Modifying Plot Display Options

Plot options determine the range of values displayed in a contour or vector plot, the color coding used in the plot, and the scale factor applied to the deformed shape of the model. Current plot options are reflected in the plot legend.

Before you begin: A simulation must be complete before you can modify plot options.
Related Topics
Displaying Contour and Vector Plots

  1. If it is not selected already, click View Results in the Simulation Panel.

  2. Double-click the plot legend.

    The Plot Options dialog box appears.

  3. To set limits on the maximum and minimum values in the color coding legend, enter a value in the Max and Min boxes.

    The color coding of the contour or vector plot changes according to the new maximum and minimum values.

    The imposed limits are always displayed at the bottom of the color coding legend, and true result value ranges are displayed at the top of the legend. A marker appears on the legend depending on whether the imposed maximimum or minimum limits are greater or less than the true maximum or minimum values:

    • If the imposed maximum limit is less than the true maximum value, the imposed maximum limit is indicated by a marker at the bottom of the color coding legend; a similar marker is used if the imposed minimum limit is greater than the true minimum value:

      In this example, all values greater than the imposed maximum are colored in red; all values less than the imposed minimum are colored in blue.
    • If the imposed maximum limit is greater than the true maximum value, the true maximum value is indicated by a marker on the top of the color coding legend; a similar marker is used if the imposed minimum limit is less than the true minimum value:

  4. To modify the numerical format used for result values, select one of the following options in the Format list:

    • Automatic to express very large and very small values in scientific format, and all other values with no exponent and using the specified number of significant digits.
    • Scientific to express all values as a number between 1 and 10 that is multiplied by an appropriate power of 10.
    • Decimal to express all values with no exponent and using the specified number of significant digits.
    • Default to use the default dimension display that is defined in the settings (Tools > Options > General > Parameters and Measure > Units).

  5. To modify the number of significant digits shown for result values, enter the desired value in the Digits box.

  6. To modify the number of colors used in the legend, enter a value in the Intervals box.

    Example of a legend with ten intervals:

    Example of a legend with three intervals:

  7. To modify the distribution of values across the color range, select the Smooth colors check box.

    Smoothed colors:

    Nonsmoothed colors:

  8. To reverse the color order in the legend, select the Reverse colors check box.

    By default, the colors vary from blue (for the minimum value) to red (for the maximum value):

    Example of reversed colors:

  9. By default, the deformation of your model is scaled to fit the deformed model in the current display. To modify the deformation scale factor, enter a value in the Scale factor box.

  10. To restore the Max, Min, or Scale factor values to their original defaults, click next to the appropriate box.

  11. To restore all plot options to their defaults, click Defaults.