Frames may be added to the current project using different methods. Follow the same principles to add frame elements manually as we did with adding nodes manually. For interactive modelling however, we will be creating frame elements, and their associated start- and end nodes by clicking at grid intersections in 3D space, using the rotated grid from the previous step. The steps required to draw frame elements are as follow:
Right click in the model workspace to display the modelling shortcut menu
Click on 'Draw Frame'
Notice the cursor changes to '+', indicating we are in 'Edit' mode. Aslo notice the contextual ribbon displaying the properties of the frame element that will be added. Set the Frame properties so 'Group' = 'Columns', 'Material' = 'S355', 'Section' = '180 UB 18.1', and 'Type' = 'Beam' (These should be the default values if the previous steps were followed but if this is not the case, then simply set them accordingly)
Make sure the Grid Snap is switched on
In the model workspace, left click (and release) on coordinate '-4000,0,0' to select the start node of the new frame element
Move the cursor close to coordinate '-400,0,3000' and left click again to indicate the end node of the new frame element
Press the 'F8' key to toggle the grid autosize feature, this will resize the grid so we can see well beyond the current model elements
Draw another frame, repeating steps 1 to 6, but this time use 'Group' = 'Rafters', 'Material' = 'S355', 'Section' = '200 UC 46.2', and 'Type' = 'Beam', start coordinate '-4000,0,3000' and end coordinate '0, 0, 4000' as shown in the video below: