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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 7, 8, and 9)
This manual is copyrighted 1994
by SoftEngineering
- All Rights Are Reserved -
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
C H A P T E R 7
SETTING OPTIONS
Beam Cookbook lets you view and change various default settings.
You can change these settings temporarily or store them with the
program so they're used from now on. The stored, or updated,
settings remain in effect until you change them again.
One option not discussed in this chapter is Screen; see "Setting
the screen size" on page 18.
THE OPTIONS MENU
The Options menu contains commands that lead to other menus
where options can be selected.
+------------------------+
| Hardware |
| Screen: 25 lines |
| Preferences |
| StartUp |
+------------------------+
| Save Options |
+------------------------+
Caution: F10|Options|Save Options also saves the file directory
that is defined in F10|File|Change Directory.
* Hardware lets you specify or change settings for your com-
puter graphics card, printer, and the output device used
for your printer connection.
* Screen lets you specify whether Beam Cookbook displays
text in 25 lines or 43/50 lines. See "Setting the screen
size" on page 18.
* Preferences lets you change 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.
* StartUp lets you specify whether Beam Cookbook will use
expanded memory to speed up window display and printing.
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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* Save Options stores the all option settings defined under
the Options command and the current default directory de-
fined under the File command.
HARDWARE OPTIONS
The Hardware menu contains the information about your system.
You can use it to change settings for your graphics card,
printer and output device.
Choose F10|Options|Hardware to display Hardware menu.
+-------------------------+
| Graphics: Autodetect > |
| Printer: Epson 9pin > |
| Mode: 60 x 72 dpi |
| Device: LPT1 > |
+-------------------------+
| OK |
+-------------------------+
* Graphics: Autodect (shows current setting) lets you spec-
ify information about your computers graphic card, over-
riding Beam Cookbook's automatic graphics card detection.
* Printer: Epson 9pin (shows current setting) lets you spec-
ify the type, and mode of your printer. Once set, the
printer is displayed on this line and the mode on the next
line.
* Mode: Text displays the printer mode (dpi or text) se-
lected with the printer command above.
* Device: LPT1 (shows current setting) displays a list of
possible printer connections: DOS devices LPT1 and LPT2.
You can also select a Disk File for text output.
* Ok Lets return to the main menu bar. Press Esc to return
to the previous menu.
Once you've set the F10|Options|Hardware commands to reflect
your system's configuration, press Esc to return to the Options
menu and choose Save Options to make the settings permanent (see
"Updating the system options" later in this chapter)
Use caution when you choose F10|Options|Save Options; it saves
many settings on many menus. See page 57 for details.
52
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
Graphics card options
Beam Cookbook automatically detects one of the following types
of graphic cards and loads a special file, called a driver file,
that contains information about your graphics card:
AT&T 400 Line IBM 3270 PC
CGA IBM 8514/A
EGA MCGA
monochrome EGA VGA
Hercules
Normally, you don't have to change graphics card options because
Beam Cookbook automatically chooses the best configuration for
your system. If your using a nonstandard screen type, however,
you might need to specify information about the graphics card
with F10|Options|Hardware|Graphics.
* Note: The IBM 8514/A defaults to the VGA emulated mode.
You must change the setting yourself using the commands
described below.
Choose F10|Options|Hardware|Graphics: to display Graphics card
menu.
+-----------------------+
| A. Autodetect |
| B. AT&T400lo 320x200 |
| C. AT&T400med 640x200 |
| D. AT&T400med 640x400 |
| E. CGAlo 320x200 |
| F. CGAhi 640x200 |
| G. EGAlo 640x200 |
| H. EGAhi 640x350 |
| I. EGAmono 640x350 |
| J. HercMono 720x348 |
| K. IBM8514lo 640x480 |
| L. IBM8514hi 1024x768 |
| M. MCGAlo 320x200 |
| N. MCGAmed 640x200 |
| O. MCGAhi 640x480 |
| P. PC3270 750x350 |
| Q. VGAlo 640x200 |
| R. VGAmed 640x350 |
| S. VGAhi 640x480 |
+-----------------------+
This menu lets you choose the graphics card driver and screen
resolution with one selection.
53
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
When you've specified information about your graphics, press Esc
to return to the Options menu and choose Save Options. This
stores the information for future use.
Warning!! If you select a graphis card your system does not sup-
port, your system may hang when executing a graphic command.
Defining the printer
Choose F10|Options|Hardware|Printer: to display Printer menu.
+---------------------------------+
| A. All Laser Jets > |
| B. HP DeskJet > |
| C. Epson FX > |-------+
| D. Epson LQ > | |
| E. Epson MX > | |
| F. Epson compatible 9pin > | |
| G. Epson compatible 24pin > | |
| H. Generic Printer (TEXT ONLY) | |
+---------------------------------+ |
|
+-Graphics Mode-+
| 60 x 72 dpi |
| 120 x 216 dpi |
| 240 x 216 dpi |
+---------------+
To change your printer specifications,
1. Choose the printer.
2. Choose the mode of your printer.
The printer and mode selections are displayed in the Options
menu.
The Generic Printer option only prints text. This option is
useful when output is to a disk file because there are no
printer codes. If you want to write text to a disk file select
Generic printer, press Esc to return to the Options menu and
choose Device and then choose Disk file.
When you've specified information about your printer, press Esc
to return to the Options menu and choose Save Options. This
stores the information for future use.
54
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
Defining the (printer) Device
Choose this command to specify the port that is connected to
your printer. Your can choose one of the DOS devices LPT1 or
LPT2. You can also choose Disk File to write the printer output
to a disk file. If you choose Disk File Beam Cookbook asks you
to name of the file each time you print. (To write a text file
to disk see Generic Printer on page 54.)
Choose F10|Options|Hardware|Device: to display the Device menu.
+-----------+
| LPT1 |
| LPT2 |
| Disk.File |
+-----------+
The device selection is displayed in the Options menu.
When you've specified information about your printer, press Esc
to return to the Options menu and choose Save Options. This
stores the information for future use.
PREFERENCES OPTIONS
The F10|Options|Preferences command lets you make settings that
lets you tailor Beam Cookbook to suit your needs.
Here's what the Preference menu looks like.
+--------------------------+
| Auto Save: |
| Configuration File Yes |
| File Directory Yes |
| Window Positions Yes |
+--------------------------+
| Create Backup File Yes |
| Auto Close Windows No |
+--------------------------+
| OK |
+--------------------------+
* Auto Save: Configuration File is a Yes/No toggle. If this
option is set to yes, all the settings you made in this
session will be saved automatically into a BEAMCKBK.CFG
file when you exit Beam Cookbook. Press Space Bar, +, -,
or click left to toggle. The default value is "Yes". The
options that are saved (all items under Options) are :
55
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
Graphics Card Screen Mode Printer Type
Printer Mode Device Use EMS
Config File File Directory Backup File
Window Positions Auto Window Close
* Auto Save: File Directory is a Yes/No toggle. If this op-
tion is set to yes, the current default drive and direc-
tory will be saved automatically when you exit Beam Cook-
book. Press Space Bar, +, -, or click left to toggle.
The default value is "Yes".
* Auto Save: Window Positions is a Yes/No toggle. If this
option is set to yes, the current window positions and
sizes (both zoomed and unzoomed) will be saved automati-
cally when you exit Beam Cookbook. Press Space Bar, +, -,
or click left to toggle. The default value is "Yes".
* Create Backup File is a Yes/No toggle. If this option is
set to yes, a backup of the current beam problem file when
you choose File|Save and gives the backup file the exte n-
sion .BAK. Press Space Bar, +, -, or click left to tog-
gle. The default value is "Yes".
* Auto Close Window is a Yes/No toggle. If this option is
set to yes, the active window will be closed automati-
cally when you select or open a window. Use this option
if you are low on memory. Press Space Bar, +, -, or click
left to toggle. The default value is "No".
* Ok Use this command to return to the main menu bar. Press
Enter or click left. To return to the last menu press Esc
or click right.
STARTUP OPTIONS
The F10|Options|StartUp command lets you make settings that can
used when you start Beam Cookbook.
Here's what the Startup menu looks like.
56
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
+----------------------------------+
| Use Expanded Memory No |
| Monitor Video Mode: Default > | -------+
+----------------------------------+ |
| OK | |
+----------------------------------+ |
|
+------------+
| Default |
| Color |
| Monochrome |
+------------+
* Use Expanded Memory: is a Yes/No toggle. If this option is
set to yes, Beam Cookbooks peformance will improve the
next time load the program (overlaid code is placed in ex-
panded memory at startup). This will also improve print-
ing reports that contain beam and diagramgraphics. A
minimum of 260K is required. Press Space Bar, +, -, or
click left to toggle. The default value is "No"
* Monitor Video Mode: Use this command to set the display
type of your monitor. The normal setting is the Default
mode. The Monochome mode is use to improve the monitor
display if you have a color graphics card and monochrome
monitor. The Color mode is used if have a color graphics
card and a color monitor but the display is black and
white. The default value is "Default".
You must make these changes permanent. Go to F10|Options| Save
Options, unless Auto Save: Configuration File is set to yes.
SAVE OPTIONS
The F10|Options|Save Options command saves all options set under
using the option menus in a configuration file named
BEAMCKBK.CFG.
At startup, Beam Cookbook searches in the directory where
BEAMCKBK.EXE was loaded; if it can't fine this file, Beam Cook-
book will use it's own internal defaults. If this file cannot
be found Beam Cookbook will automatically create it.
57
BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
________________________________________________________________
C H A P T E R 8
WORKING WITH BEAM FILES
Beam Cookbook stores the information you enter in a beam problem
in system memory, called RAM (random access memory). However,
RAM is temporary. When you turn off the computer or exit Beam
Cookbook, or there is a power outage, all data stored in RAM is
erased.
In order to use a beam problem again at a later time, you must
save it on either a floppy or hard disk. Each beam problem you
save is stored in a file with a unique name. Once you've saved
a beam file, you can access it at any time by loading it using
the "Open" command.
This chapter described how to
* load a beam file
* save a beam file
* change the default directory where Beam Cookbook stores
beam files.
* create a beam problem template, that you can use as a
foundation for creating new beam problems.
THE FILE MENU
You can access all file functions with the F10|File command,
which brings up a menu with the following commands:
+------------------+
| Open F3 |
| New |
| Save F2 |
| Save As |
+------------------+
| Change Directory |
| Get System Info |
+------------------+
|Exit Alt-X |
+------------------+
* Open opens an existing beam file. If your current beam
problem contains data that you haven't saved, Beam Cook-
book asks if you want to save the file first.
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________________________________________________________________
* New opens a new beam file. If your current beam problem
contains data that you haven't saved, Beam Cookbook asks
if you want to save the file first.
* Save lets you save the current beam file, using the exist-
ing file name.
* Save As saves the current beam file under a different file
name.
* Change Directory lets you change the default directory.
* 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.
This chapter covers all File menu commands except for two. Exit
is discussed on page 19. Get System Info is discussed on page 21.
ACCESSING FILES
Once you have saved beam problem data in a file, you can redis-
play it at any time by loading it into memory and displaying the
data by using the input windows.
The first two commands on the File menu let you load a file:
* Open loads the file you specify.
* New opens a new beam file.
F3 is the shortcut for the F10|File|Open command.
The following sections describe how these two options work.
Opening a file
The F10|File|Open command displays a simple input box for you to
enter a file name or use DOS-style mask to get a list of files
to choose from. Here is what the input box looks like.
59
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________________________________________________________________
+-------------------- Open File ---------------------+
| |
+----------------------------------------------------+
| OK |
+----------------------------------------------------+
The input box opens with the default mask '*.BCB'. Now you can
do any of these actions:
* Press Enter and display a list of beam files in the cu r-
rent directory.
* Type in a full file name This will load the file.
* Type in a file name with wildcards. This will display a
file list.
The input box lets you enter a file name explicitly or enter a
file name with standard DOS wildcards (* and ?) to filter the
names displayed if the file list box. If you enter the entire
name and press Enter or click on OK, Beam Cookbook opens it.
(If you enter a file name that Beam Cookbook can't find an error
message is displayed .) You can include the path if different
than the default directory. If leave off the file extension
Beam Cookbook will use '.BCB'.
Using the File list box
The File list box displays all file names in the current direc-
tory (unless you specified a different directory in your wild-
card) that match the specifications in the input box, display
all drives, displays the parent directory, and displays all
subdirectories. Here is what the File list box looks like.
+------ C:\BEAM\*.BCB -------+
| [A:] file0002.bcb |
| [B:] file0003.bcb |
| [C:] file0004.bcb |
| ..\ file0005.bcb |
| \DIR_A file0006.bcb |
| \DIR_B |
+----------------------------+
Now you can perform the following actions:
Keyboard: (two methods)
1. You can move around the file list by using then arrow
keys, Home, End, PageUp, and PageDown. When your po-
sitioned on the file name you want, press Enter to
load Beam Cookbook file.
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2. You can move through the file list by using the first-
letter selection. Pressing the B key, for example,
takes you to the first file name starting with B (if
there are no file names beginning with B, the cursor
won't move). Press B again and you'll go to the next B
file name starting with B, and so on. If you've ex-
hausted the letter B, you're brought back to the first
one. Holding down the Shift key and pressing takes you
to the first subdirectory that begins with the letter
B. When you're positioned on the file name you want,
press Enter to load Beam Cookbook file.
You can select a different directory or drive by
pressing Enter when you're positioned on the one you
want.
Press Esc to exit File List without selecting a file.
Mouse:
You can move around the file list by clicking (left
button) on the file you want. To select the file just
click again. You can select a different directory or
drive by the same method.
To exit without selecting a file click on the close
box or click using the right mouse button.
If your beam problem contains data that you haven't saved, Beam
Cookbook asks if you want to save the file first before opening
the file you selected.
OPENING A NEW FILE
The F10|File|New command opens a new beam file with the default
name 'NONAME.BCB'. This NONAME file is used as a temporary
file; Beam Cookbook prompts you to rename the NONAME file when
you save it.
If your beam problem contains data that you haven't saved, Beam
Cookbook asks if you want to save the file first before starting
the New file.
SAVING FILES
There are two file commands you can use to save beam problem
data files to disk:
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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* Save saves the current beam file under the current name.
* Save As lets you assign a name to a beam problem and then
save it, or save a beam problem under a different file
name.
F2 is the shortcut for the F10|File|Save command.
If you haven't saved the beam problem before, or want to store
it in a different file, use the Save As command:
1. Choose F10|File|Save As. Beam Cookbook prompts you
for the file name. The current file and path name
are used as the default. The default will be shown on
the input line. If the current file is a new file
("NONAME.BCB") the input line is blank. Here is what
the input box looks like.
+------------------- Save File As -------------------+
| |
+----------------------------------------------------+
| OK |
+----------------------------------------------------+
2. To use the default file name, press Enter, or click on
OK. To use a different name, enter a new name, edit
the existing name, or enter a path and /or file name
using DOS wildcards, press Enter a get a list of files
in the directory you specified. If you don't specify a
file-name extension, Beam Cookbook adds the default
extension .BCB. (If you specify a different exte n-
sion, you'll have to include it each time you are
prompted for a file name.) If you don't specify a
path the default directory is used. If the line is
blank the default directory is used and the file-name
is *.BCB is used.
3. If the file name already exists, Beam Cookbook dis-
plays an overwrite warning message.
+---------- Verify ---------+
| |
| C:\BEAM\PROB_001.BCB File |
| exists Overwrite it? |
| |
| [Yes] [ No ] [Cancel] |
| |
+---------------------------+
4. Choose the option you want:
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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* Yes overwrites the existing file.
* No or Cancel interrupts the command and returns you to the
main menu; you can then save the beam problem under a dif-
ferent name.
Beam Cookbook saves the beam problem in the specified directory.
The beam problem remains onscreen, and you can continue working
on it.
Assigning a file name
File names can be up to eight characters long and consist of
both letters and numbers. You can enter file names using either
upper- or lowercase letters. Do not use spaces in a file. You
can, however, use underscore character (_) to simulate spaces,
for example, PROB_12.
When you name a file, use a name that will help you remember
what is in the file. If you share a disk with other people,
it's a good idea to begin each of your file names with your ini-
tials. This ensures that all your files will be displayed to-
gether, since Beam Cookbook sorts them alphabetically. You can
also use wildcards to display only your files; for example,
RM*.* displays only files beginning with RM.
Caution!
If the name you give is more than eight characters long, Beam
Cookbook truncates it. This will cause problems if the first
eight characters of two file names are the same. For example
BEAMPROB1 and BEAMPROB2 would be truncated to BEAMPROB, and sav-
ing one would overwrite the other.
It's best if you don't include an extension with the file name.
Beam Cookbook then adds the default extension (.BCB) automati-
cally and you don't have to include when you open the file
later.
OVERRIDING THE DEFAULT DIRECTORY
The default directory is the disk drive and directory specified
with F10|File|Change Directory command and saved with F10
|Options|Save Options command.
When you use the file command, Beam Cookbook displays a list of
files in the default directory. Unless you specify otherwise,
Beam Cookbook files are saved in the default directory, and Beam
Cookbook looks there when you choose F10|File|Open to open a
file.
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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You can always override the default directory by specifying a
different one when Beam Cookbook prompts you for a file name.
You can also access a different directory with the
F10|File|Change Directory command. When you specify a directory
with F10|File|Change Directory, files in that directory are dis-
played each time you initiate a File menu command.
Beam Cookbook preserves the specified path name when you save
the beam file. Beam Cookbook reverts to the default directory
when when you save other beam files. This lets you access dif-
ferent directories without having to reset the default directory
or include a path name with the file names.
The File list box described on page 60 lets you access different
directories and drives.
To change the default directory temporarily,
1. Choose F10|File|Change Directory. Beam Cookbook
prompts for a directory path name and shows the cur-
rent default directory path.
+--------------- Enter.New.Directory ---------------+
| C:\BEAM |
+----------------------------------------------------+
| OK |
+----------------------------------------------------+
2. Either edit the existing default, or enter a new path
name for the directory you want. If the disk drive
differs from the current directory, include the drive
designation, too. If you leave the input blank
(current drive) or key in a drive (drive letter only.
'C' or 'C:') and press Enter or click on OK, the Di-
rectory Tree list will display. From this you can se-
lect a new directory. (See "Using the Directory Tree
list box" on page 64.)
Beam Cookbook uses the new directory until you specify another
one with F10|File|Change Directory, or exit Beam Cookbook. You
can always override the temporary directory by specifying a di-
rectory when Beam Cookbook prompts you for a file name.
You can make the temporary directory permanent with
F10|Options|Save Options command (see page 57) or automatically
when exiting Beam Cookbook (see File Directory on page 56).
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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Using the Directory Tree list box
The Directory Tree list box displays all directories for a
specified drive. This is where you point to (or move the cursor
to) a directory name and choose the directory you want. Here is
what the Directory Tree list box looks like.
+-------------------+
| |
| +--C:\ |
| | |
| |--+--DIR_A |
| | | |
| + +----DIR_B |
| | | |
| | +----DIR_C |
| | | |
| | +----DIR_D |
| | |
| +---DIR_B |
| |
+-------------------+
Now you can perform the following actions:
Keyboard:
You can move around the file list by using then arrow keys,
Home, End, PageUp, and PageDown. When your positioned on
the directory name you want, press Enter to load Beam Cook-
book file or press Esc to exit.
Mouse:
You can move around the directory tree by clicking (left
button) on the directory you want. To select the directory
just click again.
To exit without selecting a file click on the close box or
click using the right mouse button.
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C H A P T E R 9
ADVANCED COMMANDS
Advanced commands are used to change input data without deleting
and/or reentering data. The main reason for these commands is
to analyze different cases using the same basic beam configura-
tion.
This chapter describes how to
* activate or deactivate complete input window entries
* activate or deactivate a single entry
* using activate/deactivate complete input window entries
with activate/deactivte single entries.
PRIMARY ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE COMMANDS
The primary commands are initiated by pressing the Alt-D keys to
deactivate or by pressing the Alt-A keys to activate. These
commands will deactivate/activate all inputs in the active win-
dow. This is referred to as the primary status of an input
field. The default primary status for all input fields is ac-
tive. This command can be used on following input windows:
* Beam Configuration (can only be used in the variable I
section when moment of inertia type is set to variable I)
* Supports
* Concentrated Loads
* Moments
* Uniform Loads
* Ramp Loads
* Hinges
* Moment Connectors
See the section "Using both primary and secondary commands" on
page 67.
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BEAM COOKBOOK 1.0
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SECONDARY ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE COMMAND
If the input field is active it will deactivate it. If the i n-
put field is deactive it will active it. This is referred to as
the secondary status of an input field. The default secondary
status for all input fields is active. This command will toggle
the secondary status from active to deactive or deactive to ac-
tive. This command has a different purpose if the primary
status is deactive (See the section "Using both primary and sec-
ondary commands" on page 67). This command can be used on fol-
lowing input windows:
* Beam Configuration (can only be used in the variable I
section when moment of inertia type is set to variable I)
* Supports
* Concentrated Loads
* Moments
* Uniform Loads
* Ramp Loads
* Hinges
* Moment Connectors
USING BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY COMMANDS
Each input field has two statuses, primary and secondary. Both
statuses must be active for the input to be used.
The primary activate (Alt-A) and primary deactivate (Alt-A) com-
mands will only change the primary status. These commands will
not change the secondary status.
The secondary command (F4) has two purposes depending on the
primary status. If the primary status is active, this command
will toggle the secondary status. If the primary status is de-
active, this will change the primary status to active.
An example for using both commands is when you want delete 20
out of 25 concentrated loads. You would first use the Alt-D
command which would deactivate all the loads. Then use the F4
command on the 5 loads you want active.
67
