Troubleshooting Linux Crashes

Problem: I get a crash running Tecplot 360 on my Linux operating system. Solution: Note: The 2020 R1 release of Tecplot 360 introduced a change in the way Tecplot is rendered in mesa. See the Troubleshooting chapter of the User’s Manual for more information (also at the bottom of this article). We’ve written up some instructions for responding to Linux crashes. Please check these questions: 1)  Double-check that your graphics […]

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Linux Remote Display Issues

Problem: I receive a GLX error when remotely displaying Tecplot 360 on my Linux machine. Solution: First be sure your graphics drivers are up to date from your graphics provider (i.e. NVIDIA, AMD, etc.). If that doesn’t solve your problem, it is likely an issue with Indirect OpenGL Rendering being disabled. On newer Linux systems, NVIDIA and others are no longer starting X11 servers with indirect OpenGL enabled. Indirect rendering […]

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Understanding and Automating Viewer Position Angles

Problem: How do I change the viewing angles Psi, Alpha, and Theta from the viewer’s perspective? Also, please help me understand how these angles are defined. Solution: Below is a diagram from the 360 User’s Manual describing how Tecplot defines Psi (Ψ), Theta (θ), and Alpha (α). The following exercise uses PyTecplot to change each of the three angles by 5 degrees and manifests the result after each step. 1)  […]

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Displaying Data Labels at High Magnification

Question: At high magnification, my cell and point labels become grainy and look terrible. How can I display these labels correctly? Solution: Use software rather than hardware rendering to display these node labels on a highly zoomed plot. See Figure 2. 1)  Download software_hardware_rendering_qmp.mcr  from our GitHub or create a macro with this code: #!MC 1200 $!MacroFunction Name = “SwitchToSoftwareRendering” SHOWINMACROPANEL = true $!Page UseSoftwareRendering = true $!EndMacroFunction $!MacroFunction Name […]

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Using Data Skip to Approximate and Render a Large Dataset

Question: I am running out of memory rendering my fine-mesh data. How do I read-in a smaller, decimated version of my ordered dataset into my layout? More details: If you are working on a computer with limited resources, some processes can surpass the available computer memory. If you are unable to add more RAM, this can cause Tecplot to slow or, at worst, crash. Try this solution if some actions […]

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Viewing Raster Metafiles With Framer

Background: Framer is an unsupported utility program that was included with discontinued versions of Tecplot 360. It allows you to view files stored in Raster Metafile format and runs independently of Tecplot 360. Raster Metafile is a NASA-defined standard format for storing bit images and may contain one or more images. The last version of Tecplot 360 that included framer.exe was Tecplot 360 2013. As Raster Metafiles (.rm) have become […]

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Fixing Incorrectly Spaced Dashed Lines in EPS Format Export

Problem: When I export an image of my dashed XY plot as a .EPS file, the dash spacing is altered and irregular. Detailed Example Case: When I export the plot to eps file and open it, the patterns of the dashed and dash-dotted lines are inaccurate. The pattern interval is not uniform and sometimes the dot in the dash-dotted line vanishes. These are highlighted in red: Plot before exporting (correct […]

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