The spline data may be saved in a .csv (Comma Separated Values) format.  The correct format of data in the .csv file is as shown below:

From the Properties tab, select File from the Type drop-down menu.  Click on the file select folder and browse to the .csv file that contains the spline data with the above described format.  In this case, the model will refer to the .csv file.

The data can be viewed in a tabular format by clicking on the View Data button located at top of the panel.  A table appears that displays the x, y, and z data:

Note - The data is displayed by factoring any Offsets and Scales applied in the Attributes tab (if any are applied).

To view the spline graphically, click on the Show Spline button located at the bottom of the panel.

Spline3D viewer dialog

The spline data can be defined by either manually keying in the values or importing values from a .csv file.  In this case, the values for x, y, and z will be saved inline within the model file.

From the Properties tab, select Value from the Type drop-down menu.

Spline3D Panel - Properties Tab - Value Type

To insert, delete, or append row data or columns (Y vectors), right-click on the row or column headers respectively.

OR

OR

Note - This option will only be made available if the right-click is made on the last row/column.

Alternatively, if the data is available in a .csv file with the above described format, the data can be imported by clicking on the Import button located on the upper right portion of the panel.  The Import Values From File dialog is displayed.

-	Click on file select folder and browse to the .csv file that is to be imported.

Note - If the Type is set as File and a .csv file is referred, toggling to Value will not automatically import the values.

Use this method if the spline has to be read by the solver using a custom user-subroutine.  Note that with the User Defined type, the spline data cannot be viewed or plotted graphically in MotionView.

From the Properties tab, activate the User-defined properties check box to set the spline as user defined.

The User-Defined tab is displayed.

Note - The Attributes tab is hidden, as it is not applicable for this spline type.

This option is applicable for all types of spline explained above.

From the Properties tab, activate the Linear extrapolation check box if the spline data has to be linearly extrapolated at each ends of the y-vector during the simulation.