VisualAnalysis preferences are default settings that primarily affect the behavior of new projects. These are not project-specific settings, which are found in the Project Manager. The preference settings can be adjusted through Tools | Preferences. Some settings do not take effect until a new project is created or until the program is restarted. Use the Restore All Defaults button to restore the VisualAnalysis preference settings to their original state. While most of the preference settings are self-explanatory, a few are documented below. Preference settings are saved on your machine in the IES folder: C:\Users\<your.login>\AppData\Local\IES\Customer.

Project

The project preferences affect new projects, and do not affect the current project. For current projects, use the settings in Project Manager.

• Vertical Axis - Specify which axis is the vertical axis. Determines the direction of the self-weight and affects load combinations. VisualAnalysis prefers 'Y' but some CAD systems prefer 'Z'.
• North Axis - This setting is displayed on "the cube" in the graphics, but otherwise has little impact in the software.
• Static Analysis - Choose what type of analysis (First Order, P-Delta, or AISC Direct) is the default setting in the Project Manager.
• Mode Shapes - Set the maximum number of automatically calculated mode shapes.
• Crash Protection - Set how often VA saves crash-protection file. This goes in the Temp folder and is independent of History Files.
• History Files - Set how many once-per-day backup files VisualAnalysis should keep. Files are located in Tools | Custom Data in the History Files folder.

Data

Set the default name prefixes for nodes, members, plates, springs, areas and area sides. These settings apply to the first objects created in a new project or immediately after restarting VisualAnalysis.

Fonts

Change the character size and styles used to display text in graphic views and reports.

Reports

• Customer Logo - Specify the location of a logo to use for the reports. If left blank, AppData\Local\IES\Customer\ReportLogo.jpg will be tried.
• Logo Alignment - Select the alignment of the logo in the header.
• Member Results Offsets - Input the number of interpolated result locations along the member in some results tables (2-201).
• Conciseness - Specify the level of detail in design group or mesh result reports.
• Include Parameters - Include input design settings in design group or mesh result reports.
• Maximum Page Count - Input the number of pages allowed in a report before a warning and truncation occurs.
• Show Sort Arrow - Choose if an arrow should be shown in the header indicating the sort column and sort direction.

Graphics

• Graphic Sizes - Change how large objects are drawn in graphic views.
• Rotate, Pan, & Zoom - Control how much or how fast the view changes with mouse-wheel or arrow keys.
• Change Selection Size: When selected, objects may increase in thickness when selected, not just in color.
• Draw Loads Away - Determines the direction of load arrows relative to the loaded object.
• Draw Reactions Away - Determines the direction of reaction arrows relative to the supported node.
• Scale Arrows - Allows the arrows to be proportional to the magnitude of the load. THis option can lead to small load arrows which can make it difficult to determine the arrow direction.
• Draw Member Wireframe - Select to have a wireframe drawn on the members in the picture view. THis may improve the display of the boundaries of the member shape.
• Graphic Card Settings: Adjust the graphic card settings used in VisualAnalysis. Use this option with caution. It is not advised to change the setting unless performance issues related to graphics are being experienced.
• Picture View Support Size - Change the size of fixed and pinned nodal supports in the picture view.
• Print Resolution -  Set the DPI (dots per inch) precision to be used when displaying graphics views on the printer or when placing graphics information on the clipboard.
• Background Image - Select an image that will be stretched to fit on the background of the graphic views.

Default Colors

Change the colors of objects in Graphic Views and Reports. Every visible object type shown in graphic views have a default color (e.g. members are blue by default). Choose from standard color schemes or create a custom color scheme. Note: The Color Mode in the Model Filter must be set to Default Colors to use these color schemes.

Named Colors

Change the colors of objects in Graphic Views and Reports that have specific prefixes. Note: The Color Mode in the Model Filter must be set to Named Colors to use these color schemes.

Filters

Change the defaults for the filter settings in VisualAnalysis.

Design

• Unity Success Limit - To allow some slight 'overstress', the Unity Success Limit can be increase to a value greater than 1.0. For example setting the Unity Success Limit to 1.01, allows a 1% overstress in the design check before the program flags a failure. This setting will affect the current project, the next time unity checks are made.
• Design Check Level - Set the default for the level of detail reported from the design checks.
• Frames Sidesway? - Changes the defaults for column design parameters.

Deflection Limits

VisualAnalysis can check member deflections with a span ratio or an absolute limit. Specify the defaults here for any one of four 'deflection categories' as defined in IBC.

Steel & Composite Beam

Composite beam design involves many input parameters. The defaults can be defined for many of the parameters. These settings will not affect any existing design groups in a project, but will be used when a new design group is created in any project. More information can be found in the Composite Design topic.

Concrete

Composite beam design involves many input parameters. The defaults can be defined for many of the parameters. These settings will not affect any existing design groups in a project, but will be used when a new design group is created in any project. More information can be found in the Concrete Design topic.

Aluminum

Buildings are checked differently than bridges, select the default construction type. The default for whether or not to use heat affected material properties can also be set.