Generating Animations One Frame at a Time in Parallel Using PyTecplot

Exporting, Pytecplot June 26, 2019

Leveraging Python’s multiprocessing library when paired with PyTecplot scripting creates powerful efficiency. One such example is using multiprocessing to output a large amount of images in parallel. As a result, reducing the time needed to execute. This ParallelImageCreator.py script located in the Tecplot handyscripts GitHub saves every timestep of the active frame as an individual png image. It contains the following arguments: positional arguments: layoutfile Tecplot layout file to open […]

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Deleting Geometries in a Layout Template

Derived Objects, Frames, Macro, Tecplot 360, Text June 25, 2019

Question: How does one replace the geometries (shapes, polylines, etc.) already present in a layout when a new data file is loaded into the layout file? Explanation of the Question: I created a layout file from a dataset that contains geometries, such as a relative wind velocity vector or aircraft body axes relative to wind axes. I want to create a template from this layout, but the geometries are now […]

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Calculating Grid K Normal Nodal Values

Calculation, Data Format, Documentation, Tecplot 360, Vector June 25, 2019

Question: The symmetry of nodal Grid K Unit Normal values differ from the comparable cell-centered values (see Figure 1). How are nodal Grid K Unit Normal values calculated?1 Explaining the Question: In Figure 1, at nodes 1, 6, 11, 16, and 21 the X Grid K Unit Normal vectors are equal. However, on the data row below it (nodes 2, 7, 12, 17, and 22), the components of the X […]

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Adding Macros to the Quick Macro Panel

Macro, Tecplot 360 June 19, 2019

In Tecplot 360, the Quick Macro Panel is a sidebar for playing your favorite or frequently-used macros. It initially appears docked to the right side of the main Tecplot 360 window, but like the other sidebars can be hidden from view. To display the Quick Macro Panel, select Scripting->Quick Macros. Adding macros to the Quick Macro Panel in Tecplot 360 is useful for playing your favorite or frequently-used macros. The […]

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How to Trim Triangulations

Data Format, Derived Objects, Tecplot 360, Triangulation June 18, 2019

Question: How do I prevent the triangulation feature from spanning concave regions of my plot with triangles? Solution: Extracted polylines can be used as boundary zones to limit the triangulation. In particular, these polylines can be used to prevent triangles from spanning concave regions during 2D triangulations. The following procedure utilizes these polylines to trim a triangulation of unorganized data to the desired shape: 1) Load the data to be […]

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Viewing Raster Metafiles With Framer

Animation, Display, Export, Image, Tecplot 360 June 12, 2019

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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Off-screen Export Failed & Export Memory Problems

Export, Tecplot 360 June 10, 2019

Problem: I receive the following error when exporting an image or video. “The off-screen image export failed. This may be caused by remote display issues with OpenGL…” Solution: Like the error message says, remote displays may cause issues with OpenGL. However, this error message can also appear whenever there are off-screen export failures downstream at the graphics card level. The graphics card usually rejects the off-screen export if the image/video […]

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Calculate Swirl Strength

Macro, Tecplot 360, Vortices June 7, 2019

Problem: How do I calculate the Swirling Strength criterion (Lambda-Ci)? Solution: Use a Tecplot Macro to automate the calculation. Make sure Tecplot is aware of the variables representing your velocity field (Analyze->Field Variables menu).   The commands are as follow: Calculate the tensor of velocity gradients. This command can be obtained by recording the Analyze->Calculate Variables…->Velocity Gradient (tensor) action in Tecplot’s user interface (UI). $!EXTENDEDCOMMAND COMMANDPROCESSORID = ‘CFDAnalyzer4’ COMMAND = […]

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Derivation of Field Values in Slices and Iso-surfaces

Derived Objects, Tecplot 360 June 6, 2019

The following discussion assumes the “Source Zone” is a volume zone (IJK, FE-Tetra, FE-Brick or polyhedral). For the most part the type of volume zone does not matter with one exception dealing with polyhedral source zones (see below). The manner for which data values are calculated for slices (or iso-surfaces) does however depend on the following: Value location for variables in the source zone Surface Generation Method (option in the […]

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Unique Iso-surfaces in Multiple Zones with Equal Variables

Calculation, Derived Objects, Image, Tecplot 360 June 5, 2019

Problem: How do I create iso-surfaces, exclusive to each zone, for the same iso-surface variable? As seen in Figure 1, Tecplot 360 will create iso-surfaces in both volume zones for the Mach variable because both zones contain this variable. What can be done if one iso-surface is to be seen in one zone, but not the other zone? Solution: Essentially, this procedure duplicates and renames a variable to each zone […]

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