2D Plot Group and 3D Plot Group

) to combine one or more 2D plots, such as surface plots and contour plots, and visualize the plots simultaneously. Use a (

) to combine one of more 3D plots, such as volume plots and slice plots, into one to visualize the plots simultaneously. The datasets that you can use are solution datasets for 2D and 3D solutions, respectively, but also, for example, cut planes from a 3D model in a 2D plot group or a revolved 2D axisymmetric solution in a 3D plot group.


	The time-related settings only display for time-dependent models.

Data

Select a . From the lists below select the solution to use. For studies, select, for example, a as needed. For time-dependent problems, select a . For eigenvalue and eigenfrequency analyses, select an or . For solutions that contain multiple eigenvalues, the list includes entries such as and for selecting either of the two eigenmodes associated with the same eigenvalue. You can step through time, eigenvalues or eigenfrequencies, or parameter values using the (

) and (

) buttons at the top of the plot group nodes and their plot nodes. You can also use the F6 and F7 keyboard shortcuts to step to the previous or next solution, respectively. For a parametric sweep with multiple parameters, the buttons step through the innermost parameter only. To move to the solution associated with the first or last time, eigenvalue, or parameter value, click the (

) or (

) button.

Selection

By default, the plots in the plot group are active in the entire geometry. Using a selection defined in this section, you can limit the plots to some geometric entities (parts of the geometry). From the list, choose (the default), , , (3D only), or .

For all levels except , you can choose a selection of entities at that level from the list:

•

, to select entities manually from the window or using the selection tools below.

•

(for example), to select all entities at the selected entity level.

•

Any user-defined selections that are available for the selected entity level.

The following settings are also available for all levels except :

By default, the check box is selected. If you clear it, only plots defined on the selected entity level will appear (for domains, a surface plot would then not appear, for example).

Select the check box to only display dataset edges for the chosen selection of entities instead of for the entire geometry.


	The selection made in the Settings window for the plot group can be overridden by Selection subnodes for the individual plot nodes in that plot group.

Save Data in the Model

Select to save the plot data in the model. This section only appears for the manual setting of the option for saving plot data. See Saving Plot Data in the Model.

Title

The is automatically generated by default. Select , , or as needed. See Plot Titles for Plot Groups and Plot Types for more information.

From the list, choose to define a custom color for the title, or choose one of the predefined colors (the default is ).

Plot Settings

•

Select a . The default is , which picks a view automatically. You can also choose any applicable view that is defined under or under . It is also possible to choose . The plot then uses that new view, which appears as a (

) or (

) node under .

•

(2D only) The and check boxes are cleared by default, indicating that empty axis labels are used by default. Select the check boxes to enter labels for the x-axis and the y-axis. This can be useful for scatter plots, for example, where the axes represent quantities other than the x and y directions.

•

By default, the plot does not include hidden entities (geometric entities that are hidden in the selected ). To include such hidden geometric entities in the plot, select the check box. To make the hiding also apply to lower dimensions (for example, when hidden 3D domains affect faces where all adjacent domains are hidden), select the check box.

•

For 2D axisymmetric plots, select the check box to display the symmetry axis at r = 0.

•

The check box is selected by default. Click to clear if required. Otherwise, select a ( is the default) or select to click the button and choose a different color from a color palette. Select a : (the default), , , or .

Color Legend

You can control the appearance of the color legends (color scales) for the plots for this plot group using the following settings:

To turn off the display of the color legends, clear the check box. If the check box is selected, you can control the look and feel and position of the color legend using the settings below.

You can show or hide the maximum and minimum values for the plotted quantity that appear above and below the color scale using the check box. Turning off the maximum and minimum values can save screen space in the vertical direction.

To display a unit for the values of the color legend, select the check box. The unit appears above the color legend.

Specify the location of the color legends (color scales) for the plots for this plot group. The list contains the following positions for the color legends:

•

Select to position the first color legend to the right of the plot, the second color legend to the left of the plot, and so on.

•

Select to position the color legends horizontally at the bottom of the plot window.

•

Select to position the color legends to the left of the plot.

•

Select to position the color legends to the left of the plot with two color legends positioned on top of each other (tiled vertically).

•

Select to position the color legends to the right of the plot. This is the default position.

•

Select to position the color legends to the right of the plot with two color legends positioned on top of each other (tiled vertically).

From the list, choose to define a custom color for the text in the color legend, or choose one of the predefined colors (the default is ).


	The default precision for the color legend labels is 5 digits. You can change the precision in the Preferences dialog box, using the Color legend field under Display format (number of digits) on the Graphics and Plot Windows page.

Number Format

In this section you can override the automatic formatting of the numbers used in the color legend and the axes of the grid:

Color Legend Formats

To override the automatic formatting of the numbers in the color legend, select the check box. Then adjust the formatting using the following settings:

From the list, choose to let the program choose decimal notation or scientific notation (E-notation) depending on the values of the displayed numbers. Choose to use engineering notation, or choose to only use scientific notation.

Select the check box (selected by default) to use a common exponent above the color legend. Clear this check box to instead display the full numbers, including the exponents, next to the corresponding levels in the color legend. One of these formats may be better suited to display the color legend if the plot window is small, for example.

Select the check box to display all numbers based on the precision used, including trailing zeros (for example, 5 is then displayed as 5.00 when the precision is set to 3).

In the field, enter a positive integer (default: 3) for the numerical precision (number of digits displayed).

Grid and Axis Formats

To override the automatic formatting of the numbers on the grid axes, select the check box (2D) or (3D). Then adjust the formatting using the following settings:

Select the check box (selected by default) to use a common exponent at the end of each axis. Clear this check box to instead display the full numbers, including the exponents, next to the corresponding axis tick. One of these formats may be better suited to display the grid if the plot window is small, for example.

Select the check box to display all numbers based on the precision used, including trailing zeros (for example, 5 is then displayed as 5.000 when the precision is set to 4).

In the field, enter a positive integer (default: 4) for the numerical precision (number of digits displayed).

Window Settings

•

Select a . The window is the default setting, but any other plot window can be selected, or select to plot in a new window.

•

Select the check box to enter a custom title (except for the window), which is then available in the list for all models. Click the button (

) to add a plot window to the list of available windows.

Interactive

Use a combination of datasets and plots to create a cross-section point plot, cross-section line plot, or cross-section surface plot.

To add plots to a group, right-click the or the node to select as many as needed. Each plot group can have several plots combined to create a meaningful representation of the data.

You can adjust the default precision settings for the axis labels if required. Open The Preferences Dialog Box and click . Under :

•

In the field, enter an integer between 1 and 15 for the number of digits for the values on the axes in 2D plots. The default setting is 4 digits.

•

In the field, enter an integer between 1 and 15 for the number of digits for the values on the axes of the grid in 3D plots. The default setting is 3 digits.

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Plot Groups and Plots

•

Results Toolbar and Plot Group Contextual Toolbar

See Table 21-10 for a summary of all the available plot types, including links to each plot described in this guide.