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GridTool Documentation
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Empty Space

GridTool: A Tool for Structured and Unstructured Grid Generation

Display and Viewing Controls

The display can be controlled either from the display window using the mouse and the keyboard, or from the "Viewing Controls" panel. The mouse can be used either in a default mode or in a PLOT3D [14] mode. The mode can be changed by pressing the "PLOT3D" button which is located in the "Viewing Controls" panel. The default mouse mode is similar to the GRIDGEN system [13]. In the default mode, while pressing the left mouse button, left, right, up, and down mouse movements will cause the object to translate in the corresponding directions. By holding the middle mouse down, up and down mouse movements will cause the object to zoom out and in. The object can be rotated using the numeric keypad, and this will be explained later. In the PLOT3D mode, by holding the left mouse down, left/right and up/down mouse movements will cause the object to rotate about the x and y screen coordinates, respectively. By holding the middle mouse down, left/right mouse movements will cause the object to rotate about the z screen coordinate, up/down mouse movements will cause the object to zoom out and in, respectively. By holding the right mouse down, left, right, up, and down mouse movements will cause the object to translate in the corresponding directions.

Mouse Movements


Mode       Movements    LM (down)        MM (down)        RM (down)
Default,   Right        Translate Right                    N/A
Default,   Left         Translate Left                     N/A
Default,   Up           Translate Up     Zoom out          N/A
Default,   Down         Translate Down   Zoom in           N/A
PLOT3D,    Right        Rotate Screen y  Rotate Screen z   Translate Right
PLOT3D,    Left         Rotate Screen -y Rotate Screen -z  Translate Left
PLOT3D,    Up           Rotate Screen x  Zoom out          Translate Up
PLOT3D,    Down         Rotate Screen -x Zoom in           Translate Down
In either modes, the object can be rotated using the numeric keypad. The object can be rotated about two sets of axes: screen coordinates and body coordinates (world). The top row of the numeric keypad, the "Num Lock", "/" and "*" keys control the rotation about the x, y and z world coordinates, respectively. The second row, the "7", "8" and "9" keys control the rotation about the x, y and z screen coordinates, respectively. The rotation continues as long as the keys are pressed down. The object can be rotated ninety degrees by holding the "PageUp" or "PageDown" key while pressing the appropriate key on the numeric keypad. The object can be rotated in the reverse direction by holding down the "-" key from numeric keypad and the appropriate rotation keys. The object orientation can be reinitialized by pressing the "r" key which is the hot keys for resetting the object. All object manipulations can be accomplished from the "Viewing Controls" panel as well.

Image of the Viewing Controls Panel

Center of Rotation

This panel is designed to allow the user to move the center of rotation to an arbitrary point in space. The center of rotation can be moved to: an exiting point by using the three sliders, "x", " y", "z" to centers of the active surface/curve/patch/point by pressing the appropriate buttons. The center of rotation can be reset by pressing the "Reset CR" button. The hot keys, P, C, F, S can be used in the display window to move the center of rotation to the active point, active curve, active patch and active surface.

Image of the Rotation Center Adjustment Panel

FAQ

How do I change the center rotation?
The center of rotation can be changed by using the center of rotation panel, or using hot keys
How do I reset the image?
Use either the hot key "r" or use the reset button in Viewing Control Panel
How do I translate/rotate/zoom?
Either the hot keys or Viewing Control Panel can be used to translate/rotate/zoom the object.
How do I change the rotation/translation rate?
The rotation rate can be increased/decreased by pushing the buttons to the left and right of the "Rot"/"T/Z" buttons in the Viewing Control Panel. This is the rate at which the display will be rotated in real time. Everytime the this button is pressed the rotation rate is changed by a factor of three. To reset the rate, press the "Rot"/"T/Z" buttons.
How do I change the mouse to PLOT3D mode?
Push the "PLOT3D" button in the Viewing Control Panel. Also this could be the default by having a line in resource file which contains the word "plot3d".
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Comments and Questions
Last Updated: Sep 17, 2002