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The MSC/PATRAN FAQ

3. Display

Q3.1 : How do I remove/add point/line/surface/node/element labels?

To remove all the labels from display use the "Hide Labels" icon .

Hide Labels icon

However if you want to selectively remove the labels (for example to remove only the node numbers) choose Display from the pull-down menu and then Entity Color / Label / Render.... In the form that pops up look under the heading "Entity Type colors and labels". Unset the entitites for which you want the labels to be removed and click on the Apply button.

To display all the labels click on the "Show Labels" icon in the toolbar.

Show Labels icon

To selectively display labels follow the instructions given above.

It is also possible to use the "Label Control Form" icon in the toolbar (this is a shortcut).

Hide Label Control Form icon

Click on this and in the icon menu which pops up labels can be switched on and off selectively.

Q3.2 : How do I find the positive normal to a surface?

There are two ways to find the positive normal to a surface. The first method allows you to reverse the normal direction if required.

First method : Click on the Geometry radio button. Change the `Action' to `Edit'. The `Object' to `Surface' and the `Method' to `Reverse'. Click on the `Auto Execute' button to unset it to avoid any un-intentional reversal of normals. Click on the box marked `Surface List' and click on the surfaces for which you require the normals to be drawn. Then click on the box marked `Draw Normal Vectors'.
Use the middle mouse button to tilt the surface to see the normal clearly (hold down the middle mouse button and move the mouse). These vectors originate from the centre of the surface and are normal to the surface. Compare it with the positive direction of the appropriate axis (Z axis for plane problems).
If you need to reverse the normal direction click on `Apply'.
Second method : Choose `Display' from the top menu. Choose Geometry... and click on the label `Show Parametric Directions'. Then click on the `Apply' button. In one corner the parametric directions C1 and C2 (denoted by a set of axes and labels 1 and 2) will be displayed. Crossing C1 and C2 will give the C3 direction. Compare it with the positive direction of the appropriate axis.

Q3.3 : I have a 3D mesh displayed in wireframe mode. How do I get a hidden line or shaded view?

Short Cut : Click on the Hiden line icon from the Quick Pick icon menu to get the hidden line view. Click on the Shaded smooth icon from the Quick Pick icon menu to get the shaded view.

Alternatively choose Display from the pull-down menu and then Entity Color / Label / Render.... In the form that pops look at the box marked `Render Style'. Click on the current option (Wireframe) and choose from the menu options `Shaded/Smooth' and click on the `Apply' button to get a shaded plot.

Choose the option `Hidden Line' and then click on the `Apply' button to get a hidden line plot.

Q3.4 : I have zoomed in to part of the f.e.mesh and I am using the middle mouse button to rotate it and check it. But Patran automatically redraws the whole mesh to fit the viewport. How do I prevent this from happenning?

Choose Preferences from the pull-down menu and then choose Graphics.... In the form that pops up unset the radio button Auto Fit View and then click on the `Apply' button. This will prevent auto fitting when the view is rotated.

Q3.5 : How do I display the f.e.mesh with shrunken elements?

Choose Display from the pull-down menu and then choose Finite Elements.... In the form that pops look for a scroll bar marked FEM Shrink. The values are in fractions. Set it to the required value and then click on the button marked `Apply'. A value of 0.05 means 5 % reduction in size.

Q3.6 : I have a 3 dimensional model and I would like to spin it ie. rotate it slowly so that I can view it from different directions. How do I do that?

Choose Preferences from the pull-down menu and then choose Mouse.... In the form that pops click on the button marked Spin Model to set it. Now in the viewport hold down the middle mouse button anywhere in the viewport and move it in the direction in which you want to spin it and then release the mouse button. This should cause the model to spin. To stop the model from spinning click the middle mouse button.

The rate of spin is controlled by the amount of mouse movement when the middle button is held down. Move it by a very small amount before releasing it to spin the model very slowly.

The direction of spin is chosen by the direction of the mouse movement.

Q3.7 : When an entity selection has to be made the `Select menu' which usually appears next to the form does not appear ie pop up. What do I do ?

Choose Preferences from the pull-down menu and then choose Picking.... In the form that pops look for a button marked Popup Select menus and unset it and then click on Close. Then quit from Patran and then re-start it again for the change to take effect (it is not sufficient to close the database you were working on and then re-opening it).

The above change gets written to the settings.pcl file which is read when you re-start Patran.

Q3.8 : Can the default select entity cursor be changed to show a pair of crosswires?

Yes. Choose Preferences from the pull-down menu and then choose Picking.... In the form that pops look for the label Entity Picking Cursor. Click on the default cursor to reveal the choices. Make your choice and click on Close.

Q3.9 : Is it possible to change the centre of rotation?

Use the above icon to change the centre od rotation. Click on this first and then click on the point to be the new centre of rotation. If you are working with a 3-dimensional model then you may have to repeat this process a few times with change of viewing direction. This is because you cannot fix a point in 3-dimensional space with a single view. You need to "triangulate".

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