Problem: I can create AVI files in my Tecplot product with the compression set to Lossless Uncompressed to play on a Linux or Macintosh platform but these files are very large. Is there a way to make them smaller but still able to play on these platforms? Solution: Yes. You can encode the uncompressed AVI files to MPEG4 which reduces the size to a fraction of the uncompressed size while […]
Problem: How can I calculate and display vectors normal to a surface? Solution: Load your dataset and then perform the following steps to calculate normal vectors in Tecplot 360 (not available in Tecplot Focus): Click on the Analyze menu and select Calculate Variables Select Grid K Unit Normal (vector) Set the New Var Location to Cell Center or Node, depending on the desired vector location with respect to the grid. […]
Problem: I have difficulty playing AVI animations created in my Tecplot product when I try to play them on my Macintosh or Linux platform. When I try to play them on my Linux platform the AVI files work with Xanim but Xanim itself does not work very well anymore. On a Macintosh platform, I use Quicktime but the AVI files that the Tecplot product creates do not open in Quicktime. […]
Problem: I tried to run Tecplot and got this error message when Tecplot tried to start up. What does it mean? Solution: This error message means that the environment variable that holds the path down to the Tecplot installation directory is not set correctly. That name of that variable depends on the product you are installing. For our latest products (2008 series) that variable will be called TEC_FOCUS_2008 or TEC_360_2008. […]
Problem: I tried to load a data file into Tecplot ad got this error message. What does it mean and how can I fix it? Solution: This error message means that the number of points specified in the header of the data file is greater than the number of points the Tecplot found when it read the file. The only way to fix this is to examine the file to […]
Problem: Can Focus load a layout file created with Tecplot 10? Solution: Yes. In most cases, Focus will load a layout file created with Tecplot 10. If the data the layout file was created from was loaded via the Fluent loader or Plot3D loader or CGNS loader then Focus will not be able to load the layout because those loaders do not exist in Focus.
Problem: I am using multiple contour variables C1 C2 C3 and C4 in my plot but I can only see the legend for C1. Solution: You must have the Contour Details dialog set to the desired contour variable (C1 C2 C3 C4) when you toggle on the Legend. And that contour variable must be in active use in the plot. If a variable is assigned to a Zone Layer like […]
Problem: I want to blank my contour plot only in the lower left-hand corner where x < 45 AND y < 30. Solution: You can use equations like the ones below to create a blanking variable equal to 0 only if x < 45 and y < 30. Then you can delete the extra variables {lowerx} and {lowery}. {lowerx} = max (x -45, 0) {lowery} = max (y – 30, […]
Problem: I have some files with some scatter points animated to move in constant velocity. However, the movie shows relative motion of the scatter points making the animation appear jerky. Solution: The reason the scatter points look like they are moving relative to one another has to do with the way they are drawn on the screen. Any object drawn to the screen will be rounded off to the nearest […]
Problem: In my XY Line plot, I want to show a line for the average value of one of the XY Mappings. Solution: You can have Tecplot calculate and plot the average for a line mapping: In the Mapping Style dialog Copy the line mapping and make sure the copy is shown. On the Curves page, set the Curve Fit for the new mapping to the General Curve Fit (One […]
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