
Alt plus the window number in the upper
right border of the window, or Choose
Window|Next or F6 to make the next window
active (next in the order you first
opened them). Or Choose Window|Previous
or Ctrl-F6 to cycle backward.
Move the active Drag its title bar, or Choose Window|Move
window window or press F8 or Alt-M and use the
arrow keys to place the window where you
want it, then press Enter.
Hold down Hold down a button.
Resize the active Drag the resize corner, or Choose
window Window|Resize, or press F7 or Alt-R
and use the arrow keys to resize the
window, then press Enter.
Zoom the active Click the zoom box in the upperright
window corner of the window, or Choose
Window|Zoom or press F5 or Alt-Z.
-------------------------------------------------------------
GETTING HELP
Press the Help key , F1, whenever you want assistance. A window
of information related to what you're doing displays over the
current screen. For example, if you press F1 with a command
highlighted, the help system displays a description of that com-
mand.
Usually, several screens of related information are available
for each topic. Related topics or areas that offer further in-
formation appear highlighted as keywords onscreen. Use arrow
keys, Tab key (next), or Shift-Tab key (previous) to move the
cursor under any highlighted topic you're interested in then
press Enter to display the related screen. To return to a pre-
vious topic press Alt-F1.
To return immediately to where you were before getting help,
press Esc or click right with the mouse.
14
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
To get information about an error message that Beam Cookbook
displays in the middle of the screen see Appendix B, "Error mes-
sages", on page 74.
SETTING THE DEFAULT DIRECTORY
The default directory setting tells Beam Cookbook where to look
and store beam files when you haven't specified any other direc-
tory. If you don't set this option, Beam Cookbook uses the cur-
rent drive and directory. If you want to keep your beam files
in a different directory than the program files, change the de-
fault directory:
1. Press F10.
2. Choose File|Change Directory.
3. Beam Cookbook prompts you for a directory with the
current directory shown as the default. Edit the ex-
isting directory path or type in a new path then press
Enter.
You can also type in the drive letter (such as C) then
press Enter and a Directory tree is displayed. Choose
the directory you want and then press Enter.
4. To save the new directory as the directory default,
choose Options|Save options.
If you don't update the defaults after changing directories, the
original directories will be in effect the next time you use
Beam Cookbook.
Regardless of the default directory, you can always access any
directory on your disk. Simply include the directory path as
part of your file name you specify when saving or opening a
file.
ENTERING AND EDITING DATA
To enter information in a field, move the selector to the field
you want and type in the entry. The characters appear in the
field. The cursor, shown as underscore, shows you where the
next character will appear. If you make a mistake will typing,
press the Backspace to erase the character, then type the cor-
rect one.
15
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
When the entry is complete, press Enter or any of Beam Cook-
book's arrow keys (up, down, left, right, Page Up, and so on).
If you entered the data by pressing the arrow key, the field se-
lector moves in the appropriate direction.
If Beam Cookbook finds an error in your entry, it beeps, and
displays an error message.
When editing and entry, use u and " to position the cursor any-
where in the entry (if the cursor is at the either end of the
entry field and you use these keys you go to the next or previ-
ous field). You can then insert new characters, or use Delete
to remove erroneous ones. When you've corrected the error press
Enter to accept you're changes.
After you enter data in a entry field, you can always go back
and change the entry. Just highlight the entry field, then re-
enter or change the data and then press Enter. "Editing en-
tries," on page 48, discusses editing entries in detail.
To highlight a entry field using a mouse, just click the entry
field. Also when editing you can position the cursor by using
the mouse, just click where you the cursor to move too.
Saving and opening beam files
You can save the data you've entered for a beam in a disk file.
Later, you can access the beam file by opening the file it's
stored in.
To save a new file, unnamed beam file in a disk file,
1. Press F10.
2. Choose File|Save (or F2). Beam Cookbook prompts you
for the file name.
3. Enter a file name or press Enter and choose one from a
displayed list of files in the default directory. You
can use up to eight letters or numbers. The default
file-name extension .BCB is automatically appended.
4. Press Enter. If you choose or enter a name that al-
ready exists, Beam Cookbook will prompt you to verify
that you want the existing file to be overwritten.
You'll see a dialog box with three options: Yes, No,
and Cancel. Choose Yes to overfile, or choose No or
Cancel to cancel the command. See page 56 for auto-
matic renaming of the existing file with .BAK file-
name extension.
16
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
To save an existing, previously named beam file,
1. Press F10.
2. Choose File | Save (or F2).
To save the current beam file to another file name,
1. Press F10.
2. Choose File|Save As. Beam Cookbook prompts you for
the file name, just as it does when you choose
File|Save for a unnamed beam file.
3. Enter a file name or press Enter and choose one from a
displayed list of files in the default directory. You
can use up to eight letters or numbers. The default
file-name extension .BCB is automatically appended.
4. Press Enter. If you choose or enter a name that al-
ready exists, Beam Cookbook will prompt you to verify
that you want the existing file to be overwritten.
You'll see a dialog box with three options: Yes, No,
and Cancel. Choose Yes to overfile, or choose No or
Cancel to cancel the command. See page 56 for auto-
matic renaming of the existing file with .BAK file-
name extension.
Caution!
If you exit without saving the current beam file, all your work
will be lost. Beam Cookbook will prompt you to verify that you
want the current file to be saved. You'll see a dialog box with
three options: Yes, No, and Cancel. Choose Yes to save changes,
choose No to discard changes and continue, or choose Cancel the
command.
Always save before you leave the program or turn off the com-
puter.
If you're entering a lot of data, save your work periodically.
That way if something happens to your system memory (such as a
power failure), you'll lose only the data you've entered since
your last save.
After you've saved a beam file in a file, you can bring it back
up onscreen any time by retrieving it:
1. Press F10.
17
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
2. Choose File|Open (or F1). Beam Cookbook prompts you
for the file name.
3. You can type in the exact name (including the direc-
tory and file-name extension if different from the de-
fault) or use a mask and press Enter. If you used a
mask or the file name cannot be found a list of files
will be displayed. You can choose one from a dis-
played list of files in the default directory.
4. If you haven't saved the current beam file, Beam Cook-
book will prompt you to verify that you want the ex-
isting file to be saved. You'll see a dialog box with
three options: Yes, No, and Cancel. Choose Yes to
save changes, choose No to discard changes and con-
tinue, or choose Cancel the command.
SETTING THE SCREEN SIZE
Normally, Beam Cookbook uses 25 lines for display. If you have
an EGA card you can display 43 lines. If you have a VGA display
adapter you can display 50 lines.
1. Press F10.
2. Choose Options|Screen
3. Choose 25 lines or 43/50 line.
These options are only available on hardware that supports them.
After you choose the screen size, Beam Cookbook uses it immedi-
ately. If you want to use that screen size as a new default,
choose Options|Save options.
Using mouse drivers with graphics cards
Early versions of mouse drivers don't support screen sizes that
have more than 25 lines. As a result, your mouse driver may not
work correctly when you use the screen sizes of EGA 43 lines or
VGA 50 line modes. The following table shows which mouse driv-
ers work correctly with enhanced screen modes.
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Table 2.6 Mouse drivers that support enhanced screen modes
================================================================
Mouse Driver version supports
EGA 43 line and VGA 50 line mode
----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Version 6.11 or later
Mouse System Version 6.01 or later
Logitech Version 4.00 or later
PC Mouse Version 6.01 or later
----------------------------------------------------------------
EXITING BEAM COOKBOOK
When you're finished working with Beam Cookbook,
1. Press F10.
2. Choose File|Exit. If your Beam file contains data
that you haven't yet saved, Beam Cookbook will prompt
you to verify that you want the existing file to be
saved. You'll see a dialog box with three options:
Yes, No, and Cancel.
3. Choose Yes to save changes and exit Beam Cookbook.
Choose No to discard changes and then exit Beam Cook-
book. Cancel cancels the exit and returns you to Beam
Cookbook.
When you exit Beam Cookbook, the program disappears and the DOS
prompt returns. To return to Beam Cookbook, you can reload the
program by typing BEAM and pressing Enter.
Alt-X is the default shortcut for the File|Exit command.
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C H A P T E R 3
THE PULL-DOWN MENUS
All Beam Cookbook commands are accessed through the menu bar at
the top of the screen.
Some commands on the menu bar displays another menu, which is a
pull-down menu because you pull it down from the menu bar. Each
pull-down menu accesses a different branch of the command tree.
This chapter briefly describes the pull-down menus associated
with each menu bar command. Further chapters detail the com-
mands on these menus.
ABOUT
The F10|About command does not have a pull-down menu associated
with it. This command displays copyright and version informa-
tion.
FILE
The F10|File command brings up the File menu, which you can use
to open and save files, change the default directory, get infor-
mation about your system, and exit Beam Cookbook.
+------------------+
| Open F3 |
| New |
| Save F2 |
| Save As |
+------------------+
| Change Directory |
| Get System Info |
+------------------+
| Exit Alt-X |
+------------------+
* Open opens an existing beam file.
* New opens a new beam file.
* Save lets you save the current beam file.
* Save As saves the current beam file under a new name.
* Change Directory lets you change the default directory.
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* Get System Info display information about your system.
* Exit removes Beam Cookbook from memory and returns you to
DOS. If your beam problem contains data that you haven't
saved, Beam Cookbook asks if you want to save the file
first.
All File menu commands (except Exit and Get System Info) are de-
scribed in Chapter 7 on page 58, "Working with beamfiles." Exit
is described on page 19. Get System Info in the next paragraph.
The Get System Info command displays a box with information
about your system.
+[-]========= Information ============+
| |
| DOS Version: 5.0 |
| Math Coprocessor: Yes |
| ---------- Dos Memory ----------- |
| Free: 146K Max Avail: 146K |
| ---------- EMS Memory ----------- |
| Total: 1024K Available: 1024K |
| |
| [ OK ] |
| |
+-------------------------------------+
The information here is for diskplay only; you can't change any
of the information in this box. After reviewing the information
in the box, press Enter to put the box away.
BEAM
The F10|Beam command does not have a pull-down menu associated
with it. This command opens or activates the "BEAM
CONFIGURATION" input window. The beam command is described on
page 26.
SUPPORTS
The F10|Supports command does not have a pull-down menu associ-
ated with it. This command opens or activates the "SUPPORTS"
input window. The supports command is described on page 28.
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LOADS
The F10|Loads command brings up the loads menu , which you can
use to open input windows for concentrated loads, moments, uni-
form loads, and ramp loads.
+----------------------+
| Concentrated Loads |
| Moments |
| Uniform Loads |
| Ramp Loads |
+----------------------+
* Concentrated Loads opens or activates the "CONCENTRATED
LOADS" input window.
* Moments opens or activates the "MOMENTS" input window.
* Uniform Loads opens or activates the "UNIFORM LOADS" input
window.
* Ramp Loads opens or activates the "RAMP LOADS" input win-
dow.
The input windows opened by these commands are described in
Chapter 4, "Input windows."
MISCELLANEOUS
The F10|Miscellaneous command brings up the miscellaneous menu,
which you can use to open input windows for hinges and moment
connectors.
+---------------------+
| Hinges |
| Moment Connectors |
+---------------------+
* Hinges opens or activates the "HINGES" input window.
* Moment Connectors opens or activates the "MOMENT CONNECT-
ORS" input window.
The input windows opened by these commands are described in
Chapter 4, "Input windows."
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SOLVE
The F10|Solve command does not have a pull-down menu associated
with it. This command solves the current beam problem and opens
or activates the "SOLUTIONS" output window. The "SOLUTIONS"
output window is described in Chapter 5, "Output windows."
OPTIONS
The F10|Options command brings up the options menu, which co n-
tain commands that let you change default settings for the over-
all system.
+--------------------------+
| Hardware > |
| Screen: 25 lines > |
| Preferences > |
| StartUp > |
+--------------------------+
| Save Options |
+--------------------------+
* Hardware lets you specify or change settings for your com-
puter graphics card, printer, and the device used for your
printer connection.
* Screen lets you specify whether Beam Cookbook displays
text in 25 lines or 43/50 lines. In order to use 43/50
line mode your system must have a EGA or VGA graphics
card.
* Preferences lets you tailor Beam Cookbook to suit your
needs. The options are divided into two sections, one
that affects Beam Cookbook when you are using it and the
other saves information when you leave Beam Cookbook. In
the first section , auto save, you can auto save a con-
figuration file (same as Save|Options),default directory,
and window positions when exiting Beam Cookbook. In the
second section automatically create a backup file and/or
auto close windows.
* StartUp lets you specify whether Beam Cookbook will use
expanded memory to speed up window display and printing.
s
* Save Options stores the all option settings defined under
the option command and the current default directory de-
fined under the file command.
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All Option commands are described in Chapter 7, "Setting Op-
tions", on page 51.
WINDOW
The F10|Window command brings up the window menu, which contain
commands that let you close windows and alter the ways Beam
Cookbook displays them.
+--------------------+
| Zoom/Unzoom F5 |
| Next F6 |
| Previous Crtl-F6 |
| Resize F7 |
| Move F8 |
| Close Esc |
+--------------------+
| Close Input |
| Close Output |
| Close All |
+--------------------+
* Zoom/Unzoom expands the active window to its maximum size,
if already expanded if shrinks the window to its previous
size.
* Next makes the next window active, which makes it the top
most open window.
* Previous makes the previous window active, which makes it
the topmost open window.
* Resize lets you change the size of the active window.
* Move lets you change the position of the active window.
* Close lets you close the active window.
* Close Input lets you close all the input windows currently
open. See Chapter 4, "Input windows", page 26.
* Close Output lets you close all the output windows cur-
rently open. See Chapter 5, "Output windows", page 35.
* Close All lets you close all the windows (input or output)
currently open.
All Window commands are described in Chapter 2, "Window manage-
ment", page 13.
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HELP
The F10|Help command brings up the help menu, which contain com-
mands that let you have access to different parts of the on-
line help, which is displayed in a special help window.
+-----------------------------+
| Contents |
| Index Shift-F1 |
| Previous Topic Alt-F1 |
| Help on help |
+-----------------------------+
* Contents provides a summary of Help topics you can choose
from.
* Index provides a comprehensive alphabetic index of Help
topics you can choose from.
* Previous Topic lets you go back to the previous Help
topic.
* Help on Help shows you how to use the Help.
All Help commands are described in Chapter 2, "Getting help",
page 14.
25
