Entity Display

The Entity Attributes panel allows you to change the display attributes of model entities.

Once you have selected entities using the entity list tree or by picking them directly from the screen, you can select various attributes to alter the model display.


Figure 1.
Mesh
There are four line options to apply to FEA model components:
  • Mesh Lines
  • Feature Lines
  • Edge Lines
  • No lines

Click the appropriate button to display the desired feature; click another button to remove the feature.

Shaded
Entities can be displayed as a shaded or wire frame drawing.
  • Click to display the selected entities as a shaded drawing.
  • Click to display the selected entities as a wire frame drawing.
Opaque
Entities can be either opaque or transparent. Opaque entities are solid and hide the entities behind them. Transparent entities are see-through and reveal the obscured entities behind them.
  • Click to display the selected entities as opaque.
  • Click to display the selected entities as transparent.
Color
Any color from the 64 color palette can be applied to any entity. Select a color from the palette to instantly change the color of selected entities.
Tip: Click Color to assign and save custom colors.
Material
Materials provide more precise control over an entity's visual properties. In addition to color, a material defines the behavior of an object's reflected and emitted light. By adjusting the light properties of a material, entities can be made to look more realistic. For example, materials can be defined that make an object appear chrome plated, glassy, metallic, and so on. Material palettes can be defined in any session file or in a stand-alone session file.

Material attributes can be assigned to any entity in a model. You can change the material of any entity by selecting a material from the list. The material can then be customized using the Material Properties dialog.

Property
Opens the Material Properties dialog where the current material properties for the selected material are displayed. You can also change the color and light properties of the material in this dialog.


Figure 2.
Add
Opens the Material Properties dialog where you can add a new material to the palette
Defaults
Use the default settings for color and material.
Auto Color
If you load a model that consists of only one color, click Auto Color to color the model according to HyperView's specifications.
Note: See the *BeginPalette() statement for more information on defining a material palette.

Assign a Color to an Entity

  1. From the Entity Attributes panel, select an entity from the entity list tree or pick an entity from the screen.
  2. Select a color from the color palette or click Color to assign and save custom colors.
    The color of the selected entity changes to reflect the chosen color.

Assign a Material to an Entity

  1. From the Entity Attributes panel, select an entity from the entity list tree or pick an entity from the screen.
  2. Deactivate Auto apply mode.
    The color and material options are displayed.
  3. Select a material from the list.
    The selected entity's appearance changes to reflect the properties of the chosen material.

Exclude Entities from Fitting

  1. From the Entity Attributes panel, select an entity from the entity list tree or pick an entity from the screen.
  2. For Use in fit, click Off.

Include Entities from Fitting

  1. From the Entity Attributes panel, select an entity from the entity list tree or pick an entity from the screen.
  2. For Use in fit, click On.

Use the Auto Apply Option

  1. From the Entity Attributes panel, activate Auto apply mode.
  2. Select an attribute from the panel.
  3. From the screen or the entity list tree, select the entity to which you want to apply the attribute.
    The entity changes to reflect the attribute applied.