Shortcuts and FAQ
Keyboard shortcuts#
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+K | Search any command (add an operation, change a value, export…) |
| Ctrl+, | Settings (language, units, theme) |
| Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y | Undo / redo (repeated changes of one control count as one) |
| Alt+N | New connection |
| Alt+L | Connection library |
| Alt+1 … Alt+4 | Stages: Design · Loads · Check · Report |
| F5 | Calculate the FE model |
| 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 | Views: iso · front · top · side · back |
| Arrow keys (canvas focused) | Rotate the model 15° (Shift = 5°) |
| V | Four views |
| N (bolt editor) | Normal view ↔ 3D |
| Enter · Esc | Accept / cancel in the operation panel; Esc also clears the selection and closes dialogs |
| Alt+↑ / Alt+↓ | Previous / next operation while editing |
| Tab · Enter · ↑ ↓ | Move in the load table (Enter on the last row adds a case) |
| Ctrl+\ | Hide or show the interface (model only) |
| ? | Name and shortcut on every control |
| Shift+click (tree) | Pin that operation's data below the tree |
| Right-click (model or tree) | Halo of actions for that piece |
| Double-click (model or tree) | Piece view |
FAQ#
Do I need a license to try everything? No. Designing and calculating are free, and the 14-day trial unlocks the report, drawings and bill of materials. See Getting started.
Which code edition does Nexum use? AISC 360-22 for connections and AISC 360-16 for member design, ACI 318-19 for anchors, AISC 341-22 for seismic. The design guide editions are listed on each check and in Verification.
The analytical result and the FE result disagree. Which one governs? Both are checked; the connection passes only if every check passes in both. The Compare tool explains each difference — usually prying with thin plates, the plastic bearing block of DG1 against the elastic distribution of the FE model, or the distribution by stiffness in a bolt group.
Why is a check shown as "OK" instead of a percentage? Classifications and detailing rules are not utilizations (a thick plate, a minimum edge, a maximum fillet). Nexum never turns them into a false 101%.
Can I use kN and mm? Yes — File → Settings → Units → SI, or any mix. Welds stay in mm and plate thicknesses in inches. See Settings and units.
Can I import forces from my analysis program? Paste a block from Excel into the load table. For members, ETABS frame force tables are read directly with their units (Loads → ETABS).
Does the drawing open in AutoCAD / Revit / BricsCAD? Yes. The DXF is R12 with real CAD dimension entities, layers and a title block.
Where are my projects saved?
In the desktop app, on your disk. In the web app, save the project as a .json file (File → Save .json file) and open it again later; the app also keeps your last session in the browser.
Can my team share templates? Yes. Save a connection to the library under Company, export the library file and share it; colleagues import it in Library → Company.
How do I report a problem? Use the contact form at nexumsteel.com and attach the project file (File → Save .json file) and a screenshot.