Element Modification - Connection editor tab

Used to edit and exchange all connections of a construction.

If you select the function via the command name, you first have to select all parts of the connections of which have to be edited. Then, these parts are displayed in a uniform marking colour (for better orientation) and all other parts are hidden.

If a connection exists between the selected component parts, this connection is displayed as coloured symbol. You can select the complete connection for further processing by picking the symbol. You avoid having to look for the connection via the shape properties.

Setting	Description
Layout	Length – Sets the length of the 3D-arrow for the connection symbol. The direction of the arrow shows from the connected part to the component to which it was connected. Diameter – Sets the diameter of the 3D-arrow for the connection symbol. Color – Sets the marking color for the surrounding construction as color number. Since the construction only has to serve for your orientation, you should select a weak color here so that the symbols can be easily recognized. The symbols themselves are displayed in green, red and yellow.
Options	Hide workframes – The selected objects are hidden to increase a clear view. When checked, hides the work frames (the construction lines of structural elements). Bolts are always hidden. Hide structure objects – When checked, hides the structural objects. Check connections at start – Standard connections – When checked, all standard connections are displayed as symbol. These are the normal connections such as end plates, etc. which are integrated in OpenBridge Modeler. Cutting connections – When checked, all cut connections are displayed. These are the cuts at objects or mitred cuts. COM-Connections – When checked, all external connections realized via the COM-PlugIn's are displayed. Removing with attachment parts – When checked, after a connection is deleted, all attached parts generated by this connection will be deleted as well.
Select parts	Selects the part to check with Connection Editor. Only selected parts remain visible in the view while the tool is active.
Remove connections	Removes the selected connections completely. All component parts and processing actions created by means of these connections will be deleted as well. To do so, you have to select the connections by clicking on the symbols.
Edit connections	Used to edit the selected connection. After the desired connection has been clicked via the symbol, the corresponding dialog of this connection opens and the values can be modified.
Clone connections	Used to transfer the settings of a connection to another one. It is also possible to change the connection type if this is reasonable (e.g. you can replace a plate connection by a web angle connection). First, you have to select the connection the data of which have to be transferred to another one. All connections not being able to seize these data are hidden. Then, you have to select all connections having to take these data.

Verify Connections

When the Connection Editor option is set, all connections are verified with regard to collisions and marginal distances before being displayed as symbol. The status of this verification is displayed by means of the color of the symbol. They have the following meaning:

Green – The connection is correct.
Yellow – The hole distances are not observed.
Red – The connection has collisions.