To create a parametric surface model for generating a finite element mesh, use the following procedure.

1. Select the Parametric Models tool in the Plate group on the Geometry ribbon tab.
   
   The Parametric Models dialog opens. The structure is displayed as a series of dashed lines to signify this mode can be used to experiment with various settings.
2. Click Add in the Parametric Models dialog. The mouse pointer changes to the add surface cursor .
3. Click on the points that form the corners of the panel boundary.
   Note: Click the points in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise order.
   Tip: If you choose the option for including nodes and beams in the boundary area in the subsequent steps, then you can skip over intermediate points lying and a straight line segment, as the program will detect these and add them as mesh nodes automatically.
   When the first point is clicked a second time to close the loop, the Add Parametric Model dialog opens.
   
4. Specify the desired meshing parameters:
   1. Type a Name for the meshed surface. The default name is incremented.
   2. (Optional) Select a Type and Sub Type to identify the surface use.
   3. Select the Meshing Method.
      • Quad - quadrilateral elements with four boundary nodes
      • Triangular - triangular elements with three boundary nodes
   4. Select the Boundary Connectivity to identify the number of divisions along each surface boundary.

      None - Meshing will be done without creating any nodes along the edges of the boundary we defined. This also ignores any boundary condition (divisions or densities) and the element size. Thus, the entire distance between two sequential nodes will form the side of one element. In most cases, this can lead to poor quality elements, and is best avoided.	No divisions
      Optimize - (Default, recommended) Automatic boundary divisions to the target element size.	Optimized
      Define - Each boundary between the selected nodes will be sub-divided into the specified number of segments given in Number of segments/boundary. Note: The default value of 0 will result in the application using the Target element size to generate segments along edges (sim. to the Optimize option). A value of 1 will result in no segmentation between nodes (sim. to the None option).	Equal number of divisions

   5. Type a Target element size in the specified units of length.
   6. (Optional) Check the Create density objects from internal nodes/beams to generate additional nodes along any members or defined nodes that lie in the surface plane.
5. (Optional) If the surface will have openings, check the Add openings option to specify those in the next dialog.
   Tip: Openings can be added later from the Parametric Models dialog if needed.
6. Specify the desired meshing parameters and click OK. If you selected to add openings, the dialog to define those opens.
7. (Optional) Select an opening shape and then click OK  to draw the opening on the meshed surface.

   Refer to the following tasks for additional information on adding openings.

   The new mesh model is displayed as an overlay on the structure with control points highlighted. The details of the mesh parameters are available in the Parametric Models dialog.

   Note: You may edit and refine your mesh by varying the parameters as necessary until the resulting finite element is satisfactory for your model requirements.
8. Once you are satisfied with the surface mesh, click Merge Mesh. in the Parametric Models dialog to commit it to the STAAD.Pro input file.