EnSight 6.x Advanced Training Part 1

1. EnSight 6.xAdvanced TrainingPart 1 Instructors: Mike Krogh, Anders Grimsrud

2. Agenda • Introduction • Review problem (R1) • Extended CFD variables • Surface restricted particles • VRML output • Transient data - active parts • Macros • Part copies/extracts • Auxiliary clipping plane • Multiple cases

3. Expectations • Assuming basic EnSight skills • Concentrate on some of the more complex features of EnSight • Hands on approach • Varied pace • “Loose” agenda - driven somewhat by class input

4. Review • Work through Problem R1

5. If your data has variables for density, energy, and momentum/velocity, then the variable list can be extended to show additional computed variables automatically. Extended CFD Variables Click Here ‘Prefs Menu’

6. Click on button after filling in the necessary information.

7. Surface Restricted Particles • Effective for finding separation regions. • Trace limited to tangential component of trace variable offset by a “small” distance from surface. • “small” distance can be user specified.

9. VRML Output • VRML files contain 3D geometry and color information. • Can be viewed by most web browsers with a VRML plugin (in theory). • Can contain transient data. • VRML 2 data format used.

10. VRML Output - Limitations • No annotations (text, lines, logos, legends), no plots, no axis, etc. --> Only 3D geometry. • No transformation info (including local transforms) • Only transient data can be animated (no moving clips, isosurfaces, particle traces, etc.)

11. Transient data - Active parts • When a time change is requested, parts will update to the new time - unless…. • The representation of the part on the EnSight client is frozen to the current time step. Used to show multiple time steps simultaneously on the screen. • WARNING: parts are still updated on the server!

13. Macros • Any chunk of command language saved to a file can be attached to a keyboard key or mouse button as a macro. • Macros can be defined per-user or per-site. • Multiple command files can be attached to the same key/button - commands will cycle. • Can prompt for input. • Most effective when written as dataset independent. • Consider the command: command: delay_refresh ON

14. Macro Example • Turn on “Record” in command dialog and specify a name. • Toggle on the “Delay Refresh”. • Generate rest of operations. • When finished, turn “Record” off.

15. Move the command file to your .ensight6/macros directory. Run macromake utility. Either restart EnSight or click “Reload Macros” button. Macro Example (cont.)

16. Macros (cont.) • You can prompt user for input with the command language. • When user value is needed, insert command: • ??Please type ON or OFF • view: hidden_surface ??Please type ON or OFF

17. Macros (cont.) • If you want to prompt for a part selection, replace the part selection commands with: • part: select_partname_begin • ??Select the parts \n then click “Continue” • part: select_partname_end • part: get_mainpartlist_select

18. Macros (cont.) • The following example will create a clip plane after the user has been prompted for the plane equation coefficients and the parts.

19. Macros (cont.) view_transf: plane_equation ??Enter A B C D values view_transf: function global part: select_partname_begin ??Select the parts in the Part List \n and press “continue” part: select_partname_end part: get_mainpartlist_select clip: begin clip: tool plane clip: end clip: create

20. Macros (cont.) • Similarly, if you want to select a variable from the variable list you must insert the following command language: • variable: select_varname_begin • ??Select the variable(s) from the list \n then click Continue • variable: select_varname_end • variable: get_mainvarlist_select

21. Part Extract vs. Copy • “Extract” command will make a “deep” copy of the selected parts. • “Copy” command will make a “shallow” copy of the selected parts. • Copied parts only exist on the client; however most features behave as you would expect.

22. Original Part Coordinates Scalars Vectors Elements Creation Attributes Display Attributes Copy Part Coordinates Scalars Vectors Elements Creation Attributes Display Attributes Shallow Part “Copy”

23. Part Copies (cont.) • Each copied part can have different display attributes and can be assigned to different frames for transformation control.

24. Auxiliary Clipping Plane • Turn on “global” toggle in View mode. Turn on/off for individual parts in Part mode. • Can be used to either peer into a “solid” or to cap a “solid” (with the help of an interactive clipping plane tool).

25. Auxiliary Clipping Plane (cont.) • Plane removes geometry “behind” the plane tool. • Extra auxiliary clipping plane via Command: • test: clip_plane2

26. Every dataset is dealt with as a Case EnSight can deal with up to 8 concurrent cases Each case is handled by a new EnSight server process (all manual connections must be started by hand) Variables are merged in variable list Time is merged in solution dialog Multiple Cases

27. Consider Case visibility per viewport Case Dialogs

28. Case Limitations • Cannot apply a variable from one case to parts from another case (future feature). • Cannot merge different case parts. • When creating a part (e.g. isosurface) from different case parent parts, you will get multiple created parts. • Cannot group parts from different cases (future feature).