The Height Expression subnode () introduces 3D height to some 2D plots. Add it to make the height of the plot represent the plotted quantity or some other expression. 2D Surface, 2D Contour, 2D Function, 2D Line, and 2D Table Surface plots support the Height Expression attribute. In the Model Builder, add and define a 2D Surface, Contour, Line, Table Surface, Histogram, Matrix Histogram, or Optical Aberration plot; then right-click the plot node and select Height Expression.

Under Expression, the Height data defaults to From parent to use the same dataset as the parent plot it belongs to. If Expression is selected instead, see Expressions and Predefined Quantities. This section is not available for the Height Expression node when added under an Optical Aberration node.

When added to a Table Surface node where the data format is a filled table or determined by picking columns, you can select Data instead of From parent (the default setting) from the Height data list (this option is also available for the data format where the table data are treated as cells, but then the only option is to plot the imaginary part).

With this data format, you can select the data to use for the height from the Data list, if applicable.

With this data format, you can choose the data column to use for the height from the Data column list.

To plot the imaginary part of the height data instead of the real part, select the Plot imaginary part check box.

When added to a Table Surface node, you can use the settings in this section to scale the height data (for example, to convert the values to another unit).

From the Preprocessing list, choose Linear to apply a linear scaling and shift in the Scaling and Shift fields, respectively. The default values — a scaling factor of 1 and a shift of 0 — do not change the values of the height data.

Select a Title type: Automatic (the default), Custom, Manual, or None.

For a manual scaling of the height data, select the check box and enter a Scale factor to control the height of the added 3D plot. Enter an Offset (default value: 0) or use the associated slider to control the base location (relative to the 2D surface’s level). The offset value is relative to the geometry space and is not scaled. The height axis appears by default; clear the Show height axis check box to hide it.

The Height Expression subnode makes the plot a 3D plot, which needs a 3D view for the grid, camera, lighting, and other 3D view settings. Select the 3D view to use from the View list. The default is Automatic, which creates a 3D view if needed. Alternatively, select one of the existing View 3D nodes in the model. It is also possible to choose New view. The plot then uses that new view, which appears as a View 3D () node under Views.