Multiframe allows you to arbitrarily group members together so that they can readily be selected and identified within the frame. The implementation of grouping within Multiframe is hierarchical and organises groups into sets of groups or Group Sets.  This allows groups to be organised into sets based upon a common categorisation. For example, groups used to define floors within a building can be organised into a Floors group set.

Group sets contain a list of groups and provide a means of organising groups into logical sets based upon a common criterion.  The grouping of members within a group can be set to only allow members to be associated with a single group within the group set so that members are exclusive to a single group within the set.  By default, all frames contain a single group set. 

Only a single group set is active within the user interface at any time.  The user can select which group set is active from the Current Group Set submenu contained within the Group menu.  Alternatively it can be selected using the Group toolbar.  When a new group set is added to the model it is set as the current group set.  To add a group set

§    Choose Add Group Set…  from the Group menu

§    Type in the name of the group set.

§    Select the Exclusive Member Grouping checkbox if members are only allowed to be contained within a single group within the group set .

§    Click on the OK button

Groups within the current group set can be displayed within the Frame Window by choosing to draw members using group colours.  All grouped elements will be displayed in the colour of the group in which they are contained.  Any ungrouped members will be displayed in black.  The choice to draw members using group colours is specified via the Symbols dialog.

A group set may be edited to change its names, the member exclusivity and the properties of the groups contained within the set.  To edit a group set

§    Choose Edit Group Set…  from the Group menu

The Group Set properties dialog will be displayed that lists the groups contained within the current group set and the properties of the groups contained within the set.

A group defines an arbitrary list of members and joints.  It provides a simple way of selecting and interacting with the grouped members or nodes.  Each group has a name and colour that identify the group, both of which are set by the user.  When a group is contained within a group set using exclusive member grouping, the members with the group cannot be part of another group with the same set.

To create a group of members

§    Select the members to be groups in any of the graphical views or the tables listing members.

§    Choose Add Group…  from the Group menu

§    Type in the name of the group.

§    Select the colour to be associated with the group. Double clicking on the colour field will open the colour picker dialog.

§    Click on the OK button

If the members are displayed using group colours, the selected members will be displayed using the colour associated with the group.  The properties of a group may be edited via the table in the Group Set dialog.