User’s Manual
Table of Contents
Part 1 Introduction to Tecplot 360 EX
1: Introduction
1 - 1 Welcome Screen
1 - 2 Input Devices
1 - 3 Interface
1 - 3.1 Menu Bar
1 - 3.2 Context Menu and Toolbar
1 - 3.3 Sidebars
1 - 3.4 Toolbar
1 - 3.5 Status Line
1 - 3.6 Tecplot 360 EX Workspace
1 - 4 Getting Help
2: Using the Workspace
2 - 1 Data Hierarchy
2 - 1.1 Data Displays in Frames
2 - 1.2 A Dataset Includes All Data in a Frame
2 - 1.3 Datasets Are Made of Zones
2 - 2 Interface Coordinate Systems
2 - 3 Frames
2 - 3.1 The Active Frame
2 - 3.2 Frame Creation
2 - 3.3 Edit Active Frame
2 - 3.4 Frame Linking
2 - 3.5 Frame Deletion
2 - 3.6 Managing Frame Order
2 - 3.7 Save Frame Style
2 - 3.8 Load Frame Style
2 - 4 Workspace Management Options
2 - 4.1 Paper Setup
2 - 4.2 Grid and Ruler Set-Up
2 - 5 View Modification
2 - 5.1 Show a Sidebar or Toolbar
2 - 5.2 Redraw Frame
2 - 5.3 Zoom
2 - 5.4 Fit Everything
2 - 5.5 Fit Surfaces
2 - 5.6 Fit to Full Size
2 - 5.7 Data Fit
2 - 5.8 Fit All Frames to Workspace
2 - 5.9 Nice Fit to Full Size
2 - 5.10 Make Current View Nice
2 - 5.11 Center
2 - 5.12 Translate/Magnify
2 - 5.13 Last
2 - 5.14 Rotate
2 - 5.15 3D View Details
2 - 5.16 Copy View
2 - 5.17 Paste View
2 - 5.18 Fit All Frames to Workspace
2 - 6 Edit Menu
2 - 6.1 Undo
2 - 6.2 Cut
2 - 6.3 Copy
2 - 6.4 Paste
2 - 6.5 Delete
2 - 6.6 Send to Back
2 - 6.7 Bring to Front
3: Data Structure
Connectivity List
Ordered Data
Indexing Nodal Ordered Data
Indexing Cell-centered Ordered Data
One-dimensional Ordered Data (I, J, or K)
Logical versus Physical Representation of Data
Finite Element Data
Finite Element Data Limitations
Variable Location (Cell-centered or Nodal)
Face Neighbors
Working with Unorganized Datasets
Example - Unorganized Three-Dimensional Volume
Part 2 Loading Your Data
4: Loading Data
4 - 1 Loading Data Using a Loader
4 - 2 All Files and All Supported Files
4 - 3 CGNS Loader
4 - 3.1 CGNS Support Notes
4- 3.2 Load CGNS Options: Zones Dialog
4- 3.3 Load CGNS Options: Variables dialog
4- 3.4 Macro Commands for the CGNS loader
4 - 4 CONVERGE HDF5 File Loader
4 - 4.1 Macro Commands for the CONVERGE HDF5 loader
4 - 5 CONVERGE Out File Loader
4 - 6 DEM Loader
4 - 7 DXF Loader
4 - 7.1 Load DXF File Dialog
4 - 7.2 DXF Loader Limitations
4 - 8 EnSight Loader
4- 8.1 Macro Commands for the EnSight Loader
4 - 9 Excel Loader
4 - 9.1 Spreadsheet Data Formats
4 - 9.2 Excel Loader Restrictions
4 - 10 FEA Loader
4 - 10.1 Format-Specific Notes
4 - 10.2 Loading FEA Data
4 - 10.3 Selecting Zones and Variables to Load
4 - 10.4 Appending Finite Element Data to an Existing Dataset
4 - 10.5 Post-processing Finite Element Data
4 - 10.6 Macro Commands for the FEA loader
4 - 11 FLOW-3D Loader
4 - 11.1 FLOW-3D Loader Options
4 - 11.2 FLOW-3D Macro Commands
4 - 11.3 FLOW-3D Auxiliary Data
4 - 12 FLUENT Loader
4- 12.1 Macro Commands for the FLUENT loader
4 - 13 FVCOM Loader
4 - 14 General Text Loader
4 - 14.1 Dataset Title
4 - 14.2 Variable Import Instructions
4 - 14.3 General Text Loader: Data
4 - 14.4 General Text Loader: Filters
4 - 14.5 General Text Loader: View Options
4 - 14.6 General Text Loader Configuration File
4 - 15 HDF Loader
4 - 15.1 HDF Loader Limitations
4 - 16 HDF5 Loader
4 - 16.1 Data Selection
4 - 16.2 Importing/Loading Data
4 - 16.3 Additional Options
4 - 17 Kiva Loader
4 - 17.1 Select Variable to Load
4 - 18 PLOT3D Loader
4- 18.1 File Combinations
4- 18.2 PLOT3D Loader Limitations
4- 18.3 PLOT3D File Structure
4- 18.4 PLOT3D Data Subsets
4- 18.5 Macro Language Commands for the Plot3D Loader
4- 18.6 PLOT3D Auxiliary Data
4 - 19 PLY Loader
4 - 20 Tecplot-Format Loader
4 - 20.1 Tecplot Data File Loading
4 - 21 Tecplot Subzone Loader
4 - 22 Tecplot Layout Loader
4 - 23 Telemac Data Loader
4 - 23.1 Macro Commands for the Telemac Data Loader
4 - 24 Text Spreadsheet Loader
4 - 25 TRIX Loader
4 - 26 VTK Data Loader
4- 26.1 Macro Language Commands for the VTK Data Loader
4 - 27 Loading Remote Data using the Tecplot SZL Server
4 - 27.1 Manual Connection Mode
4 - 27.2 Interactive Authentication and Unattended Operation
4 - 28 Overwriting Data Files
Part 3 Creating Plots
5: Creating Plots
5 - 1 Creating Plots
5 - 2 Data Journaling
5 - 3 Data Sharing
5 - 4 Data Set Information
5 - 4.1 Zone/Variable Info Page
5 - 4.2 Data Set Page
5 - 4.3 Aux Data Page
5 - 5 Color Chooser
5 - 5.1 RGB Coloring
5 - 5.2 Basic Color Palette
6: XY and Polar Line Plots
6 - 1 Mapping Style and Creation
6 - 1.1 Mapping Definitions
6 - 1.2 Mapping Creation
6 - 1.3 Mapping Names
6 - 2 Line Map Layer
6 - 2.1 Line Attributes
6 - 2.2 Curve Types
6 - 3 Symbols Map Layer
6 - 3.1 Symbol Attributes
6 - 3.2 Enter ASCII Character
6 - 4 XY Line Error Bars
6 - 4.1 Select Variable
6 - 4.2 Error Bar Attributes
6 - 5 XY Line Bar Charts
6 - 5.1 Bar Chart Attributes
6 - 6 I, J, and K-indices
6 - 7 Line Legend
6 - 7.1 Specify Number Format
7: Field Plots
7 - 1 Field Plot Modification and the Zone Style Dialog
7 - 1.1 Points
7 - 1.2 Surfaces
7 - 1.3 Derived Volume Object Plotting
7 - 2 Time Aware
7 - 3 Data Point and Cell Labels
7 - 4 Three-dimensional Plot Control
7 - 4.1 Reset 3D Axes
7 - 4.2 Three-dimensional Axis Limits
7 - 4.3 Three-dimensional Orientation Axis
7 - 4.4 Advanced 3D Control
7 - 4.5 The Rotate Dialog
7 - 4.6 Three-dimensional View Details
7 - 4.7 Three-Dimensional Zooming and Translating
8: Mesh Layer and Edge Layer
8 - 1 Mesh Layer
8 - 1.1 Mesh Layer Modification
8 - 1.2 Mesh Types
8 - 2 Edge Layer
8 - 2.1 Edge Layer Modification
8 - 2.2 Edge Type
8 - 2.3 Edge Display
9: Contour Layer
9 - 1 Contour Layer Modification
9 - 2 Contour & Multi-Coloring Details
9 - 2.1 Contour Groups
9 - 2.2 Contour Levels and Color
9 - 2.3 Contour Bands
9 - 2.4 Contour Lines
9 - 2.5 Contour Labels
9 - 2.6 Contour Legend
9 - 3 Extract Contour Lines
10: Vector Layer
10 - 1 Vector Variables
10 - 2 Vector Plot Modification
10 - 3 Vector Details
10 - 3.1 Length Page
10 - 3.2 Arrowhead Page
10 - 3.3 Reference Vector Page
11: Scatter Layer
11 - 1 Scatter Plot Modification
11 - 2 Scatter Size/Font
11 - 3 Scatter Legends
12: Shade Layer
12 - 1 Shade Layer Modification
13: Translucency and Lighting
13 - 1 Translucency
13 - 2 Blanking
13 - 3 Lighting Effects
13 - 4 Three-dimensional Light Source
13 - 4.1 Moving the Light Source
14: Slices
14 - 1 Interactively Created Slices
14 - 1.1 Slice Groups
14 - 1.2 Definition Page
14 - 1.3 Contour Page
14 - 1.4 Vector Page
14 - 1.5 Other Page
14 - 1.6 Animate Page
14 - 2 Extracting Slices to Zones
15: Streamtraces
15 - 1 Streamtrace Details dialog
15 - 1.1 Placement Page
15 - 1.2 Lines Page
15 - 1.3 Rod/Ribbon Page
15 - 1.4 Timing Page
15 - 1.5 Animate Page
15 - 1.6 Term Line Page
15 - 1.7 Integration Page
15 - 2 Surface Streamtraces on No-slip Boundaries
15 - 3 Streamtrace Extraction as Zones
15 - 4 Streamtrace Errors
16: Iso-surfaces
16 - 1 Iso-Surface Groups
16 - 2 Iso-Surface Definition
16 - 3 Iso-Surface Contour and Shade
16 - 4 Iso-Surface Mesh and Vector
16 - 5 Iso-Surface Animation
16 - 6 Iso-Surface Extraction
17: Axes
17 - 1 Axis Display
17 - 2 Axis Variable Assignment
17 - 3 Axis Range Options for XY and 2D/3D Plots
17 - 4 Axis Range Options for Polar Plots
17 - 5 Axis Grid Options
17 - 6 Tick Mark Options
17 - 7 Tick Mark Label Options
17 - 8 Axis Title Options
17 - 9 Axis Line Options
17 - 10 Grid Area Options
17 - 11 Time/Date Format Options
17 - 11.1 Microsoft Excel Support
17 - 11.2 Loading Time/Date Data
18: Text, Geometries, and Images
18 - 1 Text
18 - 1.1 Text Details
18 - 1.2 Font Folders and Fallback
18 - 1.3 Text Box
18 - 1.4 Special Characters
18 - 1.5 Dynamic Text
18 - 1.6 LaTeX Expressions
18 - 2 Geometries
18 - 2.1 Geometry Creation
18 - 2.2 Geometry Details
18 - 2.3 Three-dimensional Line Geometries
18 - 3 Linking Text and Geometries to Macros
Part 4 Data Manipulation
19: Blanking
19 - 1 Value Blanking
19 - 2 Value Blanking for Field Plots
19 - 3 Value Blanking Settings for Individual Zones
19 - 4 Value Blanking for Line Plots
19 - 5 IJK Blanking
19 - 6 Blanking Settings for Derived Objects
20: Data Operations
20 - 1 Data Alteration through Equations
20 - 1.1 Equation Syntax
20 - 1.2 Integration
20 - 1.3 Auxiliary Data
20 - 1.4 Zone Number Specification
20 - 1.5 Index Specification
20 - 1.6 Variable Sharing Between Zones
20 - 1.7 Equation Restriction
20 - 1.8 Macros and Equations
20 - 1.9 Equation Examples
20 - 2 Data Smoothing
20 - 2.1 Limitations of Smoothing
20 - 3 Fourier Transform
20 - 4 Axial Rotation
20 - 5 Zone Creation
20 - 5.1 Rectangular Zone Creation
20 - 5.2 Circular or Cylindrical Zone Creation
20 - 5.3 Zone Duplication
20 - 5.4 Mirror Zone Creation
20 - 5.5 Axial Duplication
20 - 6 Data Extraction from an Existing Zone
20 - 6.1 Subzone Extraction
20 - 6.2 Data Point Extraction
20 - 7 Zone Deletion
20 - 8 Variable Deletion
20 - 9 Data Interpolation
20 - 9.1 Linear Interpolation
20 - 9.2 Inverse-Distance Interpolation
20 - 9.3 Kriging
20 - 10 Irregular Data Point Triangulation
20 - 11 Data Spreadsheet
21: CFD Data Analysis
21 - 1 Specifying Fluid Properties
21 - 1.1 Specifying Incompressible Fluid Properties
21 - 1.2 Specifying Compressible Fluid Properties
21 - 1.3 Working with Non-dimensional Data
21 - 2 Specifying Reference Values
21 - 3 Identifying Field Variables
21 - 3.1 Choosing the Convective Variables
21 - 3.2 Identifying State Variables
21 - 4 Setting Geometry and Boundary Options
21 - 4.1 Performance Considerations
21 - 4.2 Specifying Boundaries and Boundary Conditions
21 - 4.3 The Edit Boundary dialog
21 - 5 Unsteady Flow
21 - 5.1 Specifying a Steady-state Solution
21 - 5.2 Group Zones by Time Step Dialog
21 - 5.3 Parsing Zone Names for Solution Time
21 - 6 Calculating Variables
21 - 6.1 Shared Variables
21 - 6.2 Calculate-on-demand Variables
21 - 6.3 Undoing a Calculation
21 - 6.4 Selecting a Function
21 - 6.5 Gradient Calculations
21 - 6.6 Surface Normal Calculations
21 - 7 Performing Integrations
21 - 7.1 Specifying Display Options
21 - 7.2 Accessing Integration Results in Macros
21 - 7.3 Integration Examples
21 - 8 Calculating Turbulence Functions
21 - 8.1 Identifying Turbulence Variables
21 - 8.2 Selecting the Variable Location
21 - 8.3 Calculating on Demand
21 - 8.4 Performing the Calculation
21 - 8.5 Shared Variables
21 - 9 Calculating Particle Paths and Streaklines
21 - 9.1 Calculating Particle Paths
21 - 9.2 Calculating Streaklines
21 - 9.3 Particles with Mass
21 - 10 Analyzing Solution Error
21 - 10.1 Calculating Solution Accuracy
21 - 10.2 Selecting Solution Zones
21 - 10.3 Specifying the Solver's Maximum Accuracy
21 - 10.4 Selecting the Dataset Variable
21 - 10.5 Plotting the Solution Accuracy
21 - 10.6 Performing the Calculation
21 - 10.7 Extrapolating a Solution
21 - 11 Extracting Fluid Flow Features
21 - 11.1 Extracting Shock Surfaces
21 - 11.2 Extracting Vortex Cores
21 - 11.3 Extracting Separation and Attachment Lines
21 - 11.4 Excluding Blanked Regions
22: Probing
22 - 1 Field Plot Probing with the Mouse
22 - 2 Field Plot Probing by Specifying Coordinates and Indices
22 - 2.1 Probe At Position
22 - 2.2 Probe at Index
22 - 3 Probe Sidebar
22 - 3.1 Variable Values
22 - 3.2 Cell Center Values
22 - 3.3 Zone and Cell Information
22 - 3.4 Face Neighbor
22 - 4 Line Plot Probing with the Mouse
22 - 4.1 Line Plot Probing in Interpolate Mode
22 - 4.2 Line Plot Probing in Nearest Point Mode
22 - 5 Data Editing
Part 5 Final Output
23: Output
23 - 1 Layout Files, Layout Package Files, Stylesheets
23 - 1.1 Creating Layouts and Stylesheets for Tecplot Focus
23 - 1.2 Working with Layout Files from Previous Releases
23 - 1.3 Exporting Backward Compatible Data Files
23 - 1.4 Stylesheets
23 - 1.5 Layout Files
23 - 1.6 Layout Package Files
23 - 1.7 Working with Layout and Layout Package Files
23 - 2 Data File Writing
24: Printing
24 - 1 Plot Printing
24 - 2 Setup
24 - 2.1 Printing Setup for Windows
24 - 2.2 Printing Setup for Linux
25: Exporting
25 - 1 Layout Packages
25 - 2 Vector Graphics Format
25 - 2.1 EPS Export
25 - 2.2 PostScript (PS) Export
25 - 2.3 WMF Export
25 - 3 Image Format
25 - 3.1 Exporting Images with a Specific DPI
25 - 3.2 BMP Export
25 - 3.3 JPEG Export
25 - 3.4 PNG Export
25 - 3.5 TIFF Export
25 - 4 Antialiasing Images
25 - 5 Clipboard Exporting to Other Applications
Part 6 Scripting
26: Macros
26 - 1 Macro Creation
26 - 1.1 Macro Functions
26 - 1.2 Macro Linking to Geometries
26 - 2 Macro Playback
26 - 2.1 Quick Macro Panel
26 - 3 Macro Debugger
26 - 3.1 Watching Variables
26 - 3.2 Using Breakpoints
27: Batch Processing
27 - 1 Batch Processing Setup
27 - 1.1 Batch Mode and Windows
27 - 1.2 Batch Mode and Mac
27 - 2 Batch Processing Using a Layout File
27 - 3 Multiple Data File Processing
27 - 3.1 Looping Outside Tecplot 360 EX
27 - 3.2 Looping Inside Tecplot 360 EX
27 - 4 Batch Processing Diagnostics
27 - 5 Batch Converting to SZL Format
28: PyTecplot
28 - 1 PyTecplot Recording
28 - 2 PyTecplot Connections
Part 7 Advanced Topics
29: Animation
29 - 1 Animation Tools
29 - 1.1 Time Animation
29 - 1.2 IJK-plane Animation
29 - 1.3 IJK Blanking Animation
29 - 1.4 Iso-surfaces Animation
29 - 1.5 Mapping Animation
29 - 1.6 Slice Animation
29 - 1.7 Streamtrace Animation
29 - 1.8 Zone Animation
29 - 2 Movie File Creation with Macros
29 - 3 Advanced Animation Techniques
29 - 3.1 Text Changes
29 - 3.2 Multiple Frame Animation
29 - 4 Animation Export
29 - 4.1 AVI Files
29 - 4.2 Flash Files
29 - 4.3 MPEG-4 Files
29 - 4.4 Windows Media (WMV) Files
29 - 4.5 Raster Metafiles
29 - 4.6 Sequenced Image Files
30: Customization
30 - 1 Custom Files loaded on Startup
30 - 1.1 Loading custom files via the Command Line
30 - 2 Configuration Files
30 - 2.1 Editing Configuration File
30 - 2.2 Default Temporary Directory
30 - 3 Performance Dialog
30 - 3.1 Rendering Settings
30 - 3.2 Miscellaneous Settings
30 - 4 Custom Character and Symbol Definition
31: Add-ons
31 - 1 Add-on Loading
31 - 1.1 Drag-and-Drop Method
31 - 1.2 Tecplot.add File
31 - 1.3 Specifying Add-Ons on the Command Line
31 - 1.4 Specifying a Secondary Add-On Load File
31 - 2 Add-ons included in the Tecplot 360 EX distribution
31 - 3 Working with Add-ons
31 - 3.1 Advanced Quick Edit
31 - 3.2 Auxiliary Data Editor
31 - 3.3 Create Multiple Frames
31 - 3.4 Extend Macro
31 - 3.5 Extend Time Macro
31 - 3.6 Extract Over Time
31 - 3.7 Extract Precise Line
31 - 3.8 Key Frame Animator
31 - 3.9 Measure Distance
31 - 3.10 Multi-Frame 3D
31 - 3.11 Solution Time and Strand Editor
31 - 3.12 Tensor Eigensystem
31 - 3.13 Time Series
31 - 3.14 Write Data as Formatted Text
Part 8 Appendices
A: Command Line Options
A - 1 Tecplot 360 EX Command Line
A - 2 Using Command Line Options in Windows Shortcuts
A - 2.1 Changing Shortcuts
A - 3 Exit Codes
B: Tecplot 360 EX Utilities
B - 1 Excel Add-In
B - 2 LPK View
B - 3 Preplot
B - 4 Pltview
C: Shortcuts
C - 1 Keyboard Shortcuts
C - 1.1 3D Rotate Tools
C - 1.2 Contour Add Tool
C - 1.3 Contour Remove Tool
C - 1.4 Geometry Polyline Tool
C - 1.5 Probe Tool
C - 1.6 Slice Tool
C - 1.7 Streamtrace Placement tools (3D Cartesian plots only)
C - 1.8 Translate Tool
C - 1.9 Zoom Tool
C - 1.10 Selector Tool
C - 1.11 Selected Object Options
C - 1.12 Time Navigation
C - 1.13 Other Keyboard Operations
C - 2 Extended Mouse Operations
D: License Management
D - 1 Entering Your License
D - 1.1 Evaluation License Setup
D - 1.2 Single-User License Setup Using An Activation Code
D - 1.3 Single-User License Setup Using A License File
D - 1.4 Network License Setup
D - 2 License Roaming
D - 2.1 Starting Roaming
D - 2.2 Ending Roaming
D - 2.3 RLM_ROAM
E: Glossary
F: Calculate Variables Reference
F - 1 Symbols
F - 2 Scalar Grid Quality Functions
F - 2.1 I, J, K-aspect Ratio
F - 2.2 I, J, or K-stretch Ratio
F - 2.3 I, J, or K-face Skewness
F - 2.4 Cell Diagonal1 or Diagonal2 Skewness
F - 2.5 IJ, JK, KI, or Max Normals Skewness
F - 2.6 I, J, K, or Min Orthogonality
F - 2.7 I, J, K, or Min Nonplanarity
F - 2.8 Jacobian
F - 2.9 Cell Volume
F - 3 Vector Grid Quality Functions
F - 3.1 Grid I, J, or K-unit Normal
F - 4 Scalar Flow Variables
F - 4.1 Density
F - 4.2 Stagnation Density
F - 4.3 Pressure
F - 4.4 Stagnation Pressure
F - 4.5 Pressure Coefficient
F - 4.6 Stagnation Pressure Coefficient
F - 4.7 Pitot Pressure
F - 4.8 Pitot Pressure Ratio
F - 4.9 Dynamic Pressure
F - 4.10 Temperature
F - 4.11 Stagnation Temperature
F - 4.12 Enthalpy
F - 4.13 Stagnation Enthalpy
F - 4.14 Internal Energy
F - 4.15 Stagnation Energy
F - 4.16 Stagnation Energy per Unit Volume
F - 4.17 Kinetic Energy
F - 4.18 Velocity Components U, V, or W
F - 4.19 Velocity Magnitude
F - 4.20 Mach Number
F - 4.21 Speed of Sound
F - 4.22 Cross Flow Velocity
F - 4.23 Equivalent Potential Velocity Ratio
F - 4.24 X, Y, Z-momentum Component
F - 4.25 Entropy
F - 4.26 Entropy Measure S1
F - 4.27 X-, Y-, Z-Vorticity
F - 4.28 Vorticity Magnitude
F - 4.29 Q Criterion
F - 4.30 Swirl
F - 4.31 Velocity Cross Vorticity Magnitude
F - 4.32 Helicity
F - 4.33 Relative Helicity
F - 4.34 Filtered Relative Helicity
F - 4.35 Shock
F - 4.36 Filtered Shock
F - 4.37 Pressure Gradient Magnitude
F - 4.38 Density Gradient Magnitude
F - 4.39 X, Y, Z-density Gradient
F - 4.40 Shadowgraph
F - 4.41 Divergence of Velocity
F - 4.42 Sutherland's Law
F - 4.43 Isentropic Density Ratio
F - 4.44 Isentropic Pressure Ratio
F - 4.45 Isentropic Temperature Ratio
F - 5 Vector Flow Variables
F - 5.1 Velocity
F - 5.2 Vorticity
F - 5.3 Momentum
F - 5.4 Perturbation Velocity
F - 5.5 Velocity Cross Vorticity
F - 5.6 Pressure Gradient
F - 5.7 Density Gradient
F - 6 The Velocity Gradient Tensor
G: Functional Limits
G - 1 Hard Limits
G - 2 Soft Limits
G - 3 Limits When Working Remotely
Index
Numerics
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z