NextForm 2D Frame v1.0

Canvas

The center canvas is where you draw and inspect the frame. You can pan, zoom, hover items, and use the toolbar to create geometry and loads directly.

Bottom Tabs

The bottom panel holds tables for nodes, materials, members, dimensions, supports, loads, and load combinations. Use it when you want precise values, sorting, and bulk editing.

Properties Panel

The right panel shows the currently selected item. Click a node, member, support, or load to edit it quickly without searching through tables.

Results Area

After solving, the results area lists reactions and member end forces for the active case, while the result buttons above the canvas switch the diagram view.

File

New Project resets the app to the starter model.

Save exports the current model to JSON. Load imports a saved JSON model. Export PNG captures the model view as an image. Import DXF reads frame lines from the `.members` layer. Import Materials replaces the material library from a JSON file.

Edit

Undo restores the previous snapshot. Units switches between `kN, m` and `N, mm`. Set Origin moves the coordinate reference. Add Dimension lets you place a dimension annotation on the canvas. Generate Members Self-weight creates or refreshes auto-generated self-weight loads. Solve runs the analysis.

View

Centralize fits the model to the canvas. The rest of the options toggle grid, labels, loads, self-weight loads, bottom panel, and dark mode.

Help

User Guide opens this guide in a new tab. Canvas Tips gives quick practical hints. About shows a summary of the app and its disclaimer.

Select

Returns the canvas to selection mode. Use this when you want to click items, inspect labels, or edit properties.

Add Node

Places a node on the canvas. If you create a node on or near an existing member, the app can split that member at the new point.

Add Member

Click a start node and then an end node to create a member between them. Preview lines help confirm the connection before it is placed.

Supports

The roller, pinned, and fixed support buttons place supports directly on nodes. After selection, support restraints and angle can still be edited from the properties panel or Supports tab.

Node Load

Opens a popup first so you can define a new node load or reuse an existing one. After pressing Add, keep clicking nodes to apply that same load repeatedly.

Member UDL

Opens a popup for direction and magnitude, or lets you choose an existing member UDL. Then click one or many members on the canvas to apply the same grouped load.

Member UVL

Works like the UDL tool, but asks for `w1` and `w2` so the load can vary along the member.

Undo

Quick access to undo from the toolbar when you are working directly on the canvas.

Nodes

Create nodes from coordinates, edit positions numerically, and review node IDs.

Materials

Define reusable section properties such as area, inertia, elastic modulus, capacities, and self-weight.

Members

Assign node connections, material links, releases, section properties, and split members at a chosen distance.

Dimensions

Review or edit dimension annotations already placed in the model.

Supports

Edit support restraints, angle, and presets in a table format.

Loads

Manage grouped node loads and member loads, descriptions, directions, magnitudes, sorting, and manual ordering.

Load Combinations

Create load cases, assign loads to them, set load factors and combination factors, reuse description bundles, and manage self-weight bundles.

Nodes and Members

Edit coordinates, connectivity, length, releases, material assignment, and member properties.

Supports and Loads

Edit restraints, angles, node forces, nodal moments, member load direction, UDL and UVL values, descriptions, and delete actions.

Before Solving

Make sure the model has enough restraints and no validation errors. If something is unstable, the app will warn you.

After Solving

Use the case selector above the canvas to switch between `All Loads` and saved load cases. Then use the result buttons for model, axial, shear, moment, and displacement views.

Keyboard

Esc cancels the active tool. Delete removes the selected item. Ctrl+Z undoes the last change.

Navigation

Use the mouse wheel to zoom. Drag empty canvas space to pan. Use Centralize from the View menu if you want to refit the model.