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Arbitrary slice operator attributes menu item

This item pops up a window which allows you to set operator attributes for arbitrary slice operators. If you select a plot that has an arbitrary slice operator applied from the Active plots list in the MeshTV Main window, then anything you change and apply will affect selected plots. Plots not highlighted will not be changed, unless Apply operators to all plots toggle button is on, in which case all plots will be changed. If you select this item without selecting a plot first, and you try to apply changes, a Query window will pop up asking if you want to add an arbitrary slice operator so you can apply the changes you have made. Note that if you make changes in this window and then select a plot that has an arbitrary slice operator applied, your changes will be lost.

You can modify the default settings for attributes for future operators by pulling up this window, making your changes, and pressing the Make default button. This affects only operators applied in the future, not already applied ones, and stays in effect only for the remainder of the current MeshTV session unless you also select Save settings from the File menu.

Arbitrary slice attributes window

The Arbitrary slice attributes window looks like Arbitrary slice attributes , if you are using MeshTV's defaults. If you aren't, the values might be different.

This window allows you to set the attributes assigned to existing or future arbitrary slice operators. The attributes include things like the origin of the plane and the normal to it. You can also indicate whether you want to map the slice plane into 2D.

If you don't see a description for an item in this window, check in the Shared items section near the front of the chapter.

Origin text field

This text field allows you to specify the origin of the plane. Generally, if you know the point through which you want the plane to pass, the coordinates for that point should be the coordinates for the origin.

Normal text field

This text field allows you to specify the normal to the plane. This orients the plane in space around the origin of the plane (not the origin of the problem space). This vector does not have to be a unit vector.

Up axis text field

This text field allows you to specify which direction is up. The up vector, projected onto the slice plane, points to the top of the screen when the plane is drawn in 2D. In fact, this field is only sensitive to input when the Map to 2D toggle is selected, since it only applies when you want to map the slice to 2D. You can change the slice's orientation, essentially rotating the plane, by choosing which direction will be up. The up vector does not need to be a unit vector, nor does it need to lie on the plane.

Map to 2D toggle button

This toggle button allows you to specify if the slice plane will be left in 3D, or if it will be projected into 2D. If you map the plane to 2D, you can use the Pick mode to query information from the slice. In particular, if you hold the middle mouse button down over the visualization window, a menu will pop up. The top choice in that menu will be Mode . If you click on that and pull over to the right, you'll see Pick as an option. Once you have selected that, your cursor will change to a crosshairs. You can position the crosshairs over the item in question and click the left mouse button on the slice. A marker will appear where you clicked. If you now click on the Output window icon , you can open the Output window , where information about the point you clicked will appear.