Datum Planes

The Datum Planes panel allows you to insert reference datum planes to plots.

Datum List

When you enter the Datum Planes panel, HyperGraph 3D populates the datum list with the planes that are contained in the plot. The datum plane that was selected from the list when you last exited the panel is highlighted. If this is not possible, then the bottom plane in the list is highlighted.

When you select a datum plane from the list, the name of the highlighted plane is displayed in the Datum: field. Datum plane attribute information is also automatically selected. These include:
  • Datum plane type: Reference plane, Cross section, or Clipping plane and their subcategories.
  • The datum plane's position and attribute information on the Position and Attributes tabs.
  • The text label on the Text tab.

A datum plane can be displayed or hidden on a plot by activating/deactivating the Datum check box.

You can Cut, Copy, Paste, or Add datum planes to your plot using the buttons below the Datum list.
Cut
Removes the selected datum plane from the list.
Copy and Paste
Copy and paste the selected datum plane into another window.
Add
Adds a new datum plane. The name of the new datum plane, Datum "n" by default, is displayed in the Datum: field. The default plane type, Reference plane, and attribute settings are also applied. The text label is left blank until you select a new name for the newly created datum plane. To change the name of a datum plane, highlight the existing datum name in the Datum: field, type a new name, and press ENTER. The name is also updated in the Datum list.
If no planes exist, you can click on the necessary number of locations in the HyperGraph 3D window to define the location for the Position tab.

Plane Type

Below are the three datum plane types. To change the datum plane type, select a radio button for the type.
Reference plane
Inserts a reference plane through the plot.
Cross section
Displays the cross section of the curve.
Clipping plane
Hides curve data on one side of the plane.
  • Transparency - Displays the clipped part of the curve as transparent.
  • Reverse - Reverses the hidden side of the plane.

The Position, Text, Attributes, and Create XY Plot tabs allow you to define and manipulate the datum planes.

Position

Rotate plane about
Select one of the following rotation methods for the datum plane. The application updates the orientation selectors based on the selected method. A default plane is created in the center of the plot. The plane's rotation depends on which of the following methods is selected.
Vertical - Z axis
The plane is parallel to the Z-axis. Changing the orientation rotates the plane around its Z-axis.
Horizontal X axis
The plane is parallel to the X-axis.
Horizontal Y axis
The plane is parallel to the Y-axis.
Three points
The plane passes through three selected points.
Include these points
After selecting a rotation method, you have to select the points to include.
The Point 1 selection button, , is activated by default. Select a point from the graphics area to select a point for Point 1. For the Point 1 only, the XYZ value fields under Location are populated. After you select the first point, the plane is rotated to intersect that point.
After selecting Point 1, the Point 2 selection button, , is activated. After selecting a second point from the graphics area, the plane is rotated to intersect that point and the other selected points.
After selecting Point 2, the Point 3 selection button, , is activated. This is available only if you select the Three points method.
After selecting the last point, the Point B selection button, , is activated. Select a point from the graphics area. The plane is moved along its normal until the selected point is on the plane. The XYZ location fields are updated to contain the values of the selected point.
Click to rotate the plane 90 degrees.
Click to clear your selections.
Location
Under Location, you can also enter values directly to the XYZ fields and click Enter or Apply. The planes moves along its normal until the entered values are on the plane.
If you enter a math expression into one of the X, Y, or Z fields and click Enter or Apply. The math expression is retained in the field, but the application evaluates the expression to position the plane.
Find point controls and the slider bar
Use the standard HyperWorks point selector buttons to update the plane’s location. Cross hairs indicate the currently selected data point. Information about the point is displayed on the panel. You can also use the slider bar to do this.

In the Increment field, enter an incremental value for the slider bar.

Text

Label
Enter text or a Templex expression in the Label field. The label is displayed on the plane in the graphics area.
Label location
Use the Label location buttons to select where in the graphics area the label is located.
Font icon
Click the Font icon, , to change the font attributes.

Attributes

Set the datum plane's color by selecting a color from the color palette.

The Opacity buttons set the plane to Solid, , or Transparent, .

Create XY Plot

Place curve on
After selecting the type of curve that you want to create, select where you want to place the curve from the Place curve on: drop-down menu:
Preview Plot
The curve is created in a separate plot preview window.
New Plot
The curve is created in the next available empty window. If no such window exists, then the page layout is changed to the layout with an empty window. If no empty window is found, then a new page is added.
Existing Plot
A tree listing all plot windows on all pages is available for you to select the desired plot window as a destination for the curve.
Create curve
Creates an XY curve of the 3D plot cross section. Use the two drop-down menus under Create curve to define the independent and dependent vectors for the XY curve. Both menus contain the same options: X, Y, Z, or Contour values. Select an option from the first drop-down menu to define the independent vector, then go to the second drop-down menu and select an option to define the dependent vector.
X, Y, and Z
X, Y, and Z are the X, Y, and Z values in the 3D plot.
Contour values
Plots the contour values along the section cut.
Plot Data
Plots the cross section or contour values in an XY plot window.