SYNCRONIZED WINDOWS INTERFACE
Working environment
Edisis 2000 is a software running in Windows environment. It 's based on a windows interface with command functions from menus and mouse, and is organized to let user working in an intuitive and immediate way. The input data are provided in both way, through the manipulation and control of numerical data or by using the mouse within the edit window. The set of objects is suitably managed in a smart way, with a compatibility check already active at typing level, using sync functions very useful to simplify and reduce the operations required to the user. The user friendly interface, the speed of analysis, the clarity with which the results are presented let the user to interact with EDISIS in a efficient way, helping him to find the best solution for the design. The graphic supports provided by EDISIS allow user evaluating quickly and in detail the consequences of design choices made and are a guide for constructive changes. In fact, the user maintains complete control of all design details and, in the parts in which the program suggests design solutions (for example, in the layout of the reinforcement), the solutions supplied can be displayed and modified if necessary.
Windows Interface
All options that can be activated from menu bars have windows for entering or for withdrawing general and detailed information necessary and useful to complete the design. The single window is generally presented through a squared portion of the screen area, provided with an upper title bar and, where necessary, with status bars, fields, grids and edit pop-up menu.
The windows do not generally occupy the entire frame of the main screen, so that more windows can be displayed contemporaneously by simply activating the relative menu options. The different windows are synchronized with each other while maintaining a coherence of input operations. By simply changing or adjusting data in a window all related windows will be consequently updated and the related data will be highlighted.
Tabl Window
The table is a spreadsheet organized only by rows and each one contains a data description and the input field set for typing. It may contain particular fields, such buttons to press for a choice.
Grid Window
The grid is a datasheet organized as a two-dimensional array, where each column refer to a specific data and each row to a spefic element. The line contains a set of different types of data (length, force, stress, etc..) referring to a single element (level, beam column, pillar, etc..), while the column identifies a single type of data associeted to different elements. An identification number can quickly recognize the element of the sheet to which it refers when the sheet shows a data appearing on other pages.
The inclusion of a new element or deleting of a element already entered is controlled by the buttons "Insert Row" and "Delete Row" available in the following command bar:
A contestual hint is associated to each cell of the grid. As the cursor is positioned on the cell the hint is given clyrifing its mechanical meaning. The positioning of the cursor in correlated windows is constantly synchronised so that overall input coherence is maintained and so allowing easier checking of the data entered. For example, positioning on a line of the Uprights sheet the line corresponding to the Pillars, Reinforcement, Sections,… sheets is selected...
Level Data
These are the characteristic data of floor levels. As a starting condition the program requires at least two storeys, storey 0 (where the foundations are laid) and storey 1. other storeys can be added to these by a simple entry command. A name can be assigned to each storey, the height of the inter--floor landing, the reduction coefficient of the overloading and any external actions applied.
Uprights, Span, Floor Field Data
The elements of the prototype plan of the building are created and defined in these windows:
the uprights define the position of the fixed lines for pillars, the edge of the brackets or the overhanging floor;
the spans identify the layout and linking up of the beams, by means of two connecting uprights;
the floor fields describe the layout of the floor grid system required to define a slab.
The pillars on the various floors will be defined for each column lines, assigning the section and the loads directly applied. Analogously, for each span the beam section and the external distributed loads will be defined, as well as the characteristics for every slab on the various levels.
Slab, Section, Footing and Reinforcement Types Data
The size specifications (lug brick sizes, piers, etc...) are required for the types of slab and its weight is automatically estimated. The mechanical specifications and the minimum anchorage length are defined for the reinforcement rods. Columns and Beams are assigned storey by storey to complete the structural description. These sheets enable the definition of the section types, slab types, footing types and reinforcement rods archives.
Types of Sections
The sections are different for beams and pillars. In the first case the possible sections are rectangular and T-shaped (straight or reverse). In the second case it is possible to assign rectangular and circular (elliptic) sections.
Slab typesFor the slab types some dimensional characteristics are required and the own weight is automatically calculated.
Footing typesFor footings the size of the basis, the eight and plan orientation (the angle with the X axes) are required.
Reinforcement rod types
The mechanical characteristics and the minimum anchorage length have to be defined for reinforcement rods
Pillars, Beams, Slabs Data
The structural description of the building is completed by defining pillars, beams and slabs for each levels. Pillars, beams and slabs, respectively, can be assigned for each level of the building, where uprights, spans and floor fields were previously defined. These are assigned indicating for them the type of section (in the case of beams and pillars) or type of slab or are absent if you do not assign any kind. The location plan of the pillars and beams is usually defined in terms of fixed wires of the uprights. Optionally, it is however possible to redefine the position of individual beams.
Further data defined in the input grids concern the concentrated loads acting at the top of the columns, the loads distributed on beams and slabs, the thermal excursion and, in the case of the slabs, the horizontal orientation and the breadth of the full and half strip. For the beams is also possible to redefine, optionally, their position in plan and height, by assigning horizontal and vertical shifts.For slabs it is possibile to correct their quote by giving the vertical shift of each vertex with respect to the level.
Display and Edit Windows
In linea con l'inserimento dei dati nelle griglie di input è possibile visualizzare il disegno della struttura per piante e sezioni di telaio. In entrambi i casi, l'immagine è riportata in scala ed è provvista di tutti i dettagli utili (indici di riferimento, quotature, ecc..). Internamente è memorizzata in formato Windows Metafile per cui può essere catturata con routines standard, per essere trasferita ad altri applicativi.
While entering data in the input gridsit is possible to display the drawing of the structure by plans and frame sections. In both cases, the image is shown in scale and is provided with all the relevant details (reference indexes, preliminar design, etc..). The Windows Metafile format is internally memorised so that it can be captured by standard routines, to be transferred to other applications.
Both windows are provided with Action and Object buttons which enable entering, deleting, and editing of various objects represented (e.g. beams, columns and slabs), zoom, shifting, the moving to other images, etc...
Dynamic Data Synchronization
Le finestre di visualizzazione ed edit sono sincronizzate dinamicamente con tutte le altre finestre presenti su video. Ad es., spostandosi sulle righe del foglio "Livelli", il foglio "Visualizzazione Piante" passa alla pianta del piano selezionato. In modo analogo, cliccando col mouse su una trave nella finestra "Visualizzazione Piante", Il foglio "Travi" si posiziona sulla trave selezionata, la finestra "Sezioni" sulla sezione corrispondente e così fanno tutte le finestre correlate (Dati Campate, Visualizzazione Armature, ecc...).
The display and edit windows are synchronized dynamically with all the other windows on video. For example, moving amoung the rows of the Levels sheet, the "Display Plans" sheet automatically draws the selected level. Similarly, by clicking the mouse on a beam colomn in the "Display Plans", the "Beams colomn" sheet is positioned on the selected beam, the "Sections" window is positioned on the corresponding section and so do all the correlated windows (field data, Visualization Armor, etc. ...).
Backgrounds Import
Disegni in formato DXF possono essere importati in Edisis ed utilizzati come sfondo della finestra Edit Piante per facilitare l'input grafico dei dati. Ad esempio può essere importato il disegno architettonico dell'edificio da progettare in modo da utilizzarlo come falsariga per inserimento degli elementi strutturali. Il formato DXF è stato scelto per la sua diffusione presso i progettisti (è usato ad esempio da Autocad). L'importazione del file DXf da utilizzare come sfondo si ottiene cliccando sul pulsante della barra strumenti per aprire la finestra di gestione degli sfondi.
La finestra consente di selezionare l'unità di misura adottata nel disegno Dxf (mm, cm, m,..) o, in alternativa, di assegnare il rapporto Unità Dxf a metro, e di selezionare il quadrante in cui posizionare lo sfondo 
DXF drawings can be imported in Edisis and used as a background for the Edit Plans window to facilitate the graphic input of the data. For example, a architectonic drawing of the building (needed to be designed) can be imported so that it can be used as a pattern to enter the structural elements. The DXF format was chosen for its widespread use amoung the designers (for example, it is used by Autocad). User can import DXF file to be used as a background by symply clicking on the button of the toolbar in order to open the background management window. The window allows the selection of the measurement unit adopted in the DXF drawing (mm, cm, m,..) or, alternatively, to assign the ratio Dxf Unit per meter, and to select the quadrant where to place the background.
Background window
Users can select the DXF file to be loaded as background by clicking on the "Open" button you. The drawing is then shown in the Edit Plan window, scaled down and repositioned according to the options chosen.
If the scaling down and the position are not those desired it is possible to return to the Dxf management sheet and to reassign the option.
To hide or display the background users can open the Dxf management sheet and click on the Hide / Activate button or, alternatively, open the sheet" Drawing option"s and desable /enable the Dxf Background option. To modify the background it needed just open the Management Background window and import a new DXf file, which will replace the previous one.
Using backgrounds
Once the background is displayed in View Plan, check that the sizes are those expected, reading the coordinates in at least two characteristic points, such as two external edges. Just place the cursor on the edge and read the coordinates shown at the bottom left corner of the View Plan window.
It is then possible to begin entering the structural elements, as in the example shown in the figure.
