In this tutorial, you will learn how to:
| • | Query data from the surface plot |
| • | Create and use datum planes |
Tools
The Coordinate Info panel can be accessed one of the following ways:
| • | On the toolbar, click the Coordinate Info icon  |
Or
| • | From the menu bar, select Curves > Coordinate Info |
The Coordinate Info panel allows you to retrieve individual point data on any curve in the active window. When a point on a curve is selected, the point data is displayed on the panel. Using the coordinate info panel you can retrieve data from three curve types: 3D line, surface, and waterfall. The panel options change depending on the curve in the active window.
The Datum Planes panel can be accessed by:
| • | Clicking the Datum Planes icon from the toolbar |
Or
| • | From the menu bar, select Curves > Datum Planes. |
The Datum Planes panel allows you to insert reference datum planes to plots.
Exercise: Querying Surface Plots
Step 1: Open Session File Curve_Attributes_Surface.mvw
| 1. | From the menu bar, select File > Open > Session. |
| 2. | Select the file Curve_Attributes_Surface.mvw and click Open. |
Step 2: Query XYZ Values Using the Coordinate Info Panel
| 1. | Click on the Coordinate Info icon . |
Note that a bubble with the XYZ values is seen in the graphics area.
| 2. | Click on the surface to see the XYZ values at that point. |
Note that the panel area displays the XYZ values of the point chosen.
| 3. | Click Add Row to add an additional row. |
| 4. | Click on another point on the surface. |
The value in the newly added row is updated to that of the new point.
| 5. | Repeat the operation to build a table. |
| 6. | Click on any one of the rows in the table and then click Remove Row. |
| 7. | Click Export Table… and save the table as a DAT file. |
Step 3: Using Datum Planes as Reference Planes
| 1. | Click the Datum Planes panel icon . |
| 2. | Verify that the Position tab is active and the radio button for Reference Plane is checked. |
| 3. | Click Add to add a datum plane as a reference plane. |
By default a reference plane is created in the Z plane.
| 4. | Move the slider bar in the panel area so as to move the reference plane along the Z plane. |
| 5. | Click on the buttons   to change the orientation of the plane along the X and Y axis respectively. |
| 6. | Click on the button  to create a plane with three points of your choice. |
| 7. | Enter 1 for the X, Y, and Z axis, respectively, under Location. |
You can also pick three points from the screen.
| 9. | Click   to move the reference plane to the maximum and minimum point in the surface plots, respectively |
| 10. | Click on the arrows  to move to the next/previous point or to the local maximum/ local minimum along the X and Y axis. |
Step 4: Using Datum Planes as Clipping Planes and Plotting Cross Section.
| 1. | Create a Reference plane parallel to the Z-axis by selecting Rotate plane about X. Move the slider bar to position the datum plane in the middle of the surface plot. |
| 2. | Check the radio button for Clipping Plane to make it active. |
The clipped part of the surface plot appears transparent on the screen.
| 4. | Move the slider bar and note the change in the clipping area from the screen. |
| 5. | Turn the Transparency option off. |
| 6. | Click the Create XY Plot tab. |
| 7. | Verify that the option for Place curve on is set to New plot. |
| 8. | Set Create curve: to Y vs Z. |
| 10. | Click the Position tab. |
| 11. | Move the slider bar to update the position of the clipping plane. |
The plot updates simultaneously.
| 12. | Click the plot window to make it active. |
| 13. | Click on the Fit button  to fit the plot to the window. |
Go to HyperGraph 3D Tutorials
