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Label plot attributes menu item

This item pops up a window that allows you to set plot attributes for label plots. If you select a label plot from the Active plots list in the MeshTV Main window, then attributes you change and apply will be applied to the selected plot. Unselected label plots will not be changed. If you select this item without selecting a label plot first, you will have to select a label plot before you can apply the changes. Note that if you make any changes and then select a label plot, you will lose your changes since the window will update with the attributes of the selected plot.You can modify the default settings for attributes of future plots by opening this window, making your changes, and then pressing the Make default button. This affects only future plots, not existing ones, and stays in effect only for the remainder of the current MeshTV session unless you also select Save settings from the File menu.

Label plot attributes window

The Label plot attributes window looks like Label plot 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 label plots. The attributes include things like labeling zones, nodes, or both; how many labels to show; where labels should be placed; and how large the labels should be.

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.

Nodes toggle button

When this toggle is selected, nodes of the mesh are labeled. Unless a specific label is specified, all nodes are labeled. If a value is specified in the Node offset text field, then only that node is labeled. When the Nodes toggle is off, the Node offset text field and accompanying label become insensitive to user input.

Node offset label and text field

When the Nodes toggle button is selected, this label is no longer grayed out, and you can type values into the text field. If you type a value into the text field, MeshTV finds the node represented by that value and labels it with the contents of the String text field. As soon as you type a value into the Node offset text field, the String text field and accompanying label become active, allowing you to specify the string you wish to use for the label.

Valid values are an integer number for a given node, or i,j (for 2D) and i,j,k (for 3D) locations. The location notation only works with logically rectangular meshes, so unstructured meshes do not allow this kind of input.

Zones toggle button

When this toggle is selected, zones of the mesh are labeled. Unless a specific label is specified, all zones are labeled. If a value is specified in the Zone offset text field, then only that zone is labeled. When the Zones toggle is off, the Zone offset text field and accompanying label become insensitive to user input.

Zone offset label and text field

When the Zones toggle button is selected, this label is no longer grayed out, and you can type values into the text field. If you type a value into the text field, MeshTV finds the zone represented by that value and labels it with the contents of the String text field. As soon as you type a value into the Zone offset text field, the String text field and accompanying label become active, allowing you to specify the string you wish to use for the label.

Valid values are an integer number for a given zone, or i, j (for 2D) and i, j, k (for 3D) locations. The location notation only works with logically rectangular meshes, so unstructured meshes do not allow this kind of input.

Flip button

The Flip button allows you to easily switch between labeling nodes or zones with just the push of a button. This button is active only when either the Nodes or Zones toggle is active, and when pressed, it deselects the selected type (Node or Zone) and selects the other type.

String label and text field

When you are labeling a single node or zone, you can indicate that a particular string, instead of the standard node/zone number, be placed at that location. The string might be something like "*", or even "Here", though one character strings usually work better due to space constraints. The String text field is insensitive to user input and the label is grayed out until only one node and/or zone is being labelled.

Number of labels to show toggle and text field

When this toggle is turned on, MeshTV displays the number of labels indicated in the accompanying text field, else MeshTV displays all labels. By specifying a lower number, like 200, you can reduce the drawing time for many label plots and possibly make things more readable since labels will be less likely to overlap, but you might not get the label you want. However, if you increase the number too much, the labels can blanket the object, obscuring both themselves and any other plots. Note that this number indicates the number which will be visible in the picture, so if you zoom in, you will see labels "moving" as new labels are "turned on." If you zoom in closely enough, all the labels will be drawn.

Horizontal justification option menu

Use this option to control the horizontal placement of a label. The label can be centered horizontally on the node/zone, or placed to the left or right of the node/zone. The default is to center the label.

Vertical justification option menu

Use this option to control the vertical placement of a label. The label can be centered vertically on the node/zone, or placed above (Top) or below (Bottom) the node/zone. The default is to center the label.

Text height text field

Use this button to type in text heights for the labels. This particular option might require a little experimenting before you find the height you like. The default value is 0.02.