Tecplot 360 2011 R2 User Guide

Tecplot, Inc.

Bellevue, WA

2011

User’s Manual

Release 2

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

TM

User’s Manual is f or use with Tecplot 360

Tecplot 360

Copyright © 1988-2011 Tecplot, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Except for personal use, this manual may not be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written
permission of Tecplot, Inc., 3535 Factoria Blvd, Ste. 550; Bellevue, WA 98006 U.S.A.

The software discussed in this documentation and the documentation itself are furnished under license for utilization and duplication
information only. It is subject to change without notice. It should not be interpreted as a commitment by Tecplot, Inc. Tecplot, Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility for documentation errors or inaccuracies.

Tec plo t, I nc.
Post Office Box 52708
Bellevue, WA 98015-2708 U.S.A.
Tel:[phone] (within the U.S. or Canada), 00 1 [phone] (internationally)
email: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Questions, comments or concerns regarding this document: [e-mail]
For more information, visit http://www.tecplot.com

THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT NOTICES

LAPACK 1992-2007 LAPACK Copyright © 1992-2007 the University of Tennessee. All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: Redistribu­tions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer listed in this cense in
the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. Neither the name of the copyright holders nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without pecific prior written per­mission. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. The University
of Tennessee. All Rights Reserved. SciPy 2001-2009 Enthought. Inc. All Rights Reserved. NumPy 2005 NumPy Developers. All Rights Reserved. VisTools and VdmTools 1992-2009 Visual Kinematics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. NCSA HDF & HDF5 (Hierarchical
Data Format) Software Library and Utilities Contributors: National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois, Fortner Software, Unidata Program Center (netCDF), The Independent JPEG Group (JPEG), Jean-loup Gailly
and Mark Adler (gzip), and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Conditions of Redistribution: 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions, and the following disclaimer. 2. Redistributions in binary form
must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions, and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or materials provided with the distribution. 3. In addition, redistributions of modified forms of the source or binary code must carry
prominent notices stating that the original code was changed and the date of the change. 4. All publications or advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software are asked, but not required, to acknowledge that it was developed by The HDF
Group and by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and credit the contributors. 5. Neither the name of The HDF Group, the name of the University, nor the name of any Contributor may be
used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission from the University, THG, or the Contributor, respectively. DISCLAIMER: THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE HDF GROUP (THG) AND THE
CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" WITH NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. In no event shall THG or the Contributors be liable for any damages suffered by the users arising out of the use of this software, even if advised of the pos­sibility of such damage. Copyright © 1998-2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Copyright © 2006-2008 The HDF Group (THG). All Rights Reserved. PNG Reference Library Copyright © 1995, 1996 Guy Eric Schalnat, Gro up 42, Inc., Copy­right © 1996, 1997 Andreas Dilger, Copyright © 1998, 1999 Glenn Randers-Pehrson. All Rights Reserved. Tcl 1989-1994 The Regents of the Universi ty of California. Copyright © 1994 The Australian National University. Copyright © 1994-1998 Sun
Microsystems, Inc. Copyright © 1998-1999 Scriptics Corporation. All Rights Reserved. bmptopnm 1992 David W. Sanderson. All Rights Reserved. Netpbm 1988 Jef Poskanzer . All Rights Reserved. Mesa 1999-2003 Brian Paul. All Rights Reserved. W3C IPR
1995-1998 World Wide Web Consortium, (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique, Keio University). All Rights Reserved. Ppmtopict 1990 Ken Yap. All Rights Reserved. JPEG 1991-1998 Thomas
G. Lane. All Rights Reserved. Dirent API f or Microsoft Visual Studio (dirent.h) 2006-2006 Copyright © 2006 Toni Ronkko. Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
``Software''), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so.
Toni Ronkko. All Rights Reserved. ICU 1995-2009 Copyright © 1995-2009 International Business Machines Corporation and others. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated
documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished
to do so, provided that the above copyri ght notice(s) and this permission notice appear in all copies of the Software and that both the above copyright notice(s) and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation. International Business Machines
Corporation and others. All Rights Reserved. QsLog 2010 Copyright © 2010, Razvan Petru. All rights reserved. QsLog Copyright (c) 2010, Razvan Petru. All rights reserved. Redist ribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
permitted provided that the following onditions are met: Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright noti ce, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this
list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. The name of the contributors may not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written
permission. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABIL­ITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR A
TIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. Razvan Petru.
All Rights Reserved. VTK 1993-2008 Copyright © 1993-2008 Ken Martin, Will Schroeder, Bill Lorenson. All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
are met: Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. Neither name of Ken Martin, Will Schroeder, or Bill Lorensen nor the names of any contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without spe­cific prior written permission. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSE­QUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABIL­ITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. Ken Martin,
Will Schroeder, Bill Lorenson. All Rights Reserved.

TRADEMARKS

®

Tec pl ot,

Tecplot 360,TM the Tecplot 360 logo, Preplot,TM Enjoy the View,TM Master the View,TM and FramerTM are registered trademarks or trademarks of Tecplot, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

3D Systems is a registered trademark or trademark of 3D Systems Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Macintosh OS is a registered trademark or trademark of Apple, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. Reflection-X is a registered trade­mark or trademark of Attachmate Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. EnSight is a registered trademark or trademark of Computation Engineering Internation (CEI), Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. EDEM is a registered trademark
or trademark of DEM Solutions Ltd in the U.S. and/or other countries. Exceed 3D, Hummingbird, and Exceed are registered trademarks or trademarks of Hummingbird Limited in the U.S. and/or other countries. Konqueror is a registered trademark or trade­mark of KDE e.V. in the U.S. and/or other countries. VIP and VDB are registered trademarks or trademarks of Halliburton in the U.S. and/or other countries. ECLIPSE FrontSim is a registered trademark or trademark of Schlumberger Information Solutions
(SIS) in the U.S. and/or other countries. Debian is a registere d trademark or trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. X3D is a registered trademark or trade mark of Web3D Consortium in the U.S. and/or other
countries. X Window System is a registered trademark or trademark of X Consortium, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. ANSYS, Fluent and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, servic e and feature names, logos and slogans are registered
trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS Incorporated or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. PAM-CRASH is a registered trademark or trademark of ESI Gr oup in the U.S. and/or other countries. LS-DYNA is a registered trademark or trademark of
Livermore Software Technology Coroporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. MSC/NASTRAN is a registered trademark or trademark of MSC.Software Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. NASTRAN is a registered trademark or trademark of
National Aeronautics Space Administration in the U.S. and/or other countries. 3DSL is a registered trademark or trademark of StreamSim Technologies, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. SDRC/IDEAS Universal is a registered trademark or trade­mark of UGS PLM Solutions Incorporated or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. St ar-CCM+ is a registered trademark or trademark of CD-adapco in the U.S. and/or other countries. Reprise License Manager is a registered trademark or trade­mark of Reprise Software, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Python is a registered trademark or trademark of Python Software Foundation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Abaqus, the 3DS logo, SIMULIA and CATIA are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. The Abaqus runtime libraries are a product of Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp., Providence, RI, USA. © Dassault Systèmes, 2007 FLOW-3D is a registered trademark or
trademark of Flow Science, Incorpo rated in the U.S. and/or other countries. Adobe, Flash, Flash Pl ayer, Premier and PostScript are registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. AutoCAD and DXF are
registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. Ubuntu is a registered trademark or trademark of Canonical Limited in the U.S. and/or other countries. HP, LaserJet and PaintJet are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Development Company, Limited Partnership in the U.S. and/or other countries. I BM, RS/6000 and AIX are registered trademarks or trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Helvetica Font Family and Times Font Family are regist ered trademarks or trademarks of Linotype GmbH in the U.S. and/or other countries. Linux is a registered trademark or trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and/or other countries. ActiveX, Excel,
Microsoft, Visual C++, Visual Studio, Windows, Windows Metafile, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000 and PowerPoint are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Firefox is a registered trade­mark or trademark of The Mozilla Foundation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Netscape is a registered trademark or trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark or trademark of
Novell, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. Red Hat is a registered trademark or trademark of Red Hat, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. SPARC is a registered trademark or trademark of SPARC International, Incorporated in the
U.S. and/or other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Solaris, Sun and SunRaster are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sun MicroSystems, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or
other countries. Courier is a registered trademark or trademark of Monotype Imaging Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. UNIX and Motif are registered trademarks or trademarks of The Open Group in the U.S. and/or other countries. Qt is a reg­istered trademark or trademark of Trolltech in the U.S. and/or other c ountries. Zlib is a registered trademark or trademark of Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler in the U.S. and/or other countries. OpenGL is a registered trademark or trademark of Silicon Graph­ics, Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. JPEG is a registered trademark or trademark of Thomas G. Lane in the U.S. and/or other countries. SENSOR is a registered trademark or trademark of Coats Engineering in the U.S. and/or other countries.
SENSOR is licensed and distributed only by Coats Engineering and by JOA Oil and Gas, a world-wide authorized reseller. MySQL is a registered trademark or trademark of Oracle in the U.S. and/or other countries. MySQL is a trademark of Oracle Corpora­tion and/or its affiliates. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

NOTICE TO U.S. GOVERNMENT END-USERS

Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraphs (a) through (d) of the Commercial Computer-Restricted Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19 when applicable, or in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in
Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, and/or in similar or successor clauses in the DOD or NASA FAR Supplement. Contractor/manufacturer is Tecplot, Inc., 3535 Factoria Blvd, Ste. 550; Bellevue, WA 98006 U.S.A.

11-360-01-2

Rev 4/2011

TM

Version 2011 R2.

only

according to the license terms. The copyright for the software is held by Tecplot, Inc. Documentation is provided for

NY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUEN-

Table of Contents

Introduction to Tecplot 360

1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 13

Interface

Getting Help.......................................................................................................................35

...............................................................................................................................14

2 Using the Workspace ............................................................................... 37

Data Hierarchy

Interface Coordinate Systems ......................................................................................39

Frames..................................................................................................................................40

Workspace Management Options Menu.................................................................. 49

View Modification ...........................................................................................................51

Edit Menu ...........................................................................................................................54

.................................................................................................................. 37

3 Data Structure .............................................................................................. 57

Connectivity List

Ordered Data..................................................................................................................... 58

Finite Element Data.........................................................................................................61

Variable Location (Cell-centered or Nodal)............................................................. 62

Face Neighbors..................................................................................................................63

Working with Unorganized Datasets........................................................................ 63

.............................................................................................................. 57

3

Loading Your Data

4 Data Loaders .................................................................................................. 69

CGNS Loader

DEM Loader.......................................................................................................................74

DXF Loader ........................................................................................................................ 75

EnSight Loader.................................................................................................................. 76

Excel Loader.......................................................................................................................77

FEA Loader ........................................................................................................................81

FLOW-3D Loader.............................................................................................................88

FLUENT Loader ...............................................................................................................92

General Text Loader ........................................................................................................ 97

HDF Loader .....................................................................................................................106

HDF5 Loader ...................................................................................................................107

Kiva Loader......................................................................................................................109

PLOT3D Loader..............................................................................................................110

PLY Loader....................................................................................................................... 115

Tecplot-Format Loader.................................................................................................116

Text Spreadsheet Loader..............................................................................................123

Overwriting Data Files .................................................................................................124

.................................................................................................................... 70

Creating Plots

5Creating Plots .............................................................................................. 129

Creating Plots

Data Journaling...............................................................................................................130

Data Sharing ....................................................................................................................130

Dataset Information....................................................................................................... 131

Select Color.......................................................................................................................137

.................................................................................................................. 129

6 XY and Polar Line Plots ......................................................................... 143

Mapping Style and Creation

Line Map Layer...............................................................................................................149

Symbols Map Layer....................................................................................................... 163

XY Line Error Bars.........................................................................................................165

XY Line Bar Charts ........................................................................................................ 167

I, J, and K-indices ...........................................................................................................167

Line Legend...................................................................................................................... 168

Polar Drawing Options ................................................................................................170

......................................................................................144

7 Field Plots ....................................................................................................... 173

Field Plot Modification - Zone Style Dialog

..........................................................174

4

Time Aware ...................................................................................................................... 179

Data Point and Cell Labels..........................................................................................181

Three-dimensional Plot Control................................................................................182

8 Mesh Layer and Edge Layer ............................................................. 189

Mesh Layer

Edge Layer........................................................................................................................191

....................................................................................................................... 189

9 Contour Layer .............................................................................................. 193

Contour Layer Modification

Contour Details Dialog.................................................................................................195

Extract Contour Lines...................................................................................................204

.......................................................................................194

10 Vector Layer .................................................................................................. 207

Vec tor Variables

Vector Plot Modification ..............................................................................................208

Vec tor Arrowheads ........................................................................................................210

Vector Length................................................................................................................... 211

Reference Vectors ...........................................................................................................212

..............................................................................................................207

11 Scatter Layer ................................................................................................ 215

Scatter Plot Modification

Scatter Size/Font .............................................................................................................217

Reference Scatter Symbols...........................................................................................218

Scatter Legends ............................................................................................................... 219

.............................................................................................215

12 Shade Layer .................................................................................................. 221

Shade Layer Modification

...........................................................................................221

13 Translucency and Lighting ................................................................. 223

Transluc ency

Lighting Effects...............................................................................................................224

Three-dimensional Light Source............................................................................... 225

.................................................................................................................... 223

14 Slices .................................................................................................................. 227

Interactively Created Slices

Slices Extracted Directly to Zones ............................................................................232

.........................................................................................228

15 Streamtraces ................................................................................................ 235

Streamtrace Details dialog

Streamtrace Animation ................................................................................................245

Surface Streamtraces on No-slip Boundaries........................................................245

..........................................................................................236

5

Streamtrace Extraction as Zones ...............................................................................245

Streamtrace Errors .........................................................................................................245

16 Iso-surfaces .................................................................................................. 247

Iso-Surface Groups

Iso-Surface Definition ...................................................................................................248

Iso-Surface Style .............................................................................................................249

Iso-Surface Animation..................................................................................................249

Iso-Surface Extraction...................................................................................................250

........................................................................................................247

17 Axes .................................................................................................................... 251

Axis Display

Axis Variable Assignment........................................................................................... 251

Axis Range Options for XY Line, 2D, and 3D Cartesian Coordinates..........252

Axis Range Options for Polar Coordinates ........................................................... 254

Axis Grid Options..........................................................................................................256

Tick Mark Options.........................................................................................................258

Tick Mark Label Options.............................................................................................259

Axis Title Options .......................................................................................................... 263

Axis Line Options ..........................................................................................................263

Grid Area Options ......................................................................................................... 266

Time/Date Format Options.........................................................................................266

..................................................................................................................... 251

18 Text, Geometries, and Images ...................................................... 271

......................................................................................................................................271

Tex t

Geometries........................................................................................................................282

Images................................................................................................................................285

Text and Geometry Alignment..................................................................................287

Text and Geometry Links to Macros........................................................................287

Data Manipulation

19 Blanking ........................................................................................................... 291

Blanking Settings for Derived Objects

Value B lanking ................................................................................................................292

IJK Blanking .....................................................................................................................296

Depth Blanking ............................................................................................................... 298

20 Surface Clipping ......................................................................................... 301

Creating a Clipping Slice

Including Plot Objects in Clipping...........................................................................302

.............................................................................................302

.................................................................... 292

6

21 Data Operations ......................................................................................... 305

Data Alteration through Equations

Data Smoothing ..............................................................................................................316

Fourier Transform .......................................................................................................... 318

Coordinate Transformation ........................................................................................319

Two-dimensional Data Rotation ............................................................................... 320

Shift Pseudo Cell-centered Data................................................................................ 321

Zone Creation..................................................................................................................321

Data Extraction from an Existing Zone................................................................... 327

Zone Deletion ..................................................................................................................330

Variable Deletion ............................................................................................................ 330

Data Interpolation..........................................................................................................331

Irregular Data Point Triangulation ...........................................................................336

Data Spreadsheet............................................................................................................338

..........................................................................305

22 CFD Data Analysis .................................................................................... 341

Specifying Fluid Properties

Specifying Reference Values.......................................................................................345

Identifying Field Variables.......................................................................................... 345

Setting Geometry and Boundary Options ............................................................. 347

Unsteady Flow ................................................................................................................351

Calculating Variables ....................................................................................................353

Performing Integrations............................................................................................... 357

Calculating Turbulence Functions............................................................................371

Calculating Particle Paths and Streaklines.............................................................372

Analyzing Solution Error ............................................................................................ 382

Extracting Fluid Flow Features..................................................................................384

.........................................................................................341

23 Probing .............................................................................................................. 387

Field Plot Probing with the Mouse

Field Plot Probing by Specifying Coordinates and Indices..............................389

Field Plot Probed Data Viewing................................................................................391

Line Plot Probing with the Mouse............................................................................395

Data Editing .....................................................................................................................398

...........................................................................387

Final Output

24 Output ............................................................................................................... 405

Layout Files, Layout Package Files, Stylesheets

Plot Publishing for the Web ........................................................................................410

Data File Writing ............................................................................................................411

...................................................405

7

25 Printing ............................................................................................................. 415

Plot Printing

Setup................................................................................................................................... 416

Print Render Options....................................................................................................419

Print Preview...................................................................................................................420

..................................................................................................................... 415

26 Exporting ......................................................................................................... 421

The Tecplot Viewer

Vector Graphics Format ............................................................................................... 423

Image Format ..................................................................................................................426

X3D Export....................................................................................................................... 432

Movie Format .................................................................................................................. 432

Clipboard Exporting to Other Applications .........................................................435

Antialiasing Images.......................................................................................................436

........................................................................................................422

Scripting

27 Introduction to Scripting ..................................................................... 439

28 Macros ............................................................................................................... 441

Macro Creation

Macro Play Back .............................................................................................................443

Macro Debugging ..........................................................................................................445

Moving Macros Among Computers or Directories...........................................447

............................................................................................................... 441

29 Batch Processing ....................................................................................... 449

Batch Processing Setup

Batch Processing Using a Layout File .....................................................................450

Multiple Data File Processing.................................................................................... 450

Batch Processing Diagnostics..................................................................................... 451

.................................................................................................449

30 Working With Python Scripts ........................................................... 453

Combining Python scripts with macro commands

Using the Python Quick Scripts Panel ....................................................................454

Running an entire Python Module...........................................................................455

Modifying the Python Path.........................................................................................456

Python Installation Notes............................................................................................ 456

............................................453

8

Advanced Topics

31 Animation ........................................................................................................ 461

Animation Tools

Movie File Creation Manually................................................................................... 471

Movie File Creation with Macros .............................................................................472

Advanced Animation Techniques ............................................................................473

Movie File Viewing.......................................................................................................474

.............................................................................................................461

32 Customization .............................................................................................. 479

Configuration Files

Interactive Customization ...........................................................................................484

Performance Dialog.......................................................................................................486

Interface Configuration (UNIX) ................................................................................490

Tecplot. phy .......................................................................................................................490

Custom Character and Symbol Definition.............................................................491

........................................................................................................479

33 Add-ons ............................................................................................................ 495

Add-on Loading

Add-ons included in the Tecplot 360 distribution .............................................. 497

Working with Tecplot 360 Add-ons .........................................................................499

.............................................................................................................495

Appendices

A Command Line Options ........................................................................ 545

Tecplot 360 Command Line

Using Command Line Options in Windows Shortcuts.....................................547

Additional Command Line Options in UNIX......................................................548

B Tecplot 360 Utilities ................................................................................ 549

Excel Macro

Framer................................................................................................................................551

LPK View ..........................................................................................................................552

Preplot................................................................................................................................554

Raster Metafile to AVI (rmtoavi)...............................................................................554

Pltview ...............................................................................................................................555

...................................................................................................................... 549

CShortcuts ......................................................................................................... 557

Keyboard Shortcuts

Extended Mouse Operations...................................................................................... 561

.......................................................................................................557

........................................................................................545

9

DGlossary ........................................................................................................... 563

E PLOT3D Function Reference ............................................................. 573

Symbols

Scalar Grid Quality Functions....................................................................................574

Vector Grid Quality Functions...................................................................................577

Scalar Flow Variables....................................................................................................577

Vector Flow Variables ................................................................................................... 582

The Velocity Gradient Tensor.....................................................................................583

.............................................................................................................................573

F Limits of Tecplot 360 ............................................................................. 585

Hard Limits

Soft Limits.........................................................................................................................587

Limits When Working Remotely .............................................................................. 587

...................................................................................................................... 585

10

Part 1 Introduction

to Tecplot 360

1

Introduction

Tecplot 360 is a powerful tool for visualizing a wide range of technical data. It offers line plotting, 2D and
3D surface plots in a variety of formats, and 3D volumetric visualization. The user documentation for
Tecplot 360 includes these nine books:

• User’s Manual
Tecplot 360 features.

• Getting Started Manual
provided in the Getting Started Manual. These tutorials highlight how to work with key
features in Tecplot 360.

• Scripting Guide
working with Macro and Python files and commands.

• Quick Reference Guide
keyboard shortcuts, and more.

• Data Format Guide
360 file format.

• Add-on Developer’s Kit - User’s Manual
creating add-ons for Tecplot 360.

• Add-on Developer’s Kit - Reference Manual
functions included in the add-on kit.

• Installation Instructions
Tecplot 360 on your machine.

• Release Notes
features.

• Tecplot Talk
Add-on development, TecIO and more. Visit www.tecplottalk.com

(this document) - This manual provides a complete description of working with

- New Tecplot 360 users are encouraged to work through the tutorials

- This guide provides Macro and Python command syntax and information on

- This guide provides syntax for zone header files, macro variables,

- This guide provides information on outputting simulator data to Tecplot

- This manual provides instructions and examples for

- This manual provides the syntax for the

- These instructions give a detailed description of how to install

- These notes provide information about new and/or updated Tecplot 360

- A user-supported forum discussing Tecplot 360, Tecplot Focus, Python scripting,
for details.

13

1 - 1 Interface

Five major sections make up the Tecplot 360 interface

Menu bar

and Toolbar

Workspace

Sidebar Status

1 - 1.1 Menubar

The menu bar offers rapid access to most of Tecplot 360’s features.

Tecplot 360’s features are organized into the following menus:

• File - Use the File menu to read or write data files and plot layouts, print and export plots, and

set configuration preferences.

• Edit - Use the Edit menu to select, undo, cut, copy, paste, and clear objects, open the Quick
Edit dialog, and change the draw order for selected items (push or pop).

Cut, Copy, and Paste work only within Tecplot 360. To place a graphic image of your
layout into another program, use Copy Plot to Clipboard. This option is available on
Windows® and Macintosh® platforms.

• View - Use the View menu to manipulate the point of view of your data, including scale, view
range, and 3D rotation. You can also use the View menu to copy and paste views between
frames.

The View menu includes the following convenient sizing options:

• Fit Everything (3D Only) - This options resizes plots so that all data points, text, and

geometries are included in the frame.

• Fit Surfaces (3D Only) - This option resizes plots so that all surfaces are included in the

frame, excluding any volume zones.

14

Interface

• Fit to Full Size - This option fits the entire plot into the frame. This option does not

affect the axis ranges.

• Nice Fit to Full Size - This option sets the axis range to begin and end on major axis

increments (if axes are dependent, the vertical axis length is adjusted to accommodate a
major tick mark).

• Data Fit - This option fits the data points to the frame.

• Make Current View Nice - This option modifies the range on a specified axis to fit the

minimum and maximum of the variable assigned to that axis, and then snaps the major
tick marks to the ends of the axis. (If axis dependency is not set as independent, this may
affect the range on another axis.)

• Center - This option moves the plot image so that the data points are centered within

the frame. (Only the data is centered; text, geometries, and the 3D axes are not
considered.)

• Plot - Use the Plot menu to control the style of your plots. The menu items available are
dependent upon the active plot type (chosen in the Sidebar).

• Insert - Use the Insert menu to add text, geometries (polylines, squares, rectangles, circles, and
ellipses), or image files. If you have a 3D zone, you may also use the Insert menu to insert a
slice. If the plot type is set to 2D or 3D Cartesian, you may insert a streamtrace.

• Animate - Use the Animate menu to animate IJK Planes, IJK Blanking, iso-surfaces, mappings,
slices, streamtraces, time, and zones.

• Data - Use the Data menu to create, manipulate, and examine data. Types of data
manipulation available in Tecplot 360 include zone creation, interpolation, triangulation, and
creation or alteration of variables.

• Frame - Use the Frame menu to create, edit, and control frames.

• Options - Use the Options menu to control the attributes of your workspace, including the
color map, paper grid, display options, and rulers.

• Scripting - Use the Scripting menu to play or record macros, and to access the Quick Macros
Panel dialog.

• Tools - Use the Tools menu to launch the Quick Edit dialog or an add-on.

• Analyze - Use the Analyze menu to examine grid quality, perform integrations, generate
particle paths, extract flow features, and estimate numerical errors.

• Help - Choose “Tecplot 360 Help” from the Help menu to get specific, complete help on
features or operations within Tecplot 360. By choosing “About Tecplot 360” from this menu,
you can obtain specific information about your license.

1 - 1.2 Sidebar

The Sidebar provides easy access for frequently used plot controls. The functions available in the Sidebar
depend on the plot type of the active frame. For 2D or 3D Cartesian plot types, you can add or subtract
zone layers, zone effects, and derived objects from your plot using the Sidebar. For line plots (XY and
polar) you can add or subtract mapping layers using the Sidebar.

To customize your plot, simply:

• Select a plot type from the Plot Types

• Use the toggle switches to add or subtract Zone Surfaces
the Zone Style/Mapping Style dialogs to further customize your plot by adding or subtracting

drop-down menu in the Sidebar.

, Zone Effects, or Derived Objects. Use

15

zones from specific plot layers/mappings, changing the way a zone or group of zones is
displayed, or changing various plot settings.

Figure 1-1. The Tecplot 360 Sidebar
for a field plot (left) and a line plot
(right).

The features available in the
Sidebar are dependent upon the
plot type.

For 3D Cartesian plots, you may
add and subtract zone layers,
derived objects, and effects for
your plot. You may also use the
Placement Plane for positioning
some 3D objects (3D plots only).

For 2D Cartesian plots (not
shown), you may add and subtract
zone layers and some derived
objects for your plot. For field plots
(3D or 2D), you may animate
transient data directly from the
Sidebar. For Line plots you may
add and subtract map layers. XY
Line plots have more available
map layers than polar line plots.

Plot Types

The Plot Type, combined with a frame’s dataset, active layers, and their associated attributes, define a plot.
Each plot type represents one view of the data. There are five plot types available:

• 3D Cartesian - 3D plots of surfaces and volumes.

• 2D Cartesian - 2D plots of surfaces, where the vertical and horizontal axis are both dependent
variables (i.e. x = f(A) and y = f(A), where A is another variable).

• XY Line - Line plots of independent and dependent variables on a Cartesian grid. Typically the
horizontal axis (x) is the independent variable and the y-axis a dependent variable, y = f(x).

• Polar Line - Line plots of independent and dependent variables on a polar grid.

• Sketch - Create plots without data such as drawings, flow charts, and viewgraphs.

16

Zone Surfaces

Zone Lay ers

A layer is a way of representing a frame’s dataset. The complete plot is the
sum of all the active layers, axes, text, geometries, and other elements added
to the data plotted in the layers. The six zone layers for 2D and 3D Cartesian
plot types are:

• Mesh - A grid of lines connecting the data points within each zone.

• Contour - Iso-valued lines, the region between these lines can be set

to contour flooding.

• Vector - The direction and magnitude of vector quantities.

• Scatter - Symbols at the location of each data point.

• Shade - Used to tint each zone with a solid color, or to add light-

source shading to a 3D surface plot. Used in conjunction with the
Lighting zone effect you may set Paneled or Gouraud shading.
Used in conjunction with the Translucency zone effect, you may
create a translucent surface for your plot.

• Edge - Zone edges and creases for ordered data and creases for

finite element data.

Interface

Zone Effects

For 3D Cartesian plot types, use the Sidebar to turn lighting and translucency on or off. Only shaded and
flooded contour surface plot types are affected. Refer to Chapter 12: “Shade Layer”

“Translucency and Lighting” for additional information.

and Chapter 13:

Zone Style

Select the [Zone Style] button to launch the Zone Style dialog. The Zone Style dialog is used to customize
the zone layers that you have added to your plot. Refer to the chapter for each zone layer for details on
working with the Zone Style dialog.

Map Layers

A layer is a way of representing a frame’s dataset. The complete plot is the
sum of all the active layers, axes, text, geometries, and other elements added
to the data plotted in the layers.

The four XY Line map layers are:

• Lines - Plots a pair of variables, X and Y, as a set of line segments or

a fitted curve.

• Symbols - A pair of variables, X and Y, as individual data points

represented by a symbol you specify.

• Bars - A pair of variables, X and Y, as a horizontal or vertical bar

chart.

• Error Bars - Allows you to add error bars to your plot.

17

The two map layers for Polar Line are:

• Lines - A pair of variables, X and Y, as a set of line segments or a

fitted curve.

• Symbols - A pair of variables, e.g. X and Y, as individual data

points represented by a symbol you specify.

Select the [Mapping Style] button to launch the Mapping Style dialog. The
Mapping Style dialog allows you to customize the style settings for each of
the plot layers and specify the points to plot. The pages of the dialog are
discussed in detail in Chapter 6: “XY and Polar Line Plots”

.

Derived Objects

For Cartesian plot types (2D and 3D): Toggle-on Iso-surfaces, Slices, or
Streamtraces from the Sidebar to add any or all of these elements to your plot.
Their corresponding Details dialogs can be accessed via the Details [...]
button. Refer to Chapter 16: “Iso-surfaces”

15: “Streamtraces” for details on working with these objects.

, Chapter 14: “Slices”, or Chapter

Transient Controls

When working with transient data, simply press the Play button in the
Sidebar to animate over time. The active frame will be animated from the
Current Solution Time to the last time step. You may also drag the slider to
change the Current Solution Time of your plot.

The Animation Controls have the following functions:

• – Jumps to the Starting Value.

• – Jumps toward the Starting Value by one step.

• – Runs the animation as specified by the ‘Operation’ field of the
Time Details dialog. The Play button becomes a Stop button while the
animation is playing.

• – Jumps toward the Ending Value by one step.

• – Jumps to the Ending Value.

Use the Details [...] button to launch the Time Details dialog.

Placement Plane

When you are using certain tools to add objects to your plot, toggle-on “Use Placement Plane” in the

Sidebar to place them along a given plane (3D Plots only). Use the [X],[Y], and [Z] buttons to select the
plane to use, and use the slider to reposition the Placement Plane. The Placement Plane will appear as a
gray slice in your plot. The Placement Plane is available for:

Placing streamtraces (using the Add Streamtrace Tool )

Placing slices (using the Slice Tool )

18

Interface

Adding Contour Levels (using the Add Contour Level Tool )

Deleting Contour Levels (using the Remove Contour Level Tool )

Probing (using the Probing tool )

Snap Modes

Snap Modes allow you to place objects precisely by locking them to the nearest reference point, either on
the axis grid or on the workspace paper.

• Snap to Grid - Constrain object movement to whole steps on the axis grid. This can be useful
for aligning text and geometries with specific plot features.

• Snap to Paper - Constrain object movement to whole steps on the paper's ruler grid. This can
be useful for positioning frames precisely for printing, or for absolute positioning of text,
geometries, and other plot elements.

Details Button

The [Details] button is located immediately below the snap modes. It is context sensitive. Use this button
to call up the dialog most directly applicable to your current action. When the currently selected tool is
either the Selector or the Adjustor , but no objects are selected in the workspace, the [Details]
button is labeled [Quick Edit]. Otherwise, the button is labeled Object Details
and Tool Details

when your mouse cursor is not in “selector” mode and an object is not selected.

when an object is selected

Object Details

The [Object Details] button in the Sidebar calls up the dialog that most closely reflects the current state of
the cursor. For example, if you select a legend and then [Object Details], the Legend dialog will open.

Tool Details

[Tool Details] calls up the dialog related to the current state of the cursor. For example, if a rotate tool is
selected, [Tool Details] calls up the 3D Rotate dialog.

Redraw Buttons

The redraw buttons allow you to keep your plot up to date: [Redraw All] CTRL-D redraws all frames
(SHIFT-[Redraw All] completely regenerates the workspace); [Redraw] CTRL-R redraws only the active
frame.

Auto Redraw

Use Auto Redraw - When selected, the plot will be automatically redrawn, whenever style or data
changes. Some users prefer to turn this option off while setting multiple style settings and then manually
press the [Redraw] or [Redraw All] button on the Sidebar to see a full plot.

You can interrupt an auto-redraw at any time with a mouse click or key press.

19

Cache Graphics

Tecplot 360 uses OpenGL® to render plots. OpenGL provides for the ability to cache graphic instructions
for rendering and can re-render the cached graphics much faster than if Tecplot 360 sends the instructions
again. This is particularly true for interactive manipulation of a plot. However, this performance potential
comes at the cost of using more memory. If the memory need is too high, the overall performance could be
less. There are three graphics cache modes: cache all graphics, cache only lightweight graphics objects, and
do not cache graphics.

When “Cache Graphics” is selected in the Sidebar, Tecplot 360 assumes there is enough memory to
generate the graphics cache. Assuming this is true, Tecplot 360’s rendering performance will be optimal
for interactive manipulation of plots.

When memory constraints are very limited, consider toggling-off “Cache Graphics”. If you intend to
interact with the plot, also consider setting the Plot Approximation mode set to “All Frames Always
Approximated”.

See Section “Graphics Cache”

on page 487 for more information.

Plot Approximations

When Plot Approximation is selected and if the number of data points is above the point threshold, an
approximate plot for style, data, and interactive view changes is rendered. The approximate plot is
followed immediately by the full plot. This option provides for good interactive performance with the
final plot always displayed in the full representation.

See Section “Plot Approximation”

on page 486 for more information.

1 - 1.3 Toolbar

Each of the tools represented in the Toolbar changes the mouse mode and allows you to interactively edit
your plot.

Double-click on a tool to launch the Details dialog associated with the tool.

Selector Tool

Use the Selector tool to select objects in your workspace. The selected objects can be modified using

the Quick Edit dialog and (in some cases) the Selector tool itself.

The following objects can be moved (translated) using the Selector tool:

• frames

• axis grid area

• text

• geometries

• contour labels

• streamtraces

• streamtrace termination line

• legends

• 3D frame axis

20

Interface

To select an object and open that object's attributes dialog, either double-click on any object or drag the
cursor to select groups of objects (calls up Group Select dialog). Select the [OK] button, then select [Object
Details].

Adjustor Tool

Use the Adjustor tool to perform any of the following modifications to your plot and data:

• Location of individual or groups of data points in the grid.

• Values of the dataset variables at a particular point.

• Length or placement of individual axes (2D Cartesian and XY Line plot types only).

• Spacing between an axis label and its associated axis (2D Cartesian and XY Line plot types

only).

• Shape of a polyline.

For all other scenarios, the behavior of the Adjustor mode is identical to that of the Selector tool.

The Adjustor tool can alter your data. Be sure you want to use the Adjustor tool before
dragging points in the data region.

To select multiple points - You can either SHIFT-click after selecting your initial point to select additional
points, or you can draw a group select band to select the points within the band. (In line plots, you can
select points from only one mapping at a time.)

Once you have selected all desired points, move the Adjustor over the selection handles of one of the
points, then click-and-drag to the desired location of the first data point. The other selected points will
move as a unit with respect to the chosen data point, maintaining their relative positions.

For XY Line plots, if several mappings are using the same data for one of the variables,
adjusting one of the mappings will result in simultaneous adjustments to the others. You
can avoid this by pressing the
point. The

H and V keys restrict the adjustment to the horizontal and vertical directions,

H or V key on your keyboard while adjusting the selected

respectively.

Group Select

The Group Select dialog is opened when you select a group of objects with the Selector or Adjustor tool.

The Group Select dialog allows you to specify the following object types (if the selection rectangle does
not include a specific object, its associated check box is inactive):

• Text

• Geometries

• Frames

• Zones or Mappings

• Axis Grid Area

• Contour Labels

• Streamtraces

The Group Select dialog offers the following attribute filters:

• Geoms of Type - Choose geometries of a particular type from the drop-down menu.

21

• Geoms with Line Pattern - Choose all geometries having a particular line pattern.

• Text with Font - Choose all text displayed in a particular font.

• Objects with Color - Choose all objects of a particular color. You choose the appropriate color

from the Select Color dialog.

Zoom Tool

Zoom into or away from the plot.

When a mouse-click occurs (without dragging), the zooming is centered at the location of your click.

There are two zoom modes: plot zooming and paper zooming.

For plot zooming - drag the magnifying glass cursor to draw a box around the region that you want to fit
into the frame. The box may be larger than the frame. Making the box larger than the frame zooms away
from the plot. The region within the view box will be resized to fit into the frame.

If Snap to Grid (located in the Sidebar) is selected, you cannot make the zoom box
larger than the grid area.

To return to the previous view, choose “Last” from the View menu (CTRL-L). To restore the original 2D
view, choose” Fit to Full Size (CTRL-F)”.

The results of plot zooming for the 2D plot type are dependent upon the axis mode selected in the Axis
Details dialog (accessed via the Plot menu):

• 2D Independent Axis Mode - Allows the selected region to expand to exactly fit in the frame.
The axes are rescaled independently to fit the zoom box.

• 2D Dependent Axis Mode - In dependent mode, the axes are not fit perfectly to the zoom box.
The longest dimension from the zoom box is applied to an associated axis, and the other axis is
resized according to the dependency relation.

For paper zooming - SHIFT-drag the magnifying glass cursor to draw a box about the region that you
want to magnify. The plot is resized so that the longest dimension of the zoom box fits into the workspace.
You can fit one or all frames to the workspace by using the “Fit Selected Frames to Workspace” or “Fit All
Frames to Workspace” options from the View>Workspace menu. To return to the default paper view,
choose “Fit Paper to Workspace” from the View>Workspace menu.

Clicking anywhere in your plot while the zoom tool is active will center the zoom around
your click. Alternatively, CTRL-click centers the plot on the point that was clicked and
zooms out.

Use the center mouse button and drag (or hold down the rollerball and drag) to
interactively zoom into or out of the plot.

Translate Tool

Use the Translate/Magnify tool to translate or magnify data within a frame or the paper within the

workspace.

22

Interface

While in Translate/Magnify mode, drag the cursor to move the data with respect to the frame, or SHIFT­drag to move the paper with respect to the workspace.

Use the right mouse button to interactively translate objects. You can rescale your image
by pressing “+” to magnify, “-” to shrink. If you are SHIFT-dragging to move the paper,
the rescale buttons “+” and “-” will magnify or shrink the paper, as long as you have the
mouse button depressed.

Three-dimensional Rotation

There are six 3D rotation mouse modes:

Spherical - Drag the mouse horizontally to rotate about the Z-axis; drag the mouse vertically to

control the tilt of the Z-axis.

Rollerball - Drag the mouse in a direction to move with respect to the current orientation on the

screen. In this mode, your mouse acts much like a rollerball.

Twis t - Drag the mouse clockwise around the image to rotate the image clockwise. Drag the

mouse counterclockwise around the image to rotate the image counterclockwise.

X-axis - Drag the mouse to rotate the image about the X-axis.

Y-axis - Drag the mouse to rotate the image about the Y-axis.

Z-axis - Drag the mouse to rotate the image about the Z-axis.

Once you have selected a rotation mouse mode, you can quickly switch to any of the others using the
following keyboard shortcuts:

Drag Rotate about the defined rotation origin with your current Rotate tool.

ALT-drag Rotate about the viewer position using your current Rotate tool.

Middle-click-and-drag/ALT­right click-and-drag

Right-click-and-drag Translate the data.

Smooth zoom in and out of the data.

This option can be used without first selecting a rotation mouse mode. Simply

CTRL-right-click-and-drag

C Move rotation origin to probed point, ignoring zones.

hover over your intended point of origin, and then CTRL-right-click-and-drag
to translate the image.

23

Move rotation origin to probed point of data.

O

R Switch to Rollerball rotation.

S Switch to Spherical rotation.

T Switch to Twist rotation.

X Switch to X-axis rotation.

Y Switch to Y-axis rotation.

Z Switch to Z-axis rotation.

This shortcut can be used without first selecting a rotation mouse mode.
Simply hover over your intended point of origin, type O, and then
right-click-and-drag to rotate the image.

Slice Tool

Use the Slicing tool to add a slice interactively by clicking anywhere in your plot. You can also use

this tool to control your slice(s) interactively.

The following keyboard/mouse options are available when the Slice tool is active:

Primary Slices, Start End Slices Active - Turn on intermediate slices (if not

+

already active) and adds a slice.
Primary Slices active [ONLY] - Turns on Start/End Slices and adds a slice.
Start/End Slices active [ONLY] - Turns on Start/End Slices and adds a slice.

CTRL-

Primary Slices, Start End Slices Active - Removes start and end slices.

-

Click/Drag

ALT-click/ALT-drag

SHIFT-click

SHIFT-drag

I, J, K (ordered zones only) Switch to slicing constant I, J, or K-planes respectively.

X, Y, Z Switch to slicing constant X, Y, or Z-planes respectively.

1-8 Numbers one through eight switch to the corresponding slice group.

Primary Slices active [ONLY] - Removes the primary slice.
Start/End Slices active [ONLY] - Removes the Start and End Slices.

Updates the position of the primary slice (if active). If only start and end slices
are visible, click updates the position of the starting slice.

Determine the XYZ-location by ignoring zones and looking only at derived
volume objects (streamtraces, slices, iso-surfaces).

Switches from one Primary slice to Start/End Slices by adding a slice.

Move the start or end slice (whichever is closest to the initial click location).
Show Start/End Slices is activated, if necessary.

24

Add Streamtrace

Select the Add Streamtrace tool to add a streamtrace interactively by clicking anywhere in your plot.

Select the number of streamtraces to include with each click (rake) using 1-9 on the keyboard.

Keyboard Shortcuts

DSwitch to streamrods
RSwitch to streamribbons
SSwitch to surface lines
VSwitch to volume lines
1-9Change the number of streamtraces to be added when placing a rake of

streamtraces
SHIFT - Draws a rake on concave 3D volume surfaces. These rakes are normally not

drawn, as they occur outside of the data
Refer to Chapter 15: “Streamtraces”

for more information.

Streamtrace Termination Line

Select the Add Streamtrace Termination Line tool to add a streamtrace termination line

interactively.

Interface

To draw a Streamtrace Termination Line:

• Move the cursor into the data region.

• Click once at the desired starting point for the line.

• Click again at each desired break point.

• When the polyline is complete, double-click on the last point of the polyline, or press ESC on

your keyboard.

• The drawn polyline ends any streamtraces that pass through it.

Add Contour Level

Select the Add Contour Level tool to add a contour level by clicking anywhere in the active data

region. A new contour level, passing through the specified location, is calculated and drawn.

The following keyboard and mouse shortcuts are related to the Add Contour Level tool.

ALT-click Place a contour line by probing on a streamtrace, slice, or iso-surface.

Click Place a contour line.

CTRL-Click

Drag Move the new contour line.

-

Replace the nearest contour line with a new line.

Switch to the

Delete Contour Level tool.

25

Delete Contour Level

Select the Delete Contour Level tool to delete a contour level by clicking anywhere in the active
data region. The contour line nearest the specified location is deleted.

Use the “+” key to switch to the Add Contour Level tool and the “-” key to switch back to
the Delete Contour Level tool.

Add Contour Labels

Select the Add Contour Label tool to switch to the Contour Label mode, enabling you to add a

contour label by clicking anywhere in the active data region.

A contour label is added to the plot at the specified location; its level or value information is taken from
the nearest contour line. This allows you to place labels at a slight offset from the lines they label.

The Contour type must be lines or lines and flood in order for this tool to be active. You
can set the contour type on the Contour page of the Zone Style dialog.

Probe Tool

Select the Probe At Tool to probe for values of the dataset's variables at a particular point.

To obtain interpolated values of the dataset variables at the specified location, click at any point in the data
region.

To obtain exact values for the data point nearest the specified location, CTRL-click at the desired location.

For XY plots, when you move into the axis grid area, the cursor cross hair is augmented
by a vertical or horizontal line, depending on whether you are probing along the X-axis
or the Y -axis. You can change the axis to probe simply by pressing X to probe the X-axis
or Y to probe the Y-axis.

Insert Text

Select the Add Text tool to add text to any frame.

Insert Geometries

Use the corresponding geometry buttons in the Toolbar to insert geometries into your plot.

Polylines

Squares

Rectangles

26

Circle

Ellipse

Create New Frame

Select the Create Frame tool to create a new frame.

To add a frame:

• Click once in the workspace to anchor one corner of the frame.

• Drag the diagonal corner until the frame is the desired size and shape.

If you have data loaded before you create a new frame, you can attach the existing
dataset to the new frame by changing the plot type.

Extract Discrete Points

Select the Extract Discrete Points tool to extract selected points to a data file or a new zone.

To select points:

• Click your left-hand mouse button at each location where you would like to extract a point.

• To end extraction, either double-click on the last point, or right click, or press the ESC key.

• The Extract Data Points dialog appears; use it to specify how many points to extract and how

to save the data.

Interface

Extract Points along Polyline

Select the Extract Line tool to extract points along a specified polyline to a data file or a new zone.

To select points:

• Click your left-hand mouse button at each location where you would like to extract a point.

• To end extraction, either double-click on the last point, or right click, or press the ESC

• The Extract Data Points dialog appears; use it to specify how many points to extract and how

to save the data.

key.

Create Rectangular Zone

Select the Create Rectangular Zone tool to add 2D rectangular zones to the active dataset.

To create a rectangular zone:

• Click once in the active data region to anchor one corner of the zone.

• Drag the diagonal corner until the zone is the desired size and shape. The new zone created is

IJ-ordered.

To specify the maximum I-index and J-index, use the Create Rectangular Zone dialog (accessed via
Data>Create Zone).

The active frame must have a dataset attached to it in order for this tool to be active.
This tool is available in 2D plots only.

Create Circular Zone

Select the Create Circular Zone tool to add new 2D circular zones to the active dataset.

27

To create a circular zone:

• Click once in the active data region to specify the center of the zone.

• Drag until the zone has the desired radius. The new zone created is IJ-ordered.

To specify the maximum I-index and J-index, use the Create Circular Zone dialog (accessed via
Data>Create Zone).

The active frame must have a dataset attached to it in or der for the Create Circular Z one
tool to be active. This tool is available in 2D plots only.

1 - 1.4 Status Line

The status line appears along the bottom of the Tecplot 360 window to give “hover help”, as well as a
progress bar and information when Tecplot 360 computes calculations. The hover help appears when you
move the pointer over a tool in the Toolbar, a button or item in the sidebar, or a menu item, and gives a
description of the control.

A progress bar and information about the calculation Tecplot 360 is completing appears in the status line
during lengthy calculations or other longer operations.

1 - 1.5 Tecplot 360 Workspace

In the Tecplot 360 workspace, you can create sketches and plots. You can create each sketch or plot within
a window called a frame. Each visible measure of the workspace is called a page. The current state of the
workspace, including the sizing and positioning of frames, the number and contents of pages, the location
of the data files used by each frame, and all current attributes for all frames, makes up a layout. By default,
the workspace displays a representation of where the paper plots are drawn, as well as a reference grid
and rulers. The frame most recently selected is called the active frame.

You can include multiple pages in your layout. To create a new page, modify pages or move between
them, use the Quick Macro Panel. See Section 28 - 2.1 “Quick Macro Panel”
the panel.

for more information about

28

Interface

1 - 1.6 Quick Edit

The map and zone layer controls affecting how the individual layers are drawn can be altered using
controls on the Sidebar. You can also control many of these attributes using the Quick Edit dialog.

The Quick Edit dialog is accessed via the [Quick Edit] button located at the bottom of the Sidebar when
the mouse-mode is a standard arrow (i.e. you are using either the Selector Tool
are in a different mouse mode, or you have selected a Text or Geometry object, the Object Details

Details will be launched in lieu of the Quick Edit dialog.

To use the Quick Edit dialog, select one or more objects in the workspace, then select the appropriate
button in the dialog to change the attributes of the selected object(s). The functionality of each button is
described in the following sections.

or Adjustor Tool). If you

or Tool

Mesh

This area of the Quick Edit dialog controls whether the mesh is displayed for selected zones, and if so,
using which types of mesh. The following options are available:

• Y - Show the mesh for the selected zones. The first time you turn on the Mesh layer by either

the Quick Edit dialog or the Zone Style dialog, a dialog appears asking if you wish it
activated. Select [Yes] to confirm turning on the layer.

• N - Turn off the mesh for the selected zones.

29

• Wire Frame - Mesh lines are drawn underlying all other field layers (i.e., Contour,

Vector, Scatter, Shade); hidden lines are not removed.

• Overlay - Mesh lines are drawn above all other field plot layers except vectors and scatter

symbols.

• Hidden - Similar to Overlay, except that in the 3D Cartesian, plot type hidden lines are

removed from behind the mesh. In essence, the cells of the mesh are opaque. Surfaces and
lines that are hidden behind another surface are removed from the plot.

Contour

This area of the Quick Edit dialog controls whether contours are displayed for selected zones, and if so,
using which plot type. The following options are available:

• Y - Show the contours for the selected zones. The first time you turn on the Contour layer by

either the Quick Edit dialog or the Zone Style dialog, a dialog appears asking if you wish it
activated. Select [Yes] to confirm turning on the layer.

• N - Turn off the contour for the selected zones.

• Lines - Plots contour lines. If you choose this plot type, you can use the Cont Color

attribute to specify Multi-Color to make the line color vary with the contour-variable value.

• Flood - Flood the area between adjacent contour lines with a color according to the value

of the contour variable, number of contour levels, and the Color Map.

• Both Lines and Flood - Contour lines are drawn with color flooding between them.

• Average Cell - Each cell or element is flooded with one solid color based upon the

average value of the contour variable at the data points of the cell or element.

• Primary Value - Each cell or element is flooded with one solid color based upon the

primary cell value.

Vector

This area of the Quick Edit dialog controls whether vectors are displayed for selected zones, and if so,
using which plot type. The following options are available:

• Y - Show the vectors for the selected zones. The first time you turn on the Vector layer by either

the Quick Edit dialog or the Zone Style dialog, a dialog appears asking if you wish it
activated. Select [Yes] to confirm turning on the layer.

• N - Turn off the vectors for the selected zones.

• Tail at Point - Display regular vectors – a simple stick vector with length proportional to

the local magnitude. The tail of the vector is positioned at the data point.

30