GiD - The personal pre and post processor

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Menu: Utilities->Tools
This menu includes some tools and options to change the appearance of windows or different aspects of GiD.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Toolbars
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Toolbars...
In this menu you can replace, show or hide GiD toolbars. They can be embedded in the main window or as a stand-alone window.
When you select this option, the following dialog appears:


Within this window you can choose where on the main window the toolbar is to be displayed - inside, outside, top left, bottom right, etc. - or you can switch it off. The GiD toolbars are:

  • Right buttons: These are the buttons that usually appear on the right-hand side of the window. They can perform most of the functions available in the program.
  • Command line: The bar where commands can be written using the keyboard. It usually appears at the bottom of the screen.
  • Up menu: The pull-down menus located above the graphical window.
  • Geometry & View bar and Standard bar: These are icon toolbars used to perform certain operations. Click the middle or right mouse button over an icon to get help.
  • View results bar (only in Postprocess): Icon toolbar related with results. Click the middle or right mouse button over an icon to get help.
  • Macros toolbar: This is an icon toolbar where default and user macros are placed.
  • Status & Information: Provides basic information at a quick glance.


Note: To make the Top menu bar appear again use the shortcuts Control-U or Control-Shift-u.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Save window configuration
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Save window conf...
It is possible to save a window configuration to a file. Then, if GiD is opened again with the -c option (see Invoking GiD) and the file in question, the windows are opened in the same place and are the same size as before.


Utilities Menu>Tools>Move screen objects
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Move Screen Objects
This option lets you move screen objects (objects that do not belong to the model) such as axes, comments, legends, etc.

Utilities Menu>Tools>Coordinates window (only Preprocessing)
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Coordinates window...
Status toolbar:
This option opens a window used to enter points (see Point definition). It can be used in any place where it is possible to enter a point.

Coordiante window

To accept one point in this window, click Apply or press the Return key.
The Coordinate system option lets you select between:

  • Cartesian: Cartesian coordinate system.
  • Cylindrical: Enter the radius in the XY plane, the anti-clockwise angle in the XY plane from the x axis (theta), and the z coordinate.
  • Spherical: Enter the radius, the anti-clockwise angle in the XY plane from the x axis (theta), and the angle with the z axis (phi).

The Local axes option lets you choose:

  • Global: Global axes.
  • Relative center...: Define a center of coordinates. All new points created with this window will be related to this center. In the window where the relative center is entered, you can select a point from the graphical window with the Pick button.
  • Relative last: The last point entered is the relative center of coordinates.
  • Define new...: This lets you define a new local axes. Once defined, you can select it.


Create new point shows the current way of entering points. The Change button opens the preferences window (see Preferences) where it can be changed.
The Pick button allows you to select a point from the window which is then inserted in the point fields. From here it can be edited and used.



Utilities Menu>Tools>Read batch window
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Read batch window...
A batch file can be read to execute some functions (see Batch file) or to create an animated view of these operations. This latter case can be performed with the Read batch window.

Read batch window
Once a file is selected, it is possible execute it interactively, and make it stop at interesting points.
To allow all the movements (rotations and so on) be executed in the same way as originally, the Write rotations in batch option must be flagged in the preferences window (see Preferences ) when creating the batch.
There are several ways to halt the batch while it is running. One of them is to include stops in the show file section with the Mark break button, and selecting Internal stop. These marks can be saved in the batch file by clicking the Write... button.
The Show info option lets the program write all the usual messages in the GiD messages window.

Utilities Menu>Tools>Comments
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Comments...
Comments can be added to images created with GiD by using this command. Click Apply to display the text on the screen as it will appear when printed - either to a file (see Print to file) or otherwise; comments can be changed at any time by clicking the Comments button in the Utilities menu (either pull-down or Right buttons menus).


Utilities Menu>Tools>Comments>Postprocessing
Use this window to change the current comment. See Legends and comments for more information.

You can also create your own automatic comments, just by filling in the comment lines. To tell the program where the result name, analysis name, etc. should be placed, the following fields can be used:

  • %an: for the analysis name of the current visualized result
  • %sv: for the step value of the current visualized result
  • %vt: for the result visualization type of the current visualized result
  • %vf: for the vectors factor used in the current visualized result (if any)
  • %rn: for the result name of the current visualized result
  • %cn: for the component name of the current visualized result
  • %da: for the analysis name of the current deformation (if any)
  • %ds: for the step value of the current deformation (if any)
  • %dr: for the result name of the current deformation (if any)
  • %df: for the factor of the current deformation (if any)
  • %tcl(): to evaluate a tcl command and display it's result as comment, for instance: "Step id = %sv, correct step value = %tcl(expr $sv * 2.5 + 3.4)" --> will translate to "Step id = 1, correct step value = 5.9".


GiD will substitute the fields for the values of the current visualization. Fields which cannot be filled will be empty.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Change legend title (only Postprocessing)
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Change legent title

Allows the user to change the title of the legend.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Animation controls
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Animation controls...
Post toolbar:

This windows lets you create animations while using GiD. Several formats (containers and codecs) can be selected. After giving a name and a delay time between frames (for 20 frames per second, a delay of 1/20 = 50 ms. should be entered) the process can be started by clicking on the start button (film roll and arrow icon); the green LED will change to red.
The quality can be adjusted, which is translated to the bitrate allowed in the video creation.
Simply click on the film roll and arrow button to add frame by frame the pictures you want to include in the animation. The Save redraws option tells GiD to save every redraw automatically to the animation file, so no user intervention is needed to store frames.
The animation can be finished at any time by clicking the end button (closed film roll icon); the red LED will change to green.
Note: To avoid problems when trying to view an MPEG format animation in Microsoft Windows, it is strongly recommended that you use the Default menu to select a 'standard' size and click the Resize button. The graphical window will change to this 'standard' size. When you have finished the animation, simply select Default on the menu and click the Resize button and the previous size will be restored.
Note: AVI files with MJPEG compression can be viewed with xanim on Linux and Unix machines, and with DirectX 8.x installed on Microsoft Windows machines.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Animation script
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Animation script...

This window lets you manage and define the movements of the animation. You can chose one of the following movements:

  • zoom/pan: Define a linear movement from Start view to End view in a specify Duration time.
  • rotation: Define a rotation of the Object or of the Screen by entering Center point, the three axes angles and Duration time.
  • render: Command to change the render state to Normal, Flat or Smooth


The animation of results can also been performed while the movement script is executed. Just check the Do result animation too and set the preferences clicking on Animate results... button.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Macros
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Macros...
Toolbar:

'Macros' window allows you to create sequences of commands and give them a name. This group of commands can also be recorded from one execution set inside the program.
It is possible to assign a keyboard shortcut to a given macro.
Note: Macros are considered as a user preference and not related to the active model. So, to transfer a set of macros from one user to another it is necessary to copy the appropiated 'Macros.tcl' file (its location is platform dependent)
Utilities Menu>Tools>Selection window (only Preprocessing)
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Selection window...
Mouse menu: Contextual->Selection window
For those functions where some entities are to be selected (creation of a surface or a volume, copying entities, etc.), it is possible to use the Selection window. The selection window lets you take control of the selection process.

Selection window

Note: The selection window option is only available in the mouse menu during the selection process.
The selection window has the following options:

  • Select all: If this option is chosen all entities are selected. If a filter is selected, it is applied to all entities.
  • From, To: This option lets you select a range of entities. If a filter is selected, it is only applied to that range of entities. To see the ID numbers of entities, use the Label command (see Label ).
  • Mode: There are three selection modes:
    • Swap : If you select an entity that is already selected, the entity is deselected, and vice versa.
    • Add : In this mode it is impossible to deselect an entity. Only new entities are added to the current selection.
    • Remove : In this mode it is impossible to add entities to the selection. This mode is used to remove entities from the current selection.
  • Filter: If a filter is selected, only the entities that satisfy the filter criteria will be selected. This menu changes depending on what type of entity is being selected:
    • Points
      • Higher entities: You are asked for a value, and all points with this Higher Entity number are selected (Higher Entity number is the number of lines that a point belongs to).
      • Layer: select entities that belong to this layer.
      • Group: select entities assigned to this group.
      • Label: Selects all points where a Label is shown or not (On or Off).
      • Material: All points with a chosen material assigned are selected.
      • Condition: All points with a chosen condition assigned are selected.
    • Lines
      • Higher entities: You are asked for a value, and all lines with this Higher Entity number are selected (Higher Entity number is the number of surfaces that a line belongs to).
      • Layer: select entities that belong to this layer.
      • Group: select entities assigned to this group.
      • Label: Selects all lines where a Label is shown or not (On or Off).
      • Material: All lines with a chosen material assigned are selected.
      • Condition: All lines with a chosen condition assigned are selected.
      • Min. length: Selects only the lines whose length is greater than the given length.
      • Max. length: Selects only the lines whose length is smaller than the given length.
      • Entity type: Selects only the lines which fit the specified type: StLine (Straight Line), ArcLine, PolyLine or NurbLine.
    • Surfaces
      • Higher entities: You are asked for a value, and all surfaces with this Higher Entity number are selected (Higher Entity number is the number of volumes that a surface belongs to).
      • Layer: select entities that belong to this layer.
      • Group: select entities assigned to this group.
      • Label: Selects all surfaces where a Label is shown or not (On or Off).
      • Material: All surfaces with a chosen material assigned are selected.
      • Condition: All surfaces with a chosen condition assigned are selected.
      • Num. sides: All surfaces with a chosen number of sides are selected.
      • Entity type: Type of surface.
    • Volumes
      • Layer: select entities that belong to this layer.
      • Group: select entities assigned to this group.
      • Label: Selects all volumes where a Label is shown or not (On or Off).
      • Material: All volumes with a chosen material assigned are selected.
      • Condition: All volumes with a chosen condition assigned are selected.
      • Num. sides: All volumes with a chosen number of sides are selected.
      • Entity type: Type of volume.
    • Nodes
      • Layer: select entities that belong to this layer.
      • Group: select entities assigned to this group.
      • Label: Selects all nodes where a Label is shown or not (On or Off).
      • Condition: All nodes with a chosen condition assigned are selected.
    • Elements
      • Layer: select entities that belong to this layer.
      • Group: select entities assigned to this group.
      • Label: Selects all elements where a Label is shown or not (On or Off).
      • Material: All elements with a chosen material assigned are selected.
      • Condition: All elements with a chosen condition assigned are selected.

(see Mesh quality for any of the options below)

      • Min Angle: Selects only the elements with an angle greater than the figure specified in degrees.
      • Max Angle: Selects only the elements with an angle smaller than the figure specified in degrees.
      • Min Edge: Sets the minimum edge length accepted.
      • Max Edge: Sets the maximum edge length accepted.
      • Shape quality: Sets the minimum shape quality accepted.
      • Minimum Jacobian: Sets the minimum jacobian accepted.
      • Entity type: Type of element (see Element type ).
  • Clear: Clears the current selection.


Utilities Menu>Tools>Calculator
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Calculator...

Vector calculator

This option opens a scalar and vector calculator. Clicking the help button open a dedicated help section.
It is possible to transfer scalar and vector points and distances between the calculator and the main graphical display.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Report
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Report...

report window

This option creates a report in html format to which figures, comments, titles, etc. can be added. This report can be saved to a file and then reloaded in another GiD session where it can be edited or have more information added to it.
Utilities Menu>Tools>Notes
Menu: Utilities->Tools->Notes...
This is a simple text editor for writing small notes regarding the model. The content is saved in a file named ModelName.txt, with utf-8 encoding.

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