Predefined user interface templates

The hotkeys have been unified across all 4 templates, for easy switching. The list of hotkeys is provided here. Note that single letter hotkeys and even numbers are possible, as used here for results and view toggles.

Fixed hotkeys		Snapping/tracking
Quit	Alt+F4	Toggle ortho mode	F8
Repeat last command	Enter	Toggle tracking guides	F7
Delete	Del	View
Set focus to SCIA Spotlight	Space	Hide selected	Ctrl+D
Terminate command	Esc	Hide unselected	Ctrl+E
File		Toggle visibility	Ctrl+Q
New	Ctrl+N	Make layers visible	Ctrl+W
Open	Ctrl+O	Zoom to selection	Shift+Z
Save	Ctrl+S	Coordinates info	Ctrl+Shift+D
Save as	Ctrl+Shift+S	Isometric/Perspective toggle	Ctrl+Shift+F12
Close	Ctrl+F4	View perpendicular to current UCS	F12
Project settings	Shift+P	Toggle volumes	1
Libraries		Toggle shading	2
Materials	Ctrl+M	Toggle supports	3
Cross-sections	Ctrl+J	Toggle loads	4
Load cases	Ctrl+L	Toggle model data	5
Load groups	Shift+G	Toggle node labels	6
Mass groups	Shift+M	Toggle member labels	7
Combinations	Ctrl+K	Toggle dot grid	8
Nonlinear combinations	Ctrl+Alt+N	Calculation
Nonlinear stability combinations	Ctrl+Shift+N	Check structure data	Alt+C
Combinations of mass groups	Shift+K	Solver settings	Alt+S
Result classes	Shift+R	Mesh settings	Alt+M
Global imperfections	Ctrl+Alt+G	Generate mesh	Ctrl+Shift+M
Layers	Ctrl+Alt+L	Calculate	Ctrl+Shift+F5
Nonlinear functions	Shift+F	Recalculate	Ctrl+F5
Initial deformations	Shift+I	Refresh results	F5
Linegrid manager	Ctrl+Shift+G	UCS
Modify		Move UCS	F9
Undo	Ctrl+Z	New UCS from local member	F10
Redo	Ctrl+Y	Switch workplane	F11
Copy	Ctrl+C	Reset to GCS position	Ctrl+F11
Move	Ctrl+X	Import
Rotate	Ctrl+R	User blocks	Shift+U
Print image	Ctrl+P	Import DWG, DXF, VRML97	Alt+D
Copy/Paste properties	Ctrl+Shift+F	Results
Select all	Ctrl+A	Critical load coeficients	A
Modelling		Calculation protocol	P
Rectangular grid	Ctrl+G	Bill of material	B
3D line grid	Alt+G	Internal forces	I
1D member	Ctrl+B	Reactions	R
Beam	Shift+B	3D deformations	D
Column	Ctrl+Shift+B	1D deformations	Shift+D
Haunch	Shift+H	Steel
Plate	Ctrl+T	Steel settings	Ctrl+Alt+S
Wall	Ctrl+H	Steel LTB Restraints	Alt+L
Panel with load to 1D & edges	Shift+L	Steel ULS check	U
Hinges at both ends of beam	Alt+H	Steel SLS check	S
Hinge on beam	Ctrl+Shift+H	Scaffolding coupler check	C
Hinge type	Shift+C	Steel connections
Hinged support	Shift+N	Steel connection settings	Ctrl+Shift+C
Support in node	Alt+N	Frame strong-axis	Ctrl+F
Crosslink	Ctrl+Shift+L	Report
Loading		Report	Alt+R
3D wind generator	Shift+W	Live image in scale to report	Ctrl+I
Surface load on 2D	Shift+S	Picture gallery	Alt+P

Download SCIA Engineer 24 Hotkeys in PDF

Let’s now dive in to each template specifically. 

Only the new UI is offered in version 24 and you might still be used to the old UI. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This template is the best of both worlds.

UI Component placement, settings and filters

The Input panel is docked on the left side and the settings and filters have been chosen in such a way that this component resembles the service tree from the old UI. All input commands are visible under category headers, with icon, description and optional hotkey. There are no filters set, so that you can scroll down the list to find commands you might be looking for.

The input and results table are minimized and attached to the top of the 3D scene. This way, you keep the model size as large as possible, while keeping the tables at hand, opened with one click.

The properties panel is docked to the right as you are used to. From the action buttons in the results menu’s and of course also from the spotlight, you can open the report preview. It’s not docked by default because of automatic loading of the content, which might not be desired in all cases.

Population of the toolbars

The toolbars are already populated by the most used or most relevant commands. Some additions have been done, like undo and redo in the structure workstation. Pay close attention to ‘My workstation’, which contains frequently used commands that were previously found in the Service tree of the old UI, like project settings, check structure data, generate mesh etc.

Population of the marking menu

The marking menu is a completely new UI component since version 21.1 which allows you to activate commands on muscle memory. It is available on alt+right mouse click. This template contains the default population for the marking menu. Try it when you feel up for it.

 This configuration utilizes the potential of the UI and is optimized for concrete workflows.

 

UI Component placement, settings and filters

The Input panel is attached to the top and the settings and filters have been carefully chosen so that the relevant commands are shown in icon mode, for concrete projects. Did you know it’s possible to set filters for multiple workstations, categories and tags by holding ctrl? That’s exactly how this was achieved.

The input and results table are minimized and attached to the sides of the 3D scene. This way, you keep the model size as large as possible, while keeping the tables at hand, opened with one click.

The properties panel is docked to the right as you are used to. From the action buttons in the results menu’s and of course also from the spotlight, you can open the report preview. It’s not docked by default because of automatic loading of the content, which might not be desired in all cases.

Population of the toolbars

A few general additions have been made, like undo and redo in the structure workstation. Material workstations other than concrete have been disabled.

But what’s most important is that my workstation and the concrete workstation have been populated with every command you might use. The concrete workstation contains all commands for reinforcement design for 1D and 2D members together with the concrete checks. And if the functionality is activated, there are also advanced commands for concrete design, such as pre-tensioned and post-tensioned tendons and fibre concrete. 

In My workstation, you can access basic modeling commands for your workflow, like quickly opening project settings, importing floor plans from DWG/DXF, or inputting a line grid. You can also add 1D and 2D members with their boundary conditions.

 

Population of the marking menu

The commands in the marking menu are as shown in the picture.

 This configuration utilizes the potential of the UI and is optimized for steel workflows.

UI Component placement, settings and filters

The Input panel is attached to the top and the settings and filters have been carefully chosen so that the relevant commands are shown in icon mode, for steel projects. Did you know it’s possible to set filters for multiple workstations, categories and tags by holding ctrl? That’s exactly how this was achieved.

The input and results table are minimized and attached to the sides of the 3D scene. This way, you keep the model size as large as possible, while keeping the tables at hand, opened with one click.

The properties panel is docked to the right as you are used to. From the action buttons in the results menu’s and of course also from the spotlight, you can open the report preview. It’s not docked by default because of automatic loading of the content, which might not be desired in all cases.

Population of the toolbars

A few general additions have been made, like undo and redo in the structure workstation. Material workstations other than steel have been disabled.

My workstation has been populated with a lot of commands you might use in a steel workflow, from modelling a grid, to using the 3D wind load generator, to adding model data etc.

Population of the marking menu

The commands in the marking menu are as shown in the picture.