The content of the Shape Window can be modified to annotate shapes with labels, display dimensions and axes and to control how the shapes are displayed.

Each shape in the Shape window can be labelled with its number. To turn on or off the display of the shape numbers

§    Choose Shape Numbers from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu, or

§    Click the Shape Numbers button on the Symbols toolbar

Each point along a polyline can be labelled with its index which identifies its positions within the polyline. To turn on or off the display of the polyline numbers

§    Choose Polyline Numbers from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu, or

§    Click the Polyline Numbers button on the Symbols toolbar

The overall height and width of the section drawn in the Shape Window can be drawn as dimensions. Similarly, the location of the shapes centroid can also be displayed as dimensions. To turn on or off the display of the overall size of the section in the Shape Window

§    Choose Overall Dimensions from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu

Or, to turn on or off the display of the centroids location

§    Choose Interior Dimensions from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu

The principal axes of the shape also be displayed in the Shape Window. To turn on or off the display of the principal axes

§    Choose Principal Axes from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu

The origin of the x-y axis system, which represents the location about which the section properties are computed, may also be displayed in the Shape Window. To turn on or off the display of the these axes

§    Choose Axes from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu

These axes are displayed by default.

Shapes within the Shape Window can be represented as either the outline of the shape or as a solid object drawn filled. To turn on or off the display of shapes as filled objects

§    Choose Fill from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu

When shapes are displayed as filled, the outline of the shapes will be displayed in black and the fill colour determine by the colour scheme selected by the user (See the section on Colours which follows). Any shapes that have not been allocated a material and represent a hole will not be filled and will be drawn using a black outline only.

When shapes are displayed as outlines without any fill, the colour of a shapes outline will be determined from the current colour scheme specified by the user.

When shapes are displayed with fill the user has the option of using the pattern associated with the shapes material to draw the interior of the shape. To turn on or off the display of material patterns

§    Choose Material Patterns from the Symbols submenu under the Display menu