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Advanced 3D Graphics|
LARSA 4D makes use of the industry-standard for graphically rendering 3D models, OpenGL. Superior graphics makes modeling and viewing 3-dimensional structures much easier to understand. With both an orthographic view mode, appropriate for modeling, and a perspective view mode, best for viewing, structures are presented clearly and true to life.
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Spreadsheets|
LARSA's input spreadsheets take the guesswork out of modeling. Cells display information clearly, using textual names rather than numeric IDs where possible, and can be formatted to display in any font, size, and color, with any level of numeric precision. And, column headers always display input unit where needed. Spreadsheets automatically refresh when data has been changed in other areas of the program. All data can be edited in the spreadsheets.
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Undo/Redo & Integrity Checks-
LARSA 4D fully supports infinite-level undo and redo of all data-modifying operations with an undo history limited only by the size of the hard drive. Integrity checks find common modeling errors and provide shortcuts for correcting problems.
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Explorers|
Navigating through a 20,000 beam project is difficult, no matter what software package is used. While invaluable, spreadsheets often present too much data at once. Presenting the solution to this problem, LARSA 4D uses Explorers to summarize large quantities of data into manageable units which can be quickly edited.
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Reports|
Reports on LARSA projects can printed or saved to file and may include input spreadsheets, output spreadsheets, graphics and charts. Export file formats include Microsoft Excel, Web Page (HTML), Adobe Acrobat (PDF), and Text-only. Animations of the structure and of results diagrams can be exported to AVI animations.
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Plugins-
Extending LARSA's functionality has now become easy with the introduction of plugins for LARSA. Plugins allow users to integrate external data, manipulate LARSA data, and export to and import from any format.
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Advanced Draw-
Advanced Draw is the most feature-intense graphical drawing tool in any structural analysis program. It is used to draw joints, members, plates, springs, and isolators. Advanced draw supports snapping to existing geometry, polyline mode, and curved spans. It can draw on grids, including special construction grids. As geometry is drawn, element length and angle information is shown next to the mouse.
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Transformation Tools-
The transformation tools include translate, rotate, mirror, scale, sag, breaking members and plates, slicing plates, merging joints, and joining members. When breaking members with loads or tendons inside, LARSA knows to reassign the loads and tendons to the pieces.
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Meshing|
The meshing tool can perform both triangular and quadrilateral meshing of any polygon, including areas with holes. The mesh size can be specified. The polygon and holes are specified by clicking the joints that define the region.
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Generation-
LARSA also has several generation tools, including extrusion, repeated copy, and framework, which can be used to create large structures in a very short time. Extrusion and repeated copy can work in cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems, allowing for the generation of curvilinear structures.
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Templates-
Templates of common structures also come with LARSA, from simple frames to cable-stayed bridges to well foundations. For the bridge templates, the length, width, height, clearance, and number of cables can be quickly entered to produce a bridge model in just a few clicks.
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Structure Groups-
Breaking down a structure into smaller units can save time by allowing quick access to a part of a structure. Structure Groups do just this. Structure groups allow you to quickly select and unselect various geometric portions of a structure, for using the Model Data Explorer, or for viewing results in particular portions of the structure. Groups are also used in staged construction analysis and as design groups for Steel Design. Structure groups can also be given colors so that parts of the structure are easily recognized, or for presentation output.
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