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Contours

Tecplot Contours

Contours in 2 Dimensions

First, turn the mesh off, by clicking on the box next to "Mesh". Now click on the box next to contour "Contour". The first time that you do this for a data set, a window will pop up and you will be asked to select a contour variable. Click on the down arrow, a list of variables will appear. Click on the appropriate variable and then close the window. To view the contours, click on "Redraw"

You will see the basic contour plot in one color. You may modify this plot. Modifications include: the number of levels, color, a table and shading.

To add color to the contour plot, click on "Plot Attributes...". The following window will appear.

Note that the boundary is selected. If you want the contour lines with out the boundary, click on the red box next to "Boundary" and redraw. You can fill in the contour plot with colors as shown in the following figure.

To do this, you will need the "Plot Attributes..." window shown previously on this page. Pull down the "Cont Plottype" menu to "Flood" and redraw.

3D Contour Plots

To draw a 3D contour plot, turn 3D on. Click on the "3D" button in the upper left corner of the tecplot window. Several warning windows will appear, click "OK" on each one. Once again, redraw.

Just as with 2D contour plots, there are many options. You may use contour lines, or you may fill the plot. The procedure to to this is exactly as it is in 2D. There are several examples.

• 3D contour lines ("Cont Plottype" is set to "Lines")
  

• A 3D contour line plot was placed over the gouraud shaded surface. Note: "Contour" and "Shade" are on.
  

• 3D contour shaded ("Cont Plottype" is set to "Flood")
  

Tables

To add a table, pull down the "Field" menu, to "Contour Legend...", click on the box next to "Show Contour Legend". There are many other options that you may want to try. All options are in the "Contour Legend" window. When done with the options, redraw.

You can move the contour legend with the mouse. Cick once on the legend with the left mouse button, now use the mouse with the left mouse button to position the legend as desired.

Adjusting the Contour Levels

To adjust the contour levels, pull down the "Field" menu to "Contour Levels ...". A window will pop up. In this window you can add and delete levels. The number of levels can be changed and the levels automatically generated: Click on "Reset Levels", you will be asked to enter the number of levels. As always, redraw.