Chapter 9: General Graphics Specifications

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9.1 Overview

Many graphics features apply to any kind of ANSYS graphics display. These general graphics specifications affect such features as multiple ANSYS windows, viewing directions, zooming and panning your image, etc.

9.2 Using the GUI to Control Displays

The most convenient way to create and control your displays is by using the functions available under Utility Menu>Plot and Utility Menu>PlotCtrls. Alternatively, you can use graphics action and control commands, as described elsewhere in this manual and below.

You can exercise the features this chapter describes for any kind of ANSYS display, whether they are geometry displays, results displays, or graphs.

9.3 Multiple ANSYS Windows, Superimposed Displays

An ANSYS window is a rectangular portion of your terminal screen which lies inside the main Graphics Window. ANSYS windows are defined in screen coordinates (X_s, Y_s). You can define up to five different windows, which can be placed anywhere within the Graphics Window, and which can overlap. Each window can have different graphics specification settings. However, graphics action commands will apply to every active window.

9.3.1 Defining ANSYS Windows

To define the size and placement of an ANSYS window, use either method shown below. You can use convenience labels in this command to size and place windows in the top half, bottom half, right top quadrant, etc. of the Graphics Window.

Command(s):

/WINDOW

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Window Controls>Window Layout

9.3.2 Activating and Deactivating ANSYS Windows

You can activate and deactivate existing ANSYS windows by entering ON or OFF in the XMIN field on the /WINDOW command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Window Controls>Window On or Off).

9.3.3 Deleting ANSYS Windows

To delete a window, either enter DELE in the XMIN field on the /WINDOW command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Window Controls>Delete Window).

9.3.4 Copying Display Specifications Between Windows

Use the NCOPY field on the /WINDOW command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls> Window Controls>Copy Window Specs) to copy a set of display specifications (/VIEW, /DIST, etc.) from one window to another window.

9.3.5 Superimposing (Overlaying) Multiple Displays

If you want to display dissimilar items in separate ANSYS windows, you must issue a sequence of different action commands as you activate and deactivate appropriate windows, while protecting the displays in your deactivated windows from being erased. The key to this operation is the /NOERASE command, which prevents the normal screen erase from occurring as new displays are created. Once your multiple display has been created, you can return to normal erasing mode by issuing the /ERASE command.

Note-These commands have no GUI equivalents.

9.3.6 Removing Frame Borders

The FRAME label on the /PLOPTS command enables you to turn all your ANSYS window border lines on and off.

9.4 Changing the Viewing Angle, Zooming, and Panning

Using these display specifications is similar to using a camera. The following sketch illustrates the concepts of focus point, viewpoint, and viewing distance, discussed below.

Figure 9-1 Focus point, viewpoint, and viewing distance

9.4.1 Changing the Viewing Direction

The viewing direction is established by a vector directed from the viewpoint to the display coordinate system origin. You use the /VIEW command to define the position of the viewpoint in the display coordinate system.

Command(s):

/VIEW

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Pan, Zoom, Rotate
Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Viewing Direction

You can also specify /VIEW,WN,WP to align the view perpendicular to the current working plane.

Use the following shortcut to pan, zoom, and rotate a graphics display: Press the CONTROL key and hold it down. You are now in Dynamic Manipulation Mode. Notice that the cursor assumes a different shape. Still holding the CONTROL key down, use the mouse buttons to manipulate your view of the display. When you want to leave Dynamic Manipulation Mode, simply release the CONTROL key.

Note-If you are a Windows ANSYS user performing dynamic manipulation (panning, zooming, rotating), avoid the use of the 256-color setting, which is the default on many systems and which slows down computer performance. To change the color setting, select the Start button in the bottom left-hand cornder of the terminal screen and choose Settings>Control Panel>Display>Settings. Change the Color Palette dropdown list to True Color, or, at least, the 650536 value. Increase resolution to the maximum value allowed for that setting. Also note that even though you can now run 3-D graphics without a 3-D card, it is highly recommended that you use a 3-D accelerated card to improve dynamic rotation and other plotting speed.

9.4.2 Rotating the Display About a Specified Axis

To rotate the graphics display about the screen axes or about the global Cartesian axes, use any of the following. (The right-hand rule defines positive angular rotation about any axis.)

Command(s):

/ANGLE

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Pan, Zoom, Rotate
Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Angle of Rotation

9.4.3 Determining the Model Coordinate System Reference Orientation

The /VUP command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Viewing Direction) determines the "starting" orientation of your display. For instance, with the viewpoint and rotation at their default settings, /VUP,WN,X orients the display such that the positive X axis is vertical pointing upward, Y is horizontal pointing to the left of the screen, and Z points out of the screen.

9.4.4 Translating (or Panning) the Display

The focus point is that point on your model that appears at the center of your ANSYS windows. You can define or redefine the focus point (in terms of the global Cartesian coordinate system) as follows:

Command(s):

/FOCUS

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Pan, Zoom, Rotate
Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Focus Point

This same command also allows you to translate the focus point along the screen axes or along the global Cartesian axes.

9.4.5 Magnifying (Zooming in on) the Image

The viewing distance represents the distance between the observer and the focus point, and determines the magnification of your image. Smaller viewing distances magnify the image (zoom in), and larger distances shrink the image (zoom out). To change the viewing distance:

Command(s):

/DIST

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Pan, Zoom, Rotate
Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Magnification

9.4.6 Using the Control Key to Pan, Zoom, and Rotate - Dynamic Manipulation Mode

Press the CONTROL key and hold it down to enter Dynamic Manipulation Mode. Notice that the cursor assumes a different shape. You can now use your mouse buttons to pan, zoom, and rotate the graphics display. When you want to leave Dynamic Manipulation Mode, simply release the CONTROL key.

9.4.7 Resetting Automatic Scaling and Focus

Anytime that you change the viewing distance or focus point, your explicitly-defined settings become "frozen." That is, automatic scaling or centering of the image are turned off for subsequent displays. ("Frozen" parameters are preceded with an asterisk in the legend column of the display.) To restore automatic scaling and focus, use one of the methods shown below:

Command(s):

/AUTO

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Pan, Zoom, Rotate
Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Automatic Fit Mode

9.4.8 "Freezing" Scale (Distance) and Focus

By default, your display will be automatically scaled and centered such that the image of your model will just fill your ANSYS windows. If you want to "freeze" these automatically-generated scale and focus settings, use one of these methods:

Command(s):

/USER

GUI:

Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>View Settings>Automatic Fit Mode

9.5 Controlling Miscellaneous Text and Symbols

There are a number of symbols on the display that you can control using ANSYS commands.

9.5.1 Turning the Title On and Off

You can turn the title (at the lower left corner of the screen) on or off, using the TITLE label on the /PLOPTS command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Window Controls>Window Options).

9.5.2 Turning the Legend Column On and Off

The /PLOPTS command or its GUI equivalent allows you to selectively turn all or part of the legend column on and off. /PLOPTS,WINS controls whether the windows automatically stretch or shrink as the legend is turned off or on.

9.5.3 Turning Legends On and Off

By default, legends appear only on contour displays. If you want legends on all of your displays, issue the command /PLOPTS,INFO,1 (Utility Menu>Plot Ctrls> Window Controls>Window Options). (See the ANSYS Commands Reference for more information about the /PLOPTS command.)

9.5.4 Controlling Entity Fonts

You can change the appearance of the fonts that are used to produce the numbers and characters that are shown on your displays. Through the ANSYS GUI, choose the DISPLAY Program or Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Font Controls, or issue either the /DEVICE,FONT,KEY or /DEVDISP,FONT,KEY command. Each of these commands requires Val1 through Val6 as arguments. These arguments allow you to indicate the family name of the font that you wish to use (e.g., Courier), the weight of the font (e.g., medium), font size, and other attributes which define font selection. (See the ANSYS Commands Reference for more information about the requirements of the /DEVICE,FONT,KEY and /DEVDISP,FONT,KEY commands.)

9.5.5 Controlling the Location of the Global XYZ Triad

The /TRIAD command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Window Controls>Window Options) enables you to change the location of the global triad symbol on your display. (The actual mathematical position of the global origin will not change.)

9.5.6 Turning Triad Symbols On and Off

Use the /TRIAD command to turn the global triad on and off. Use the /PSYMB command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Symbols) to control the local, nodal, and element coordinate system triads. Use one of the following to control the working plane triad:

Command(s):

WPSTYL

GUI:

Utility Menu>List>Status>Working Plane
Utility Menu>WorkPlane>Display Working Plane
Utility Menu>WorkPlane>Offset WP by Increments
Utility Menu>WorkPlane>Show WP Status
Utility Menu>WorkPlane>WP settings

9.5.7 Changing the Style of the Working Plane Grid

You can display the working plane grid as a triad only, grid only, or both triad and grid. Use WPSTYL to change from one style to another. There are two methods of turning the working plane on for displays:

Issuing WPSTYL with no arguments toggles the working plane grid, asterisk, and triad on and off immediately, as an "overlay" image on the existing display.
/PLOPTS,WP,ON specifies that the working plane be turned on for subsequent displays. In this case, the working plane is drawn as part of the display (not just an overlaid image as in WPSTYL). For this reason, this method is best used in combination with a hidden-line technique for viewing the location of the working plane with respect to a 3-D model. WPSTYL and its GUI equivalents control whether the working plane is displayed as a triad only, grid only, or both.

9.5.8 Turning the ANSYS Logo On and Off

By issuing /PLOPTS,VERS,1, you cause the ANSYS logo to appear in the upper right corner of the screen (along with the version number).

9.6 Miscellaneous Graphics Specifications

ANSYS includes a number of miscellaneous graphics commands that let you manipulate your graphics environment.

9.6.1 Reviewing Graphics Control Specifications

Issuing the /PSTATUS command (Utility Menu>List>Status>Graphics> General) lists the current graphics control specifications. To see the graphics specifications for one window only, specify the window number instead of General.

9.6.2 Restoring Defaults for Graphics "Slash" Commands

Use the /RESET command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Reset Plot Ctrls) to restore the default settings of /WINDOW, /TYPE, /VIEW, and other graphics "slash" commands.

9.6.3 Saving the Display Specifications on a File

Choose the /GSAVE command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Save Plot Ctrls) to write a copy of your graphics "slash" command settings on an ASCII text file.

9.6.4 Recalling Display Specifications from a File

You can read graphics "slash" commands from an ASCII text file, using the /GRESUME command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Restore Plot Ctrls), or by issuing /INPUT,Filename (Utility Menu>File>Read Input from) where Filename is the file of graphics specifications.

9.6.5 Pausing the ANSYS Program

If you prepare an input file for demonstration or presentation purposes, you might find it useful to pause the program after creating a display, to allow the display to be viewed for a reasonable length of time. You can do so by adding /WAIT commands to your input stream after the display action commands. The /WAIT command has no GUI equivalent.

9.6.6 Creating Translucent Raster Displays

On some 2-D and 3-D devices, you can create see-through, translucent images using the /TRLCY command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Style>Translucency). The level of translucency can range from opaque to fully transparent. On 2-D devices, the initial replot will show the items selected for translucency as black, since 2-D displays generate only the visible faces. Using the /SHRINK command will force the hardware to plot the hidden faces and produce the desired effect.

9.7 Spaceball Support

ANSYS provides support for the "Spaceball" input device (Spacetec Corporation, Lowell, MA). The Spaceball is a 3-D input device that detects slight fingertip pressures and resolves them into X, Y, and Z translations, rotation components, and movements of your 3-D images. This provides smooth, dynamic simultaneous six degree-of-freedom interactive control of 3-D graphical images or objects. The Spaceball is designed to be used in conjunction with the mouse, not in place of it. Both the 2003 and 3003 models are supported. After Installing the device according to the Spacetec Installation procedures, the Spaceball is automatically detected on start up.

Note-The following system does not support Spaceball: DEC Alpha.

9.7.1 Spaceball Operation

The Pan, Zoom, Rotate box (Utility Menu>Plot Ctrls) provides limited sensitivity control for the Spaceball device. More complete control is obtained by pressing the left button on the 3003, or Button 1 on the 2003. The following UNIX and Windows dialog boxes appear.

Figure 9.2 Spaceball Operation Dialog Boxes for UNIX (left) and Windows (right).

9.7.2 Additional Spaceball Information

Although most functions and applications can be configured using the provided software, additional product-specific information is available in the supplied documentation, or at the Spacetec website (www.spacetec.com).

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