Use a 2D Plot Group (
) to combine one or more 2D plots, such as surface plots and contour plots, and visualize the plots simultaneously. Use a 3D Plot Group (
) to combine one of more 3D plots, such as volume plots and slice plots, into one to visualize the plots simultaneously. The data sets that you can use are solution data sets 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.
) to combine one or more 2D plots, such as surface plots and contour plots, and visualize the plots simultaneously. Use a 3D Plot Group () to combine one of more 3D plots, such as volume plots and slice plots, into one to visualize the plots simultaneously. The data sets that you can use are solution data sets 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.
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Select a Data set. From the lists below select the solution to use. For example, for Parametric Sweep studies, select a Parameter value as needed. For time-dependent problems, select a Time. For eigenvalue and eigenfrequency analyses, select an Eigenvalue or Eigenfrequency. For solutions that contain multiple eigenvalues, the list includes entries such as 3241 (1) and 3241 (2) for selecting either of the two eigenmodes associated with the same eigenvalue.
From the Color list, choose Custom to define a custom color for the title, or choose one of the predefined colors (the default is Black).
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Select a View. The default is Automatic, which picks a view automatically. You can also choose any applicable view that is defined under Definitions or under Results>Views. It is also possible to choose New view. The plot then uses that new view, which appears as a View 2D (
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(2D only) The x-axis label and y-axis label 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.
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By default, the plot does not include hidden entities (geometric entities that are hidden in the selected View). To include such hidden geometric entities in the plot, select the Show hidden entities check box. To make the hiding also apply to lower dimensions (for example, when hidden domains affect faces where all adjacent domains are hidden), select the Propagate hiding to lower dimensions check box.
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The Plot data set edges check box is selected by default. Click to clear if required. Otherwise, select a Color (Black is the default) or select Custom to click the Color button and choose a different color from a color palette. Select a Frame: Material (the default), Mesh, Geometry frame, or Spatial.
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To turn off the display of the color legends, clear the Show legends check box.
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If the Show legends check box is selected, you can show or hide the maximum and minimum values for the plotted quantity that appear above and below the color scale using the Show maximum and minimum values check box. Turning off the maximum and minimum values can save screen space in the vertical direction.
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Specify the location of the color legends (color scales) for the plots for this plot group. The Position list contains the following positions for the color legends:
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Select Alternating to position the first color legend to the right of the plot, the second color legend to the right of the plot, and so on.
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Select Bottom to position the color legends horizontally at the bottom of the plot window.
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Select Left to position the color legends to the left of the plot.
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Select Left double to position the color legends to the left of the plot with two color legends positioned on top of each other (tiled vertically).
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Select Right to position the color legends to the right of the plot. This is the default position.
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Select Right double to position the color legends to the right of the plot with two color legends positioned on top of each other (tiled vertically).
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From the Text color list, choose Custom to define a custom color for the text in the color legend, or choose one of the predefined colors (the default is Black).
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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.
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To override the automatic formatting of the numbers in the color legend, select the Manual color legend settingscheck box. Then adjust the formatting using the following settings:
From the Notation list, choose Automatic to let the program choose decimal notation or scientific notation (E-notation) depending on the values of the displayed numbers. Choose Engineering to use engineering notation, or choose Scientific to only use scientific notation.
Select the Use common exponent 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 Show trailing exponent 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 Precision field, enter a positive integer (default: 3) for the numerical precision (number of digits displayed).
To override the automatic formatting of the numbers on the grid axes, select the Manual axis settingscheck box (2D) or Manual grid settings (3D). Then adjust the formatting using the following settings:
From the Notation list, choose Automatic to let the program choose decimal notation or scientific notation (E-notation) depending on the values of the displayed numbers. Choose Engineering to use engineering notation, or choose Scientific to only use scientific notation.
Select the Use common exponent 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 Show trailing exponent 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 Precision field, enter a positive integer (default: 4) for the numerical precision (number of digits displayed).
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Select a Plot window. The Graphics window is the default setting, but any other plot window can be selected, or select New window to plot in a new window.
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Select the Window title check box to enter a custom title (except for the Graphics window), which is then available in the Plot window list for all models. Click the Add plot window button (
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To add plots to a group, right-click the 3D Plot Group or the 2D Plot Group node to select as many as needed. Each plot group can have several plots combined to create a meaningful representation of the data.
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You can adjust the default precision settings for the axis labels if required. Open The Preferences Dialog Box and click Graphics and Plot Windows. Under Display format (number of digits):
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See Table 20-10 for a summary of all the available plot types, including links to each plot described in this guide.
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