HyperGraph 2D

HyperGraph 2D 11.
0
User Guide
Altair Engineering Contact Information

Web site
www.altair.com
FTP site
Address: ftp.altair.com or ftp2.altair.com or http://ftp.altair.com/ftp

Login: ftp
Password: <your e-mail address>
Location
Telephone
e-mail
North America
248.614.2425
hwsupport@altair.com
China
86.400.619.6186.
support@altair.com.cn
France
33.1.4133.0992
francesupport@altair.com
Germany
49.7031.6208.22
hwsupport@altair.de
India
91.80.6629.4500
1800.425.0234 (toll
free)
support@india.altair.com
Italy
39.800.905.595
support@altairengineering.it
Japan
81.3.5396.2881
support@altairjp.co.jp
Korea
82.70.4050.9200
help@altair.co.kr
Scandinavia
46.46.286.2052
support@altair.se
United Kingdom
01926 .468.600
support@uk.altair.com
Brazil
55.11.3384.0414
br_support@altair.com.br
Australia
61.3.9016.9042
anzsupport@altair.com
New Zealand
64.9.413.7981
anzsupport@altair.com
The following countries have distributors for Altair Engineering:

Asia Pacific: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand
Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey.
2011 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted,
transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated to another language without the written permission of Altair
Engineering, Inc. To obtain this permission, write to the attention Altair Engineering legal department at: 1820 E. Big
Beaver, Troy, Michigan, USA, or call +1-248-614-2400.
HyperWorks 11.0 Release Notes
Trademark and Registered Trademark Acknowledgments
Listed below are Altair HyperWorks applications. Copyright Altair Engineering Inc., All Rights Reserved for:
HyperMesh 1990-2011; HyperCrash 2001-2011; OptiStruct 1996-2011; RADIOSS 1986-2011; HyperView
1999-2011; HyperView Player 2001-2011; HyperStudy 1999-2011; HyperGraph 1995-2011; MotionView 1993
2011; MotionSolve 2002-2011; HyperForm 1998-2011; HyperXtrude 1999-2011; Process Manager 2003-2011;
Templex 1990-2011; Data Manager 2005-2011; MediaView 1999-2011; BatchMesher 2003-2011;
TextView 1996-2011; HyperMath 2007-2011; ScriptView 2007-2011; Manufacturing Solutions 2005-2011;
HyperWeld 2009-2011; HyperMold 2009-2011; solidThinking 1993-2011; solidThinking Inspired 2009-2011;
Durability Director 2009-2011; Suspension Director 2009-2011; AcuSolve 1997-2011; and AcuConsole
2006-2011.
In addition to HyperWorks trademarks noted above, GridWorks, PBS Gridworks, PBS Professional,
PBS and Portable Batch System are trademarks of ALTAIR ENGINEERING INC., as is patent # 6,859,792. All
are protected under U.S. and international laws and treaties. All other marks are the property of their respective
owners.
HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide
.............................................................................................................................................2
Graphical
User Interface
Panel/Dialog
..............................................................................................................................................................................3
Reorganization in HyperGraph 2D 11.0
..............................................................................................................................................................................4
Plot Type
Options
Tab Area
..............................................................................................................................................................................6
Plot Browser
........................................................................................................................................................................7
HyperGraph
..............................................................................................................................................................................10
2D Toolbars
Chart Selector
........................................................................................................................................................................11
Curves ........................................................................................................................................................................12
Annotations
........................................................................................................................................................................14
Axes ........................................................................................................................................................................15
Panel
Legends
Panel
........................................................................................................................................................................31
Headers
and Footers Panel
........................................................................................................................................................................36
Notes........................................................................................................................................................................37
Panel
HyperGraph
..............................................................................................................................................................................51
Menus
Curves Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................52
Annotations
Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................53
Tools Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................54
Replace
Filenames
........................................................................................................................................................................55
Templex
Functions
........................................................................................................................................................................58
Readers,
Writers, and Functions
........................................................................................................................................................................63
HG Apply
Style
........................................................................................................................................................................89
Templex
Curve Names
........................................................................................................................................................................95
Free Body
Diagrams
........................................................................................................................................................................96
RAD2NOISE
........................................................................................................................................................................104
Synchronize
Animation
........................................................................................................................................................................105
HyperGraph
Preferences Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................106
Export
Settings
........................................................................................................................................................................107
Options
........................................................................................................................................................................108
NVH Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................109
Modal/Panel
Participation
........................................................................................................................................................................110
Order........................................................................................................................................................................121
Analysis
Vehicle........................................................................................................................................................................131
Safety Tools
Vehicle
Safety Tools - Math Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................132
Vehicle
Safety Tools - Filter Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................134
Vehicle
Safety Tools - Units Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................135
Vehicle
Safety Tools - Injury Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................138
TTId ........................................................................................................................................................................139
Calculations and Reference Information
Vehicle
Safety Tools - Misc Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................140
Vehicle
Safety Tools - Transforms Menu
........................................................................................................................................................................141
Altair Engineering

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering
Duration
Macro
........................................................................................................................................................................143
HyperGraph
Context Sensitive Menus
........................................................................................................................................................................144
To modify
a curve from the View Dependencies dialog:
........................................................................................................................................................................146
To assign
a viewing control to MB2:
........................................................................................................................................................................147
To magnify
part of a plot:
........................................................................................................................................................................148
To translate
a plot:
........................................................................................................................................................................149
To reposition
a plot:
........................................................................................................................................................................150
..............................................................................................................................................................................151
Registering
a Custom DLL to Export Curves
HyperGraph
..............................................................................................................................................................................152
Questions
.............................................................................................................................................155
XY Plot
..............................................................................................................................................................................157
Build Plots
Panel - XY Plot
Opening........................................................................................................................................................................158
a Plot File
Supported
Files in HyperGraph
........................................................................................................................................................................159
Building........................................................................................................................................................................162
Plots with Generic XY Data Files
To expand
Y data lists:
........................................................................................................................................................................163
To select
Y data requests:
........................................................................................................................................................................164
To select
a contiguous range of Y data requests:
........................................................................................................................................................................165
To select
a non-contiguous range of Y data requests:
........................................................................................................................................................................166
To select
Y data components:
........................................................................................................................................................................167
To select
a contiguous range of Y data components:
........................................................................................................................................................................168
To select
a non-contiguous range of Y data components:
........................................................................................................................................................................169
To build
plots from plot data files:
........................................................................................................................................................................170
Building........................................................................................................................................................................171
Plots with ADAMS Request Files
Building........................................................................................................................................................................172
Plots with MADYMO Time History Files
Multiple........................................................................................................................................................................173
Curves
Dynamic
Curve Names
........................................................................................................................................................................174
..............................................................................................................................................................................175
Plot Macros
Panel - XY Plot
To add ........................................................................................................................................................................177
a parameter to the Parameters list:
To add ........................................................................................................................................................................178
a curve to a plot macro:
To add ........................................................................................................................................................................179
a note to a plot macro:
To copy........................................................................................................................................................................180
and paste a macro:
To create
a new macro:
........................................................................................................................................................................181
To edit ........................................................................................................................................................................182
an existing macro:
To apply
an existing macro:
........................................................................................................................................................................183
Define..............................................................................................................................................................................184
Curves Panel - XY Plot
Curve List
........................................................................................................................................................................185
To rename
a curve:
........................................................................................................................................................................186
To add
a curve:
........................................................................................................................................................................187
To cut
a curve from the active window:
........................................................................................................................................................................188
To copy
a curve from the active window:
........................................................................................................................................................................189
To paste
a curve into another window:
........................................................................................................................................................................190
To turn
a curve on or off:
........................................................................................................................................................................191
Data Sources
........................................................................................................................................................................192
ii

Altair Engineering
File as
a Data Source
........................................................................................................................................................................193
Math........................................................................................................................................................................196
as a Data Source
Values
as a Data Source
........................................................................................................................................................................197
Curve Calculator
........................................................................................................................................................................202
Creating........................................................................................................................................................................203
and Defining Curves
Constructing
Curves
........................................................................................................................................................................205
Defining........................................................................................................................................................................206
a Range
Calculus
Functions
........................................................................................................................................................................207
Signal Processing
........................................................................................................................................................................208
Filters ........................................................................................................................................................................209
Fit
........................................................................................................................................................................210
Referencing
Curves
........................................................................................................................................................................211
To insert
a vector into the active expression:
........................................................................................................................................................................212
To reference
a curve in the active window:
........................................................................................................................................................................213
Math Functions
........................................................................................................................................................................214
External........................................................................................................................................................................215
Functions
MATLAB
Interface
........................................................................................................................................................................216
Freezing
vectors
........................................................................................................................................................................217
To freeze
a vector:
........................................................................................................................................................................218
To freeze
a curve:
........................................................................................................................................................................219
To unfreeze
a vector:
........................................................................................................................................................................220
Datum..............................................................................................................................................................................221
Lines Panel - XY Plot
To display
or hide a datum line:
........................................................................................................................................................................222
To add ........................................................................................................................................................................223
a datum line to a plot:
To apply
attributes to a datum line:
........................................................................................................................................................................224
To associate
a datum line with a secondary axis:
........................................................................................................................................................................225
To change
the axis range:
........................................................................................................................................................................226
To copy........................................................................................................................................................................227
and paste a datum line:
To create
a datum line label:
........................................................................................................................................................................228
To delete
a datum line:
........................................................................................................................................................................229
To display
datum line labels with mouse over:
........................................................................................................................................................................230
To position
a datum line:
........................................................................................................................................................................231
To specify
a math expression to define the datum line display:
........................................................................................................................................................................232
Modify..............................................................................................................................................................................233
Curves Panel
To select
a curve to edit:
........................................................................................................................................................................234
To set the
range marker orientation:
........................................................................................................................................................................235
To specify
the range within which to edit the curve data:
........................................................................................................................................................................236
To modify
the curve data:
........................................................................................................................................................................237
To delete
a curve edit:
........................................................................................................................................................................238
To rename
a curve edit:
........................................................................................................................................................................239
To undo........................................................................................................................................................................240
a curve edit:
Curve..............................................................................................................................................................................241
Attributes Panel - XY Plot
To select
a single curve:
........................................................................................................................................................................242
Altair Engineering

iii
To select
a range of curves:
........................................................................................................................................................................243
To select
a non-contiguous range of curves:
........................................................................................................................................................................244
To select
curves using the curve list buttons:
........................................................................................................................................................................245
Line, Symbol,
and Data Attributes
........................................................................................................................................................................246
Coordinate
..............................................................................................................................................................................248
Info Panel - XY Plot
To display
point data by picking a point on a curve:
........................................................................................................................................................................249
To display
point data using the point table:
........................................................................................................................................................................250
To display
point data using the Find Point controls:
........................................................................................................................................................................251
To display
point data in decibels:
........................................................................................................................................................................252
..............................................................................................................................................................................253
Statistics
Panel
Find Point
........................................................................................................................................................................254
Curve Statistics
........................................................................................................................................................................255
Statistics
Templates
........................................................................................................................................................................256
..............................................................................................................................................................................257
Scales,
Offsets, and Axis Assignments Panel - XY Plot
To scale
X vectors:
........................................................................................................................................................................258
To scale
Y vectors:
........................................................................................................................................................................259
To offset
curves along the horizontal axis:
........................................................................................................................................................................260
To offset
curves along the vertical axis:
........................................................................................................................................................................261
To move........................................................................................................................................................................262
curves along the horizontal axis:
To move........................................................................................................................................................................263
curves along the vertical axis:
To assign
axes to multiple curves at once:
........................................................................................................................................................................264
..............................................................................................................................................................................265
Options
Panel - XY Plot
.............................................................................................................................................267
Bar Chart
Define..............................................................................................................................................................................268
Curves Panel - Bar Chart
Data Sources
........................................................................................................................................................................269
File as
a Data Source
........................................................................................................................................................................270
Math........................................................................................................................................................................273
as a Data Source
Values
as a Data Source
........................................................................................................................................................................274
Datum..............................................................................................................................................................................279
Lines Panel - Bar Chart
Curve..............................................................................................................................................................................280
Attributes Panel - Bar Chart
Line and
Symbol Attributes
........................................................................................................................................................................282
Bar Chart
Styles
........................................................................................................................................................................283
Axis Attributes
........................................................................................................................................................................284
..............................................................................................................................................................................285
Options
Panel - Bar Chart
.............................................................................................................................................286
Complex
Plot
Build Plots
..............................................................................................................................................................................288
Panel - Complex Plot
Opening........................................................................................................................................................................289
a Plot File
Building........................................................................................................................................................................290
Plots with Complex Plot Data Files
To select
Y nodes:
........................................................................................................................................................................291
iv

Altair Engineering
To select
a contiguous range of Y nodes:
........................................................................................................................................................................292
To select
a non-contiguous range of Y nodes:
........................................................................................................................................................................293
To select
Y channels:
........................................................................................................................................................................294
To select
a contiguous range of Y channels:
........................................................................................................................................................................295
To select
a non-contiguous range of Y channels:
........................................................................................................................................................................296
Building........................................................................................................................................................................297
Plots with NASTRAN Punch Files
To build
a complex plot from a NASTRAN punch file:
........................................................................................................................................................................298
To build
an XY Plot from a NASTRAN punch file:
........................................................................................................................................................................299
Multiple........................................................................................................................................................................300
Curves
Plot Macros
..............................................................................................................................................................................301
Define..............................................................................................................................................................................303
Curves Panel - Complex Plot
Curve List
........................................................................................................................................................................304
Data Sources
........................................................................................................................................................................305
File as
a Data Source
........................................................................................................................................................................306
Math........................................................................................................................................................................309
as a Data Source
Values
as a Data Source
........................................................................................................................................................................310
Creating........................................................................................................................................................................315
and Defining Curves
Datum..............................................................................................................................................................................317
Lines Panel - Complex Plot
Curve..............................................................................................................................................................................318
Attributes Panel - Complex Plot
Line and
Symbol Attributes
........................................................................................................................................................................319
Coordinate
..............................................................................................................................................................................320
Info Panel - Complex Plot
..............................................................................................................................................................................321
Options
Polar.............................................................................................................................................323
Plot
Build Plots
..............................................................................................................................................................................325
Panel - Polar Plot
To plot ........................................................................................................................................................................326
data from a file with complex data plus a time or frequency vector:
To change
the active frequency for files with complex data and a frequency vector:
........................................................................................................................................................................327
To select
a file with complex data but no frequency data:
........................................................................................................................................................................328
Multiple........................................................................................................................................................................329
Curves - Polar Plot
Define..............................................................................................................................................................................330
Curves Panel - Polar Plot
Curve List
- Polar Plot
........................................................................................................................................................................331
Data Sources
- Polar Plot
........................................................................................................................................................................332
File as
Data Source - Polar Plot
........................................................................................................................................................................333
Math........................................................................................................................................................................334
as a Data Source - Polar Plot
Value
as a Data Source - Polar Plot
........................................................................................................................................................................335
Creating........................................................................................................................................................................336
and Defining Curves - Polar Plot
Define..............................................................................................................................................................................337
Tip-to-Tail Panel
To define
a tip-to-tail function and display attributes
........................................................................................................................................................................338
To exclude
a curve from the tip-to-tail calculation
........................................................................................................................................................................339
Datum..............................................................................................................................................................................340
Lines Panel - Polar Plot
Curve..............................................................................................................................................................................341
Attributes Panel - Polar Plot
Coordinate
..............................................................................................................................................................................343
Info Panel - Polar Plot
Altair Engineering

Scales,
..............................................................................................................................................................................345
Offsets, and Axis Assignments Panel - Polar Plot
To scale
phase vectors:
........................................................................................................................................................................346
To scale
mag vectors:
........................................................................................................................................................................347
To offset
curves along the phase axis:
........................................................................................................................................................................348
To offset
curves along the mag axis:
........................................................................................................................................................................349
..............................................................................................................................................................................350
Options
Panel - Polar Plot
.............................................................................................................................................352
HyperGraph
Solver Interfacing
Interfacing
..............................................................................................................................................................................353
with Abaqus
..............................................................................................................................................................................354
Interfacing
with Nastran
Supported
Nastran Results
........................................................................................................................................................................355
..............................................................................................................................................................................357
Interfacing
with LS-DYNA
Interfacing
..............................................................................................................................................................................359
with OptiStruct
HyperGraph
........................................................................................................................................................................360
Interfacing
..............................................................................................................................................................................361
with PAM-CRASH
HyperGraph
hgdaisy External Reader
........................................................................................................................................................................362
HyperGraph
hgthp External Reader
........................................................................................................................................................................364
..............................................................................................................................................................................365
Interfacing
with PAM-CRASH 2G
HyperGraph
........................................................................................................................................................................366
HyperGraph
hgthp Result Reader
........................................................................................................................................................................368
Interfacing
..............................................................................................................................................................................369
with RADIOSS
HyperGraph
hgradioss External Reader
........................................................................................................................................................................370
vi

Altair Engineering
HyperGraph 2D
Powerful data analysis and plotting tool for all types of CAE data.
HyperGraph 2D is a powerful data analysis and plotting tool with interfaces to many popular file formats. Its
sophisticated math engine is capable of processing even the most complex mathematical expressions.
HyperGraph 2D combines these features with high-quality presentation output and customization capabilities to
create a complete data analysis system for any organization.
Benefits
HyperGraph 2D supplies design, test, and analysis engineers with an intuitive plotting and data analysis package.
HyperGraph 2Ds combination of an easy-to-use interface and robust suite of automation tools enables engineers
to view and analyze data more efficiently, which:
Minimizes the manual effort and time required to generate plots. The automatic plot builder generates a
family of fully labeled plots from data file(s), using file header and channel information.
Eliminates repetitive tasks. Plot macros capture and automate common math expressions.
Eliminates repetitive plot generation. Report templates can capture and automate the building of entire
pages of data plots.
A fully customizable interface. Customize the interface and the tools to fit any engineering environment.
A customizable library of mathematical functions. Users can add custom defined math functions to Altairs
robust math library.
Provides automation tools for efficient data analysis and report generation.
Overlays sequential test and simulation results for visualization and analysis.
Directly exports active session reports to HTML or PowerPoint XML.
Altair Engineering

Graphical User Interface

The graphical user interface provides you with a consistent look and feel when you are working in any of the
HyperWorks Desktop applications.
Click on one of the following topics to learn more about the HyperGraph 2D user interface:
Tab Area
Toolbars
Menus
Panel/Dialog Reorganization in HyperGraph 2D 11.0
See Graphical User Interface in the HyperWorks Desktop User's Guide for more information about the different
areas of the interface.

Altair Engineering
Panel/Dialog Reorganization in HyperGraph 2D 11.0

Panel/Dialog
Old 10.0
New 11.0
New 11.0 Location
Alternate Location
(Pull down menus)
Build Plots
Build Plots button on the Curves > Build Plots

Curves toolbar.
Plot Macros
Plot Macros button on

the Curves toolbar.
Define Curve
Define Curves button on Curves > Define Curve

the Curves toolbar.
Define Tip to Tail
Define Tip to Tail button Curves > Define Tip to

on the Curves toolbar
Tail (Polar Plot plot type)
(for Polar Plot plot type).
(Polar Plot plot type

only)
Curves > Plot Macros
Datum Lines
Datum Lines button on

the Curves toolbar.
Modify Curves
Modify Curves button on Curves > Modify Curves

the Curves toolbar.
Curve Attributes
Curve Attributes button

on the Curves toolbar.
Coordinate Info
Coordinate Info button on Curves > Coordinate

the Curves toolbar.
Info
Statistics
Statistics button on the

Curves toolbar.
Scales, Offsets, and

Axis Assignments
Scales, Offsets, and Axis Curves > Scales, Offsets,

Assignments button on and Axis Assignments
the Curves toolbar.
Axes
Axes button on the

Annotations toolbar.
Annotations > Axes
Legends
Legends button on the

Annotations > Legends
Headers/Footers
Headers/Footers button
on the Annotations
toolbar.
Annotations > Headers/

Footers
Notes
Notes button on the

Annotations > Notes
Options
Options button on the

Preferences > Options
Erase Window
New Plot button on the

Standard toolbar.
File > New > Plot
Altair Engineering
Curves > Datum Lines
Curves > Curve

Attributes
Curves > Statistics

Plot Type Options

The plot type option menu allows you to select one of four plot types: XY Plot, Bar Chart, Complex Plot, or
Polar Plot. XY Plot is the default plot type.
Plot type option menu.
The following toolbar options are available for the plot type selected:
Plot Type
Toolbar Options
XY Plot
Build Plots
Plot Macros
Define Curves
Datum Lines
Modify Curves
Curve Attributes
Coordinate Info
Statistics
Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assigments
Axes
Legends
Headers/Footers
Notes
Options
Bar Chart
Define Curves
Datum Lines
Curve Attributes
Axes
Legends
Headers/Footers
Notes
Options

Altair Engineering
Complex Plot
Build Plots
Plot Macros
Define Curves
Datum Lines
Curve Attributes
Coordinate Info
Axes
Legends
Headers/Footers
Notes
Options
Polar Plot
Build Plots
Define Curves
Tip to Tail
Datum Lines
Curve Attributes
Coordinate Info
Scales, Offsets, and Axes Assignment
Axes
Legends
Headers/Footers
Options
Altair Engineering

Tab Area
The Tab Area is the portion of the graphical user interface that contains the browsers, utilities, and other
functionality not shown in the panel area. The Tab Area can be moved to either the left or right side of the
graphics area, or both, or it can be hidden completely.
Browsers that are displayed in the tab area by default in the framework include the Session Browser and the
Model Browser. Other browsers that can be displayed on or off via the View menu are the Parameters
Browser, the Process Manager, Library Manager, Solver Browser, Connector Browser, Mask Browser,
Entity State Browser, and the Utilities Menu.
Turn the Tab Area sidebars on or off by selecting Left, Right, Expand Both, or Collapse Both from the View
menu > Tab Area menu.
To maximize available space, multiple features (browsers, utilities, etc.) are organized onto tabs; click a tab
heading to bring it to the forefront.

Altair Engineering
Plot Browser
The Plot Browser resides on a tab in a Tab Area sidebar. It allows you to view your sessions's current plot
structure, which is displayed in a tree structure within the browser.
Note:
The Session Browser is detailed in the HyperWorks Desktop Framework help.
HyperGraph 2D Plot browser
The HyperGraph 2D Plot Browser can be turned on or off using the View > Browsers > HyperGraph 2D > Plot
menu options. A check mark indicates the HyperGraph 2D Plot Browser is activated for display in the Tab Area.
Note The HyperGraph 2D Plot Browser can also be positioned to appear on the right side of the page (the right
tab area).
Altair Engineering

Context Sensitive Menu

From the Plot Browser, you can select a curve and right-click to access a context sensitive menu.
Context sensitive menu with Single Curve Math options

displayed
Context sensitive menu with Multiple Curve Math options

displayed
You can access the following options from the context sensitive menu:
Turn On
Turns on a curve in the display window.
Turn Off
Turns off a curve in the display window.
Cut
Removes the curve from the Plot browser, and deletes it from the current
session.
Copy
Copies the selected curve. To paste it into the browser, select the window
name from the browser, right-click and select Paste.
Delete
Deletes the curve from the session.
Single Curve
Math
Performs math functions on a single curve, which results in the creation of a

new curve.
Included in the name of the new curve is the name of the math function. For
example, if you chose to perform the Derivative function on curve 1 and there
were currently three curves in the session, the new curve would be named c4:
Derivative--Lower Torso. The new curve is also added to the Curve list
on the Define Curves panel.
Multiple Curve
Math
Performs math functions on a multiple curves, which results in the creation of a

new curve. The name of the math function is also included in the name of a
new curve. For example, c7:Resultant.
You can choose to get the sum or resultant of multiple curves.

Altair Engineering
If you have the Vehicle Safety Tools loaded, the Filter and Injury menu options are also included
on the context sensitive menu.
You can also add your own options to the context sensitive menu using the *BrowserContextMenuItem()
preference file command.
To use the HyperGraph 2D Plot browser context sensitive menu:

1. From the menu bar, select View > Browsers > HyperGraph 2D > Plot.
2. At the top level session folder, click the + button to expand the session, page, and window folders.
The curve(s) in each window(s) is displayed.
3. Select a curve.
4. Right-click on a highlighted curve to display the context sensitive menu.
5. From the menu, select the option that you want to apply to the curve.
The action is performed. If you choose a math function from the Single Curve Math or Multiple Curves Math
submenus, a new curve is created and is added to the session browser and to the Curve list on the Define
Curves panel.
See the *BrowserContextMenuItem() preference file command for more information about adding your own
options to the context sensitive menu.
Altair Engineering

HyperGraph 2D Toolbars
The HyperGraph 2D toolbars provide quick access to commonly used panels and tools. The following toolbars are
available.
Chart Selector
Curves
Annotations
From the View menu, select Toolbars > HyperGraph 2D and then click on the toolbar name to turn the display
on or off.
The HyperGraph toolbars are dockable, meaning they can be positioned anywhere within the window by hovering
over the four dots, , and dragging them with your mouse to its new location.
10

Altair Engineering
Chart Selector
The HyperGraph 2D Chart Selector toolbar allows you to select one of four plot types: XY Plot, Bar Chart,
Complex Plot, and Polar Plot. XY Plot is the default plot type.
Button
Left-click
LEFT Behavior
Right-click
XY Plot panel
Sets the plot type to XY Plot Same
Bar Chart panel
Sets the plot type to Bar

Chart
Same
Complex Plot
panel
Sets the plot type to

Complex Plot
Same
Polar Plot panel
Sets the plot type to Polar

Plot
Same
RIGHT Behavior
See the Plot Type Options topic for more information.
Altair Engineering

11
Curves
The Curves toolbar provides quick access to HyperGraph 2D panels. The panels available depend on the plot
type currently selected. To access a panel, click on the corresponding panel icon from the toolbar.
For the XY Plot type, these panels are accessible from the toolbar:
Curves toolbar - XY Plot
Button
Left-click
LEFT Behavior
Right-click
Build Plots
Opens the Build Plots panel
Same
Plot Macros
Open the Plot Macros panel
Same
Define Curves
Open the Define Curves panel
Same
Datum Lines
Open the Datum Lines panel
Same
Modify Curves
Open the Modify Curves panel
Same
Curve Attributes
Open the Curve Attributes panel Same
Coordinate Info
Open the Coordinate Info panel
Same
Statistics
Open the Statistics panel
Same
Scales, Offsets, and Axes

Assignments
Open the Scales, Offsets, and

Axes Assignments panel
Same
RIGHT Behavior
For the Bar Chart plot type, these panels are accessible from the Curves toolbar:
Curves toolbar - Bar Chart
Button
12
Left-click
LEFT Behavior
Right-click
Define Curves
Open the Define Curves panel.
Same
Datum Lines
Open the Datum Lines panel.
Same
Curve Attributes
Open the Curve Attributes panel. Same

RIGHT Behavior
Altair Engineering
For the Complex Plot plot type, these panels are accessible from the Curves toolbar:
Curves toolbar - Complex Plot
Button
Left-click
LEFT Behavior
Right-click
Build Plots
Opens the Build Plots panel.
Same
Plot Macros
Open the Plot Macros panel.
Same
Define Curves
Same
Datum Lines
Same
Curve Attributes
Coordinate Info
Open the Coordinate Info panel.
RIGHT Behavior
Same
For the Polar Plot plot type, these panels are accessible from the Curves toolbar:
Curves toolbar - Polar Plot
Button
Left-click
LEFT Behavior
Right-click
Build Plots
Opens the Build Plots panel.
Same
Define Curves
Same
Define Tip to Tail
Open the Define Tip to Tail panel. Same
Datum Lines
Curve Attributes
Coordinate Info
Open the Coordinate Info panel.
Scales, Offsets, and Axes Open the Scales, Offsets, and

Assignment
Axes Assignments panel.
Altair Engineering
RIGHT
Behavior
Same
Same
Same

13
Annotations
The Annotations toolbar provides quick access to the HyperGraph 2D panels listed below. The panels available
on the Annotations toolbar are the same for all plot type options.
Annotate Charts toolbar
To access a panel, click on the corresponding panel icon from the toolbar.
Button
Left-click
LEFT Behavior
Right-click
Axes
Opens the Axes

panel.
Same
Legends
Opens the
Legends panel.
Same
Headers and Footers
Opens the
Headers and
Footers panel.
Same
Notes
Opens the Notes Same

panel.
Notes is not available for

Polar Plot
Options - XY Plot
Options - Bar Chart
Opens the
Options panel.
RIGHT Behavior
Same
Options - Complex Plot

Options - Polar Plot
14

Altair Engineering
Axes Panel
Multiple axes can be added to plots using the Axes panel. Axis attributes such as labels, color and scaling can
also be modified using the Axes panel. The panel is displayed when the Axes button,
, is selected, or when
you click on an axis label in the HyperGraph 2D window. You can also access the panel from the Annotations
menu or toolbar.
The options available on the Axes panel depend on the current plot type: XY Plot, Bar Chart, Complex Plot, or
Polar Plot.
Axes panel - XY Plot
Axes panel - Bar Chart
Axes panel - Complex Plot
Axes panel - Polar Plot - Magnitude Axis
Altair Engineering

15
Axes panel - Polar Plot - Phase Axis
Multiple axes enable you to easily view curves of different scales on the same plot by assigning the data vectors to
separate appropriately scaled axes. Data vectors are assigned to axes using the Scales, Offsets, and Axis
Assignment panel for XY Plot. For Bar Chart, they are assigned using the Curve Attributes panel > Axis
Attributes tab. Complex plots and polar plots do not support multiple axes.
On the Axes panel, the curve name is defined by a Templex expression instead of a fixed string. The Templex
expression is visible in editable fields only. In non-editable fields, the evaluated expression is displayed. In most
cases, the evaluated expression should match the text that was hard-coded in previous versions. Please see
Dynamic Curve Names for more information on this topic.
Axis List
Every xy plot has a primary horizontal axis and a primary vertical axis. The primary axis is the
default axis. The Axis list enables you to add up to five horizontal and five vertical axes. It
consists of the Axis option menu and the list of axes names. Axes can be added, cut, copied, and
pasted using the buttons displayed below the axis list. Axes can also be copied and pasted
between windows.
Every bar chart has a primary (vertical) axis and a category (horizontal) axis. The primary axis is
the default axis. Similar to xy plots, the Axis list enables you to add up to five additional (six total)
vertical axes. The Axis list consists of the Axis option menu and the list of axes names. The
primary axes and any additional vertical axes can be added, cut, copied, and pasted using the
buttons displayed below the axis list. Axes can also be copied and pasted between windows.
Note
The category axis label can be renamed, however it cannot be added, deleted, copied, or
pasted. You can change the names of the categories on the Define Curves panel.
Every complex plot has one primary horizontal axis and one primary vertical axis. Complex plot
axes can be renamed, but they cannot be copied, pasted, deleted, turned off, or moved.
Note
Axis
Attributes
Primary axes can be copied, pasted, and renamed, but they cannot be deleted, turned off,
or moved.
Individual axes can be turned on and off. When an axis is turned off, the curves associated with
the axis are also turned off. To turn off an axis, select if from the axis list and deselect the Axis
check box.
For bar charts, the primary and category axis can not be turned on and off.
16

Altair Engineering
Label
The axis label is a single line of text displayed alongside the axis in the HyperGraph 2D window. It
is automatically updated in HyperGraph 2D when you enter a new name on the Text tab.
For bar charts, labels can be placed over both stacked and clustered bars.
For polar plots, the axis label is automatically updated when you enter a new name in the Label
field.
For the r axis, the label is displayed along and under the "0" line between the center and the right
side of the circle.
For the theta axis, the label is displayed below and outside the circle.
Note Import templates can be written that specify the text for axis labels. This enables axis labels
to be automatically included when plots are constructed using the Reports panel.
See Import Templates for more information on import templates.
Color
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to the axes. Select an axis from the Axis list and then select
a color from the palette to instantly change the color of the axes. For Polar Plots, select the r axis
or theta axis tab select a color from the palette to instantly change the color of the axes.
Click Use Preferences to set the axes to the default color specified in the .preferences.mvw
file.
Note
See Preference Files for more information on specifying defaults in the .preferences.mvw
file.
Altair Engineering

17
To rename an axis:
1. Select the axis from the axis list or pick the axis from the HyperGraph 2D window.
2. Type a new name for the axis in the Axis text field.
3. Press Enter.
The new axis name is displayed in the axis list.
18

Altair Engineering
To add an axis to an xy plot:

1. Select either Horizontal or Vertical from the Axis option menu.
2. Click Add.
An axis named "X1" or "Y1" is added to the axis list and a new axis is displayed in the HyperGraph 2D window.
Horizontal axes are added to the top of the plot. Vertical axes are added to the right side of the plot.
3. Enter a name for the new axis in the Axis text field and press enter.
The name appears in the axis list.
4. On the Text tab, enter a label for the new axis in the Label text field.
The label is displayed alongside the new axis in the HyperGraph 2D window.
Altair Engineering

19
To add an axis to a bar chart plot:

1. From the Axis option menu, click Add.
An axis named "Y1" is added to the axis list. A new vertical axis is displayed on the right side of the
HyperGraph 2D window.
Note that additional horizontal axes cannot be added to the plot.
2. Enter a name for the new axis in the Axis text field and press Enter.
The name appears in the axis list.
3. On the Text tab, enter a label for the new axis in the Label text field.
The label is displayed alongside the new axis in the HyperGraph 2D window.
20

Altair Engineering
To copy and paste an axis to another window:

2. Click Copy below the axis list.
3. Pick another HyperGraph 2D window.
4. Click Paste.
The selected axis is pasted in the window.
Horizontal axes can be copied and pasted as vertical axes and vice versa.
Altair Engineering

21
To copy and paste an xy plot axis to a new position:

3. Select a new position for the axis, either Horizontal or Vertical from the Axis option menu.
4. Click Paste.
The selected axis is pasted in the plot at the new position.
22

Altair Engineering
To copy and paste a bar chart axis to a new position:

3. Click Paste.
The selected axis is pasted in the plot at the new position.
Note that a category (horizontal) axis cannot be copied and pasted.
Altair Engineering

23
To turn off an axis:

2. Turn off the Axis check box.
The selected axis and its associated curves are no longer displayed on the plot.
Axis attributes such as labels, color, and scaling are modified using the Axes panel.
24

Altair Engineering
To change the attributes of an axis:

1. Select either Horizontal or Vertical from the Axis option menu (for xy plot and complex plot only).
2. Select the axis name from the axis list.
Or
3. Pick an axis from the current window.
4. Modify the desired attribute.
Altair Engineering

25
Scaling Axes
Axes can be represented by a linear scale, a logarithmic scale, a dB10 scale, or a dB20 scale. Each axis can be
represented by a different scale. Use the radio buttons to select the appropriate scale for each axis. For bar
charts, the category (horizontal) axis cannot be represented in this way. Refer to the following table to view the
scale types available for complex plots:
Complex Plot
Axis Type
Scale Type Options
X Axis
Linear
Logarithmic
Y Axis
For Phase Linear

For Magnitude - Linear, logarithmic, dB10, dB20
For Real - Linear, logarithmic, dB10, dB20
For Imaginary - Linear, logarithmic, dB10, dB20
For the r axis, the circular axis lines are spaced to match the chosen setting. For the theta axis, linear scale is
the only option.
For the r axis, when you change the Min and Max, HyperGraph 2D updates the circular grid line values to match
the new max and min. The minimum value may be negative for radar plots.
For the theta axis, HyperGraph 2D evenly distributes the range of values around the circle, theta = 0 to theta =
360. HyperGraph 2D does not display the maximum value because it would overlap the minimum value. For
radar curves, HyperGraph 2D connects the last value to the first value.
When a curve is constructed, the axes minimum and maximum values are set so that the curve fits in the window
by default. When you select a different axis scale type, the minimum and maximum values automatically change.
New minimum and maximum values can be specified in the Min and Max text boxes. Altering the minimum and
maximum values for an axis scales the plot along that axis.
Click Fit,
, on the plotting view controls to return Min and Max to the default values and scale the curve to fill
the window. Press return or click Apply to accept the changes. Activating the Fit range check box restores the
current axes values when Fit is selected from the view controls.
If you select the dB10 axis scale type, the program scales any curve data using the formula Data = 10.0 *
log10(Original_Data). If no curves exist on the graph, the minimum value will default to -30 and the
maximum to 10. If you select the dB20 axis scale type, the program scales any curve data using the formula
Data = 20.0 * log10(Original_Data). If no curves exist on the graph, the minimum value will default to
-60 and the maximum to 20.
When Auto Fit is turned on, the selected axis is automatically scaled to fit new curves or bar charts that are
added to the axis. If Auto Fit is turned off, the selected axis remains scaled to fit the curve(s) currently assigned
to it and it is not scaled to fit new curves. For bar chart, if Auto Fit is turned off, the axis is not scaled to fit new
bar charts. When the category axis is selected from the Axis list and Auto Fit is turned off, you can select the
categories that you want to display in the HyperGraph 2D window. Enter a starting category in the From field
and an ending category in the To field then click Apply. Those categories are displayed in the HyperGraph 2D
window.
Horizontal labeling rotates the category text to horizontal when the X and Y-axes are flipped (X becomes the
vertical axes). To flip the X and Y axes, click the Flip XY button on the View Controls.
Bar chart labels can be slanted diagonally to prevent long names from overlapping.
26

Altair Engineering
To display bar chart labels horizontally or diagonally:

1. From the bar chart Axes panel, select Category from the Axis list.
2. Select the Scales and Tics tab.
3. Under Category Labels, select Horizontal to display the labels horizontally.
OR
Select Diagonal to display the labels diagonally.
Click the font button,
Altair Engineering
, from the Scales and Tics tab to change font attributes for axis labels.

27
Axis Tics
The Scales and Tics tab on the Axes panel allows you to display axis values using one of the following formats:
Auto Format
determines the best format for displaying axis values and truncates trailing zeros.
Scientific
expresses values in exponential form.
Fixed Format
expresses values using a specified number of decimal places.
Note
For bar charts, the category (horizontal) axis cannot be displayed using the above formats.
Axes panel - Scales and Tics tab
The number of tics on each axis (or tics per decade if the axis is logarithmic, decibels, or dB10) is controlled by
either entering a specific number or an increment.
Select Tics per axis to add a specific number of tics.
Select Tic Increment to add tics at specific intervals.
Enter a value in each text field or use the
buttons to change the current values incrementally.
If using the linear axis, use Grids per Tic (or grids per decade if the axis is logarithmic, decibels, or dB10) to
change the number of grid lines on the graph.
Click Apply to accept the settings.
Both fixed decimal format and scientific notation display numbers to the right of the decimal point. The accuracy
of each format can be adjusted by entering a value in the Precision text field.
Precision specifies the number of digits displayed to the right of the decimal point.
28

Altair Engineering
Convert Units
Using the Convert Axis Units dialog, you can convert the current unit of measure of a horizontal or vertical axis
to another unit of measure. To access this dialog, right click on any plot axis and select Convert Units from the
pop-up menu.
Convert Axis Units dialog
When you select Convert Units from the pop-up menu, the application automatically selects the current axis unit
of measure on the Convert Axis Unit dialog . For instance, if the horizontal axis unit of measure is meters,
Distance will be selected when the Convert Axis Unit dialog is displayed. If the application cannot detect the
current axis unit of measure, it automatically defaults to Time.
Altair Engineering

29
You can select units of measure from the following categories on the Convert Axis Units dialog:
Time
Moment
Distance
Force
Velocity
Pressure
Acceleration
From one of the drop-down menus on the Convert Axis Units dialog, select the new axis unit of measure to
which you want to convert the current axis unit of measure and click OK. The axis unit of measure is updated
accordingly.
To convert the current horizontal or vertical axis unit of measure in HyperGraph 2D:
1. Right-click on the horizontal or vertical axis in HyperGraph 2D.
The HyperGraph 2D Mouse Menu is displayed.
2. From the HyperGraph 2D Mouse Menu, select Convert Units.
The Convert Axis Units dialog is displayed.
The unit of measure category for the axis you selected is automatically selected on the Convert Axis Units
dialog. For instance, if you selected the horizontal axis and the unit of measure is meters, Distance will be
selected on the Convert Axis Unit dialog.
3. From one of the drop-down menus, select the new unit of measure to which you want to convert the chosen
axis.
4. Click OK.
The axis unit of measure is updated accordingly.
30

Altair Engineering
Legends Panel
Legends are automatically generated when a plot is built in the Build Plots panel, or in the Define Curves panel
for bar charts. They are displayed and positioned, and their attributes are specified in the Legends panel. Click
the Legends icon,
, to display the panel. Or,from the menu bar, select Annotations > Legends.
The Legends panel.
The curve legend displays the curve name and the line attributes that are assigned to the curve. The curve name
and line attributes can be modified using the Define Curves panel. The order of the curves listed in the legend
reflects the order of the curves as they appear in the curve list on the Define Curves panel. To change the order
of the curves in the legend, switch to the Define Curves panel and using the Cut/Copy/Paste commands, reorder the names of the curves in the list.
Apply to
You can modify legends in the Current Plot, Current Page, or All Pages.
Display
Click Show to display a legend and Hide to hide a legend.
Move
You can pick a legend with the mouse and drag it to any position on the plot or use the move
arrow buttons to position legends to the extreme right, left, top, or bottom of the plot.
Moves the legend to the far left side of the current plot.
Moves the legend to the far right side of the current plot.
Moves the legend to the bottom of the current plot.
Moves the legend to the top of the current plot.
Auto
When selected, HyperGraph 2D automatically moves the legend when it obscures the
curve display. HyperGraph 2D tries to move the legend to the following locations, in
the following order:
1. Upper left corner.
2. Upper right corner.
3. Lower left corner.
4. Lower right corner.
The automatic position state is saved in the session files and report templates,
allowing the legend to be automatically repositioned when the curve data changes.
Style
Border thickness and font style, size and type for the legend are specified in the Style
section.
Altair Engineering

31
None
Click None for a borderless legend or click on a line thickness to add a border.
Click the font button to select a font style and size for the selected legend.
Leaders
In the legend, a leader is displayed that reflects the line attributes of the curve.
Location
Left
Positions the leader to the left of the curve name within the legend.
Below
Positions the leader below the curve name within the legend.
HyperGraph 2D lets you customize the placement of the curve legend.

Inside
Plot
Places the legend inside the plot area.
Outside Places the legend outside the plot area.

Plot
Color Palette
Pick a color from the color palette to change the color of the legend leader and text.
Use
Preferences
Click to use the preferences set in the preferences.mvw file.
32

Altair Engineering
To display the legend in HyperGraph:

1. From the Legends panel, under Apply To, select Current Plot.
2. Under Display, click Show.
Altair Engineering

33
To change the position of a leader in a legend:

From the Legends panel, under Leaders, click Left or Below to position the leader.
34

Altair Engineering
To hide a legend in HyperGraph:

From the Legends panel, under Display, click Hide.
Altair Engineering

35
Headers and Footers Panel

Plot headers are titles displayed at the top of a HyperGraph 2D window. Plot footers are titles displayed at the
bottom of a HyperGraph 2D window. Plot headers and footers can be added to any HyperGraph 2D window.
Each HyperGraph 2D window can display a header and a footer. The Headers and Footers panel,
you to add headers and footers to your plots, specify font colors, and access the Fonts dialog.
, enables
The header tab on the Headers and Footers panel.
Plot headers and footers are accessed by clicking on the corresponding tab. Click the Show button to display
the header or footer in the window. Titles for plot headers and footers are entered in the text box. Press RETURN
to add new lines.
Different font attributes can be specified for each line of header or footer text. There are three user-definable
styles available: Line 1 is the style assigned to the top line, Line 2 is the style assigned to the middle line, and
Line 3 is the style assigned to the third line and all lines thereafter. Select a line and then click on the font
button,
, to activate the Font dialog box and change the font style, type, and size. Use the color palette to
specify the font color of the selected line.
On the Header tab of the Headers and Footers panel, the curve name is defined by a Templex expression
instead of a fixed string. The Templex expression is visible in editable fields only. In non-editable fields, the
evaluated expression is displayed. In most cases, the evaluated expression should match the text that was hardcoded in previous versions. Please see Dynamic Curve Names for more important information on this topic.
Note
See Import Templates for more information on import templates.
To add a two line title to a header:

1. Click on the Header tab.
2. Click on the Show button.
3. Type the first title in the text box.
4. Press Enter.
5. Type the second title in the text box.
6. Select Line 1.
7. Select
and change the font attributes for the primary title.
8. Select Line 2 and deselect line 1.

9. Select
36
and change the font attributes for the secondary title.

Altair Engineering
Notes Panel
Plots can be annotated using notes. Notes are text boxes placed in HyperGraph 2D windows for labeling points,
describing trends, and relating additional curve information. Click the Notes button,
panel.
, to display the Notes
Notes panel
Note List
The Note list displays the names of all the notes in the active window. Notes can be renamed, added, cut,
copied, and pasted using the note list controls at the bottom of the list.
To edit a note, it must be either selected from the list or picked from the window.
Notes can be hidden or displayed. To hide a note, select the note from the note list or pick the note from the
window and deactivate the check box next to the Note: field. To display a note, select the note and activate the
check box.
The Cut, Copy, Paste, and Add buttons are used to maintain the note list. Notes can be copied and pasted into
other windows. Notes can also be added and cut from the list.
Notes can be positioned anywhere in the window by clicking and dragging the note box to a new location. While
moving, the note is represented by an empty box. Release the mouse button to place the note at its new position.
Tabs
The Notes panel contains three tabs:
Text
Add text and Templex expressions to the note.
Attributes
Set the note border and text attributes.
Attach to
Select how a note is displayed in the window.
Altair Engineering

37
Notes Panel - Text Tab

Once a note has been added to the note list, text can be entered and formatted from the Text tab. Enter note text
in the note text box. Press ENTER to create new lines. There is no limit to the number of lines a note can
contain.
Expansion button
Font button
Click the expansion button,
, to enlarge the note text box.
Click the Font button,

, to display the Font Selector dialog. The Font Selector
dialog allows you to select font types, font styles, and font sizes for the note text.
Alignment
Text can be left aligned, right aligned, or centered in a note box by selecting the
corresponding radio buttons to the right of the text box. Text alignment is updated
automatically.
Apply
Click Apply to process any Templex statements contained in the note and display the
text in the note box or to update existing text.
Text Edit Context

Sensitive Menu
Right-click to display a text editing menu when the cursor is inside the text box. Once
the menu is activated, it remains open until you perform a procedure. You can perform
the following text editing procedures:
Undo
Discards the last change made to the contents of the text box.
Cut
Removes the highlighted text and places a copy of the text on the
clipboard.
Copy
Place a copy of the highlighted text on the clipboard.
Paste
Inserts text from the clipboard.
Delete
Deletes the highlighted text.
Select All
Highlights all items in the text box.
Right to left
reading order
Aligns the text to the right of the text box.
Templex Statements in Notes

Notes can contain Templex statements and math and string functions and operators. In fact, notes can be
complete Templex templates. Templex enables you to include text from an external file, call external functions,
assign variables, and perform math operations within a note.
Note
See Templex Reference for complete descriptions of the Templex statements and for more information on
writing Templex templates.
See Math Reference for more information on math and string functions and operators .
Below the note text box are six buttons that represent Templex variables that can be included in a note. For
example, if a note contains the variables {X}, {Y}, and {Slope}, the X and Y values, as well as the slope of the
curve at the attachment point, are displayed in the note. As the notes attachment point changes, the Templex
variables update automatically.
38

Altair Engineering
{X}
displays the X value of the attachment point.
{Y}
displays the Y value of the attachment point.
{T} or {Time}
displays the time value of the attachment point.
{Label}
displays the name of the curve containing the attachment point.
{Slope}
displays the slope (first derivative) of the curve at the attachment point.
{Curv}
displays the curvature (second derivative) of the curve at the attachment point.
Other Templex variables that can be included in a note are:

{x.note}
{y.note}
{t.note}
These can be applied if you are reading a curve from an external file, such as an ABF file or an
external reader. Within the external file, there can be a particular request to which a note is
assigned, or a note may be included to improve the understanding of the curve numbers, for
example. The note is preserved in and accessed from the x, y, or t data vector when reading
the curve from the external file.
{x.
filename}
{y.
filename}
{t.
filename}
Displays the filename from which the data vector was derived. If the data vector is a math
vector, no filename is displayed in the note.
{index}
Displays the index of the curve at the attachment point.
Vector data can be referenced in a note calculation using either of the following statements:
c#.vector
Where:
# is the number of a specific curve in the curve list of that plot.

vector (.x, .y, or .t) specifies either the X, Y, or Time vector for the
specified curve.
For example, c1.x refers to the X vector of the first curve in the list. c#.
vector can be used in notes attached to windows, views, and curves.
c@.vector
Where:
@ references the curve to which the note is attached.

vector (.x, .y, or .t) specifies either the X, Y, or Time vector for the
curve to which the note is attached.
For example, c@.x refers to the X vector of the curve to which the note is
attached. c@.vector can only be used in notes attached to curves.
Note
When using c#, # denotes the position of the curve as it appears in the curve list in the Define Curves
panel, it is not related to the curve label.
Altair Engineering

39
Notes Panel - Attributes Tab

The Attributes tab on the Notes panel allows you to set the note box and text attributes.
Notes panel - Attributes tab
Apply to
You can choose to apply the attributes you select to

the Selected Note, Current Window, Current Page,
or All Pages.
Border Styles
Select a note box border style from the four listed, or

click None to remove the border from the note box.
Color Palette
Pick a color from the color palette to change the color

of the note box border and the note text.
Auto position
Font Button
Use Preferences
Activate Auto position to automatically position notes

to avoid obscuring curves. The setting is saved to the
session file and report template.
Click the Font button,
, to display the Font Selector
dialog. The Font Selector dialog allows you to select
font types, font styles, and font sizes for the note text.
Click to use the preferences set in the
preferences.mvw file.
The Attach to tab allows you to specify how a note is displayed in the window. Notes can be anchored one of
four ways, which are described below. Once attached, notes can be positioned anywhere in the window. When
a curve is either cut or copied, notes attached to the curve are also cut or copied. Notes can also be attached to
curves using the Templex statements, attach_note_at and attach_note_to.
Notes panel - Attach to tab
40

Altair Engineering
Window
The note remains stationary when the plot is

repositioned in the window.
View
The note moves with the plot when the plot is

Curve
A leader connects the note to a specific point on the

curve and the note moves with the plot when the plot is
repositioned in the window. This is not available for bar
charts.
Coordinates

plot. This is not available for bar charts.
Altair Engineering

41
Notes Panel - Attach To Tab

The Attach to tab allows you to specify how a note is displayed in the window. Notes can be anchored one of
four ways, which are described below. Once attached, notes can be positioned anywhere in the window. When
a curve is either cut or copied, notes attached to the curve are also cut or copied. Notes can also be attached to
curves using the Templex statements, attach_note_at and attach_note_to.
Notes panel - Attach to tab
Window
The note remains stationary when the plot is

View
The note moves with the plot when the plot is

Curve

curve and the note moves with the plot when the plot is
repositioned in the window. This is not available for bar
charts.
Coordinates

plot. This is not available for bar charts.
42

Altair Engineering
To add a note:
1. From the toolbar, select the Notes panel.
2. Click Add under the Note list.
A note labeled "Note1" is appended to the list.
3. Select the new note from the list and enter a note name in the field above the list and press Enter.
The new note is now displayed in the list using the new name.
4. Enter note text in the text box.
5. Click Apply.
6. Select an alignment.
7. Select an attachment method.
The new note is now displayed in the window.
Altair Engineering

43
To remove a note from a window:

2. Select a note from the list or pick a note from the active window.
3. Click Cut from the note list controls.
The note is removed from the window and from the list.
44

Altair Engineering
To copy a note from one window to another:

2. Select a note from the list or pick the note from the active window.
3. Click Copy from the note list controls.
4. Select a new HyperGraph 2D or HyperGraph 3D window.
5. Click Paste from the note list controls.
The note is added to the new window.
Altair Engineering

45
To paste a cut note into another HyperGraph window:

3. Click Paste from the note list controls.
The note is now displayed in the new window.
46

Altair Engineering
To copy and paste text using the text box clipboard:

2. Highlight the text in the note text box.
3. Right-click and select Copy.
4. Place the cursor in another location in the text box.
5. Right-click and select Paste.
The copied text is displayed in the text box.
Altair Engineering

47
To change note attributes:

2. Click on the Attributes tab.
3. Select a note from the Note list or from the window.
4. Select a border thickness.
5. Select a color from the color palette.
6. Click on the Fonts button,
, and use the Fonts dialog to change the font attributes.
The new font settings are displayed in the sample area of the dialog.
7. Click OK.
48

Altair Engineering
To attach a note to a curve:

2. Create a new note by clicking Add under the Note list.
Or
3. Select a note from the list or pick one from the window.
4. Click on the Attach to tab.
5. Select Curve as the attachment.
6. Pick a point on a curve.
Or
7. Use the Find Point controls to position the note leader on a curve.
8. For complex plots only, select Attach to real or Attach to imaginary.
9. The note is displayed with a leader pointing to the curve.
10.Or, select Place note on curve point to display the note directly at the curve point.
Altair Engineering

49
To connect a note to a specific point on a plot:

2. Click the Attach to tab.
3. Select Coordinates as the attachment method.
4. Enter the x coordinate in the X coordinate text box.
5. Enter the y coordinate in the Y coordinate text box.
6. For complex plots only, select Attach to real or Attach to imaginary.
Or
Press shift and click on a curve to enter the x and y coordinates of the nearest point on the curve.
Press control and click on a curve point above the median to enter the x and y coordinates for the maximum
of the curve.
Press control and click on a curve point below the median to enter the x and y coordinates for the minimum
of the curve.
7. Click on Apply.
50

Altair Engineering
HyperGraph Menus
The following menus are available in HyperGraph 2D:
Curves
Annotations
Tools
Preferences
Vehicle Safety Tools
NVH Menu
HyperGraph 2D Context Sensitive Menu
Altair Engineering

51
Curves Menu
The Curves menu in HyperGraph 2D allows you to access panels to build plots, plot macros, define curves, and
set curve attributes, scales, axes, and offsets. The following options are available on the Curves menu.
52
Build Plots
Displays the Build Plots panel.
Plot Macros
Displays the Plot Macros panel.
Define Curves
Displays the Define Curves panel.
Define Tip to Tail
Displays the Tip to Tail panel.
Datum Lines
Displays the Datum Lines panel.
Modify Curves
Displays the Modify Curves panel.
Curve Attributes
Displays the Curve Attributes panel.
Coordinate Info
Displays the Coordinate Info panel.
Statistics
Displays the Statistics panel.
Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignment
Displays the Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignment

panel.

Altair Engineering
Annotations Menu
The Annotations menu in HyperGraph 2D allows you to add axes, headers, footers, legends, and notes to plots.
The following options are available:
Axes
Displays the Axes panel.
Headers/Footers
Displays the Headers/Footers panel.
Legends
Displays the Legends panel.
Notes
Displays the Notes panel.
Altair Engineering

53
Tools Menu
The Tools menu in HyperGraph 2D allows you to access panels to plot statistics and retrieve individual point data.
The following options are available on the Tools menu.
Replace Filenames
Display the Replace Filenames dialog.
Templex Functions
Display the Templex Functions panel.
Readers, Writers, and Functions
Display the Options dialog, which allows you to select Import Templates,
External Readers, External Functions, and Export Templates.
Apply Style
Allows you to select and apply features of the current plot to either every
plot on every page or every plot on the current page.
Templex Curve Names
Select Enable to display the curve name in the Templex format.

Select Disable to display the curve name in its evaluated form.
Free Body Diagrams
RAD2NOISE
From this menu, you can select the following options:

Shear Moment Plot
Displays the Shear Moment

Plot utility. This utility
automatically generates
Shear-Moment-Torque
(VMT) plots.
Potato Plot
Displays the Potato Plot

utility. This utility
automatically generates
Potato plots for subcase
screening.
Display Notes
Displays the Notes Display

dialog, which allows you to
turn on and off notes in the
current window, current
page, or on all pages.
The RAD2NOISE dialog in the utilities page allows you to create an input
file based on your inputs. This input file can be used to run the
RAD2NOISE solver in batch mode. The RAD2NOISE function supports
input file creation for the following solutions possible with the RAD2NOISE
solver:
Fourier Transformation
Model extraction from time domain or frequency domain input
Acoustic calculation from time domain or frequency domain input
Spectrum to Octave bands
Pressure to Spectra bands
Synchronize Animation
54
Allows you to specify time scales and offsets for the Time Scales button
on the Animation Controls panel.

Altair Engineering
Replace Filenames
The Replace Files dialog is used to overwrite one plot data file with another plot data file in HyperGraph 2D
windows. The new file and the file being replaced must share the same file structure.
Altair Engineering

55
To replace a plot data file:

1. From the Tools menu in HyperGraph 2D, select Replace Filenames.
The Replace File dialog is displayed.
2. Select the file to be replaced in the Files Used list.
3. Click on the open file button,
The file browser is displayed.

4. Select a file to replace the current file (the two files must have the same file structure).
5. Click OK.
To undo
Click Undo.
56

Altair Engineering
To replace multiple plot data files:

1. From the Tools menu in HyperGraph 2D, select Replace Filenames.
The Replace File dialog is displayed.
2. Select the file to be replaced in the Files Used list.
3. Click on the open file button,
The file browser is displayed.

4. Select a file to replace the current file (the two files must have the same file structure).
5. Click Open.
6. Click Apply.
7. Repeat steps 2-6 for each replacement.
8. Click Close.
To undo
Click Undo.
Altair Engineering

57
Templex Functions
The Templex Functions panel allows you to create and edit Templex functions. When a function is changed, the
revised version is used in each instance that the function is used.
58

Altair Engineering
To add a Templex function:

1. In the Templex Functions panel, click Add.
2. Enter a Templex function in the text box or open a file using the open file folder,
Altair Engineering

59
To edit an existing Templex function:

1. Select a Templex function from the Function list.
2. Edit the Templex function in the text box.
60

Altair Engineering
To change the name of a Templex function:

1. Select a Templex function from the Function list.
2. Change the name of the function in text window (the function name appears on the first line, after function).
3. Click Apply.
Altair Engineering

61
To add or delete a parameter in a Templex function:

1. Select a function from the Function list.
2. Type or delete the names of the parameters to be added or removed. Parameter names are located between
the first set of parentheses, after the function name. Use commas to separate parameters.
3. Click Apply.
62

Altair Engineering
Readers, Writers, and Functions

The Readers, Writers and Functions menu allows you to register import templates, external readers, external
functions, and export templates in the current session or add them to the current preferences.mvw file.
The following tabs are included:
Import Templates
Register import templates in the current session, append import templates to

the current .preferences.mvw file, or save registered import templates
to a new .preferences.mvw file.
External Readers
Register external readers in the current session, append external readers to

the current .preferences.mvw file, or save external readers to a new .
preferences.mvw file.
External Functions Register external functions in the current session, append external functions
to the current .preferences.mvw file, or save external functions to a
new .preferences.mvw file.
Export Templates
Register export templates in the current session, append export templates to

the current .preferences.mvw file, or save registered export templates
to a new .preferences.mvw file.
Each tab contains the following options:

Register
Adds the selected reader, writer, function, or template to the current list in
the Readers, Writers, and Functions dialog.
Save as
Saves selected readers, writers, and functions to a newpreferences.

mvw file.
Append
Once the selected reader, writer, function, or template is registered,

Append adds it to the preferences.mvw file in your working directory.
Note:
The default .preferences.mvw file is set using Set Preference File on the File menu.
Altair Engineering

63
External Readers
The following external readers are available in HyperGraph 2D. All readers read both binary and text files.
Abaqus ODB History Results
abstat_mat
dads_graph
hgadams
hgadams_xml
hgares
hgdacreader
hgdaisy
hgdyna_bndout
hgdyna_elout
hgdyna_glstat
hgdyna_jntforc
hgdyna_matsum
hgdyna_nodfor
hgdyna_nodout
hgdyna_rcforc
hgmrf
hgnastpch_freq
hgopt
hgopt_abaqus
hgopt_ansys
hgradioss
hgrpc3
hgthp
hmread
spline
64

Altair Engineering
Supported ABAQUS ODB History Results in HyperGraph

The Abaqus ODB reader in HyperView and HyperGraph 2D reads both field and history results from the Abaqus
ODB file. The history result names are post fixed with (Time History). Results without this post fix are field data.
Time history results have two components (or columns): Time and Value.
The Time component is the first column of the result. The value can be time steps, frequency, or mode number,
depending on the analysis types.
The Value component is the actual value for the result type.
Note Time data for different result types can be different. It is recommended to use both the Time and Value
from the same result type.
To plot the value against time for an Abaqus ODB result type:
Note
1. Select the Build Plots icon,
, from the tool bar.
2. Select the same result type and request for both the X and Y data.
3. Select Time as the X Component.
4. Select Value as the Y Component.
5. Click Apply.
Note Time data for different result types can be different. It is recommended to use both the Time and Value
Altair Engineering

65
Supported NASTRAN Solutions

Functionality
HyperView 9.0
HyperView
HyperGraph 2D
Reading NASTRAN DAT, PCH, and OP2 Files

Reads model file directly
DAT, OP2
N/A
Reads results file directly
OP2
PCH, OP2
Reads translated results
PCH (hmnast:
HMRES and H3D)
PCH (hmnast:
HMRES)
OP2 (hmnast02:
HMRES and H3D)
OP2 (hmnast02:
HMRES)
PCH translated:
101, 103, 105,
106, 107, 108,
109, 110, 111, 112
PCH translated: 101,

103, 105, 106, 107,
108, 109, 110, 111,
112
Supported SOLs
PCH direct: 108,

109, 110, 112
OP2 translated:
101, 103, 105,
106, 107, 108,
109, 110, 111, 112
OP2 translated: 101,

103, 105, 106, 107,
108, 109, 110, 111,
112
OP2 direct: 101,

103, 105, 107,
108, 109, 110,
111, 112
Same as HyperView.
2007
2007
Yes
Yes
NASTRAN centroidal results
Yes
Yes
NASTRAN corner results
Yes
Yes
NASTRAN version supported
NASTRAN Complex Results

Supports complex (operating modes)
results
NASTRAN Results Form for OP2

and PCH
66

Altair Engineering
Coordinate Systems
Transforms results to other system type Yes
in application
N/A
Transform any tensor to vector results
Yes
N/A
Supports 1D elements - Model
Yes
N/A
Supports 1D elements - Results
Yes
Yes5
Supports mass entities in model
No
N/A
NASTRAN Entities
In HyperGraph 2D, displacement, acceleration, force, and velocity are supported. Stress and strain are not
supported.
NASTRAN centroidal results in HyperView: With Average color option on, HyperView averages element values
to nodes to create a smooth contour plot. You can query elements for centroidal values, but not averaged values,
at nodes. With Average color option on or off, the contour plot reflects exactly what is in the results file.
NASTRAN corner results in HyperView: When using the Display contour data option to create a contour plot,
HyperView uses a simple average at nodes. The legend reflects corner results. You can query elements for
node values, but you cannot query calculated average values. When you are not using the Display corner data
option to create a contour plot, HyperView uses the element values in the results file.
Supports stress, strain, and force for CELAS, CROD, CBAR, and CBEAM.
5
Supports 1D elements (CBUSH, CELAS, CDAMP) forces in SOL 108/111.
Altair Engineering

67
dads_graph External Reader

Description
Converts a DADS binary result file to a .mrf, .abf, or .tab file.
.mrf files can be used with HyperView.
.abf files can be used with HyperGraph 2D.
.tab files can be used for visual editing and viewing.
Usage
To run from the command prompt:
dads_graph <source>.bin [<target>.mrf] [<target.abf>] [<target.tab>]
68

Altair Engineering
Dyna External Readers

Option
Description
Supports
ABSTAT
Airbag statistics.
BNDOUT
Boundary condition forces and energy.
DEFGEO
Deformed geometry file. The NASBDF file

(NASTRAN Bulk Data) is created whenever
the DEFGEO file is requested.
DEFORC
Discrete elements.
x, y, z force
ELOUT
Element data.
Beam
volume, pressure, internal energy, input

mass flow rate, output mass flow rate,
Reads airbag and blocked materials statistics mass, temperature, density.
from LS_DYNA files into HyperGraph 2D.
The data read in is sorted by time steps
specified in the input file.
x, y, z force
axial force resultant

s shear resultant
t shear resultant
s moment resultant
t moment resultant
torsional resultant
Stress Shell
xx, yy, zz stress
xy, yz, zx stress
plastic strain
Brick
xx, yy, zz stress
xy, yz, zx stress
effective stress
yield function
Strain Shell
xx, yy, zz strain
xy, yz, zx strain
lower surface strain
upper surface strain
Altair Engineering

69
GCEOUT
Geometric contact entities.
Translational Components
x force, y force, z force
Rotational Components
x moment, y moment, z moment
GLSTAT
Global data. Always obtained if SSSTAT file

is activated.
kinetic energy
internal energy
total energy
ratio
stonewall-energy
spring & damper energy
hourglass energy
damping energy
sliding interface energy
external work
x, y, z velocity
time step
element id controlling time step
JNTFORC
Joint force file.
x, y, z force
x, y, z moment
MATSUM
Material energies.
kinetic energy
internal energy
hourglass energy
x, y, z momentum
x, y, z rigid body velocity
total kinetic energy
total internal energy
total hourglass energy
NCFORC
Nodal interface forces.
x force, y force, z force
NODFOR
Nodal force groups.
x, y, z force
70

Altair Engineering
NODOUT
Nodal point data.
x, y, z displacement
x, y, z velocity
x, y, z acceleration
x, y, z rotation
x, y, z rotational velocity
x, y, z rotational acceleration
RBDOUT
Rigid body data.
x, y, z displacement
x, y, z velocity
x, y, z acceleration
RCFORC
Resultant interface forces.
x, y, z force
RWFORC
Wall forces.
normal
x, y, z force
SBTOUT
Seat belt output file.
SECFORC
Cross section forces.
x, y, z force
x, y, z moment
x, y, z center
area
resultant force
SLEOUT
Sliding interface energy.
slave energy
master energy
SPCFORC
SPC reaction forces.
x, y, z force
x, y, z moment
SSSTAT
Subsystem data.
SWFORC
Nodal constraint reaction forces (spotwelds

and rivets).
Altair Engineering
axial force
shear force

71
hgadams External Reader

Description
Reads an ADAMS .req file into HyperGraph 2D.
Converts an ADAMS .req file to an Altair .abf file.
Usage
hgadams <source>.req [<target>.abf]
Note
72
If you set the REQ_READER_ID environment variable to 1, the ADAMS reader will not include the
request ID in the HyperGraph 2D Request label. Be careful when using this, as older report templates
that rely on a label containing the ID may no longer work.

Altair Engineering
hgadams_xml External Reader

Description
Reads an ADAMS .xml result file into HyperGraph 2D.
Converts an ADAMS .xml result file to an .abf file.
Usage
hgadams_xml f <source>.xml [<target>.abf]
Altair Engineering

73
hgares External Reader

Description
Converts an ADAMS ASCII .res file containing flexbody modal
participation factors to a .mrf, .abf, or .tab file.
Usage
hgares <source>.res [<target>.mrf] [<target.abf>] [<target.tab>]
74

Altair Engineering
hgdacreader External Reader

Description
Reads .dac files into HyperGraph 2D.
Converts a .dac file to an .abf file.
Usage
hgdacreader <source>.dac [<target>.abf]
Altair Engineering

75

Description
Supports
Does Not Support
Reads PAM-CRASH and

PAM-CRASH2G DSY
files (results files
generated by the solver)
into HyperGraph 2D.
No ESI license is
required to use this
reader. Pamcrash2003
DSY files are also
supported.
NODES
Displacements
Velocities
Accelerations
Stamp options.
BEAMS and BARS

FAXI-Axial force
FSSH-Transverse S Shear force
FTSH-Transverse T shear force
MTOR-Torsion moment
MSN1-S moment at n1
MTN1-T moment at n1
MSN2-S moment at n2
MTN2-T moment at n2
SHELLS
MXX- Local bending moment
about x-axis
MYY- Local bending moment
about y-axis
MXY- Local twisting moment in xy
plane
EPMA- Maximum plastic strain
over thickness
EPMI- Minimum plastic strain over
thickness
NXX- Local membrane stress
resultant in x-direction
NYY- Local membrane stress
resultant in y-direction
NXY- Local in-plane shear
membrane stress resultant
THIC-Resultant shell thickness
SOLIDS
SXX-Stress in X-direction
SYY-Stress in Y-direction
SZZ-Stress in Z-direction
SXY-Shear stress in XY-direction
SYZ-Shear stress in YZ-direction
SZX-Shear stress in ZX-direction
EPLE-Equivalent plastic strain
TOOLS
THIC- Resultant shell thickness
76

Altair Engineering
Usage
To run from the command prompt to convert PAM-CRASH or PAM-CRASH2G DSY files into Altair Binary Files
(ABF files):
-hgdaisy dsyfile outfile.
To run in HyperGraph 2D:
By default this reader is registered. If it is not, please register it before reading DSY files. It is located in the
HWDIR\externalreaders\bin\$PLATFORM\plot directory. After registering the reader, you can read
DSY files directly into HyperGraph 2D.
Altair Engineering

77
hgmrf External Reader

Description
Reads an Altair .mrf file into HyperGraph 2D.
Converts an Altair .mrf file to an Altair .abf file.
Usage
hgmrf <source.mrf> [<target>.abf]
78

Altair Engineering
hgnastpch_freq External Reader

Description
Directly reads NASTRAN punch files SOL 108 and SOL 111.
HyperGraph 2D supports the following result types:
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Spc force
Element force (CELAS1, CELAS2) in SORT 2 format
PSD results are also supported.
Altair Engineering

79
hgopt External Reader

Description
Supports
A translator that reads .hgdata, OptiStruct,

The .hgdata or .hgres files are converted
HyperOpt files, and .hgres HyperStudy files that into .bin files that can be read by HyperGraph
have optimization history data into HyperGraph 2D 2D.
and HyperStudy.
The interation history is displayed for the
design variables, objectives and constraints,
and the response.
80

Altair Engineering
hgopt_abaqus External Reader

Description
Supports
An Abaqus translator that The .fil files are converted into .bin files, which can
be read into HyperGraph 2D.
reads .fil files into
HyperGraph 2D and
The response type is the load step. If a dynamic step
HyperStudy.
is present, it is shown as a separate response type with
mass as the only request.
The requests are element or nodal data.
For element data the components are the element result
vs. the element number. Gauss point stresses are
averaged and displayed as element data.
For nodal data, the components are the nodal result vs.
the node number.
Altair Engineering

81
hgopt_ansys External Reader

Description
Supports
An ANSYS translator that

reads .rst ANSYS files
that have structural or
couple field analysis into
HyperGraph 2D and
HyperStudy.
The .rst files are converted into .bin files that can be
read by HyperGraph 2D.
The response type is the load step.
The requests are element or nodal data.
For element data, the components are the element
result vs. the element number.
For nodal data, the components are the nodal result vs.
the node number.
82

Altair Engineering
hgradioss External Reader

Description
Supports
Does Not
Support
Reads Radioss T01 files Global Variables

(result files generated by
PARTS
the solver) into
HyperGraph 2D.
PROP
NSTRAND
MAT
NODE
BRIC
QUAD
SHEL, SH3N
BEAM
TRUSS
SPRING
ACCEL
SECTIO
CYL_JO
MONV
RWALL
RBODY
INTER
SUBS
Usage
hgradioss(.exe) f fileT01 outfile
By default, this reader is registered. If not, please register it before reading T01 files directly into HyperGraph
2D. It is located in the HWDIR\externalreaders\ directory.
Altair Engineering

83
hgrpc3 External Reader

Description
Reads .rsp files into HyperGraph 2D.
Converts an .rsp file to an .abf file.
Usage
hgrpc3reader.exe -f <source>.rsp [<target>.abf]
84

Altair Engineering
hgthp External Reader

Description
Supports
Does Not Support
Reads PAM-CRASH and The PAM-CRASH and PAMThe PAM-STAMP

PAM-CRASH2G THP files SAFE options.
option.
(time history files
Solid Elements
Only the first seven variables
into HyperGraph 2D.
of Table A in the PAMAlso reads ASCII files
CRASH Notes Manual, Plot
generated by exporting
Output 5, (output qualifiers
curves from PAMVIEW.
SXYZ and EPLE).
hgthp can be run from the
Shell and Membrane
command prompt to
Elements
convert THP files into
Only the first fourteen
Altair Binary Files (ABF
variables of Table A in the
files).
PAM-CRASH Notes Manual,
Plot Output 7, (output
Pamcrash2003 THP files
qualifiers MXYZ to STRA).
are also supported.
Beam and Bar Elements
No ESI license is required
Only the first fourteen
to use this reader.
variables of Table A in the
PAM-CRASH Notes Manual,
Plot Output 13, (output
qualifiers FAXI to RTN2).
Results for nodal time
histories, transmission
sections, airbags, airbag
chambers, airbag walls,
materials, contacts, and
rigid walls are also
supported.
A new data type, shell_user,
is added to display the
results for user-defined shell
materials.
Usage
hgthp thpfile outfile.
By default this reader is registered. If not, please register it before reading THP files. It is located in the
HWDIR\externalreaders\bin\$PLATFORM\plot directory. After the reader is registered you can read
THP files or PAMVIEW ASCII files directly into HyperGraph 2D.
Altair Engineering

85
hmread External Reader

This reader handles files with multiple steps as well as those with single steps. It converts .res files into .bin files
that are readable by HyperGraph 2D.
Option
Description
Supports
1. input_file
Reads .res files into
output_file HyperGraph 2D(including
those with multiple steps)
2. -version
that were created in
HyperMesh.
Files with single and multiple steps.

Converts .res files into .bin files that
are readable by HyperGraph 2D.
Usage
To run hmread at the command prompt:
hmread input_file output_file
hmread -version gives the version, build date, and build time.
86

Altair Engineering
spline External Reader

Description
Reads ADAMS spline data (usually in the form of an .adm file) into
HyperGraph 2D. This reader does not translate files.
Altair Engineering

87
External Writers
DAC files can be imported to and exported from HyperGraph 2D.
The hgdacwriter exports curve data to DAC files, one file per curve. If more than one curve is requested, the
name of the output file is modified by adding the unique request name to the filename. To export curve data to
DAC files, select Export Curves from the File menu. See Export Curves for more information on using this
feature.
88

Altair Engineering
HG Apply Style
The Apply Style option allows you to select and apply attributes of the current plot to either every plot on every
page or to every plot on the current page. From the HyperGraph 2D Tools menu, select HG Apply Style to
display the Style Sheets dialog. You can also access the dialog by right-clicking within HyperGraph 2D and
selecting HG Apply Style from the context sensitive menu.
Style Sheets dialog
From the Apply to drop-down menu, select Current page or All pages.
Current page Applies the attributes of the current plot to the other plots on the
current page.
All pages
Applies the attributes of the current plot to the plots on every

page.
The following attributes can be selected from the Style Sheets dialog. Place a check mark in the box to select the
attribute you want to apply. Upon opening the dialog, attributes that already have a check mark next to them are
selected by default. In the table below, the default attributes are italicized.
When applying curve styles, the attributes of the first curve in the active HyperGraph 2D window are applied to
the first curve in the selected window. Similarly, the attributes of the second curve in the active HyperGraph 2D
window are applied to the second curve in the selected window, and so on. However, if the selected window has
more curves than the active window, the extra curves are not modified.
Altair Engineering

89
Tab
Attribute
Plot
Background color
Notes
Frame color
Gridline color
Zero line color
Legend
Bar gap
Disabled if the current plot is not a bar

chart.
Bar stacking

chart.
Complex axes
Disabled if the current plot is not a

complex plot.
+/- 180 Phase

constraining
Disabled if the current plot is not a

complex plot.
Font
Border thickness
Leader position
Color
Location
Visibility
Header/
Footer
Primary font
Secondary font
Tertiary font
Color
Alignment
Visibility
90

Altair Engineering
Axes
Apply to: Primary

horizontal, Primary
vertical, All secondary
Attributes: Label, Label
font, Tic font, Color
Formatting: Axis scaling,
Min, Max, Tic method,
Increment, Number of
tics, Number of grids,
Numeric format,
Numeric precision,
Autofitting, Fit to range
Curves
Line style
Line thickness
Line color
Symbol
Symbol color
Symbol increment
Bar fill pattern
Notes

chart.
Font
Border thickness
Color
Alignment
Page title
Font
Visibility
The following buttons are located on the bottom of the dialog:

All
Selects all the options on the dialog.
None
Deselects all the options on the dialog.
Reverse
Reverses the selection for each option. For example, a

selected check box becomes unselected.
Default
Returns to the default selections.
Apply
Applies the selected options to the current page or all

pages (whichever you have selected).
Altair Engineering

91
OK
Applies the selected options to the current page or all

pages (whichever you have selected) and closes the
dialog.
Close
Closes the dialog.
92

Altair Engineering
To apply attributes from the current plot to each plot on the current page:
1. Select a plot.
2. From the Tools menu, select Apply Style.
The Style Sheets dialog is displayed.
3. Select Current Page.
4. From the Plot, Legend, Header/Footer, Axes, Curves, or Notes tab, select the attributes of the current plot
that you want to apply to the other plots on the current page.
5. Click Apply.
The attributes of the current plot are applied to the other plots on the page.
6. Click Close.
Altair Engineering

93
To apply attributes from the current plot to every plot on every page:
1. Select a plot.
2. From the Tools menu, select Apply Style.
The Style Sheets dialog is displayed.
3. Select All Pages.
4. From the Plot, Legend, Header/Footer, Axes, Curves, or Notes tab, select the attributes of the current plot
that you want to apply to every plot on every page.
5. Click Apply.
The attributes of the current plot are applied to every plot on every page.
6. Click Close.
94

Altair Engineering
Templex Curve Names

From the HyperGraph 2D Tools menu, you can select the Templex Curve Names option. This option's submenu
contains the following items:
Enable
Displays the curve name in the Templex format.
Disable
Displays the curve name in its evaluated form.
Altair Engineering

95
Free Body Diagrams

From the HyperGraph 2D Tools menu, you can select the Free Body Diagrams option. This option's submenu
contains the following items:
Shear Moment Plot
Displays the Shear Moment Plot utility. This utility

automatically generates Shear-Moment-Torque (VMT) plots.
Potato Plot
Displays the Potato Plot utility. This utility automatically

generates Potato plots for subcase screening.
Display Notes
Displays the Notes Display dialog, which allows you to turn on

and off notes in the current window, current page, or on all
pages.
96

Altair Engineering
Shear Moment Plot

From the Tools > Free Body Diagrams menu, you can select the Shear Moment Plot utility. This tool
automatically generates Shear-Moment-Torque (VMT) plots. It requires an *.fbd file from the Resultant Force
and Moment (RF&M) utility as its input file. You can select the sections and subcases from the *.fbd file to
include in the plot, as well as several other plot options described below.
Shear Moment Plot utility
.fbd file
Click the file browser button to select the path and name of the RF&M utility's FBD file
that contains the data to generate the plot.
Sections
The Sections selector displays all cross-sections available in the selected FBD file.
The Sections selector allows you to specify which cross-sections in the selected FBD
file to include in the plot. Multiple cross-sections can be selected using the standard
Ctrl/Shift functionality.
The following filter buttons allow for additional selection control.
Name filter. Search for a particular filename.
Select all. Select all sections or subcases listed.
Reverse selection. Exchanges the currently selected items for
the unselected items in the list.
Select none. Deselects all selected items.
Subcases
The Subcases selector lists all subcases available in the selected FBD file. The
Subcases selector allows you to specify which subcases in the selected FBD file to
include in the plot. Multiple cross-sections can be selected using the standard Ctrl/
Shift functionality.
The Subcases filter buttons allow for additional selection control (see above).
VMT Plots
From this tab, you can define the X and Y components for the plot. Options include:
X component
From this menu, select the X, Y, Z, or Mag coordinate values of the

summation node for each cross-section. Only one X component
may be selected.
Y component
From this menu, select the Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, or Mz coordinate
values. These values are defined in the results coordinate system
for each cross-section. Multiple Y components can be selected
using the standard Ctrl/Shift functionality.
Plot Titles
From this tab, you can define a title and subtitle for all generated plots.
Plot Options
From this tab, you can define several options for generating plots. They include:
Altair Engineering

97
Reverse sign
Allows you to reverse the sign (+/-) of the output at one or more
cross-sections. The top drop-down menu is populated with the list
of selected cross-sections. The bottom drop-down menu lists the
type of reverse to be performed. Options include:
Reverse selected section - Reverses the sign of the output at only
the selected section.
Reverse all but selected section - Reverses the sign of the output
at all sections but the selected one.
Reverse all - Reverses the output at all sections.
Reverse none - Does not reverse any data.
Envelop
Generates an envelope curve for each selected Y component that

contains either the Maximum value across all selected subcases or
the Minimum value across all selected subcases at each cross
section.
Layout
Allows you to choose the plot layout. Options include:

One plot per subcase - One plot is generated for each selected
subcase. All selected Y components are plotted for each subcase
on each corresponding plot.
If the Envelop options is enabled, one plot is generated for
Maximum and one plot is generated for Minimum (as appropriate).
One plot per Y component - One plot is generated for each
selected Y component. All subcases are plotted for each Y
component on the corresponding plot.
If the Envelop option is enabled, one plot contains all Y component
maximum curves and the second plot contains all Y component
minimum curves (as appropriate).
One curve per plot - One curve is placed on each plot. The
number of plots is equal to the number of Y components multiplied
by the number of selected subcases.
If the Envelop option is enabled, the number of plots is equal to the
number of selected Y components multiplied by one or two,
depending on if the Maximum and/or Minimum options are
selected.
98

Altair Engineering
Sample output for X vs Fy and Mx for four subcases. The Envelop results option is
unchecked. The Layout option is set to One plot per subcase.
Sample output for X vs Fy and Mz for four subcases. The Envelop results option is
enabled for both Maximum and Minimum. The Layout option is set to One curve per
plot.
Altair Engineering

99
Potato Plot
From the Tools > Free Body Diagrams menu, you can select the Potato Plot utility. This tool automatically
generates potato plots for subcase screening. It uses the *.fbd file from the Resultant Force and Moment
(RF&M) utility as its input file. You can select the sections and subcases from the *.fbd file to include in the
plot, as well as several other plot options described below.
Potato Plot utility
.fbd file
Click the file browser button to select the path and name of the RF&M utility's FBD file that
contains the data to generate the plot.
Sections
The Sections selector displays all cross-sections available in the selected FBD file. The
Sections selector allows you to specify which cross-sections in the selected FBD file to
include in the plot. Multiple cross-sections can be selected using the standard Ctrl/Shift
functionality.
The following filter buttons allow for additional selection control.
Name filter. Search for a particular filename.
Select all. Select all sections or subcases listed.
Reverse selection. Exchanges the currently selected items for the unselected
items in the list.
Select none. Deselects all selected items.
Subcases
The Subcases selector lists all subcases available in the selected FBD file. The Subcases
selector allows you to specify which subcases in the selected FBD file to include in the plot.
Multiple cross-sections can be selected using the standard Ctrl/Shift functionality.
The Subcases filter buttons allow for additional selection control (see above).
Potato Plots
From this tab, you can define the X and Y components for the plot. Options include:
X component and Y component - Each plot is defined by selecting one X and one Y
component and clicking Add plot. Available X and Y components include Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx,
My, Mz, Fr, and Mr. Any plots created are added to the table on the right.
Delete plot - To delete a plot, highlight one or more plots in the table and click Delete plot.
Note - If a plot with the same X and Y components already exist, a duplicate plot is not
added to the table.
Plot Titles
From this tab, you can define a title and subtitle for all generated plots.
Plot Options
From this tab, you can define several options for generating plots. They include:
100

Altair Engineering
Reverse
sign
Allows you to reverse the sign (+/-) of the output at one or more cross-sections.
The top drop-down menu is populated with the list of selected cross-sections.
The bottom drop-down menu lists the type of reverse to be performed. Options
include:
Reverse selected section - Reverses the sign of the output at only the selected
section.
Reverse all but selected section - Reverses the sign of the output at all sections
but the selected one.
Reverse all - Reverses the output at all sections.
Reverse none - Does not reverse any data.
Plot
points
Currently, all interior and boundary points are plotted. Future releases will
enable all options.
Label
points
Allows you choose how to label each point in the plot. Options include:
Label points (Name) - Labels each point with the name of the subcase from
which it's generated.
Label points (ID) - Labels each point with the ID of the subcase from which it's
generated.
Note - If both options are selected, the format defaults Name (ID).
Sample output for Fy vs Mz for four cross-sections. Both the Label points (Name) and
Label points (ID) options are selected.
Altair Engineering

101
Display Notes
From the Utilities menu, you can select the Display Notes option. This tool allows you to turn
on or off any notes for the selected plot. This is useful for turning on/off the labels generated
from the Pototo Plot utility.
You can apply your selection to the Current window, Current page, or All pages.
Notes Display dialog
102

Altair Engineering
Display Notes
From the Tools > Free Body Diagrams menu, you can select the Display Notes option. This tool allows you to
turn on or off any notes for the selected plot. This is useful for turning on/off the labels generated from the
Pototo Plot utility.
You can apply your selection to the Current window, Current page, or All pages.
Notes Display dialog
Altair Engineering

103
RAD2NOISE
The RAD2NOISE dialog allows you to create an input file based on your inputs. This input file can be used to run
the RAD2NOISE solver in batch mode. The RAD2NOISE function supports input file creation for the following
solutions possible with the RAD2NOISE solver:
The RAD2NOISE function supports input file creation for the following solutions possible with the RAD2NOISE
solver:
Fourier Transformation
Model extraction from time domain or frequency domain input
Acoustic calculation from time domain or frequency domain input
Spectrum to Octave bands
Pressure to Spectra bands
From the Tools menu, select RAD2NOISE to display the dialog.
See the RAD2NOISE topic in the HyperView Interfacing on-line help for more information.
104

Altair Engineering
Synchronize Animation
Synchronize Animation allows you to synchronize windows that contain animation results in different units and/
or begin at different time steps. This dialog is accessed from the Time Scales button on the Animation
Controls panel or from Synchronize Animation on the Utilities menu.
For more information, see Synchronize Animation in the HyperView on-line help.
Synchronize Window Animation dialog
Altair Engineering

105
HyperGraph Preferences Menu

From the Preferences menu in HyperGraph 2D, the following options are available:
Export Settings
Options
106

Altair Engineering
Export Settings
From the Preferences menu, the Export Settings option allows you to define the parameters for the following file
types:
AMF
AVI
H3D
JPEG
See the Export Settings topic in the HyperWorks Desktop User's Guide help for more information.
Altair Engineering

107
Options
The Options panel allows you to set default parameters for XY plots, bar charts, complex plots, and polar plots.
You can access the options panel from the HyperGraph 2D Preferences menu, or by selecting the Options icon
from the toolbar. The options available on the Options panel are dependent upon the currently selected plot
type. For more information, click on a link below:
Options Panel - XY plot
Options Panel - Bar Chart
Options Panel - Complex Plot
Options Panel - Polar Plot
108

Altair Engineering
NVH Menu
To use the HyperGraph 2D NVH utilities, you must first load the NVH preferences file.
1. From the menu bar, select File > Load > Preference File.
The Preferences dialog is displayed.
2. From the Preferences dialog, select NVH Utilities and click Load.
3. The NVH menu is displayed on the menu bar.
From the HyperGraph 2D NVH Menu, you can select the following options:
Modal/Panel Participation
Order Analysis
Altair Engineering

109
Modal/Panel Participation
Modal participation represents the complex contribution of a structure or fluid mode to a response. It can be
output from a modal frequency response analysis using the PFMODE output request card.
Panel contribution represents the complex contribution of all grids on a structural panel to a response. It can be
output from a modal frequency response analysis using the PFPANEL output request card.
In HyperGraph 2D, the NVH Modal/Panel Participation utility allows you to plot modal/panel participation curves
from a RADIOSS PFMODE.PCH file or a Nastran .f06 file. When you launch HyperGraph 2D, the NVH
preferences file is automatically loaded. However, you must activate the NVH Utilities preferences file before
you can use the utility.
1. From the File menu, select Load > Preference File.
Preferences dialog
The NVH menu is added to the toolbar.
110

Altair Engineering
3. From the NVH menu, select Modal/Panel Participation.
NVH Menu
An NVH-Utilities tab is added to the browser. This browser tab contains the following sub-tabs: Load, Display
and Study. It also contains icons for modal participation,
toggle between utilities.
, and order cut analysis,
. Select an icon to
NVH-Utilities browser - Load Tab
4. To close the NVH-Utilities tab, click on the X in the upper right corner of the dialog.
Altair Engineering

111
Modal/Panel Participation - Load Tab

From the NVH-Utilities tab > Load sub-tab, select a Radioss PFMODE.PCH or Nastran .f06 file that you want to
plot modal/panel participation data for.
NVH-Utilities Browser/Modal/Panel Participation - Load tab
File selection
From the Load tab, under File selection/Participation results,

select a pfmode.pch or .f06 file and click Load. Upon reading
the file, the Result selection fields are populated.
Result selection
The following fields are available under Result selection. Once the
result selection options are complete, select Load Response to
further investigate the participations.
Subcase
Select an analysis subcase.
Result type
Select a participation result type. Options

include:
Modal Participation to Acoustic Grid
Modal Participation to Panel
Modal Participation to Structure Grid
Panel Participation to Acoustic Grid
112
Response ID
Grid ID of the response for which Modal/

Panel participation results are available.
Select one from the list.
Response label
(optional)
Enter a label that describes the response,

for example "Drivers Ear".

Altair Engineering
Direction component
X, Y, or Z.
Result set (optional)
Options include:
Structural Mode
Acoustic Mode
Panels
:
Display Options
The Display Options dialog allows you to customize the response

plot, including scale, weighting, and the plot layout.
Load Response
Once the result selection options are complete, select Load

Response to display the file data.
Altair Engineering

113
Modal/Panel Participation - Display Tab

From the Display sub-tab, select one of the following methods to display the participation data. To activate this
tab, you must first load a file from the Load tab.
NVH-Utilities Browser/Modal/Panel Participation - Display tab
Bar
Allows you to plot modal/panel participations to an acoustic or structural response on a bar

chart.
Enter a specific frequency in the Specific Frequency field, or use the slider bar to select a
frequency value. When you use the slider bar to select a frequency, a red line is
displayed on the response plot and is dragged simultaneously as you drag the slider bar.
Show highest contributor Select the highest number of contributors to display.
Complex component
Projected - Plots scalar participation values after projection to

the response. The positive values are in-phase with the
response and the negative values are out-of-phase. Available
for Bar plots only.
Magnitude - Plots the magnitude of the complex participation
values. Available for Bar, Sand Dune and 3D Surface plots
only.
Magnitude-Phase - Plots the magnitude and phase of the
complex participation values. Available for Polar, 3D Polar,
and 2D Line plots only.
Abs of Projected - Plots the absolute value of the the complex
participations after projection to the response. Available for
2D Line, Sand Dune, and 3D Surface plots only.
Rank by
Abs of Projected - Contributors are ranked by the area

under the curve of the absolute values of their participations
projected to the response.
Magnitude - Contributors are ranked by the area under the
curve of the magnitude of their participations.
114

Altair Engineering
Abs of Projected RSS - Contributors are ranked by the root

sum of squares of their participations at selected frequencies
projected to the response.
Magnitude RSS - Contributors are ranked by the root sum of
squares of the magnitude of their participations at selected
frequencies.
A-Weighted RSS - Contributors are ranked by the root sum
of squares of the A-weighted complex component (abs of
projected or magnitude, depending on user selection) of their
participations at selected frequencies.
Polar
Display Options
The Display Options dialog allows you to customize the plot,

including scale, weighting, and the plot layout.
Display
Click Display to display the response plot.
Creates a 2D polar plot of the contributing modes/panels at a specific frequency.

Enter a specific frequency in the Specific frequency field, or use the slider bar to select a
frequency value. When you use the slider bar to select a frequency, a red line is
displayed on the response plot and is dragged simultaneously as you drag the slider bar.
All other options are similar to those for the Bar plot.
2D Line
Creates a plot of modal/panel participations to an acoustic or structural response on a 2D

line plot (overlay).
Frequency range indicates the available range, based on your PCH or F06 file.
Using the From and To fields, you can customize your own frequency band.
Sand Dune
Creates a plot of modal/panel participations to an acoustic or structural response on a

Sand Dune plot, in which each contributors value is stacked on top of the previous ones,
thus generating a distinct color band for easy identification.
3D Polar
Creates a plot of modal/panel participations to an acoustic or structural response on a 3D

polar plot.
Frequency range indicates the available range, based on your PFMODE.PCH or .f06 file.
3D Surface Plot
Creates a plot of modal/panel participations to a 3D Surface plot.

Altair Engineering

115
3D Bar Plot
Creates a plot of modal/panel participations to a 3D Bar plot.

116

Altair Engineering
Modal/Panel Participation - Study Tab

From the Study sub-tab, you can perform a Partial sum or Contributor overlay response study. To enable this
option, you must first plot the modal/panel participation curves.
NVH-Utilities Browser/Modal/Panel Participation - Study tab
Frequency range
Indicates the available range, based on your PFMODE.PCH or .f06 file.
Type
The type of response study.

Partial sum study - Select a number of contributors to exclude from the response, with
an optional percentage to exclude.
Contributor overlay - Select specific contributors to overlay with the response.
% to Exclude
Optional field that allows you to exclude a percentage of the contributors from the
response.
Select contributor(s) to: Select the mode/panel or modes/panels that you want to exclude or include in the
response study.
Click
Click
to select the entire list of contributors.

to deselect your current selections.
Click
exchange the currently selected contributors for the unselected contributors
in the list.
Altair Engineering

117
Display Options
Launches the Display Options dialog, which allows you to customize the response
study plot, including scale, weighting, and the plot layout.
Display
Click Display to display the response study plot once your selections are complete.
118

Altair Engineering
Display Options Dialog

The Display Options dialog allows you to customize the response plot using the following options:
Display Option
Do not show phase - Hides the phase values on the plot.

Show phase - Displays the phase values on the plot.
Scale
The following options are available under Scale:

Linear
Plots the linear values.
Logarithmic
Plots the values in logarithmic scale. With this scale, data

points are spread out more, which makes it easier to view.
% Plot
Plots the contribution of the selected modes as a percentage

of the total response. Percentage plot is a good option to
use when comparing contributors versus the total response.
dB10
10 logarithmic of the participation value over the reference

value.
dB20
20 logarithmic of the participation value over the reference

value. For acoustic responses, the reference pressure is
20E-12 MPa.
Weighting
A A-weighting used to define equal loudness sound

pressure levels.
B B-weighting used to define equal loudness sound
pressure levels.
C C-weighting used to define equal loudness sound
pressure levels.
U U-weighting used to define equal loudness sound
pressure levels.
Plot Layout
Allows you to select how the plot window is displayed.
Altair Engineering

119
New windows on current page Plot is placed into a new window on the current page.
120
Active window
Plot is placed into the active window.
New windows on new page
Plot is placed into a new window on a new page.

Altair Engineering
Order Analysis
Background, engine related noise, and vibration problems are typically linked to engine orders that are harmonic
multiples of the engines fundamental firing frequency. Understanding the order content of the problem signal is a
way to identify the physical phenomenon that is causing the problem. To solve the problem, you can adjust the
design parameters to modify the engine operation, which in turn reduces the problem orders.
The NVH Order Analysis Utility generates and post-processes engine order related data from a Radioss bulk or
Nastran frequency response analysis that contains either RPM-based loading subcases or order-based loading
subcases.
When you launch HyperGraph 2D, the NVH preferences file is automatically loaded. However, you must activate
the NVH Utilities preferences file before you can use the utility.
1. From the File menu, select Load > Preference File.
Preferences dialog
The NVH menu is added to the toolbar.

3. From the NVH menu, select Order Analysis.
NVH Menu
Altair Engineering

121
An NVH-Utilities tab is added to the browser. This browser tab contains the following sub-tabs: Load, Display
and Study. It also contains icons for modal participation,
toggle between utilities.
, and order cut analysis,
. Select an icon to
NVH-Utilities Browser/Order Analysis - Load tab/Subcase tab selected.
4. To close the NVH-Utilities tab, click on the X in the upper right corner of the dialog.
122

Altair Engineering
Order Analysis - Load Tab

From the NVH-Utilities tab, Load sub-tab, select a Radioss or Nastran result file to load. Once the file is read,
subcases from the result file are matched to RPMs, or orders. The NVH utility attempts to automatically match the
subcases and orders by using text information in the subcase label. If this fails, you must complete the Subcase
identification section, located on the Subcase tab. Once the match is complete, click the Apply button to
populate the Result selection fields, located on the Response tab.
NVH-Utilities Browser/Order Analysis Load tab - Subcase tab selected
NVH-Utilities Browser/Order Analysis - Load tab Response tab selected
File selection
From the Load tab > RPM/Order results field, select a frequency response file
containing RPM-based loading subcases or order-based loading subcases and click
Load. Once the file is read, subcases from the result file are matched to RPMs, or
orders, and can be reviewed in the Subcase identification section, located on the
Subcase tab. The NVH-Utility attempts to automatically match the subcases and
orders by using text information in the subcase label. If this fails, you must complete
the Subcase identification section and click Apply. Once the match is complete, the
Response tab is displayed and the Result selection fields are populated.
Result selection
The following fields are available on the Response tab, under Result selection.
Result type
This field is populated based on available result types

from the file loaded. Select a result type for order
analysis.
Response ID
Grid ID of the response for which order analysis results

are available. Select one from the list.
Altair Engineering

123
Response label (optional)
Enter a label that describes the response, for example,

"Left Engine Mount".
Direction component
(optional)
X, Y, Z, RX, RY, RZ, or XYZ Vector Sum.
Complex component
Magnitude
Phase
Range selection
Customize the RPM range and Frequency range fields as necessary.

Once your selections are complete, you can load the RPM-based response curves to
generate a 3D surface plot.
Order Cuts
Display Options
The Display Options dialog allows you to customize the

surface plot, including scale, weighting, and the plot
layout.
Plot Surface
Click to generate a 3D surface plot.
After viewing the surface plot, use the Start, End, and Step fields to specify the orders
you want to see by cutting the surface plot.
Combine Order By - Choose between RSS and Arithmetic Sum to determine how to
combine the order curves to construct the overall response.
124
Display Options
The Display Options dialog allows you to customize the

overall response plot, including scale, weighting, and the
plot layout.
Load Response
Once your selections are complete, click Load

Response to create the orders and order sum response
overlay plot.

Altair Engineering
Order Analysis - Display Tab

From the Display sub-tab, select one of the following methods to display and rank the orders: 2D Line, 3D
Surface, or Bar. To activate this tab, you must first load a file from the Load tab.
NVH-Utilities Browser/Order Analysis - Display tab
2D Line
Display
Select the type of curve to display.
RPM range
Select the RPM range that the order

curves should be plotted within.
No. of highest order
After defining the RPM range,

organize the display by selecting the
number of highest orders.
Rank by
Define the method that is used to

rank orders with one of the following
options:
Magnitude - Orders are ranked by
the magnitude of the order. Available
for Bar plot.
RSS Magnitude - Orders are ranked
by the root sum of squares of the
magnitude of the order at selected
frequencies. Available for 2D Line
and 3D Surface plots.
Display Options
The Display Options dialog allows

you to further customize the plot.
Display
Click Display to create and display

the plot.
Altair Engineering

125
3D Surface
Creates a 3D Surface plot of the response within an RPM range.

RPM range indicates the available range, based on your results
file.
Using the From and To fields, you can customize your own RPM
range.
All other options are similar to those for the 2D Line plot.
Creates a Bar plot of the response at a specific frequency or
RPM.
Bar
Enter a specific RPM in the Specific RPM field, or use the slider
bar to select an RPM value. When you use the slider bar to
select an RPM, a red line is displayed on the response plot and is
dragged simultaneously as you drag the slider bar.
All other options are similar to those for the 2D Line plot.
126

Altair Engineering
Order Analysis - Study Tab

From the Study sub-tab, you can perform a Partial sum or Order overlay response study. To enable this
option, you must first plot the order analysis curves.
NVH-Utilities Browser/Order Analysis - Study tab
Study
Select the type of study to display.
Curves over
Choose between RPM or Frequency.
RPM range
Indicates the available range, based on your results file.

Using the From and To fields, you can customize your own RPM
range.
Type
The type of response study.

Partial sum study - Select a number of orders to exclude from the
order sum response, with an optional percentage to exclude.
Order overlay - Select specific order curves to overlay with the
order sum response.
% to Exclude
Optional field that allows you to exclude a percentage of the orders

from the order sum response.
Altair Engineering

127
Select order to: Select the orders that you want to exclude or include in the
response study.
Click
to select the entire list of orders.
Click
to deselect your current selections.
Click
exchange the currently selected orders for the
unselected orders in the list.
Display Options Launches the Display Options dialog, which allows you to further
customize the plot.
Display
128
Click Display to display the response study plot once your

selections are complete.

Altair Engineering
Display Options Dialog

The Display Options dialog allows you to customize the response plot using the following options:
Display drop down menu
Not available for order analysis.
Scale
The following options are available under Scale:

Linear
Plots the linear values.
Logarithmic
Plots the values in logarithmic scale. With this

scale, data points are spread out more, which
makes it easier to view.
% Plot
Plots the contribution of the selected modes as

a percentage of the total response. Percentage
plot is a good option to use when comparing
contributors versus the total response.
dB10
10 logarithmic of the participation value over the

reference value.
dB20
20 logarithmic of the participation value over the

reference value. For acoustic responses, the
reference pressure is 20E-12 MPa.
Weighting
A A-weighting used to define equal loudness

sound pressure levels.
B B-weighting used to define equal loudness
C C-weighting used to define equal loudness
U U-weighting used to define equal loudness
Altair Engineering

129
Plot Layout
Allows you to select how the plot window is displayed.

New windows on current
page
Plot is placed into a new window on the current

page.
Active window
Plot is placed into the active window.
New windows on new page Plot is placed into a new window on a new
page.
130

Altair Engineering
Vehicle Safety Tools

The Vehicle Safety Tools (VST) is a collection of over 200 macros, Templex functions, and external functions for
use by a vehicle safety engineer. The toolkit contains many basic curve operations, current injury assessment
mechanisms, and several additional data transformation features. After opening the VST file, six new menus that
contain the macros and functions are displayed: Math, Filter, Units, Injury, Misc, and Transforms.
To load the vehicle safety tools, open the Vehicle Safety Tools preference file.
The VST macros and functions can also be accessed from the Macro list on the Plot Macros panel in addition to
the menu bar. The parameters associated with the selected macro or function are displayed in the Parameters
list. Before executing some macros and functions, you may need to enter additional parameter information.
When you execute a plot macro or function by clicking Apply, the macro or function uses the parameters to
create curves and notes within the session. Undo reverses the implementation of the plot macro. See Plot
Macros for more information on working with macros.
To load Vehicle Safety Tools preference file:
1. From the menu bar, select File > Load> Preference File.
2. From the Preferences dialog, select Vehicle Safety Tools and click Load.
3. The following Vehicle Safety Tools menu bar options are displayed:
Math
Filter
Units
Injury
Misc
Transforms
Altair Engineering

131
Vehicle Safety Tools - Math Menu

The vehicle safety tools' Math menu allows you to perform basic math operations on one, two, or three curves at
a time. The operations include curve addition and multiplication and resultants, for example. The start, end, or
sample frequency of the various curves is not an issue- VST automatically crops and samples the input curves as
needed. The curves must be using the same units, in most cases.
The Math menu contains three secondary menus: one curve, two curves, and three curves. Those secondary
menus contain the following plot macros:
One Curve
Absolute
Given c1, a curve is created which is the absolute value of y

vs. x.
Auto Correlation If you are comparing two curves, this function would show
where the curves match in phase, where c1 and c2 are the
same curve.
Auto correlation between two curves.
Output
x: lag
y: correlation (A value of 1 is a perfect correlation)
This can be read as: At a lag of time "x", c1 and c2 have a
correlation value of "y".
Derivative
Given c1, a curve is created that is the derivative of c1.
Double Integral
Given c1, a curve is created that is the double integral of c1.
Duration
Calculates the load versus duration for a given curve.
Duration Comp
Partitions the input curve into 101 bins, reporting only the
negative curve values.
Duration Tens
Partitions the input curve into 101 bins, reporting only on the
positive curve values.
Integral
Given c1, calculates the integral of the c1.
Normalize
Given c1, calculates a new curve, such that the peak value is
"1".
Resample or
Sample Points
Resamples the given input curve to the specified data

frequency.
Reverse Curve
Reverses a curve about the vertical axis, like a mirror.
Square
Calculates the square of the curve.
Window
Crops the curve to the given window size.
Window Integral
Given c1, calculates the integral of c1 over the range of the

window.
Zero
Sets the y value in a given range to the user-defined constant.
132

Altair Engineering
g>>mph
Integrates acceleration curve to obtain velocity.

Input: gs vs. seconds
Output: mph vs. seconds
g>>inch
Double integrates an acceleration curve (given in gs and

seconds) to a displacement (given in inches and seconds).
mph>>g
Given c1, a curve is created that is the derivative of velocity to

acceleration, while converting MPH to g's.
Two Curves
Add
Adds two curves.
Average
Averages two curves.
Cross
Correlation
Given c1 and c2, a curve is created which is the cross

correlation between the y vectors of c1 and c2.
Cross correlation between two curves.
Output
x: lag
This can be read as: At a lag of time "x", c1 and c2 have a
correlation value of "y".
Cross Plot
Given c1 and c2, this function plots c1.y as x and c2.y as

y of a new curve.
Divide
Divides two curves. If c2 has zero values, this will fail.
Divide with Zero
If c1 is divided by c2, and if c2 has any zero values, then

c1/c2 equals 0.
Multiply
Multiplies two curves.
Resultant
Given c1 and c2, calculates the square root of (c12 + c22).
Subtract
Subtracts two curves.
Three Curves
Add
Adds three curves.
Average
Averages three curves.
Multiply
Multiplies three curves.
Resultant
Given c1, c2, and c3, calculates the square root of (c12 +
c22+c32).
Altair Engineering

133
Vehicle Safety Tools - Filter Menu

The vehicle safety tools' Filter menu provides curve filtering functions, including Butterworth, FIR, and a new SAE
1995 that are not available to regular HyperGraph 2D users. Filtering requires the time unit of seconds. You
must convert your data to seconds before applying a filter.
The Filter menu contains the following plot macros:
Batch General
HyperGraph 2D filter. Low pass, ideal filter.
Batch Mirror
HyperGraph 2D filter. Mirrors data before filtering to smooth

start and end points of filtered curve.
NHTSA
Butterworth
Filters data forward and backward using a second order

Butterworth algorithm.
NHTSA FIR100
Performs 100 Hz finite impulse response filtering of a digitized

time series.
FreqDomainDiff
Differentiates the given curve (time based) in the frequency

domain.
IR
Impulse response filter function.
Resample
Resamples the given input curve to the specified data

frequency.
SAE General
Displays secondary menus SAE (J211, Mar1995) and SAE

(hg).
SAE (J211,
Mar1995)
Complies with March 1995 SAE-J211 guidelines for 60 and

180 CFC filtering.
No Padding
Does not add any additional time to the x axis. Filters the data
forward, backward, forward and backward, or backward and
forward.
Zero Padding
Pads data with constraints to improve filtered data appearance

at start and end points. Adds additional time to the x-axis at
the zero value for y. Filters the data forward, backward,
forward and backward, or backward and forward.
Mirror Padding
Mirrors data before filtering to improve filtered data

appearance at start and end points. Filters the data forward,
backward, forward and backward, or backward and forward.
ISO6487 Padding Mirrors data before filtering according to the ISO 6487
standard.
SAE (hg)
134
HyperGraph 2D generic SAE filters. Filters include SAE60,

SAE180, SAE600, SAE1000, SAE General, SAE Mirror.

Altair Engineering
Vehicle Safety Tools - Units Menu

The vehicle safety tools' Units menu allows you to convert to/from common unit sets. It is often necessary to
convert data when comparing disparate sources (for example test vs CAE). This menu provides a simple and fast
way to convert one or many data curves simultaneously. All conversion constants are displayed for you to review
before applying the conversion.
The Units menu contains the following secondary menus. From each menu, you can convert various units of
measure.
Menu
Macro
Function
Time
ms >> sec/min/hour
Converts milliseconds to:

seconds, minutes and hours.
sec >> ms/min/hour
Converts seconds to:

milliseconds, minutes, and
hours.
min >> ms/sec/hour
Converts minutes to:

milliseconds, seconds, and
hours.
hour >> ms/sec/min
Converts hours to:

milliseconds, seconds, and
minutes.
Distance English inch >> mm/cm/meter/ft/mile
ft >> mm/cm/meter/inch/mile
Converts feet to: millimeters,

centimeters, meters, inches,
and miles.
mile >> mm/cm/meter/inch/ft
Converts miles to: millimeters,

and feet.
Distance Metric mm >> cm/meter/inch/ft/mile
Velocity
Converts inches to:

millimeters, centimeters,
meters, feet, and miles.
Converts millimeters to:

feet, and miles.
cm >> mm/meter/inch/ft/mile
Converts centimeters to:

millimeters, meters, inches,
feet, and miles.
meter >> mm/cm/inch/ft/mile
Converts meters to:

millimeters, centimeters,
inches, feet, and miles.
ft/s >> mph, kmh, m/s
Converts feet per second to:

miles per hour, kilometers per
hour, or meters per second.
Altair Engineering

135
Acceleration
mph >> ft/s, kmh, m/s
Converts miles per hour to:

feet per second, kilometers
per hour, or meters per
second.
m/s >> ft/s, mph, kmh
Converts meters per second

to: feet per second, miles per
hour, or kilometers per hour.
kmh >> ft/s, mph, m/s
Converts kilometers per hour

to: feet per second, miles per
hour, or meters per second.
ft/s/s >> g
ft/s/s >> m/s/s
Converts feet per second per

second to g's.
Converts feet per second per
second to meters per second
per second.
g >> ft/s/s
g >> m/s/s
Converts g's to feet per

second per second.
Converts g's to meters per
second per second.
m/s/s >> g
m/s/s >> ft/s/s

per second to g's.
per second to feet per second
per second.
Energy/Moment N*m (Joule) >> inch*Ibf, ft*Ibf, Converts Joules to: inches
BTU
times pound force, feet times
pound force, or British
Thermal Units.
Force/Press
136
inch*Ibf >> N*m, ft*Ibf, BTU
Converts inches times pound

force to: Joules, feet times
Thermal Units.
ft*Ibf >> N*m, inch*Ibf, BTU
Converts feet times pound

force to: Joules, inches times
Thermal Units.
BTU >> N*m, inch*Ibf, ft*Ibf
Converts British Thermal Units

to: Joules, inches times pound
force, feet times pound force.
N/m/m (Pascal) >> psi, bar,

atm
Converts Newtons to pounds

per square inch, barometric
pressure, or atmospheric
pressure.

Altair Engineering
psi >> N/m/m, bar, atm
Converts pounds per square

inch to Newtons, barometric
pressure, or atmospheric
pressure.
bar >> psi, N/m/m, atm
Converts barometric pressure

to pounds per square inch,
Newtons, or atmoshperic
pressure.
atm >> psi, bar, N/m/m
Converts atmospheric
pressure to pounds per square
inch, barometric pressure, or
Newtons.
Altair Engineering

137
Vehicle Safety Tools - Injury Menu

The vehicle safety tools' Injury menu offers calculations for all known injury assessment tools. Each of the
assessments may be used to generate either a note or a curve at your discretion. The assessments clearly
indicate the required units for input data. If your data does not match the required input, you can use the Units
menu to convert the data or, optionally, supply conversion factors directly to the input.
Clip (Curve or Note)
The 3ms criterion commonly used to measure potential for

chest injury.
CTI (Curve or Note)
Combined Thoracic Index used to measure the injuries of

the thorax.
GSI (Curve or Note)
Gadd Severity Index used to measure potential for head

injury.
HIC (Curve or Note)
Head Injury Criterion used to measure potential for head

injury.
HICd (Curve or Note)
Modified Head Injury Criterion for use with the free-motion

head form.
MAXY (Curve or
Note)
Maximum value function.
MINY (Curve or
Note)
Minimum value function.
Nij -Note
Calculates the Neck Injury Criteria. Nij is comprised of four

components:
Nte - Curve
t = tension
c = compression
Ntf - Curve
t or c replace "i" in Nij

e = extension
Nce - Curve
f = flexion
e or f replace "j" in Nij
Ncf - Curve
These options are offered to allow you to view the

contributing components of Nij separately.
TTId (Curve or
Note)
Thoracic Trauma Index
Tibia
Measures the injury of the tibia.
T-05
Tibia calculation for 5th percentile female.
T-50
Tibia calculation for 50th percentile male.
T-95
Tibia calculation for 95th percentile male.
V*C (Curve or Note)
Viscous Injury Response
138

Altair Engineering
TTId Calculations and Reference Information

TTI (Thoracic Trauma Index) is the chest injury criterion used in FMVSS 214.
SID must sustain a TTId of 85g or less in the specified moving barrier impact and 90g in 2-door vehicles.
The TTI kernel equation used in the Vehicle Safety Tools is: TTId = 0.5(RIBy + SPINEy)
TTI in Cadavers
TTI has been extensively studied in cadaver tests. 127 whole-body tests have been performed:
84 tests sponsored by NHTSA (Eppinger et al (1984) and Morgan et al (1986))
17 tests run at Wayne State University under a CDC funding (Cavanaugh et al (1993))
26 tests run at the Medical College of Wisconsin and VRTC (Pintar et al (1997))
Equation for TTI in cadavers: TTI = 1.4 x AGE + 0.5(RIBy + SPINEy)(MASS/MASSstd)
Note
This equation is not used in the Vehicle Safety Tools.
TTI includes an age factor. The higher the age, the greater the risk of injury.
Probability of Injury Using TTI
TTI of 145-150 results in 25% probability of AIS 4 or greater based on these studies.
SID TTId vs. Cadaver TTI
For a 45-year-old, 165 pound subject, if the TTI kernel is 85g, the TTI is 148.
For a 65-year-old, 165 pound subject, if TTI kernel is 85g, the TTI is 176.
The 45-year-old cadaver subject has about a 25% chance of AIS 4 injury, and the 65-year-old subject has a
greater than 75% chance of an AIS 4 injury.
Average Spine Acceleration (ASA)
Cavanaugh et al (SAE #933127) formulated ASA. In a review of 61 cadaver tests, it worked as well as TTI in
predicting AIS 4+ injury. It is obtained by filtering and integrating the T12y acceleration to obtain lateral spine
velocity. ASA15 is the slope between 15% and 85% of peak spine velocity.
In cadavers, ASA is normalized by multiplying AGE/45 x Mass/75kg.
In the Cavanaugh study, an ASA of 30g gave a 25% probability of AIS 4+.
Both ASA and TTI are test-type specific, and were developed in whole-body side impacts.
ASA and TTI in SID (Cavanaugh et al, SAE #942225)
In the SID dummy, ASA has advantages over TTI in evaluating injury-mitigating properties of padding.
In 20-mph impacts, SID TTI is well below the 85g-tolerance limit for both soft and stiff padding. In contrast, ASA
greatly exceeds the 30g-tolerance limit with stiff padding.
Altair Engineering

139
Vehicle Safety Tools - Misc Menu

The vehicle safety tools' Misc menu provides some functions that are not commonly used. For example, you can
simulate a bar chart or histogram using this menu.
Offset by avgY
c1.y +/- avg(c1.y)
Offset by maxY
c1.y +/- max
Offset by minY
c1.y +/- min(y)
X = Constant
Creates a datum at the specified X location.
Y = Constant
Creates a datum at the specified Y location.
Bar Chart
Creates a bar chart representation of selected data.
Histogram (freq)
Creates a simplified histogram (plot) representation of

selected data, showing the frequency (or relative frequency)
that a given value appears in the vector.
Histogram (relf)
140

Altair Engineering
Vehicle Safety Tools - Transforms Menu

The vehicle safety tools' Transforms menu provides several functions to calculate running statistics, regressions,
FFTs, etc.
Histograms (abs)
Histograms (rel)
Creates a simplified histogram (plot) representation of

selected data, showing the relative frequency that a given
value appears in the vector, or its absolute value.
Fourier
Transforms
Rectangular
Rectangular window applied to data in the frequency

domain.
Hanning
Hanning windowing function.
Welch
Welch windowing function.
Hamming
Hamming windowing function.
Blackman
Blackman windowing function.
Parzen
Parzen windowing function.
Inverse
Matrix inversion function.
Running Stats
For all running stats:
Average
The statistical measures are made at the current point, using

all prior data points.
Median
For example,
Minimum
Maximum
Standard Deviation
Regression
For linear through 10th degree: Polynomial least squares

curve fit function.
Linear
Quadratic
Cubic
4th Degree
5th Degree
6th Degree
7th Degree
Altair Engineering

141
8th Degree
9th Degree
10th Degree
Powery = A*xB
Exponentialy =
A*exp(B*x)
Logarithmicx =
A+B*In(x)
Inversey = I/
(A+B*x)
Fit given data to

best fit.
, where A and B are calculated for
Exponential least-squares curve fit function.
Fit given data to

calculated for best fit.
Fit given data to

for best fit.
, where A and B are
, where A and B are calculated
Derivative
Curve derivative function.
Integral
The integral function.
Cross Correlation
Cross correlation between two curves.

Output
x: lag
For example, at a lag of, c1 and c2 have a correlation value
of "correlation."
Splines
Cubic spline interpolation function.
Sample Points
Resample or sample points. Resamples the given input

curve to the specified data frequency.
Digital Filter
Impulse response filter function.
142

Altair Engineering
Duration Macro
The duration macro is part of the Vehicle Safety Tools. It allows you to calculate the continuous duration for
one or more curves. To access the macro, go to the Math menu and select One Curve, Duration, Duration
Comp or Duration Tens. You can also select the macro from the Macro list on the Plot Macros panel.
Duration Comp stands for continuous duration compression and is listed that way on the Plot Macros panel.
Duration Tens stands for continuous duration tension.
The continuous duration compression macro partitions the input curve into 101 bins. The load (Y) values start
at the maximum Y of the given curve and step down uniformly to zero. The duration (X) values indicate the
longest continuous time that the input curve was at or above the given bin value. For example, high loads tend to
have a very short (nearly zero) duration while lower loads can last a very long time.
The continuous duration tension macro performs the same function as the duration compression macro, but
focuses only on the positive curve values.
Note
See SAE guideline J1727 for information on treating this function as a

type of injury criteria.
To use the continuous duration compression macro:

1. From the Math menu, select One Curve, Duration, Duration Comp.
Or
From the Plot Macros panel, select Continuous duration compression from the Macro list.
2. Select the curve(s) for which you would like to calculate the continuous duration.
3. Press Apply.
Altair Engineering

143
HyperGraph Context Sensitive Menus

Clicking the right mouse button in a plot window, curve, or browser displays a variety of options. The visibility of
context menu items is dependent on the current selection. For example, the Plot Window context menu items are
dependent upon the plot type currently selected (XY, Bar Chart, Complex, or Polar Plot). Only menu items
belonging to the type of selected items will appear.
Additional viewing controls can be assigned to the left-mouse button in HyperGraph 2D. The view control
assigned to the left mouse button is selected from a pop-up menu that is activated by right-clicking. Any one of
the view controls can be assigned to the left mouse button. The default setting is Circle Zoom. Right-click in
HyperGraph 2D to activate the pop-up menu.
Circle Zoom
Magnifies a selected section of your plot and is the default setting for MB2.
Pick Center
Repositions the plot in relation to the center of the window. When Pick Center
is assigned to MB2, a small white square appears in the center of the window.
Translate
Repositions a plot by dragging the mouse.
Plot Window Context Sensitive Menu

HG Apply Style
Displays the Style Sheets dialog. From this dialog, you can select and apply
attributes of the current plot to either every plot on every page or to every plot
on the current page. This option is also accessible from the Tools menu.
New
When you select New from the context sensitive menu, a secondary menu is
displayed that contains the following options:
Plots from File
Create multiple curves and plots from a data file.

Provides a file selection dialog, then loads the file in the
Build Plots panel.
Math Curve
Creates a new math curve in the Define Curves panel.
File Curve
Displays a file selection dialog, then creates a curve

associated with the file in the Define Curve panel
Note
Adds a new note to the plot and opens the Notes panel.
Datum Line Horizontal
Adds a horizontal datum line and displays the Datum

Lines panel.
Datum Line Vertical
Adds a horizontal datum line and displays the Datum

Lines panel.
Y Axis
Adds a new Y axis and displays the Axes panel. This is

only available for XY plots and bar charts.
X Axis
Adds a new X axis and displays the Axes panel. This is

only available for XY plots.
Switch to Real/
Imaginary
If the plot type is set to Complex Plot, this option allows

you to toggle between the real/imaginary and phase/
magnitude axes.
Switch to Phase/
Magnitude
144

Altair Engineering
Swap Complex
Axes Position
If the plot type is set to Complex Plot, this option allows

you to switch the position of the complex axes from top
to bottom.
Curve Context Sensitive Menu

View
Dependencies
Right-click on a curve and select View Dependencies to display the View

Dependencies dialog. This dialog allows you to review the source for the x
and y vectors of the current curve, as well as the source for any other vector
involved in their definition. You can modify the base file used for the curve, as
well as the Type, Request, or Component.
Highlight Source
Entity
If a HyperView window is open and on the same page as the HyperGraph 2D

window, and you select Highlight Source Entity from the context sensitive
curve menu, the node or element is selected on the HyperView animation file.
This also works with bodies in a DADS.bin file. For an ADAMS.req file, parts
are highlighted, but only 1 marker is highlighted at a time.
Filter, Math, and

Injury
If the Vehicle Safety Tools preference files is loaded, or a curve contains

vehicle safety information, the Filter, Math, and Injury menu items will appear.
Axis Menu
Convert Units
Besides the viewing controls, you can also access the Convert Units option
from the plot mouse menu. Right-click on any plot axis to display the menu
option. When you select Convert Units, the Convert Axis Units dialog is
displayed. You can use this dialog to convert the current axis unit of measure
to another unit of measure. The application automatically selects the current
axis unit of measure on the Convert Axis Units dialog. From one of the dropdown menus, select the new axis unit of measure to which you want to convert
the current axis unit of measure. If the application cannot detect the current
axis unit of measure, it automatically defaults to Time.
New Axis
Right-click on any plot axis and select New Axis from the mouse menu. A new
axis is added to the plot and the Axes panel is displayed.
Context Menus
You can customize the plot context sensitive menu by adding context menu items. These menu
items act as a shortcut to options that are also accessible from the menu bar. The menu items are
also linked to a particular Tcl/Tk script. See *ContextMenuItem() for more information.
Altair Engineering

145
To modify a curve from the View Dependencies dialog:

1. From HyperGraph 2D, right-click on a curve.
The HyperGraph 2D mouse menu is displayed.
2. From the HyperGraph 2D mouse menu, select View Dependencies.
The View Dependencies dialog is displayed.
The curves that you selected and all the curves that define it are listed in the left panel of the dialog.
The right panel of the dialog contains source information about each curve.
3. From the left panel, select the curve you want to modify.
4. From the right panel, select the modifications that you want to make to the curve.
5. Click Apply.
The selected curve is modified.
Note If a curve name listed in the left panel is too long, select Line wrap to wrap the name of the curve so that it
fits in the panel.
146

Altair Engineering
To assign a viewing control to MB2:

1. Move the pointer into the active window.
2. Click MB3 or right-click if you are using a two-button mouse.
3. Select the control to be assigned to MB2 or the left-mouse button.
When MB2 is clicked or dragged in the active window, it performs the function assigned to it.
Altair Engineering

147
To magnify part of a plot:

1. Using ctrl+MB2, drag the cursor around a portion of the plot to be magnified.
2. Release the mouse button to scale the selected area to fill the window.
The plot can be scaled to fit the window again by clicking CTRL + MB2 in HyperGraph 2D.
If using a two-button mouse:
1. Using the left mouse button, drag the cursor around a portion of the plot to be magnified.
2. Release the mouse button to scale the selected area to fill the window.
The plot can be scaled to fit the window again by clicking the left mouse button in HyperGraph 2D.
148

Altair Engineering
To translate a plot:
1. Position the pointer inside the window.
2. Press MB2 and drag the mouse.
The plot moves across the window in increments equal to the current tic spacing.
1. Position the pointer inside the window.
2. Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse.
The plot moves across the window in increments equal to the current tic spacing.
Altair Engineering

149
To reposition a plot:
Click MB2 anywhere in the active window.
The selected point is now displayed in the center of the window.
Click the left mouse button anywhere in the active window.
The selected point is now displayed in the center of the window.
150

Altair Engineering
Registering a Custom DLL to Export Curves

Through the preference file *RegisterExportDLL(), you can register a DLL for use in exporting curves.
When you use the *RegisterExportDLL() preference statement to register a DLL, the name of the DLL is
displayed in the list of formats found in the Export Curves dialog. It can then be used as a format to export
curves and curve information. From the File menu, select Export Curves to access this dialog.
See Defining and Registering a Custom DLL to Export Curves in the HyperWorks Desktop Reference Guide for
more information.
Altair Engineering

151
HyperGraph Questions
Activate or deactivate a datum line
Add a curve
Add a curve to a plot macro
Add a horizontal or vertical datum line to a plot
Add a note
Add a note to a plot macro
Add a parameter to the Parameters list
Add an axis to a plot
Apply an existing macro
Apply attributes to a datum line
Assign axes to multiple curves at once
Associate a datum line with a secondary axis
Attach a note to a curve
Build plots from plot data files
Change attributes of an axis
Change note attributes
Change the position of a leader in a legend
Connect a note to a specific point on a plot
Copy a curve from the active window
Copy a note from one window to another
Copy and paste a datum line
Copy and paste a macro
Copy and paste an axis to another window
Copy and paste an axis to a new position
Create a datum line label
Create a new macro
Cut a curve from the active window
Delete a curve edit
Delete a datum line
Display the legend in the plot window
Display point data by picking a point on a curve
Display point data in decibels
Display point data using the Find Point controls
152

Altair Engineering
Display point data using the point list

Edit a curve whose data source is a file
Edit an existing macro
Expand Y data lists
Freeze a curve
Freeze a vector
Insert a vector into the active expression
Modify the curve data
Move curves along the horizontal axis
Move curves along the vertical axis
Offset curves along the horizontal axis
Offset curves along the vertical axis
Paste a curve into another window
Paste a cut note into another plot window
Position a datum line
Reference a curve in the active window
Remove a note from a window
Rename a curve
Rename a curve edit
Rename an axis
Replace a plot data file
Replace multiple plot data files
Scale X vectors
Scale Y vectors
Select a contiguous range of Y data components
Select a contiguous range of Y data requests
Select a curve to edit
Select a non-contiguous range of curves
Select a non-contiguous range of Y data components
Select a non-contiguous range of Y data requests
Select a range of curves
Select a single curve
Select curves using the curve list buttons
Select Y data requests
Altair Engineering

153
Select Y data components

Set the range marker orientation
Specify the range within which to edit the curve data
Turn a curve on of off
Turn off an axis
Undo a curve edit
Unfreeze a vector
Use a file as a data source
Use math as a data source
Use values as a data source
154

Altair Engineering
XY Plot
The XY Plot toolbar is displayed when you select HyperGraph 2D from the application menu and the active
window is set to the XY Plot mode,
Select an application from the menu
Plot type options
The following panels are available for plotting XY data:

Build Plots
The Build Plots panel enables you to quickly

construct fully annotated plots from a data file.
Plot Macros
Macros can be applied to existing curves using

the Plot Macros panel.
Define Curves
Individual curves can be edited using the Define

Curves panel. The Define Curves panel also
provides access to the curve calculator.
Datum Lines
Horizontal and vertical datum lines can be added

to plots using the Datum Lines panel.
Modify Curves
Allows you to modify curve data pertaining to a

plot.
Curve Attributes
The appearance of each curve can be

customized for clear data presentation. Line
style and color, symbol style and color, and other
curve attributes can be modified on the Curve
Attributes panel.
Coordinate Info
Use the Coordinate Info panel to retrieve

individual point data such as point index, XY
coordinates, and estimated slope.
Altair Engineering

155
Statistics
Plot statistics such as minimum, maximum,

mean, and standard deviation are calculated
using the Statistics panel.
Scales, Offsets, and Curve offsets and scales are set using the
Axis Assignments
Offsets panel. Offset and scaling values can be
applied to multiple curves on a single plot.
156
Axes
Axis attributes such as the scale, label, color,

and number of tics are set with the Axes panel.
Legends
Legends are displayed, positioned, and their

attributes are selected in the Legends panel.
Headers and
Footers
Plot headers and footers can be specified on

the Headers and Footers panel.
Notes
Notes can be added to plots to annotate your

data. Curve annotations are maintained using
the Notes panel.
Options
Plotting options such as using even cycles when

fitting log axes and the default dynamic range are
set using the Options panel.

Altair Engineering
Build Plots Panel - XY Plot

The Build Plots panel constructs multiple curves and plots from a single data file. Curves can be overlaid in a
single window or each curve can be assigned to a new window. Individual curves are edited using the Define
Curves panel.
Build Plots panel.
In addition to the standard set of import templates, an open interface for creating custom import filters is provided.
Using import language and external readers, you can write import templates for most any ASCII data file not
directly supported in the program.
Note
See Import Templates for more information on creating import templates.
The file entry field on the Build Plots panel is a drop-down list. The list contains all the files selected since the
application was launched.
When creating a curve using the Build Plots panel, the curve name is defined by a Templex expression instead
of a fixed string as in previous versions of HyperGraph 2D. The Templex expression is visible in editable fields
only. In non-editable fields, the evaluated expression is displayed. In most cases, the evaluated expression
should match the text that was hard-coded in previous versions. Please see Dynamic Curve Names for more
important information on this topic.
Altair Engineering

157
Opening a Plot File

If you know the path and filename of the data file, you can type it directly into the field next to the file folder
button,
, and click Apply. The plotting file browser can also be used to locate and load a file. To access the
file browser, click the file folder button. Click the downward pointing arrow at the far right of the Data file field to
see a list of the most recently loaded files.
158

Altair Engineering
Supported Files in HyperGraph

HyperGraph 2D can read the following types of plot data files:
ADAMS
REQ and matrix files
ABAQUS
ODB
Mass from DAT files
DADS
Graph files
GENESIS
History files
HyperWorks
HyperForm DAT files

HyperMesh RES files
MotionSolve files
MotionView shock output files
OptiStruct files
RADIOSS files
Altair Engineering

159
LS-DYNA time history files
ABSTAT
BNDOUT
DBFSI
DEFGEO
Mass from D3HSP
ELOUT
GCEOUT
GLSTAT
JNTFORC
MATSUM
NODFOR
NODOUT
RBDOUT
RCFORC
RWFORC
SBTOUT
SECFORC
SLEOUT
SMDYN6
SPCFORC
SPHOUT
SWFORC
TRHIS
MADYMO time history files
TQ3
NASTRAN
Mass and frequencies from f06 file

Complex results from SOL 108 and 111
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
PSD (displacement, velocity, acceleration)
SPC force
Element force (CELAS, CDAMP, CBUSH)
160

Altair Engineering
PAMCRASH time history files WINGZ

DIF files
Test
Altair binary
Ride data files
RPC-3
Altair SDFS files
DIADEM DAT header files
HDF 4.0
ISO 13499 MME
UNV Block 58
Animation
Animation files are used to view and animate simulation results. Animation
files can only be opened in HyperView using the file browser button on the
toolbar.
The following animation files are supported in the HyperGraph 2D:
Altair H3D
LS-DYNA d3plot
Radioss A
PAM-CRASH
DSY
GFILE
Abaqus ODB history results
Ansys RES
Nastran OP2
NIKE3D
General
Excel (CSV)
Multicolumn ASCII
XYDATA files
User-defined import templates and external readers to directly read any file
format
Tab delimited files
Altair Engineering

161
Building Plots with Generic XY Data Files

XY data can be plotted using the Build Plots panel. All plot data files except MADYMO are divided into Type,
Request, and Component.
Build Plots panel
X Type
Data files can consist of different types of data. The available data types depend on the data
file. Use the
buttons to scroll through the types of data in the open file or click on the down
arrow to expand the list. Select the data type for the X vectors.
X Request
Once the data type has been selected, the data request set needs to be selected. To do this,
use the
buttons to scroll through the requests or click the down arrow to expand the list.
Or, click the X Request button to launch the X Request dialog. This dialog contains the same
selections as the drop-down menu.
X Component
To select the data component, use the

buttons to scroll through the data components or
click the down arrow to expand the list. Or, click the X Component button to launch
the X
Component dialog. This dialog contains the same selections as the drop-down menu.
Y Type
Select the data type for the Y vectors.
Y Request
Multiple requests can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual windows. The
available choices are displayed in a list. The list can be expanded by clicking the expansion
button,
. Select the request(s).
Y Request Filter
By default, all requests are shown. To search for a specific request, enter a string and press
enter. Only the requests that match the string are displayed. The search request feature is
case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text from the field and press enter.
Y Component
Multiple components can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual windows. For
some data files, each request contains different components. Only the components common
to all selected requests are displayed in the Y Components list. The list can be expanded by
clicking the expand button,
. Select the data component(s).
Y Component Filter
By default, all components are shown. To search for a specific component, enter a
string and press enter. Only the components that match
the string are displayed. The
search component feature is case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text from the field
and press enter.
162

Altair Engineering
To expand Y data lists:

1. Click the expansion button,
The data list is displayed.

2. Double-click an item to select it and close the list.
Or
Make a selection from the list.
3. Click OK.
Altair Engineering

163
To select Y data requests:

Click on a single request.
Or
Click All to select every request in the list.
Or
Click None to deselect every request in the list.
Or
Click Flip to exchange the currently selected requests for the unselected requests in the list.
Or

Or
3. Click OK.
164

Altair Engineering
To select a contiguous range of Y data requests:

Select a request from the list while dragging the pointer to include requests above or below the selected
request.
Or
Hold down the Shift key and select another request from the list.
The range of requests between the first and second selections is highlighted.
Altair Engineering

165
To select a non-contiguous range of Y data requests:

1. Hold down the Ctrl key.
2. Select requests in any order from the list.
The selected requests are highlighted in the list.
166

Altair Engineering
To select Y data components:

Click on a single component.
Or
Click All to select every component in the list.
Or
Click None to deselect every component in the list.
Or
Click Flip to exchange the currently selected components for the unselected components in the list.
Or

Or
3. Click OK.
Altair Engineering

167
To select a contiguous range of Y data components:

Select a component from the list while dragging the pointer to include components above or below the selected
component.
Or
Hold down the Shift key and select another component from the list.
The range of components between the first and second selections is highlighted.
168

Altair Engineering
To select a non-contiguous range of Y data components:

1. Hold down the Ctrl key.
2. Select components in any order from the list.
The selected components are highlighted in the list.
Altair Engineering

169
To build plots from plot data files:

1. From the Define Curves panel, click the file browser button to open a data file.
2. Select the data type for the X vectors.
3. Select the request for the X vectors.
4. Select the component for the X vectors.
5. Select the data type for the Y vectors.
6. Select the request(s) for the Y vectors.
7. Select the component(s) for the Y vectors.
8. Select a layout for the plots from the Page Window Layout option menu.
9. Select any one of the 16 page layout options.
10.Click Apply.
The plots are constructed and displayed in the specified layout on the page. If more than one page is
required, new pages are added to accommodate the new windows.
170

Altair Engineering
Building Plots with ADAMS Request Files

ADAMS request files and MADYMO plot files organize data elements in a similar manner, although they use
different labels for each element. The labels on the Build Plots panel change to reflect the type of data file
loaded. For ADAMS requests files, the data is divided into Type, Request, and Component.
Note
Better plotting performance can be obtained by translating request files into a binary format using mpreq.
See mpreq in the Translators on-line help.
X Type
A data file can consist of different types of data. For example, an ADAMS file
might contain time, displacements, velocities, accelerations, and forces. The
available data types depend on the data file. Use the
buttons to scroll through
the types of data in the open file or click on the down arrow to expand the list.
Select the data type for the X vectors. If time is chosen, the request and
component are blank.
X Request
Once the data type has been selected, the data request set needs to be selected.
Use the
buttons to scroll through the requests or click on the down arrow to
expand the list. Select a request.
X Component
ADAMS requests always contain eight components in the program:

X
RY
RY
RZ
Mag
Rmag
Use the
buttons to scroll through the data components or click on the down
arrow to expand the list. Select the data component.
Y Type
Y Request
Multiple requests can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual

windows. The available choices are displayed in a list. The list can be expanded
by clicking the expand button,
Y Request Filter
By default, all requests are shown. To search for a specific request, enter a string
and press enter. The requests that match the string are displayed. The search
request feature is case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text from the field
and press enter.
Y Component
Multiple components can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual

windows. The available choices are displayed in a list. The list can be expanded
by clicking the expand button,
Y Component Filter
Note
. Select the component(s).
By default, all components are shown. To search for a specific component, enter a
string and press enter. Only the components that match the string are displayed.
The search component feature is case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text
from the field and press enter.
If multiple requests and components are selected, all possible combinations are plotted.
Altair Engineering

171
Building Plots with MADYMO Time History Files

MADYMO plot files organize data elements in a similar manner, although they use different labels for each
element. The labels on the Build Plots panel change to reflect the type of data file loaded. For MADYMO time
history files, the data is divided into Type, Component, and Channel.
Note
Better plotting performance can be obtained by translating time history files into a binary format using
mpmadymo. See mpmadymo in Translators.
X Type
A data file can consist of different types of data. The available data types depend on the data
file. Use the
buttons to scroll through the types of data in the open file or click on the down
arrow to expand the list. Select the data type for the X vectors. If time is chosen, the
component and channel are blank.
X Component
Once the data type has been selected, the data component set needs to be selected. Click
the
buttons to scroll through the components or click the down arrow to expand the list.
Select a component.
X Channel
MADYMO components typically contain multiple channels. Click the

buttons to scroll
through the data channels or click the down arrow to expand the list. Select the channel.
Y Type
Y Component
Multiple components can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual windows. The
available choices are displayed in a list. The list can be expanded by clicking the expand
button,
. Select the data components for the Y vectors from the list. Enter a string in the
text box to filter items in the list for faster selection.
Y Channel
MADYMO components typically contain multiple channels. Click the

buttons to scroll
through the data channels or click the down arrow to expand the list. Enter a string in the text
box to filter items in the list for faster selection. Select the Y channel(s).
To build plots from MADYMO data files:

1. Open a data file.
2. Select the data type for the X vectors.
3. Select the component for the X vectors.
4. Select the channel for the X vectors.
5. Select the data type for the Y vectors.
6. Select the component(s) for the Y vectors.
7. Select the channel(s) for the Y vectors.
8. Select a layout for the plots from the Layout option menu.
9. Select any one of the 16 page layout options.
10.Click Apply.
The plots are constructed and displayed in the specified layout on the page. If more than one page is required,
new pages are added to accommodate the new windows.
172

Altair Engineering
Multiple Curves
The Build Plots panel can generate multiple curves at once. The Layout option menu enables you to specify
how the plotted data is arranged on the page:
Use Current Plot
Every curve is overlaid in the active window.

When one of the following options is selected, the page layout
icon,
box.
, becomes available next to the Show Legends check
One Plot Per Request Each selected request is plotted in a new plot with the
corresponding components overlaid.
For example, if two Y requests and four Y components are
selected, two plots are created with four curves in each plot.
One Plot Per
Component
Each selected ADAMS component is plotted in a new plot with

the corresponding requests overlaid.
For example, if two Y requests and four Y components are
selected, four plots are created with two curves in each plot.
One Plot Per

Component
(MADYMO only)
Each selected MADYMO component is plotted in a new plot

with the corresponding channels overlaid.
For example, if two Y components and four Y channels are
selected, two plots are created with four curves in each plot.
One Plot Per Channel Each selected MADYMO channel is plotted in a new plot with
(MADYMO only)
the corresponding components overlaid.
For example, if two Y components and four Y channels are
selected, four plots are created with two curves in each plot.
One Curve Per Plot
Each curve is plotted in a new plot.

For all plotting options, a new page is created. The layout of
the new page can be selected from the page layout button on
the Build Plots panel. When the plots are built, each window
on the new page is filled. If more windows are required,
another page of the same layout is created.
Click Apply to construct all the curves at once.
Apply
The program automatically generates axis labels, plot titles, and

page names. They can be edited using the Axes and Title
panels and the Page List dialog.
Plots can contain up to six horizontal and six vertical axes. All
curves created using the Build Plots panel are automatically
assigned to the primary horizontal and vertical axes.
Note
See Import Templates for more information on setting up headers and axis labels inside of import
templates.
See Define Curves and Axes for more information on adding axes and assigning vectors to axes.
Altair Engineering

173
Dynamic Curve Names

When creating a curve using the Build Plots panel, the curve name is defined by a Templex expression instead
of a fixed string as in HyperGraph 9.0 and earlier. The Templex expression is visible in editable fields only. In
non-editable fields, the evaluated expression is displayed. In most cases, the evaluated expression should match
the text that was hard-coded in previous versions.
This feature is useful when you change the Y Request type on the Build Plots panel. If you change the request
type and click Apply, the curve name and label displayed in the window dynamically changes to reflect this
change.
For example, in the image below, the Curve field contains the Templex expression which you could edit, if
necessary. However, in the Curve list, the name of the curve is displayed because the Curve List items are not
editable.
This is also true for the y-axis label. The y-axis label displays the axis name. However, on the Axes panel, the
Label field on the Text tab displays the Templex expression.
The HyperGraph 2D panels that support this feature include:

Build Plots
Define Curves
Axes panel
Headers and Footers panel - Header tab
174

Altair Engineering
Plot Macros Panel - XY Plot

The Plot Macros panel allows you to create macros that produce curves and notes for plots. A plot macro can
include either a curve or note, or both a note and a curve.
Plot Macros panel
Plot macros can be used to capture and replay frequently used curve operations such as adding two curves
together, filtering curves, or filtering and then curve fitting data. They can also be used for frequently used plot
notes. Plot macros can be created and edited in the program or loaded automatically by registering them in a
preference file.
All plot macros in the current session are listed in the Macro list. Macros can be cut, copied, and pasted using
the macro list. The parameters associated with the selected macro are displayed in the Parameters list.
Parameters can be either curve or scalar. Curve parameters are displayed as collectors. Click on a collector to
graphically select a curve from a plot. Double-click on a collector to display the Select Curve dialog. Scalar
parameters are displayed as text boxes. Parameters are usually used to collect curves from within the session to
use in mathematical expressions. The result calculation can utilize any math functions, including Templex
functions and external functions.
The Edit Plot Macro dialog allows you to add new plot macros to a session and edit the curves and notes for
existing plot macros. This dialog is displayed when you select Add or Edit from the Plot Macros panel.
Altair Engineering

175
The Edit Plot Macro dialog options include:

Parameters
Add parameters for plots and notes.
Curve
Add or edit a plot macro curve.
Note
Add or edit a plot macro note. Notes can be attached to windows, views, existing
curves, coordinates, and curves created by the macro.
When you click Apply to apply a plot macro, the plot macro uses the parameters to create curves and notes
within the session. Undo reverses the plot macro.
From the Curve tab, you can control the placement of the resulting curves with the following options:
Place new curves in original plots
Inserts the resultant curve(s) in original plots. The

created curves are associated to the original curve's
axis.
Hide input curves
Original curve(s) are hidden but not deleted.

From the Edit Plot Macro dialog, select the option
Hide input curves by default to set the default state of
the Hide input curves check box when you select a
macro from the Macro list.
Create new pages
Places resultant curve(s) on a new page. When

creating curves from the Plot Macros panel, the
created curves are associated to the same axis as the
selected curves.
Use current plot
Places all resultant curve(s) in current plot.
When plot macros are added using the Plot Macros panel, they are saved in the session file. When plot macros
are added in the preference file, they cannot be edited in the Plot Macros panel and are not saved to the session
file.
176

Altair Engineering
To add a parameter to the Parameters list:

1. From the Plot Macros panel, click Add.
The Edit Plot Macros dialog is displayed.
2. Click the Parameters tab.
3. Click Add.
4. Enter a name in the Parameter text box.
5. Press enter or click in another box.
The new parameter name is displayed in the list.
6. Enter a variable name in the Varname text box.
7. Select Scalar or Curve from the combo box.
8. Click Close.
The new parameter is listed in the Parameters list on the Plot Macros panel.
Note
Select the option Hide input curves by default to set the default state of the Hide input curves check
box on the Plot Macros panel when you select a macro from the Macro list.
Altair Engineering

177
To add a curve to a plot macro:

The Edit Plot Macros dialog is displayed.
2. Click the Curve tab.
3. Activate the Create curve check box.
4. Enter a label for the curve in the Label text box.
5. Enter X and Y coordinates.
If you are plotting complex data, specify the Y expression in Real/Imaginary or Phase/Magnitude.
6. Click Close.
178

Altair Engineering
To add a note to a plot macro:

1. From the Plot Macros panel, select a macro from the macro list.
2. Click Edit.
3. Select the Note tab.
4. Activate the Create note check box.
5. Enter text in the text box.
6. Select Window, View, Existing curve, Coordinate, or Curve created by this macro from the Attach To
combo box.
7. Enter the data pertaining to the following:
Existing curve
Curve and Point to which the note is attached.
Coordinate
X and Y coordinates to which the note is

attached.
Curve created by this

macro
Point to which the note is attached.
8. Enter X and Y coordinates to position the note center.

If you are plotting complex data, select Real/Imaginary or Phase/Magnitude for the Y coordinate.
You can use the functions from the Functions list.
9. Click Close.
Altair Engineering

179
To copy and paste a macro:

1. From the Plot Macros panel, select a macro from the macro list.
2. Click Copy.
3. Move to the page that you want to paste the macro to.
4. Click Paste.
A copy of the macro with a similar name is added to the current macro list.
180

Altair Engineering
To create a new macro:

The Edit Plot Macro dialog is displayed.
3. Click Add.
4. Enter a parameter name in the Parameter text box.
5. Enter a variable name for the parameter in the Varname text box.
6. For Type, select Curve or Scalar.
7. Click on the Curve tab.
8. Double-click on a parameter in the Parameters list.
The variable name for the parameter is displayed in the Label text box.
9. For complex macros, activate the format for the data returned from the Y math expression by clicking on the
Real/Imaginary or Phase/Magnitude radio buttons.
10.Enter math expressions for the X and Y coordinates.
11.For parameters of type "curve", curve vectors can be referenced in the math expression. When referencing
vectors from linear curves, use parameter_name.x and parameter_name.y for x and y vectors, respectively.
12.When referencing vectors from complex curves, use the following naming conventions:
Vector Type
Naming Convention
parameter_name.x
parameter_name.y
Y phase
parameter_name.yp
Y magnitude
parameter_name.ym
Y real
parameter_name.yr
Y imaginary
parameter_name.yi
13.Click Close.
14.Enter the macro name in the Macro text box.
15.If desired, rename the macro by highlighting the name from the list, entering a new name in the Macro field,
and pressing enter.
Altair Engineering

181
To edit an existing macro:

1. From the Plot Macros panel, select a macro from the list.
2. Click Edit.
The Edit Plot Macro dialog is displayed.
4. Add parameter names or edit existing names in the Parameters text box.
5. Select parameter types from the Type combo box.
6. Add or edit parameter variable names in the Varname text box.
7. Click the Curve tab.
8. Select a parameter.
9. Edit X and Y coordinates.
10.Click Close.
11.Edit the macro name in the Macro text box.
12.If desired, rename the macro by highlighting the name from the list, entering a new name in the Macro field,
and pressing enter.
182

Altair Engineering
To apply an existing macro:

1. From the Plot Macros panel, select a macro from the list.
2. Type in scalar parameter values or select curves using the collectors.
3. Select a curve by pressing Shift and picking a curve from the screen or select a curve from the tree.
4. Select a method for placing the new curves from the Layout section.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click Undo to remove the macro.
Altair Engineering

183
Define Curves Panel - XY Plot

Existing curves can be edited individually and new curves can be added to the current plot using the Define
Curves panel. The Define Curves panel also provides access to the program's curve calculator. Click the
Define Curves button on the plotting toolbar to display the Define Curves panel.
Define Curves panel
If *AutoDefaultCurves() is turned on in the preference file and a curve is added to a plot with existing
curves, the new curve is a copy of the most recently added existing curve. If *AutoDefaultCurves() is
turned off, the new curve is empty.
On the Define Curves panel, the curve name is defined by a Templex expression instead of a fixed string as in
HyperGraph 9.0 and earlier. The Templex expression is visible in editable fields only. In non-editable fields, the
evaluated expression is displayed. In most cases, the evaluated expression should match the text that was hardcoded in previous versions. Please see Dynamic Curve Names for more important information on this topic.
184

Altair Engineering
Curve List
The curve list displays the names of all the curves in the active window. Curves can be renamed, added, cut,
copied, and pasted using the curve list controls.
Individual curves can be turned on or off. To turn a curve off, select the curve from the list or pick the curve from
the window and deactivate the check box next to the curve name above the curve list. To turn a curve on that was
turned off, activate the check box.
The Cut, Copy, Paste, and Add buttons are used to maintain the curve list for the active window. Curves can be
copied and pasted into other windows. Curves can also be added and deleted from the list.
Altair Engineering

185
To rename a curve:
1. From the Define Curves panel., select a curve from the Curve list or pick a curve from the window.
The name of the curve is displayed in the text box above the list.
2. Highlight the name of the curve in the text box.
3. Type a new name for the curve.
4. Press Enter.
The new name is displayed in the list and in the legend.
186

Altair Engineering
To add a curve:
1. From the Define Curves panel, click Add under the Curve list.
For Complex Plot and Polar Plot, click Add P/M to add a Phase/Magnitude curve or Add R/I to add a Real/
Imaginary Curve.
A curve labeled "Curve 1" is appended to the list.
2. Enter a name for the untitled curve in the text field above the list.
3. Click Enter.
The new name is now displayed in the list and in the legend.
This process adds a new blank curve to the active window.
Altair Engineering

187
To cut a curve from the active window:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select a curve from the Curve list or pick a curve from the active window.
2. Click Cut from the curve list controls.
The selected curve is removed from the list and is no longer displayed in the active window. The cut curve
can be pasted in any HyperGraph 2D or HyperGraph 3D window.
188

Altair Engineering
To copy a curve from the active window:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select a curve from the Curve list or pick a curve from the active window.
2. Click Copy from the curve list controls.
The selected curve is copied to the clipboard leaving the original behind. The copied curve can be pasted in
any window.
Altair Engineering

189
To paste a curve into another window:

1. From the Define Curves panel, cut or copy a curve from the active window.
3. Click Paste from the Curve list controls.
The curve is added to the active windows curve list and is displayed in the active window.
190

Altair Engineering
To turn a curve on or off:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select a curve from the Curve list.
Or
Pick a curve from the window.
3. Select or deselect the Curve check box to turn the curve on or off.
The curve is either displayed in the window or hidden from view.
Altair Engineering

191
Data Sources
Curves are comprised of an X data vector and a Y data vector. The X and Y vectors can be read from a data file,
defined as mathematical expressions, or entered as values. The X and Y vectors of a curve do not have to come
from the same source. For instance, the data source for the X vector of a curve can be an ASCII file and the
source for the Y vector of the same curve can be defined by an expression such as sqrt(x).
File as a data source.
Math as a data source.
Values as a data source.
192

Altair Engineering
File as a Data Source

If File is selected as the source, the file panel is displayed, allowing you to select data files for the X and Y
vectors.
File selected as the data source for a vector.
Altair Engineering

193
To use a file as a data source:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select File.
2. Click the file browser button and select a data file.
3. Click on the X vector radio button.
4. Select an X vector data source from Type.
5. Click on the Y vector radio button.
6. Select a data source for the Y vector from Type.
194

Altair Engineering
To edit a curve whose data source is a file:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select a curve from the list or pick a curve from the window.
2. Click on the corresponding vector radio button to edit the X or Y data vector.
3. Select or enter the new data for the vector.
4. Click Apply.
The changes to the curve are reflected in the HyperGraph 2D window.
Altair Engineering

195
Math as a Data Source

If Math is selected as the source, the curve calculator is displayed, allowing you to define the vector
mathematically.
Math selected as the data source for a vector.
Note
See Curve Calculator for more information on defining vectors mathematically and signal processing.
To use math as a data source:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select Math.
2. Define the vector using the curve calculator to create a mathematical expression.
196

Altair Engineering
Values as a Data Source

If Values is selected as the source, a table is displayed, allowing you to directly enter data point values.
Value selected as the data source for a vector.
You can cut, copy, paste, and insert data point values to the table. Click the expansion button,
larger dialog containing all x and y data points.
Altair Engineering
, to view a

197
To use values as a data source:

1. From the Define Curves panel, select Values.
2. Enter values in the table.
3. Click Apply.
198

Altair Engineering
To cut data point values:

2. Select a point from the table.
3. Click Cut.
The data points are removed from the table.
Altair Engineering

199
To copy and paste data point values:

3. Click Copy.
4. Click Paste.
The data points are added to the next row in the table.
200

Altair Engineering
To insert data point values:

3. Click Insert.
A new row is added above the selected row. The data values are both zero by default, allowing you to enter
new values.
Altair Engineering

201
Curve Calculator
Curves can be defined mathematically using the programs curve calculator. The curve calculator is displayed on
the Define Curves panel when Math is selected as the data source for a vector.
The curve calculator is formatted much like a scientific calculator. It consists of a number pad, basic algebraic
and trigonometric functions, and, curve fitting, filtering, and signal-processing functions. Expressions can be
typed directly into the vector field or entered by clicking selected numbers, functions, or operators on the curve
calculator.
Once the expression is constructed, click Apply to plot the curve
202

Altair Engineering
Creating and Defining Curves

The Define Curves panel enables you to edit existing curves and create new ones. To edit a curve, it must first
be selected either from the curve list or picked from the window.
The X and Y vectors are displayed at the top of the Define Curves panel. The data sources for the X and Y
vectors are displayed in the text fields. Click either the X or Y vector radio button or in the corresponding text box
to select that vector for editing.
X and Y vectors on the Define Curves panel. The text field shows the data source for the vector.
New data can be selected from a source file, mathematically defined using the program's curve calculator, or
entered as values. The Define Curves panel changes depending on which source is selected.
Referencing Curves
Expressions can reference any curve or vector in the current session. Curve vector references can be defined
by picking the curve with the mouse or by using the following syntax:
pmwnco.vector
where:
m is the number of the page on which the curve resides
n is the number of the window which contains the curve
o is the number of the curve in the window
vector indicates the X, Y, or time vector of the referenced curve
For example, p2w1c3.y references the Y vector (.y) of the third curve (c3), in first window (w1), on the second
page (p2).
When a referenced curve is edited or updated, the curves that reference that curve are updated as well.
The Curves dialog allows you to view the curves on a particular page within a session.
Curves in the Complex Plot module are referenced with additional syntax. To indicate that a curve references
phase values, phase curves have the letter p at the end. For example, pmwnco.vectorp. To indicate that a curve
references magnitude values, magnitude curves have the letter m at the end. For example, pmwnco.vectorm.
Real curves that reference real values have the letter r at the end, pmwnco.vectorr. Imaginary curves that
reference imaginary values have the letter i at the end, pmwnco.vectori.
To display the Curves dialog:
1. From the Define Curves panel, under Source, select Math.
2. Click Curves....
The Curves dialog contains a tree structure that displays the current session and its pages, windows, and
curves.
3. Click Preview to preview any curve in the session in the Show Curve dialog.
Altair Engineering

203
To create a curve using the Define Curves panel:

1. Click Add under the curve list.
2. Enter a name for the untitled curve in the text field above the list and press enter.
3. Select the X vector by clicking on the X vector radio button.
4. Specify the data source for the X vector: either File, Math, or Values.
If Math is selected as the data source, define the vector using the curve calculator to create a mathematical
expression. If File is selected as the data source, a small plot-building form is displayed that allows you to
select new data such as components and channels. If Values is selected as the data source, define the
vector by entering x and y values.
Note
You can scale an x or y vector by placing a multiplier in the text box before or after the
correct parameter field. For example:
Previously: saefilter(p1w1c1.x, p1w1c1.y, 60)
Currently: saefilter(p1w1c1.x*.001, p1w1c1.y*.001, 60)
204

Altair Engineering
Constructing Curves
Expressions are constructed in the text fields next to the X and Y radio buttons. Expressions are built by clicking
on numbers, operators, and functions located on the curve calculator. As the expression is built, each operator,
function, and number is displayed in the text field. An expression may contain basic math functions such as
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as trigonometric and signal-processing functions.
Expressions can also reference other vectors.
While the curve calculator displays only certain commonly used functions, over 100 math functions and operators
are available.
Note
See Math Reference for a detailed description of each function and its purpose.
Altair Engineering

205
Defining a Range
Defining a range is a quick way of specifying a spread of values for a vector. Click Range to display the Range
dialog.
The Range dialog consists of three fields: From, To, and By. Enter the start and end points for the range of
values in the From and To fields respectively. The By field enables you to enter an increment by which the
values in the range are created.
In the vector field, the range is denoted using the following syntax:
from:to:by
Ranges can also be defined by entering the information directly into the expression field using the same syntax.
OK
inserts the range in the vector field.
Cancel
exits the Range dialog without inserting the range into the expression.
206

Altair Engineering
Calculus Functions
Integrals and derivatives can be included in an expression. Integrals and derivatives are displayed as:
integral(,)
derivative(,)
Independent and dependent vectors must be supplied for both functions.
Note
See Math Reference for more information on integrals and derivatives.
Altair Engineering

207
Signal Processing
Fast and discrete Fourier transforms, as well as windowing, power spectral density, and frequency response
functions can be included in expressions.
Note
See Math Reference for more information on the signal-processing functions.
There are six different windowing functions available:

1. Hamming
2. Hanning
3. Kaiser-Bessel
4. Blackman-Harris
5. Parzen
6. Welch
To select a windowing function:
1. From the Define Curves panel, click Window... to display the Window dialog box.
The windowing functions are listed in an option menu.
2. Select a window function.
The Kaiser-Bessel window requires a beta value to be defined. The larger the beta value, the narrower the
window.
3. Click OK to insert the function in the expression.
Note
208
Each window function is discussed in the Math Reference on-line help.

Altair Engineering
Filters
Curves may be passed through two classes of filters, ideal or SAE. From the Define Curves panel, click
Filters... to display the Filter dialog box.
Select either Ideal, SAE or SAE J211/1 from the Filter Class option menu.
There are four ideal filter types available:
1. low pass
2. high pass
3. band pass
4. band stop
For ideal filters, specify the type of filter and the cutoff frequency. Band pass and band stop filters require both a
low and a high cutoff frequency. Click OK to insert the filter into the expression.
Any SAE filter class can be specified by modifying the entered filter class (60, 180, 600, or 1000) in the Y text
field.
For SAE J211/1, select the padding type and direction.
Altair Engineering

209
Fit
Polynomial and exponential functions can be fit to curves. From the Define Curves panel, click Fit... to display
the Curve Fit dialog box.
Select either a polynomial or an exponential function to fit to the curve. Up to a 20th order polynomial can be fit to
a curve. Specify the order for the polynomial, then click OK.
210

Altair Engineering
Referencing Curves
pmwnco.vector
where:
page (p2).
The Curves dialog provides a fast, easy way of referencing curves. To display the Curves dialog, click
Curves.... The dialog displays three lists: the Page list, the Window list, and the Curve list.
Page
list contains the names of pages in the current session.
Window list contains the names of the windows on the page selected on the Page list.
Curves list contains the names of the curves in the window selected on the Window list.
OK
insert the vector into the active expression.
Altair Engineering

211
To insert a vector into the active expression:

1. Select the page, window, and curve that contain the required vector.
2. Click Apply to insert the vector into the active expression.
The dialog remains open, allowing more vectors to be selected.
3. Click OK to insert the vector and close the dialog.
212

Altair Engineering
To reference a curve in the active window:

1. Place the cursor in one of the vector text fields.
2. Hold down the shift key and pick a curve.
The corresponding vector from the picked curve is inserted into the expression. If the cursor is in the X vector
text field, the X vector of the picked curve is inserted.
Or
Hold down the shift and ctrl keys and pick a curve. The opposite vector from the selected curve is inserted
into the expression. If the cursor is in the Y vector text field, the X vector of the selected curve is inserted.
Or
Type the curve reference directly into the text box using reference notation described above.
Or
Select a curve using the Curves dialog.
Altair Engineering

213
Math Functions
The Functions... button displays a dialog box containing all available math functions. External functions or
Templex functions can be registered in the program using *RegisterExternalFunction() or
*RegisterTemplexFunction() in the preference file.
Any of the functions can be inserted into the current expression by selecting the function name from the list or by
typing the name directly into the equation.
To insert a function into an expression:
1. From the Define Curves panel, click the Functions... button.
2. Select the function from the list and click OK.
Or
Double-click the function name.
The function name and an empty argument are placed in the expression at the current cursor position.
214

Altair Engineering
External Functions
In addition to the built-in math functions and operators, external C-programs can also be called from within a math
expression. This enables you to process plot data from within the program using your own set of specialized
programs. For example, the external program can be a customized filter for manipulating plot data or a program
that passes plot data to another application for processing.
External programs must be registered in the preferences file before they can be called from within a math
expression. Registering an external program associates the program file with a function name. External
programs can be registered in your own preferences file or in the global preferences file, making it available to
everyone on the network.
Note
See Altair IPC for more information on writing and calling external C-programs from within a math
expression.
See the *RegisterExternalFunction() statement in Preference Files for more information on
registering external functions in the .preferences.mvw file.
To call an external program from within a math expression:

1. From the Define Curves panel, click the Functions... button.
2. Select the extern function from the Functions list and click OK.
Or
1. Double-click the extern function displayed in the Functions list.
2. The extern function is inserted into the expression.
Or
1. Type extern followed by any necessary arguments.
2. Enter the name of the external program as the first argument in the function.
3. Enter any parameters to be passed to the external program as additional function arguments.
4. Click Apply.
The external program is executed when the X and Y math expressions are evaluated. Once the data vectors are
processed, the curve is displayed in the plot.
Altair Engineering

215
MATLAB Interface
MATLAB DLL functions created by the MATLAB Compiler on Windows PCs can be registered as math functions
in HyperGraph 2D. To use the math functions, MCR must be installed on the machine running HyperWorks.
To compile MATLABFn:
Requirements:
'make' command
Appropriate C/C++ compiler (see Further Details)
Appropriate linker (see Further Details)
1. Edit the makefile.
The makefile is located in /altair_home/tutorials/mv_hv_hg/plotting/MatlabFn.
The 'MCR_ROOT' and 'IPC_ROOT' variables are initially blank and must be set to the appropriate directory. The
MCR_ROOT root directory should point to the installation path of the Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR) package
on the current platform. This directory should, at a minimum, contain the files extern/include/mclmcr.h,
other Matlab include files, and lib/[PLATFORM_ID]/libmwmclmcrrt.[sl/so].7.3. The IPC_ROOT
variable should point to the installation path of the Altair IPC library and header files for the HyperWorks
package. The default installation location is [ALTAIR_HOME_DIRECTORY]/altair/io/ipc_functions.
This directory should contain include/[PLATFORM_ID]/altair_ipc.h and lib/[PLATFORM_ID]/
libipclib.a.
2. Run make.
Your system must have a make utility installed. If you cannot run the make utility, check with your system
administrator to verify if one is installed and its location. Your PATH environment variable must include the
location of make.
3. If the required compiler and linker are in your PATH environment variable, the MatlabFn project will build.
At this point, you may receive error messages if the compiler and linker are not installed and in your PATH
variable. Check with your system administrator to find the required linker and compiler and install them in your
PATH. For example, on the HP platform, /usr/bin/cc and /opt/aCC/bin must be in PATH to compile and
link.
4. Once matlabfn.exe is built, you can register it in your user preference file, along with your MATLAB Compiler
DLL math functions, using *RegisterExternalDLLFunction("Math Function Name", "Path to DLL", "Path to
compiled MatlabFN.exe", "Number of Arguments for DLL", "Number of Outputs from DLL"). See
*RegisterExternalDLLFunction() in the MotionScript on-line help for more information.
Further Details
See the platform-specific sections of the make file for the compiler and linker requirements for each particular
platform. Using other compilers and linkers may or may not work properly. This requirement is imposed by
Altair's use of various third-party libraries which have their own compiling and linking requirements. Since the
MatlabFn project uses the libipclib.a library that is compiled by Altair and linked to Altair products, those
compiler/linker requirements carry forward into the MatlabFn project.
216

Altair Engineering
Freezing vectors
When a vector is defined by an expression, the program automatically recalculates the vector each time the
expression is altered, in turn, updating the curve. If an expression contains a reference to another curve and the
referenced curve changes, the program recalculates the vector and updates the curve containing the reference.
Vectors can be frozen so that the program does not recalculate the curve. When a vector is frozen, it is no
longer dependent on a referenced curve, so changes made to other curves are not reflected in the frozen vector.
Vectors can be unfrozen, making them once again subject to change. The X and Y vectors can be frozen
independently of each other or together, freezing the entire curve. Frozen vectors are saved as data point values
in session files.
Altair Engineering

217
To freeze a vector:
1. From the Define Curves panel, click either the X or Y vector radio button for a curve with a Math data
source.
2. Click Freeze on the curve calculator.
You are prompted for permission to break associativity with referenced vectors.
3. Click Yes.
The selected vector is frozen and will no longer reflect changes from external sources.
218

Altair Engineering
To freeze a curve:
1. From the Define Curves panel, click the X vector radio button.
3. Click Yes.
4. Click the Y vector radio button.
6. Click Yes.
Both vectors are frozen and the curve will no longer reflect changes from an external source.
Altair Engineering

219
To unfreeze a vector:
1. From the Define Curves panel, select the frozen vector by clicking on its radio button.
2. Turn off Freeze on the curve calculator.
You are prompted for permission to re-establish any associations with referenced vectors.
3. Click Yes.
The frozen vector is now unfrozen.
220

Altair Engineering
Datum Lines Panel - XY Plot

The Datum Lines panel,
, allows you to add horizontal and vertical datum lines to plots.
Datum Lines panel

Text
Create a label for a datum line and set its display.
Position
Position a datum line label.
Line Attributes
Set the attributes of a datum line. Click Use Preferences to use the preferences
set in the preferences.mvw file.
A datum line can be hidden or displayed on a plot by activating the Datum check box.
You can specify a math expression to define the display of a datum line.
Use the drop-down menu next to the Datum check box to switch between horizontal and vertical datum lines.
Datum lines can be cut, copied, pasted, or added.
Altair Engineering

221
To display or hide a datum line:

1. From the Datum Lines panel, select a datum line from the Datum list or from the screen.
2. Click the Datum check box so that a check is displayed.
3. Click the Datum check box again to remove the check.
222

Altair Engineering
To add a datum line to a plot:

1. From the Datum Lines panel, select Horizontal or Vertical.
2. Click Add.
The datum line name is displayed in the datum list.
3. Enter a new name for the datum line in the text box above the datum list.
4. Press Enter.
The new name is displayed in the datum list.
5. By default, the Datum check box is active and the datum line is displayed in the plot.
For polar plots:
1. From the Datum Lines panel, select Phase or Magnitude.
2. Follow steps 2-5 above.
Altair Engineering

223
To apply attributes to a datum line:

1. From the Datum Lines panel, select a datum line from the datum list or from the screen.
2. Click the Line Attributes tab.
3. Select a line type.
4. Select a line thickness.
5. Select a line color from the color palette.
The datum line attributes are changed.
224

Altair Engineering
To associate a datum line with a secondary axis:

2. Click the Position tab.
3. Select an axis from the axis drop-down menu.
The datum line is moved to the new position.
Note
See To add an axis to a plot for more information.
Altair Engineering

225
To change the axis range:

1. From the HyperGraph 2D toolbar, select the Axes panel.
2. From the Axes panel, change the Min/Max values, or:
zoom in or out with the mouse
zoom in or out with the view controls
load/update curve vectors
The datum line for the updated plot window is recalculated.
226

Altair Engineering
To copy and paste a datum line:

2. Click Copy.
3. Go to the page where you want to paste a copy of the datum line.
4. Click on a plot.
5. Select Horizontal or Vertical.
Note: For polar plots, select Phase or Radial instead of Horizontal or Vertical.
6. Click Paste.
A copy of the datum line is added to the datum list.
The status of the Datum check box is retained when a datum line is copied.
Altair Engineering

227
To create a datum line label:

2. Click the Label tab.
3. Enter a label for the datum line in the Text field and press enter.
The label is displayed on the plot along the datum line.
You can supply a Templex statement, with brackets, {}, as a label.
4. Click the Font button,
The Font dialog is displayed.

5. Select a font type from the Font list.
6. Select a font style.
7. Select a font size.
8. Next to Location, select a button depicting a datum line label location in the window.
9. Click OK.
The changes made are displayed on the datum line label.
228

Altair Engineering
To delete a datum line:

2. Click Cut.
The line is removed from the screen and from the datum line list.
Altair Engineering

229
To display datum line labels with mouse over:

1. From the HyperGraph 2D toolbar, select the Datum Lines panel.
2. From the Text tab, select Mouse over.
3. Application hides datum line label except for the datum line currently selected in the panel.
4. Move the mouse over the datum line in another panel or when the datum line isnt the selected datum line in the
panel.
HyperGraph 2D displays the datum line label in a bubble help adjacent to, but under, the current mouse
location. This is so the mouse cursor doesnt obscure the text
5. Move the mouse off of the datum line.
HyperGraph 2D hides the datum line label.
Note
230
Always display the label for selected datum line while in the Datum Line panel

Altair Engineering
To position a datum line:

2. Activate the Datum check box.
3. Click the Label tab.
4. Enter a value in the Position field.
Value can be any of the following:
a single value
a math expression that returns a single value (without curly brackets, {})
a math expression as a function of x or y, with x or y being the horizontal or vertical axes values,
respectively.
5. Select a Y or X axis (optional).
The datum line is moved to the new location on the plot.
Note: The X or Y axis option does not apply to Polar Plots.
6. Next to Location, select a button depicting a datum line label location in the window.
The datum line label is moved to the new position.
Altair Engineering

231
To specify a math expression to define the datum line display:

1. From the HyperGraph 2D toolbar, select the Datum Lines panel.
2. Select the Position tab on the Datum Lines panel for a horizontal datum line.
OR
Select the Position tab on the Datum Lines panel for a vertical datum line.
3. For a horizontal datum line, in the Position text field, enter a math expression based on x, f(x) and press
ENTER or click Apply.
OR
For a vertical datum line, in the Position text field, enter a math expression based on y, f(y) and press
ENTER or click Apply.
The datum line display is updated to reflect the expression.
232

Altair Engineering
Modify Curves Panel

The Modify Curves panel enables you to modify curve data pertaining to a plot. Click the Modify Curves button,
, on the plot toolbar to display the panel.
Modify Curves panel.
Curves can be deleted, trimmed, bridged, or hidden within a specified range and orientation.
Delete/
Shift
Removes the data within the selected range and closes any gap
created by this action.
Delete
Removes the data within the selected range without closing any
gaps created by this action. Delete can only be used at the
beginning or end of the curve.
Trim
Removes the data outside of the selected range.
Bridge
Bridges the curve linearly across the selected range. This

replaces the data in the selected range with a straight line on a
point by point basis.
Hide
Turns off curve points within the selected range, but does not
remove any gaps created by this action.
Replace
Enter an expression in the Replace with Expression text box and

use x and y as variables for the selected range. Click Replace to
replace the points in the selected range with the expression.
You can also replace curve points (on a point by point basis) within a specified range with an expression.
Modified vectors are changed to type 'values'.
Show Edits displays all edits that the selected curves have in common. Edits can be renamed or deleted. You
can undo the last edit performed. By default, the edit is named using the parameters, action, and range. For
example, if you selected a horizontal parameter and cut a curve within the range 1-4, the default edit name would
be:
HORIZ_CUT1-4.
Altair Engineering

233
To select a curve to edit:

1. Click Curves on the Modify Curves panel.
The Select Curves dialog is displayed.
2. Select a curve from the list.
Or
Click All to select every curve in the list.
Or
Click None to deselect all highlighted curves in the list.
Or
1. Click Flip to exchange the currently selected curves for the unselected curves in the list.
2. Click OK.
Or
1. Pick a curve from the window. This overwrites any existing curve selections.
2. Hold down the ctrl key to pick more than one curve from the window.
Or
Type in a curve reference into the Curves text field.
Note If the curve you select is valid, the text field turns gray. If it is not a valid curve, an error message is
displayed.
234

Altair Engineering
To set the range marker orientation:

Under Edit Parameters, select Horizontal axis or Vertical axis.
The range bars are updated on the screen.
Altair Engineering

235
To specify the range within which to edit the curve data:

1. If Snap is turned on:
Snap forces the Range values to be existing points on the selected curve. Move the range bars on the
screen to find the curve point.
Or
Use the arrows to increase or decrease the From and To values. The From and To values are restricted to
the curve point.
Note Entering range values directly into the From and To fields is not allowed when Snap is turned on. The
From and To values are restricted to the curve point.
2. If Snap is turned off:
Enter range values in the From and To fields.
Or
Use the arrows to increase or decrease the From and To values. The value listed in the Step field is the
amount by which the From and To values are increased when you use the arrows.
Note The From and To values are not restricted to the curve point.
Or
Select and drag a range bar on the screen in either case.
236

Altair Engineering
To modify the curve data:

1. Select one or more curves to modify.
2. Define the range of the curves to modify.
3. Under Action, click Delete/Shift, Delete, Trim, Bridge, or Hide.
Delete/Shift
Removes the data within the selected range and closes any gap created by this
action.
Delete
Removes the data within the selected range without closing any gaps created by
this action. Delete can only be used at the beginning or end of the curve.
Trim
Removes the data outside of the selected range.
Bridge
Bridges the curve linearly across the selected range.
Hide
Turns off curve points within the selected range, but does not remove gaps
created by this action.
4. If Interpolate is turned on, a point is inserted using the From or To values and performs the action.
If Interpolate is turned off, the closest point is found for the selected curves based on the From/To values and
performs the action.
Or
5. Enter an expression in the Replace with Expression text box.
6. Use x and y as variables for the selected range.
7. Click Replace.
The expression replaces the points in the selected range.
For example, -y will flip all points in the selected range about the x-axis. y+1 will move the selected range up
by 1 (assuming a horizontal range is selected).
Altair Engineering

237
To delete a curve edit:

1. Click Show Edits.
2. Select an edit from the list.
3. Click Delete.
The edit is removed from the list.
The curve is returned to its pre-edited state and the effect of the edit is removed.
4. Click Close to exit the Curve Edit dialog.
238

Altair Engineering
To rename a curve edit:

1. Click Show Edits.
2. Select an edit from the list.
The edit is displayed in the text field.
3. Highlight the edit in the text field.
4. Type in a new name and press enter.
The edit is renamed.
5. Click Close to exit the Curve Edit dialog.
Altair Engineering

239
To undo a curve edit:

Click Undo after performing an edit.
The curve is restored to its previous state.
240

Altair Engineering
Curve Attributes Panel - XY Plot

Curve attributes such as line style, color, and weight as well as symbol style and color are located on the Curve
Attributes panel,
Curve Attributes panel
The Curve List
The curve list displays the names of the curves in the current window.
In order to change the attributes of a curve, it must first be selected either
from the curve list or picked from the window. Attributes can be assigned to
more than one curve at a time by selecting multiple curves from the list or
holding down the ctrl key while picking curves from the window. Attributes
are applied only to selected curves. Selected curves are highlighted in the
list.
On/Off
The On/Off buttons enable you to turn the selected curves on or off in the
display. Click On to display the selected curves. Click Off to turn off the
selected curves. When a curve is turned off, the line and symbols are no
longer displayed and the legend does not include the curve information.
Label On/Off
The Label On/Off buttons enable you to turn curve legends on or off in the
display. Click Label On to display the legend for the current plot. Click
Label Off to turn off the legend for the current plot.
Use Preferences
Line and symbol attributes can be assigned automatically to selected curves

using the Use Preferences feature. When Use Preferences is selected
from either Line Attributes or Symbol Attributes, the default attributes
defined in your personal preferences file are automatically applied. If there
is no preferences file available, the programs built-in defaults are applied.
Shade area under

line
Selecting this option shades the area under the curve line.
Note
See Preference Files for more information on setting user defaults and creating a
preferences file.
Altair Engineering

241
To select a single curve:

Select a curve name from the curve list.
Or
Pick a curve from the window.
The selected curve is highlighted in the list.
242

Altair Engineering
To select a range of curves:

2. Drag the pointer to include the curves above or below the selected curve.
Or
4. Hold down the shift key and select another curve from the list.
The range of curve names between the first and second selections is highlighted.
Altair Engineering

243
To select a non-contiguous range of curves:

1. Hold down the control key
2. Select curve names from the curve list in any order.
Or
3. Hold down the control key.
4. Pick the required curves from the window.
244

Altair Engineering
To select curves using the curve list buttons:

Click All to select every curve in the list.
Or
Click None to deselect all highlighted curves in the list.
Or
Click Flip to exchange the currently selected curves for the unselected curves in the list.
Or
Click Displayed to select the curves in the list that are currently displayed in the active window.
Altair Engineering

245
Line, Symbol, and Data Attributes

Lines
Line styles can be assigned to curves to help differentiate different curves on a plot. The line style for each curve
is displayed in the legend. There are nine line styles available:
Click on a line style to apply the style to the currently selected curves.
When None is assigned as a line style the line is no longer displayed but the symbols assigned to the curve
remain visible, creating a scatter plot of the curve. The curve is still displayed in the legend.
In addition to different line styles, line thickness can also be assigned to a curve. The line weight for each curve
is displayed in the legend. Click on a line weight to change the thickness of the currently selected curves.
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to a curve. Select a color from the color palette to change the color of the
selected curves.
Select the Shade area under line option to fill in the are under the curve line with a solid color.
Symbols
Symbols can be placed on a curve to indicate data points. There are nine different symbols available. To mark
the data points on the currently selected curves, select a symbol from the symbol palette.
The frequency of the symbol placement is determined by the Every field. By default, Every is set to 1 so
symbols are placed at every data point. To change the symbol frequency, enter a number in the Every field. For
example, if Every is set to 5, a symbol is placed at every fifth data point on the curve.
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to a symbol. Select a color from the Symbol Attributes color palette to
change the color of the symbols on the selected curves.
Scatter plots can be created by setting the line style of a curve to None and then assigning a symbol to the curve.
Data Attributes
A data attribute is non-plottable data that can be associated with a curve or vector.
The table on the Data Attributes tab lists the attributes that you can apply to a curve or vector. An attribute may
automatically be attached to vectors by external readers. The attributes in the table are those common to all
selected curves. Press Tab or ENTER to move between the table columns.
Varname Unique variable name (with respect to the curve or vector) of the attribute. Two separate curves may
have attributes with the same varname. A varname can contain underscores, but not spaces. If a
varname is duplicated or contains a space, an error message is displayed.
Label
The descriptive label of the attribute. The label name can be the same as the varname. Label names
can be duplicated or contain spaces.
Type
Drop-down menu that allows you to specify the type of attribute: integer, float, or string. The default
type is integer.
Attach
To
Drop-down menu that allows you to select if the attribute should be attached to the x vector, y vector,
or curve. The default option is x vector.
Value
The value of the attribute (must match the Type).
246

Altair Engineering
Click Add to add an attribute to the table.

Click Delete to remove the selected attribute.
Click Apply to input the data attribute selection(s) made.
If there is no curve in the session, or a curve is not selected, these features are disabled.
The attributes can be used in expressions on the Modify Curves panel or in notes. Expressions or notes are
automatically updated if the attribute value is changed. To reference an attribute, an extension is added to the
standard pwc curve reference syntax.
For example, if the varname attribute_1 is attached to a curve, reference the varname as p1w1c1.
attribute_1.
Attributes can be added to vectors from an external reader. If the attribute is attached to a vector, the varname
follows the letter x or y, which follows the basic curve reference syntax.
For example, if the varname attribute_1 is attached to the x-vector, reference the attribute as p1w1c1.x.
attribute_1.
If the varname attribute_1 is attached to the y-vector, reference the attribute as p1w1c1.y.attribute_1
Altair Engineering

247
Coordinate Info Panel - XY Plot

The Coordinate Info panel,
, enables you to retrieve individual point data on any curve in the active window.
When a point is selected, the point data is displayed on the panel.
Coordinate Info panel
There are three ways to retrieve point data from a curve. A point can be picked from a curve, located using the
Find Point controls, or selected from the point list.
The Point List
The point list displays the XY data points for the selected curve. The point number, the X-value, and the Y-value
for each point is displayed in the list. Use the scroll bars to view the entire list. Click on a point in the list to
display the point data.
Point Data
The following data is displayed when a point is picked:
Curve
the name of the curve
Point
the number of the data point
the X value of the data point
the Y value of the data point
Slope
an estimate of the slope of the curve at the selected point
Time
the timestep of the data point (if available)
248

Altair Engineering
To display point data by picking a point on a curve:

Pick a point from a curve using MB1 or the left-mouse button.
Or
Drag the mouse to scan points along a curve.
White cross hairs indicate the currently selected data point. Information about the point is displayed on the
panel.
Altair Engineering

249
To display point data using the point table:

Select a point from the point table on the Coordinate Info panel.
A black cross hair indicates the currently selected data point. Information about the point is displayed on the
panel.
250

Altair Engineering
To display point data using the Find Point controls:

Locate a point on a curve using the Find Point controls.
A black cross hair indicates the currently selected data point. Point information is displayed on the panel.
For Polar Plots:
Click on the global max point button, . For vector plots, the plot is advanced to the frequency containing the
maximum magnitude for the selected vector. A black cross hair indicates the currently selected point. Point
information is displayed on the panel.
For phase/magintude plots, a black cross hair indicates the currently selected data point. Point information is
displayed on the panel.
Altair Engineering

251
To display point data in decibels:

For XY Plots:
Turn on the Show X in dB10 or Show X in dB20 check-box.
The X values are displayed in dB10 or dB20.
Turn on the Show Y in dB10 or Show Y in dB20 check-box.
The Y values are displayed in dB10 or dB20.
For Polar Plots:
Turn on the Show r in dB10 or Show r in dB20 check-box.
The r values are displayed in dB10 or dB20.
252

Altair Engineering
Statistics Panel
The Statistics panel,
, calculates statistics over a specified range on a curve. Click the Statistics button to
display the Statistics panel.
Statistics panel
From / To
The statistics are taken from a region defined on the curve by range boundaries. The range
boundaries are defined by two points on the selected curve. The X and Y values of each bounding
point are displayed on the panel.
Calculate
Once the range boundaries have been specified, click Calculate to compute the curve statistics for
the defined area. Each time the range markers are moved, the statistics need to be re-calculated.
Edit
Controls text editing in the text box. Turn the Edit check box on to edit text. Turn the Edit check box
off to disable editing capabilities and display evaluated Templex statements.
Open
Loads a template and displays it in the text box.
Save
Saves template changes. You can either save the template with the same name or give it a new
name.
Statistics can also be generated from Templex templates. The Templates list allows you to edit and save a
template supplied with the program or you can create and save a new template.
To define the statistics region:
1. Click the From radio button.
2. Pick a point on a curve using either the mouse or the Find Point controls.
A white vertical line appears representing the minimum value of the region.
3. Click the To radio button.
4. Pick a point on a curve using either the mouse or the Find Point controls.
A white vertical line appears representing the maximum value of the region.
Altair Engineering

253
Find Point
The range boundaries can also be picked using the Find Point controls on the Statistics panel.
Find Point controls.
Click:
To find:
or
the left-most or right-most end point.
or
the next point to the left or right.
global maximum of the curve.

or
the next local maximum to the left or right.
the global minimum of the curve.

or
the next local minimum to the left or right.
Next Curve
254
the corresponding point on the next curve.

Altair Engineering
Curve Statistics
The following set of curve statistics defaults are calculated for each curve:
Curve Name - The name of the curve. Delta - The difference between the
first and last points of a vector.
Num Pts. - The element counting
function.
Centroid - Center of the area under a

curve.
Length - The length of the curve.
Mean - Statistical mean function.
Signed Area - Calculates the area

between the curve and the
independent axis according to sign.
Variance - Describes the spread of

distribution.
Abs. Area - The total area between

the curve and the independent axis
regardless of sign.
Skewness - Skewness of a
distribution.
RMS - Root mean square of a vector. Standard Deviation - Standard

deviation from the mean.
Min - Minimum value function.
Average Deviation - Average

deviation from the mean.
Max - Maximum value function.
Zero Crossings - The number of sign

reversals in a vector.
Median - Statistical median of a data

set.
The statistics are displayed in a text box on the Statistics panel. The text box can be expanded by clicking the
expand button,
. Click OK to close the expanded statistics box. The statistics can be copied to any X
window by highlighting the text with MB1 or the left-mouse button and then clicking MB2 or the right-mouse button
in another X window.
Altair Engineering

255
Statistics Templates
The Template list allows you to edit and save a template supplied with the program or you can create and save a
new template.
Cut, Copy, and Paste
Assists in edit texting.
Add
Selects a template and add it to the template list.
256

Altair Engineering
Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignments Panel - XY Plot

Curve scaling, offsets, and axis assignments can be applied to multiple curves using the Scales, Offsets, and
Axis Assingments panel,
Scales, Offsets, and Axis panel
Curve
The curves in the active window are displayed in the curve list. Curves must be either
selected from the list or picked from the window in order to apply any scaling or offsets.
Settings apply only to selected curves. Selected curves are highlighted in the list.
Scale and Offset
When a data vector is scaled, the vector is multiplied by a specified value. The original data
values are not actually altered. Multiple curves can be scaled simultaneously.
Offsetting a data vector shifts the data along the corresponding axis. Multiple curves can be
offset at the same time.
You can enter math expressions, such as one for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius, in the
scale and offset fields.
Move to
Move to moves the first point of the selected curve(s) to the specified XY coordinates.
Axis assignments X and Y axes are assigned by selecting an axis from the corresponding axis list.
Altair Engineering

257
To scale X vectors:
1. Select the curves to be scaled from the list.
2. Turn on the X scale check box.
3. Enter a multiplier in the text box.
4. Click Apply to accept the new scaling values.
The selected curves are scaled along the horizontal axis.
Note You can scale an x or y vector by placing a multiplier in the text box before or after the
258

Altair Engineering
To scale Y vectors:
2. Turn on the Y scale check box.
The selected curves are scaled along the vertical axis.
Note You can scale an x or y vector by placing a multiplier in the text box before or after the
Altair Engineering

259
To offset curves along the horizontal axis:

1. Select the curves from the list or pick them from the window.
2. Turn on the X Offset check box.
3. Enter the distance to shift the curves in the X Offset text box.
The data is shifted to the right for positive values and to the left for negative values.
260

Altair Engineering
To offset curves along the vertical axis:

2. Turn on the Y Offset check box.
3. Enter the distance to shift the curves in the Y Offset text box.
The data is shifted up for positive values and down for negative values.
Altair Engineering

261
To move curves along the horizontal axis:

2. Turn on the X check box.
3. Enter a new X coordinate for the origin of the curve in the X Move to text box.
4. Click Apply to move the start point for the selected curve(s).
The selected curves are moved to the right for positive values and to the left for negative values.
262

Altair Engineering
To move curves along the vertical axis:

2. Turn on the Y check box.
3. Enter a new Y coordinate for the origin of the curves in the Y Move to text box.
4. Click Apply to move the start point for the selected curve(s).
The selected curves are moved up for positive values and down for negative values.
Altair Engineering

263
To assign axes to multiple curves at once:

1. From the Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignments panel, select the curves you want to assign axes to.
2. From Axis Assignments, choose either an x-axis or a y-axis (or both) to assign the selected curves to.
3. Click Apply.
264

Altair Engineering
Options Panel - XY Plot

The Options panel allows you to set default parameters for XY plots. You can access the options panel from the
HyperGraph 2D Preferences menu, or by selecting the Options icon
from the toolbar.
Options panel for XY plots.
Session
The Session tab includes these options:

Save All Curve Data to Script File
Choose this option to save all curve data to the session file.
Precision
Range
The Range tab includes three preference options:

Use even cycles when fitting log axes
By default, HyperGraph 2D fits logarithmic curves using the minimum and maximum
values of the data. Select Use even cycles when fitting to fit logarithmic curves using
the next power of 10 greater than the maximum and the next power of 10 less than the
minimum.
Use uniform aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of the plot area is locked. Distances between values on the x-axis are
the same as those on the y-axis.
Default dynamic range (in decades)
Calculates the minimum value shown when plotting non-positive numbers on a log scale.
The minimum value shown is equal to the maximum divided by 10 raised to the default
dynamic range. To specify a new dynamic range, enter a new range in the Default
dynamic range text field or use the
buttons. The default is 4.
For example, if you use the default value of 4, four tics with a difference of one decade
(ten placement) are placed on the curve. 1E-005, 0.0001, 0.001, and 0.01 would be the
tic increment used by default and the curve for that particular axes would change
accordingly. If the value were set to 3, then the tics on those axes would change to
0.0001, 0.001, and 0.01. If the value were set to 2, then the tics on the axes would
change to 0.001 and 0.01 and so on.
Color
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to plot elements such as plot background, frame,
grid lines, and the zero line. Choose a plot element, then select a color from the palette
to change the color of the selected element.
Background
Changes the background color of the HyperGraph 2D window. The default is black.
Altair Engineering

265
Frame
Changes the color of the frame around the HyperGraph 2D window.
Grid Line
Changes the grid line color.
Zero Line
Changes the zero line color.
Use Preferences
Sets the active HyperGraph 2D window's background, frame, grid line, zero line, header,
footer, tic, and note colors to the defaults specified in the .preferences.mvw file.
Animation Cursor
Allows you to customize the animation cursor in HyperGraph 2D.

Apply to
You can apply the animation cursor attributes to the Current Plot,
Current Page, or All Pages.
Display as
Sets the animation cursor display type. Options include:

Square
Small bar
Medium bar
Large bar
Custom bar
For Custom bar, choose the size of the bar by entering a value in the
% Window height field. You can enter a value directly or use the up
and down arrows to choose a value.
Coordinate marker
Attributes
Select the width of the cursor line by choosing one of the four line
styles shown.
Use curve color
Sets the animation cursor color to that of the curve that the animation
cursor is on.
Use curve style
Changes the line style of the animation cursor (solid, dashed, etc.) to
match the curves style.
266

Altair Engineering
Bar Chart
The Bar Chart toolbar is displayed when you select HyperGraph 2D from the application menu and the active
window is set to the Bar Chart mode,
Plot type options
The following panels for plotting bar charts are available:

Define Curves
Individual bar charts can be edited using the Define Curves panel.
Datum Lines
Horizontal and vertical datum lines can be added to plots using the
Datum Lines panel.
Curve Attributes
The appearance of each bar chart can be customized for clear data
presentation. Line style and color, symbol style and color, and other
curve attributes can be modified on the Curve Attributes panel.
Axes
Axis attributes such as the scale, label, color, and number of tics are
set with the Axes panel.
Legends
Legends are displayed, positioned, and their attributes are selected

in the Legends panel.
Headers and
Footers
Plot headers and footers can be specified on the Headers and

Footers panel.
Notes
Notes can be added to plots to annotate your data. Curve

annotations are maintained using the Notes panel.
Options
Options such as clustering or stacking the bars and assigning colors

to the plot background and gridlines are set using the Options panel.
Altair Engineering

267
Define Curves Panel - Bar Chart

The Define Curves panel allows you to edit existing bar charts individually and add new bar charts to the current
plot. The panel also provides access to the application's curve calculator. Click the Define Curves button,
on the bar chart toolbar to display the Define Curves panel.
Define Bars panel with values as a data source enabled
The curve list displays the names of all the bar charts in the active window. The Cut, Copy, Paste, and Add
buttons under the bar chart list are used to maintain the bar chart list for the active window. Bar charts can be
copied and pasted into other bar chart windows or within the current bar chart window. Bar charts can be also be
added and deleted from the list, and they can be renamed.
Individual bar charts can be turned on or off. To turn a bar chart off, select the bar chart from the window and
deactivate the Series check box next to the bar chart name. To turn a bar chart on that was turned off, activate
the Series check box.
Bar charts are comprised of data and categories. Data can be read from an external file, defined as a
mathematical expression, or entered as values. A label identifies categories and tic marks are used to separate
them from other categories. If there are more data points than there are categories, the application adds blank
categories to accommodate the extra data points.
268

Altair Engineering
Data Sources
Bar chart curves are comprised of data and categories. Data can be read from a data file, defined as
mathematical expression, or entered as values. A label identifies categories and tic marks are used to separate
them from other categories.
Altair Engineering

269

If File is selected as the source, the file panel is displayed, allowing you to select a data file for the curve.
File selected as the data source for a vector
270

Altair Engineering

1. Select File.
3. Select a vector data source by specifying Type, Request, and Component.
4. Click Apply.
Altair Engineering

271

1. Select a bar series from the list or pick a bar chart from the window.
3. Click Apply.
272

Altair Engineering

mathematically.
Math selected as the data source for a vector
Note

1. Select Math.
Altair Engineering

273

If Values is selected as the source, the Values table is displayed, allowing you to directly enter data point values.
Values selected as the data source for a vector
Categories
The bar chart display is divided into categories. Categories can

be renamed by selecting a cell, typing a new name, and clicking
Apply. You can have more than one bar series in each category.
Curve
column
Data point values can be entered directly into the Curve column in
the Values table. Enter numbers in the Curve columns and click
Apply. After adding a curve to the Curve list, a Curve column is
displayed next to the Categories column. By default, a new curve
is named Curve 1, Curve 2 etc. If you change the name of the bar
chart curve in the Curve list, the heading for the Curve column in
the Values table also changes.
From the Row group box, you can insert, add, and delete rows in the Values table. Click Undo to reverse the
last task completed. Click the expansion button,
274
, to view a larger dialog containing all y data points.

Altair Engineering

1. From the Define Bars panel, select Values.
2. Enter a value in the Curve column of the Values table. You can enter a value for each available bar chart
category.
3. Click Apply.
Altair Engineering

275
To add a row to the Values table:

2. From the Row group box, click Add.
A row is added to the Values table.
276

Altair Engineering
To delete a row from the Values table:

2. Select a row from the table.
3. Click Delete.
The row is delete from the table.
Altair Engineering

277

3. Click Insert.
A new row is added above the selected row. The Y data value is zero by default, allowing you to enter new
values.
278

Altair Engineering
Datum Lines Panel - Bar Chart

, allows you to add a vertical datum lines to plots.
Datum Lines panel

Text
Create a label for a datum line.
Position
Position a datum line label.
Line Attributes
Set the attributes of a datum line. Click Use Preferences to

use the preferences set in the preferences.mvw file.
Altair Engineering

279
Curve Attributes Panel - Bar Chart

The Curve Attributes panel allows you to customize the appearance of each bar chart curve. Customizable
features include bar style, line style, color, and weight, symbol style and color, and axis attributes.Click the Curve
Attributes button,
, on the bar chart toolbar to display the Curve Attributes panel.
Curve Attributes panel in bar chart mode
Curve Attributes panel in line mode
The Curve List

The curve list displays the names of the bar chart curves in the current window.
To change the attributes of a bar chart curve, it must first be select either from the curve list or picked from the
window. Attributes can be assigned to more than one bar chart curve at a time by selecting multiple curves from
the list or holding down the ctrl key while picking curves from the window. Attributes are applied only to selected
bar chart curves. Selected bar chart curves are highlighted in the list.
Bar/Line
The Bar and Line buttons enable you to view your data as a bar chart or a line curve in the display. Select Bar
to display the y-data value as a bar chart. If you select Bar, only the Bar Attributes and Axis Attributes tabs
are displayed. Select Line to display the y-data value as a line curve. If you select Line, only the Line, Symbol,
and Axis Attributes tabs are displayed. When a curve is turned off, the lines and symbols are no longer
displayed and the legend does not include curve information.
Series On/Series Off
Series On displays the selected curve. Series Off removes the selected curve from the display.
Label On/Label Off
The Label On/Off buttons enable you to turn curve legend on or off in the display. Click Label On to display the
legend for the current bar chart. Click Label Off to turn off the legend for the current bar chart.
280

Altair Engineering
Use Preferences
Line and symbol attributes can be assigned automatically to selected curves using the Use Preferences feature.
When Use Preferences is selected from Bar Attributes, Line Attributes, or Symbol Attributes, the default
attributes defined in your personal preference file are automatically applied. If there are no bar attribute
statements in the active preference file, the program's built-in defaults are applied.
Note
See Preference Files for more information on setting user defaults and
creating a preferences file.
Altair Engineering

281
Line and Symbol Attributes

Lines
is displayed in the legend. There are five line styles available, as well as four line thickness options:
selected curves.
Symbols
282

Altair Engineering
Bar Chart Styles

Styles can be assigned to bar charts to help distinguish them in a HyperGraph 2D window. From the Bar
Attributes tab on the Bar Attributes panel, click on a bar chart style to apply it to the currently selected bar chart
curve. You can apply a solid color to a bar or you can apply 1 of 4 line patterns to a bar. To change either the
solid color or the line pattern color, select any of the 64 colors from the color palette. The style selected for each
bar chart is displayed in the legend.
The available styles include:
Altair Engineering

283
Axis Attributes
The Axis Attribute tab on the Bar Attributes panel allows you to pick the value axis for the bar chart. From the
drop-down menu, select the primary axis or a secondary axis that was added using the Axes panel.
284

Altair Engineering
Options Panel - Bar Chart

The Options panel,
, in the bar chart module allows you modify the style of the bars and change the gap or
interval between bars. You can also edit the colors of the plot background, frame, grid lines, and zero line.
Options panel
Session The Session tab includes these options:

Save All Curve Data To
Script File
Choose this option to save all curve data to the session file.
Precision
Style
Style
You can cluster or stack the bars within a category.

Cluster arranges bars within a category side by side.
Stack stacks the bars within a category. Labeling displays the total
value of the stacked bars on top of the stack.
Labeling
You can place bar chart labels over both stacked and clustered bars.
Click Label on to add the label to the bar chart.
From the drop-down menu, select Auto format, Scientific, or Fixed
format to determine how any numbers are displayed. If you select
Scientific or Fixed, select the number of decimal points to be
displayed by selecting a number from the Precision combo box.
Click the font button,
labels.
, to change the font attributes of the bar chart
Color
Allows you to change the colors of the HyperGraph 2D window background, frame, grid lines and zero
line. Select the part of the HyperGraph 2D window you'd like to change, then pick a color from the
color palette.
Gap
Changes the distance between the categories of bar charts by increasing or decreasing the width of
each bar. Use the up and down arrows or the slider bar to change the gap percentage. The default
percentage for clustered bars is 40. The default percentage for stacked bars is 40.
Gap or color attributes can be assigned automatically to the bars and to selected plot elements by choosing the
Use Preferences feature. When Use Preferences is selected on the Gap or Color tab, the default attributes
defined in your personal preference file are automatically applied. If there is no preferences file available, the
application's built-in defaults are applied.
Altair Engineering

285
Complex Plot
The Complex Plot toolbar is displayed when you select HyperGraph 2D from the application menu and set the
active window to Complex Plot mode,
Plot type options
The following panels are available for plotting complex data:
286
Build Plots
The Build Plots panel enables you to quickly construct fully annotated plots from
a data file. You can create multiple plots with a single click.
Plot Macros
Macros can be applied to existing curves using the Plot Macros panel.
Define Curves
Individual curves can be edited using the Define Curves panel. The Define
Curves panel also provides access to the curve calculator.
Datum Lines
Horizontal and vertical datum lines can be added to plots using the Datum Lines
panel.
Curve Attributes
The appearance of each curve can be customized for clear data presentation.
Line style and color, symbol style and color, and other curve attributes can be
modified on the Curve Attributes panel.
Coordinate Info
Use the Coordinate Info panel to retrieve individual point data such as point
index, XY coordinates, and estimated slope.
Axes
Axis attributes such as the scale, label, color, and number of tics are set with
the Axes panel.
Legends
Legends are displayed, positioned, and their attributes are selected in the
Legends panel.
Headers and
Footers
Plot headers and footers can be specified on the Headers and Footers panel.

Altair Engineering
Notes
Notes can be added to plots to annotate your data. Curve annotations are
maintained using the Notes panel.
Options
Plotting options such as using even cycles when fitting log axes and the default
dynamic range are set using the Options panel.
Altair Engineering

287
Build Plots Panel - Complex Plot

Curves panel.
Build Plots panel in the Complex Plot module
When using the complex plot module, the application can read the following types of complex plot data files:
Analysis
NASTRAN sol 108 and 111
General
User-defined import templates and external readers to directly read any file format.
In addition to the standard set of import templates, an open interface for creating custom import filters is provided.
Using import language and external readers, you can write import templates for most any ASCII data file not
directly supported in the program.
Note
See Import Templates for more information on creating import

templates.
See Altair Binary Format for more information on creating external
readers.
288

Altair Engineering
Opening a Plot File

If you know the path and filename of the data file, you can type it directly into the field next to the file folder
button,
, and click Apply. The plotting file browser can also be used to locate and load a file. To access the
file browser, click the file folder button. Click the downward pointing arrow at the far right of the File field to see a
list of the most recently loaded files.
The plotting file browser allows you to specify a subrange of data points to load from the specified file.
Start Index
the index number of the first data point in the subrange. The default is 1.
End Index
the index number of the last data point in the subrange. The word "last" can be used to specify
the last data value in the file without knowing how many data points are in the file.
Increment
the number of points to advance when reading the subrange. For example, to read every data
point in the file, enter an Increment value of 1; to read every other data point, enter a value of 2.
The default is 1.
Altair Engineering

289
Building Plots with Complex Plot Data Files

Complex data can be plotted using the Build Plots panel.
X Type
Data files can consist of different types of data. For complex plots, you can only pick one of
the following to be the x-axis: Time, Frequency, or RPM. Use the
buttons to scroll through
the types of data in the open file or click on the down arrow to expand the list. Select the data
type for the X vectors.
Y Subcase
Select the subcase for the Y vectors.
Y Node
Multiple nodes can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual windows. The
available choices are displayed in a list. The list can be expanded by clicking the expansion
button,
Y Node Filter
By default, all nodes are shown. To search for a specific node, enter a string and press
enter. Only the nodes that match the string are displayed. The search node feature is case
sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text from the field and press enter.
Y Channel
Multiple channels can be plotted in the same window, or plotted in individual windows. For
some data files, each node contains different channels. Only the channels common to all
selected nodes are displayed in the Y Channel list. The list can be expanded by clicking the
expand button,
Y Channel Filter
290
. Select the data channel(s).
By default, all channels are shown. To search for a specific channel, enter a string and press
enter. Only the channels that match the string are displayed. The search channel feature is
case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text from the field and press enter.

Altair Engineering
To select Y nodes:
Click on a single node.
Or
Click All to select every node in the list.
Or
Click None to deselect every node in the list.
Or
Click Flip to exchange the currently selected nodes for the unselected nodes in the list.
Or

Or
3. Click OK.
Altair Engineering

291
To select a contiguous range of Y nodes:

Select a node from the list while dragging the pointer to include nodes above or below the selected node.
Or
Hold down the shift key and select another node from the list.
The range of nodes between the first and second selections is highlighted.
292

Altair Engineering
To select a non-contiguous range of Y nodes:

1. Hold down the ctrl key.
2. Select nodes in any order from the list.
The selected nodes are highlighted in the list.
Altair Engineering

293
To select Y channels:
Click on a single channel.
Or
Click All to select every channel in the list.
Or
Click None to deselect every channel in the list.
Or
Click Flip to exchange the currently selected channels for the unselected channels in the list.
Or

Or
1. Make a selection from the list.
2. Click OK.
294

Altair Engineering
To select a contiguous range of Y channels:

Select a channel from the list while dragging the pointer to include channels above or below the selected
channel.
Or
Hold down the shift key and select another channel from the list.
The range of channels between the first and second selections is highlighted.
Altair Engineering

295
To select a non-contiguous range of Y channels:

1. Hold down the ctrl key.
2. Select channels in any order from the list.
The selected channels are highlighted in the list.
296

Altair Engineering
Building Plots with NASTRAN Punch Files

HyperGraph 2D is capable of directly reading NASTRAN punch files for complex displacement and Power
Spectral Density (PSD) results in SORT 1 format. Use the Complex Plot module to view the complex results and
the XY Plot module to view the PSD results. The complex data is categorized by Type, Subcase, Node, and
Channel. The PSD data is categorized by Type, Request, and Component.
X,Y Type
Y Subcase
A data file consisting of different data types. The available data types
depend on the data file.
Y subcase applies only to complex results.
X,Y Request
A data file consisting of different nodes on specific data types.
Y Node
X request applies only to PSD results.
X,Y Component
A data file consisting of different results on specific nodes (applies only to

PSD results).
Y Channel
Altair Engineering

297
To build a complex plot from a NASTRAN punch file:

1. From the Plot module menu, choose Complex Plot.
2. Select the Build Plots panel,
3. Click the file browser,
, and select the NASTRAN punch file you want to load.
4. Choose the X Type, Y Subcase, Y Node, and Y Channel and click Apply.
5. To query the curve information, select the Coordinate Info panel,
298

Altair Engineering
To build an XY Plot from a NASTRAN punch file:

1. From the Plot module menu, choose XY Plot.
2. Select the Build Plots panel,
3. Click the file browser,
, and select the NASTRAN punch file you want to load.
4. Choose the X Type, Y Type, Y Request, and Y Component and click Apply.
5. To query the curve information, select the Coordinate Info panel,
Altair Engineering

299
Multiple Curves
The Build Plots panel can generate multiple curves at once. The Layout option menu enables you to specify how
the plotted data is arranged on the page:
Use Current Plot
Every curve is overlaid in the active window. When one of

the following options is selected, the page layout icon, ,
becomes available next to the Show Legends check box.
One Plot Per Node
Each selected node is plotted in a new plot with the

corresponding channels overlaid.
For example, if two Y nodes and four Y channels are
selected, two plots are created with four curves in each
plot.
One Plot Per Channel
Each selected NASTRAN channel is plotted in a new plot

with the corresponding nodes overlaid.
For example, if two Y nodes and four Y channels are
selected, four plots are created with two curves in each
plot.
One Curve Per Plot

For all plotting options, a new page is created. The layout
of the new page can be selected from the page layout
button on the Build Plots panel. When the plots are built,
each window on the new page is filled. If more windows
are required, another page of the same layout is created.
Apply

The application automatically generates axis labels, plot
titles, and page names. They can be edited using the
Axes and Headers and Footers panels and the Page
List dialog.
Plots can contain up to six horizontal and six vertical axes.
All curves created using the Build Plots panel are
automatically assigned to the primary horizontal and
vertical axes.
Note
See Import Templates for more information on setting up headers and axis
labels inside of import templates.
See Define Curves and Axes for more information on adding axes and
assigning vectors to axes.
300

Altair Engineering
Plot Macros Panel - Complex Plot

The Plot Macros panel,
, allows you to create macros that produce curves and notes for plots. A plot macro
can include either a curve or note, or both a note and a curve.
Plot Macros panel in the Complex Plot module
Plot macros can be used to capture and replay frequently used curve operations such as adding two curves
together, filtering curves, or filtering and then curve fitting data. They can also be used for frequently used plot
notes. Plot macros can be created and edited in the program or loaded automatically by registering them in a
preference file.
All plot macros in the current session are listed in the Macro list. Macros can be cut, copied, and pasted using
the macro list. The parameters associated with the selected macro are displayed in the Parameters list.
Parameters can be either curve or scalar. Curve parameters are displayed as collectors. Click on a collector to
graphically select a curve from a plot. Double-click on a collector to display the Select Curve dialog. Scalar
parameters are displayed as text boxes. Parameters are usually used to collect curves from within the session to
use in mathematical expressions. The result calculation can utilize any math functions, including Templex
functions and external functions.
The Edit Plot Macro tabs allow you to add new plot macros to a session, and edit the curves and notes for
existing plot macros. The following tabs are displayed when you select Add or Edit from the Plot Macros panel:
Parameter
Add parameters for plots and notes.
Curve
Add or edit a plot macro curve.
Note
Add or edit a plot macro note.
Notes can be attached to windows, views, existing curves, coordinates, and curves created by the macro.
When you execute a plot macro by clicking Apply, the plot macro uses the parameters to create curves and
notes within the session. Undo reverses the execution of the plot macro. You can control the placement of the
resulting curves with the following options:
Place new curves Inserts the resultant curve(s) in original plots.
in original plots
Hide input curves
Original curve(s) are hidden but not deleted.

From the Edit Plot Macro dialog, select the option Hide input curves by default to set the
default state of the Hide input curves check box when you select a macro from the Macro
list.
Create new pages Places resultant curve(s) on a new page.

Use current plot
Places all resultant curve(s) in current plot.
Altair Engineering

301
When plot macros are added using the Plot Macros panel, they are saved in the session file. When plot macros
are added in the preference file, they cannot be edited in the Plot Macros panel and are not saved to the session
file.
302

Altair Engineering
Define Curves Panel - Complex Plot

Define Curves panel button,
, on the plotting toolbar to display the Define Curves panel.
Define Curves panel with Phase/Magnitude selected.
Define Curves panel with Real/Imaginary selected.
Select the Pha/Mag radio button to define Phase and Magnitude curves. Select the Real/Img radio button to
define Real and Imaginary curves. The y-axis labels change depending on the curve type you select. When you
change the curve type, HyperGraph 2D applies the following conversion equations to the plot data:
When converting real/imaginary curves to phase/magnitude curves, the conversion equation is:
y = a+bi
Phase = arctan(b/a)
Magnitude = sqrt(a*a+b*b)
When converting phase/magnitude curves to real/imaginary curves, the conversion equation is:
A = magnitude*cos(phase angle)
B = magnitude*sin(phase angle)
Note
It is assumed that for phase/magnitude data, phase is in degrees, not

radians.
If *AutoDefaultCurves() is turned on in the preference file and a curve is added to a plot with existing
curves, the new curve is a copy of the most recently added existing curve. If *AutoDefaultCurves() is
turned off, the new curve is empty.
Altair Engineering

303
Curve List
The Cut, Copy, Paste, and Add buttons are used to maintain the curve list for the active window. Curves can be
copied and pasted into other windows. Curves can also be added and deleted from the list.
304

Altair Engineering
Data Sources
Complex curves are comprised of an X data vector and a Y and Y2 data vector. The X and Y vectors can be
read from a data file, defined as mathematical expressions, or entered as values. The X and Y vectors of a curve
do not have to come from the same source. For instance, the data source for the X vector of a curve can be an
ASCII file and the source for the Y vector of the same curve can be defined by an expression such as sqrt(x).
File as a data source.
Math as a data source.
Values as a data source.
Altair Engineering

305

If File is selected as the source, the file panel is displayed, allowing you to select data files for the X, Y, and Y2
vectors.
File selected as the data source for a vector.
306

Altair Engineering

1. Select File.
3. Click on the X vector radio button.
4. Select an X vector data source from Subcase.
5. Click the Y vector radio button.
6. Select a Y vector data source from Subcase.
7. Click the Y2 vector radio button.
8. Select a Y2 vector data source from Subcase.
9. Click Apply.
Altair Engineering

307

1. Select a curve from the list or pick a curve from the window.
2. Click on the corresponding vector radio button to edit the X, Y, or Y2 data vector.
4. Click Apply.
308

Altair Engineering

mathematically.
Note

1. Select Math.
Altair Engineering

309

If Values is selected as the source, the Values table is displayed, allowing you to directly enter data point values.
larger dialog containing all X, Y, and Y2 data points.
310

, to view a
Altair Engineering

2. Select Pha/Mag or Real/Img.
3. Enter X, Y, and Y2 values in the Values table.
4. Click Apply.
Altair Engineering

311
To cut data point values:

3. Click Cut.
The X, Y, and Y2 data points are removed from the table.
312

Altair Engineering
To copy and paste data point values:

3. Click Copy.
4. Click Paste.
The data points are added to the next row in the table.
Altair Engineering

313

3. Click Insert.
A new row is added above the selected row. The X, Y, and Y2 data values are all zero by default, allowing you
to enter new values.
314

Altair Engineering
Creating and Defining Curves

The Define Curves panel enables you to edit existing curves and create new ones. In order to edit a curve, it
must first be selected either from the curve list or picked from the window.
If you are creating phase/magnitude curves, the x, yp, and ym vectors are displayed at the top of the Define
Curves panel. If you are creating real/imaginary curves, the x, yr, and yi vectors are displayed at the top of the
Define Curves panel. The data sources for the X and Y vectors are displayed in the text fields. Click the x, yp,
ym, yr, or yi vector radio button or in the corresponding text box to select that vector for editing.
The X and Y vectors on the Define Curves panel. The text field shows the data source for the vector.
Referencing Curves
pmwnco.vector
where:
page (p2).
The Curves dialog provides a fast, easy way of referencing curves. To display the Curves dialog, click
Curves...The dialog displays three lists: the Page list, the Window list, and the Curve list.
Page
list contains the names of pages in the current session.
Window list contains the names of the windows on the page selected on the Page list.
Curves list contains the names of the curves in the window selected on the Window list.
OK
insert the vector into the active expression.
Altair Engineering

315
To create a curve using the Define Curves panel:

1. Click Add under the curve list.
2. Enter a name for the untitled curve in the text field above the list and press enter.
3. Select the x vector by clicking on the x vector radio button.
4. Specify the data source for the x vector: File, Math, or Values.
If Math is selected as the data source, define the vector using the curve calculator to create a mathematical
expression. If File is selected as the data source, a small plot-building form is displayed that allows you to
select new data such as subcases and components. If Values is selected as the data source, define the
vector by entering x, yp, and ym values for phase/magnitude curves or x, yr, and yi values for real/imaginary
curves.
Note
You can scale an x or y vector by placing a multiplier in the text box

before or after the correct parameter field. For example:
316

Altair Engineering
Datum Lines Panel - Complex Plot

, allows you to add horizontal and vertical datum lines to plots.
Datum lines panel

Text
Create a label for a datum line.
Position
Position a datum line label. You can select Phase/Magnitude or

Real/Imaginary.
Line Attributes Set the attributes of a datum line. Click Use Preferences to use
the preferences set in the preferences.mvw file.
Altair Engineering

317
Curve Attributes Panel - Complex Plot

Attributes panel,
The Curve List
The curve list displays the names of the curves in the current window.
In order to change the attributes of a curve, it must first be selected either from the
curve list or picked from the window. Attributes can be assigned to more than one
curve at a time by selecting multiple curves from the list or holding down the ctrl key
while picking curves from the window. Attributes are applied only to selected
curves. Selected curves are highlighted in the list.
On/Off
The On/Off buttons enable you to turn the selected curves on or off in the display.
Click On to display the selected curves. Click Off to turn off the selected curves.
When a curve is turned off, the line and symbols are no longer displayed and the
legend does not include the curve information.
Label On/Off
The Label On/Off buttons enable you to turn curve legends on or off in the display.
Click Label On to display the legend for the current plot. Click Label Off to turn off
the legend for the current plot.
Use Preferences
Line and symbol attributes can be assigned automatically to selected curves using
the Use Preferences feature. When Use Preferences is selected from either Line
Attributes or Symbol Attributes, the default attributes defined in your personal
preferences file are automatically applied. If there is no preferences file available,
the programs built-in defaults are applied.
Shade area under line

Note
318
Shades the area under the curve line.

preferences file.

Altair Engineering
Line and Symbol Attributes

Lines
is displayed in the legend. There are five line styles available:
selected curves.
Select the Shade area under line option to fill in the are under the curve line with a solid color.
Symbols
Altair Engineering

319
Coordinate Info Panel - Complex Plot

The Coordinate Info panel enables you to retrieve individual point data on any curve in the active window. When
a point is selected, the point data is displayed on the panel.
Find Point controls, or selected from the point list.
The Point List
The point list displays the XY data points for the selected curve. The point number, the X-value, and the Y-phase
and Y-magnitude for each point is displayed in the list. Use the scroll bars to view the entire list. Click on a point
in the list to display the point data.
Point Data
Curve
Point
the X value of the data point
the Y value of the data point
Slope
Time
the timestep of the data point (if available)
320

Altair Engineering
Options Panel - Complex Plot

The Options panel,
allows you to set the default parameters for complex plots.
Options panel.
Session Tab
From the Session tab, you can select from the following options:
Save All Curve Data To Script File allows you to save the curve data to your session file.
Precision
Range Tab
On the Complex Plot module's Options panel, the Range tab includes three preference settings:
1. Use even cycles when fitting log axes
2. Use uniform aspect ration.
3. Default dynamic range (in decades)
By default, the program fits logarithmic curves using the minimum and maximum values of the data. Turn on Use
even cycles when fitting to fit logarithmic curves using the next power of 10 greater than the maximum and the
next power of 10 less than the minimum.
When you select Use Uniform Aspect Ratio, the aspect ratio of the plot area is locked. Distances between
values on the x-axis are the same as those on the y-axis.
The default dynamic range is used to calculate the minimum value shown when plotting non-positive numbers on
a log scale. The minimum value shown is equal to the maximum divided by 10 raised to the default dynamic
range. To specify a new dynamic range, enter a new range in the Default dynamic range text field or use the
buttons. The default is 4.
For example, if you use the default value of 4, four tics with a difference of one decade (ten placement) are
placed on the curve. 1E-005, 0.0001, 0.001, and 0.01 would be the tic increment used by default and the curve
for that particular axes would change accordingly. If the value were set to 3, then the tics on those axes would
change to 0.0001, 0.001, and 0.01. If the value were set to 2, then the tics on the axes would change to 0.001
and 0.01 and so on.
Color Tab
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to plot elements such as plot background, frame, grid lines, and the zero
line. Choose a plot element then select a color from the palette to change the color of the selected element.
Click Use Preferences to set the active HyperGraph 2D window's background, frame, grid line, zero line, header,
footer, tic, and note colors to the defaults specified in the preferences.mvw file.
Altair Engineering

321
Background
Changes the background color of the HyperGraph 2D window. The default is black.
Frame
Grid Line
Zero Line
Changes the zero line color.
Complex Tab
The Complex tab allows you to change the way in which complex plots are displayed.
Phase/Magnitude
Displays the Phase and Magnitude values on the y-axis.

You can also access this option from the Plot mouse menu. To activate the pop-up
menu, right-click in the HyperGraph 2D window.
Real/Imaginary
Displays the Real and Imaginary values on the y-axis.

Phase Constrain (-180 to Limits the range of the phase/magnitude on the plot.
180)
Swap Axis Position
Select to switch the position of the y-phase axis and y-magnitude axis.
Area Proportion
322
Use the slider bar to increase or decrease the height of the plot. Move the slider
toward Top to decrease the height of the upper plot increase the height of the lower
plot. Move the slider toward Bottom to increase the height of the top plot and
decrease the height of the lower plot.

Altair Engineering
Polar Plot
There are three polar plot types supported by HyperGraph 2D: vector, phase vs. magnitude, and radar.
Polar plots allow you to plot complex data and are very similar to HyperGraph 2D complex plots. The phase axis
for a polar plot is equivalent to the phase axis for a complex plot . The mag-axis for a polar plot is equivalent to the
magnitude axis for a complex plot. The key differences are plotted polar coordinates - only a single frequency is
displayed.
The polar plot toolbar is displayed when you select HyperGraph 2D from the application menu and the active
window is set to the Polar Plot mode, .
Plot type options
The following panels are available for plotting polar data:

Build Plots
The Build Plots panel enables you to quickly

construct fully annotated plots from a data file.
You can create multiple plots with a single click.
Define Curves
Individual curves can be edited using the Define

Curves panel. The Define Curves panel also
provides access to the curve calculator.
Define Tip-to-Tail
Function
Calculates and draws the tip-to-tail curve based

on the current plot.
Datum Lines
Datum lines can be added to plots using the

Datum Lines panel.
Curve Attributes
The appearance of each curve can be

customized for clear data presentation. Line
style and color, symbol style and color, and other
curve attributes can be modified on the Curve
Attributes panel.
Altair Engineering

323
Coordinate Info
Use the Coordinate Info panel to retrieve

individual point data such as point index, theta
and r coordinates, and the estimated slope.
Scales, Offsets, and Curve offsets and scales are set using the
Axis Assignments
Offsets panel. Offset and scaling values can be
applied to multiple curves on a single plot.
324
Axes
Axis attributes such as the scale, label, color,

and number of tics are set with the Axes panel.
Legends
Legends are displayed, positioned, and their

attributes are selected in the Legends panel.
Headers and
Footers
Plot headers and footers can be specified on

the Headers and Footers panel.
Options
Plotting options such as using even cycles when

fitting log axes and the default dynamic range are
set using the Options panel.

Altair Engineering
Build Plots Panel - Polar Plot

Curves panel. Select the Build Plots,
, icon on the polar plot toolbar to display the panel.
Build Plots Panel
Subcase
Select a subcase by either using the

buttons to scroll through the types of data in the open
file or clicking the down arrow to expand the list.
Data Type
Data files can consist of different types of data. The available data types depend on the data
file. Use the
buttons to scroll through the types of data in the open file or click the down
arrow to expand the list. If the left-most data type is set to frequency, it creates a vector plot.
If you specify the data type other than the default, it creates a phase vs.magnitude plot.
Request
Once the data type has been selected, the data request set needs to be selected. To do this,
use the
buttons to scroll through the requests or click the down arrow to expand the list.
Or, click the Phase Request button to launch the Phase Request dialog. This dialog
contains the same selections as the drop-down menu.
Request Filter
By default, all requests are shown. To search for a specific request, enter a string in the
Request: Filter text box and press ENTER. Only the requests that match the string are
displayed. The search request feature is case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the text
from the field and press ENTER.
Component
To select the data component, use the

buttons to scroll through the data components or
click
the
down
arrow
to
expand
the
list.
Or,
click the Phase Component button to launch the
Component Filter
Phase Component dialog. This dialog contains the same selections as the drop-down menu.
By default, all components are shown. To search for a specific component, enter a string in
the Component: Filter: text box and press ENTER. Only the components that match the string
are displayed. The search component feature is case sensitive. To clear a filter, remove the
text from the field and press ENTER.
Type
Convert Real/ImagSelect this option to convert Real/Imaginary results to Phase/Magnitude results.

to Pha/Mag
Altair Engineering

325
To plot data from a file with complex data plus a time or frequency vector:
1. From the Plot module menu, select Polar Plot.
2. From the toolbar, select the Build Plots panel.
3. Using the file browser, select a data file containing complex data of PHA/MAG or REL/IMG. The file should
also contain frequency values for complex data.
4. HyperGraph 2D populates the filename Subcase, Type, and Request fields.
5. HyperGraph 2D pairs up complex results and lists the paired names in the Component list.
6. Select a Type, Request(s), and complex Component(s).
7. From the Data Type drop-down menu, keep the default frequency data type for vector plots and change the
default phase vs.magnitude plots.
8. Click Apply.
The curve names, header and footer axes labels, and page titles are created.
9. The curves are plotted as vector plots or phase vs. magnitude plots. For the vector plots, it plot the vector(s)
for the current frequency (animation step).
Comment
If no time or frequency vectors exist, the reader does not provide a Time or Frequency vector. A phase
vs. magnitude plot is created instead.
326

Altair Engineering
To change the active frequency for files with complex data and a frequency vector:
Using the animation button
1. Select an polar plot from the active session.
2. Click the transient animation button,
Animation starts for all windows on the page.

At each animation step, the polar plot windows update to display the Magnitude and Phase values at the
animation steps frequency.
3. Click the transient animation button again.
The animation for the page stops.
Using the animation controls panel
OR, using the active polar plot
1. From the toolbar, select the Animation Controls panel.
2. Drag the slider bar to change the current animation frame.
At each animation step, the polar plot windows update to show the Magnitude and Phase values at the
animation steps frequency.
Using the status bar
1. Click the Frequency list in the status bar at the bottom of the HyperGraph 2D window
HyperGraph 2D displays the list of frequencies for all animation steps.
2. Select a frequency from the list or use the previous next,
arrows.
3. Click Apply or OK.

Only the polar plot updates to the time step that shows the frequency.
HyperGraph 2D locks the animation for the polar plot window for the selected time step.
4. Click the transient animation button or drag the animation slider bar.
Polar plots windows linked to a frequency selection from the toolbar are not animated with the rest of the
windows on the page.
Altair Engineering

327
To select a file with complex data but no frequency data:

2. From the toolbar, select the Build Plots panel.
3. Select a column or other HyperGraph 2D plot file that contains complex data but no frequency data.
HyperGraph 2D enables the Phase Request and Phase Component fields.
4. HyperGraph 2D populates the filename Subcase, Type, and Request fields.
5. Select the phase Type, Request and Component.
6. Select the magnitude Type, Request and Component.
7. Click Apply.
The curve names, header/footer axes labels, and page titles are created.
The curves are plotted as Phase/Magnitude plots.
Note
HyperGraph 2D requires that the Phase is in degrees.
Select Convert Real/Img to Pha/Mag if the data is in the real/imaginary format.
328

Altair Engineering
Multiple Curves - Polar Plot

The Build Plots panel can generate multiple curves at once. The Layout option menu enables you to specify how
the plotted data is arranged on the page:
Use Current Plot
Every curve is overlaid in the active window. When one of

the following options is selected, the page layout icon,
,
becomes available next to the Show Legends check box.
One Plot Per Request
Each selected request is plotted in a new plot with the

corresponding components overlaid.
For example, if two requests and four components are
selected, two plots are created with four curves in each
plot.
One Plot Per

Component
Each selected component is plotted in a new plot with the

corresponding requests overlaid.
For example, if two requests and four components are
selected, four plots are created with two curves in each
plot.
One Curve Per Plot

For all plotting options, a new page is created. The layout
of the new page can be selected from the page layout
button on the Build Plots panel. When the plots are built,
each window on the new page is filled. If more windows
are required, another page of the same layout is created.
Apply

The application automatically generates axis labels, plot
titles, and page names. They can be edited using the
Axes and Headers and Footers panels and the Page
List dialog.
Altair Engineering

329
Define Curves Panel - Polar Plot

Define Curves button,
, on the polar plot toolbar to display the Define Curves panel.
Define Curves panel
330

Altair Engineering
Curve List - Polar Plot

The Cut, Copy, Paste, Add P/M and Add R/I buttons are used to maintain the curve list for the active window.
Curves can be copied and pasted into other windows. Curves can also be added and deleted from the list.
Altair Engineering

331
Data Sources - Polar Plot

Vectors are comprised of Phase, Magnitude, and Frequency vectors. The vectors can be read from a data file,
defined as mathematical expressions, or entered as values. The vectors of a curve do not have to come from the
same source. For instance, the data source for the Phase and Magnitude vectors of a curve can be an ASCII file
and the source for the Frequency vector of the same curve can be defined by an expression such as 0:100:1.
332

Altair Engineering
File as Data Source - Polar Plot

If File is selected as the source, the file panel is displayed, allowing you to select data files for the vectors.
File selected as the data source for a vector
To set the vector source to File:

2. From the Define Curves panel, select the Phase, Magnitude, or Frequency radio button.
3. Under Source, select File.
4. Click the file browser to select a file with complex and frequency results.
The reader designates complex results marked with a PHA (Phase), MAG (Magnitude), REL, or IMG.
HyperGraph 2D populates the default Type, Request, and Component fields.
By default, HyperGraph 2D sets the plot Type field to Vector Plot. You can change the plot Type: to Pha/
Mag Plot or Radar Plot.The components also have complex labels. HyperGraph 2D disables the Frequency
field.
HyperGraph 2D disables the Format: toggle when you select Radar Plot.
6. You can define the data Type, Request, Component, and Subcase fields.
7. You can define the Format field on the right to specify whether the data is real/imaginary or phase/magnitude.
HyperGraph 2D changes the Phase = and Magnitude = field labels to Real = and Imaginary = when the
Format entry is defined or changed.
HyperGraph 2D does not change the axis labels in the Plot window to Real/Imaginary like it does for complex
plots
8. Click Apply or Enter.
HyperGraph 2D plots the curves.
Altair Engineering

333
Math as a Data Source - Polar Plot

mathematically.
Note

1. From the Define Curves panel, under Source, select Math.
334

Altair Engineering
Value as a Data Source - Polar Plot

If Values is selected as the source, a table is displayed that allows you to directly enter data point values.
larger dialog containing all x and y data points.
Altair Engineering
, to view a

335
Creating and Defining Curves - Polar Plot

The Define Curves panel enables you to edit existing curves and create new ones. To edit a curve, it must first
be selected either from the curve list or picked from the window.
The phase, magnitude, and frequency vectors are displayed at the top of the Define Curves panel. The data
sources for the vectors are displayed in the text fields. Click the Phase, Magnitude, or Frequency vector radio
button or in the corresponding text box to select that vector for editing.
Frequency, Phase and Magnitude vectors, Phase/Magnitude format, on the Define Curves panel
Frequency, Real, and Imaginary vectors, Real/Imaginary format, on the Define Curves panel
Referencing Curves
pmwnco.vector
where:
vector is the YM, YP, or "f" when referencing magnitude and phase for complex and polar plot curves.
vector is the YR, YI, or "f" when referencing real and imaginary for complex and polar plot curves.
For example, p2w1c3.ym references the Y magnitude vector (.y) of the third curve (c3), in first window (w1), on
the second page (p2).
The Curves dialog allows you to view the curves on a particular page within a session.
To display the polar plot Curves dialog
1. Under Source, select Math.
2. Click Curves....
The Curves dialog contains a tree structure that displays the current session and its pages, windows, and
curves.
3. Click Preview to preview any curve in the session in the Show Curve dialog.
336

Altair Engineering
Define Tip-to-Tail Panel

Using the Define Tip-to-Tail panel,
, you can calculate and draw the tip-to-tail function based on the current
plot. The tip-to-tail function is displayed immediately upon curve selection.
Define Tip-to-Tail Function panel
Based on
Select Off, All, Displayed, or Selected to determine the curve(s) on which the tip-totail function is defined.
Off - No vectors are selected and manual selection of curves is not permitted. No
resultant is displayed.
All - Bases the definition on all curves in the session. Manual selection of curves is
not permitted.
Displayed - Bases the definition only on the curves displayed in the window. You
can select curves manually. To remove a curve from the calculation process, select
the curve(s) from the Available curves list and click the forward arrow,
the curve(s) to the Exclude column.
to move
Selected - Bases the definition only on the curves that you select from the list.
Available curves
Lists the available curves in the current session.

All - Click All to select all curves in the list.
None - Click None to deselect all highlighted curves in the list.
Flip - Click Flip to exchange the currently selected curves for the unselected curves
in the list.
Exclude
Lists the curves that you have selected for exclusion from the Available curves list.
These curves are not included when defining the tip-to-tail function.
To return a curve back to the Available curves list, select it from the Exclude list and
click the back arrow,
Display attributes
Select a curve or curves from the Available curves list and select a line style or line
thickness from the color palette to change the display attributes of the selected
vector.
Use preferences
Select Use preferences to use the default preference file in the current session.
Altair Engineering

337
To define a tip-to-tail function and display attributes

1. From HyperGraph 2D, select the Polar Plot plot type from the plot type option menu.
2. From the toolbar, select the Define Tip-to-tail Function panel,
3. Under Based on, select All, Displayed or Selected for your selection method.
All - Bases the definition on all curves in the session. Manual selection of curves is not permitted.
Displayed - Bases the definition only on the curves displayed in the window. You can select curves manually.
To remove a curve from the calculation process, select the curve(s) from the Available curves list and click
the forward arrow,
, to move the curve(s) to the Exclude column.
Selected - Bases the definition only on the curves that you select from the list.
4. Once you've chosen your selection method, the tip-to-tail function is calculated and displayed on the polar plot.
To define the display attributes:

1. To change the line style and line thickness, select a curve or curves from the Available curves list.
2. Under Display Attributes, select a line style and line thickness.
The curve attributes change depending upon your selection.
3. Click Use Preferences to use the preferences defined in the current session.
338

Altair Engineering
To exclude a curve from the tip-to-tail calculation

2. From the toolbar, select the Define Tip-to-tail Function panel,
3. To remove a curve from the calculation process, select the curve(s) from the Available curves list and click
the forward arrow,
to move the curve(s) to the Exclude column.
4. To select non-contiguous curves in a list, select then first curve, then press the CTRL button while selecting the
next curve.
5. To add the curve back to the Available curves list, select if from the Exclude list and click the back arrow,
Altair Engineering

339
Datum Lines Panel - Polar Plot

, allows you to add radial and phase datum lines to polar plots.
Datum lines panel
Datum List
From the Datum list, you can select the datum line you want to modify.
A datum line can be hidden or displayed on a plot by activating the Datum check
box.
Use the drop-down menu next to the Datum check box to switch between phase
and radial datum lines.
You can cut, copy, paste or add datum lines to the list.
Label
From this tab, you can create a label for a datum line, select the datum line's
location on the screen, and enter a math expression to define the datum line's
location.
Line Attributes
340
Text
Enter a datum line label in the Text field. Select the font button to
change the font attributes.
Location
Select one of the location buttons to move that datum line to that
location in the plot window. For magnitude datum lines, the buttons
refer to the location in the plot window. For phase datum lines, the
location buttons work similar to XY plots, placing the label with
respect to the line.
Position
You can enter a single value or mathematical expression that returns

a single value to position the datum line on the plot.
From this tab you can set the attributes of a datum line. Click Use Preferences
to use the preferences defined in the preferences.mvw file.

Altair Engineering
Curve Attributes Panel - Polar Plot

Attributes panel,
The Curves List The Curves list displays the names of the curves in the current window.
To change the attributes of a curve, it must first be selected either from the Curves list or
picked from the window. Attributes can be assigned to more than one curve at a time by
selecting multiple curves from the list or holding down the CTRL key while picking curves from
the window. Attributes are applied only to selected curves. Selected curves are highlighted in
the list.
On/Off
The On/Off buttons enable you to turn the selected curves on or off in the display. Click On
to display the selected curves. Click Off to turn off the selected curves. When a curve is
turned off, the line and symbols are no longer displayed and the legend does not include the
curve information.
Label On/Off
The Label On/Off buttons enable you to turn curve legends on or off in the display. Click
Label On to display the legend for the current plot. Click Label Off to turn off the legend for
the current plot.
Lines Attributes Line styles can be assigned to curves to help differentiate different curves on a plot. The line
style for each curve is displayed in the legend. There are nine line styles available:
When None is assigned as a line style the line is no longer displayed but the symbols
assigned to the curve remain visible, creating a scatter plot of the curve. The curve is still
displayed in the legend.
In addition to different line styles, line thickness can also be assigned to a curve. The line
weight for each curve is displayed in the legend. Click on a line weight to change the
thickness of the currently selected curves.
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to a curve. Select a color from the color palette to
change the color of the selected curves.
Symbols
Attributes
Symbols can be placed on a curve to indicate data points. There are nine different symbols
available. To mark the data points on the currently selected curves, select a symbol from the
symbol palette. This is only available for Radar and Phase/Magnitude plots.
The frequency of the symbol placement is determined by the Every field. By default, Every is
set to 1 so symbols are placed at every data point. To change the symbol frequency, enter a
number in the Every field. For example, if Every is set to 5, a symbol is placed at every fifth
data point on the curve.
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to a symbol. Select a color from the Symbol Attributes
color palette to change the color of the symbols on the selected curves.
Altair Engineering

341
Scatter plots can be created by setting the line style of a curve to None and then assigning a
symbol to the curve.
Data Attributes A data attribute is non-plottable data that can be associated with a curve or vector.
The table on the Data Attributes tab lists the attributes that you can apply to a curve or vector.
An attribute may automatically be attached to vectors by external readers. The attributes in
the table are those common to all selected curves. Press Tab or ENTER to move between the
table columns.
Use
Preferences
Varname
Unique variable name (with respect to the curve or vector) of the

attribute. Two separate curves may have attributes with the same
varname. A varname can contain underscores, but not spaces. If a
varname is duplicated or contains a space, an error message is
displayed.
Label
The descriptive label of the attribute. The label name can be the same as
the varname. Label names can be duplicated or contain spaces.
Type
Drop-down menu that allows you to specify the type of attribute: integer,
float, or string. The default type is integer.
Attach To
Drop-down menu that allows you to select if the attribute should be

attached to the x vector, y vector, or curve. The default option is x
vector.
Value
The value of the attribute (must match the Type).
Line and symbol attributes can be assigned automatically to selected curves using the Use
Preferences feature. When Use Preferences is selected from either Line Attributes or
Symbol Attributes, the default attributes defined in your personal preferences file are
automatically applied. If there is no preferences file available, the programs built-in defaults
are applied.
preferences file.
Click Add to add an attribute to the table.

Click Delete to remove the selected attribute.
Click Apply to input the data attribute selection(s) made.
If there is no curve in the session, or a curve is not selected, these features are disabled.
Expressions or notes are automatically updated if the attribute value is changed. To reference an attribute, an
extension is added to the standard pwc curve reference syntax.
For example, if the varname attribute_1 is attached to a curve, reference the varname as p1w1c1.
attribute_1.
Attributes can be added to vectors from an external reader. If the attribute is attached to a vector, the varname
follows the letter x or y, which follows the basic curve reference syntax.
For example, if the varname attribute_1 is attached to the x-vector, reference the attribute as p1w1c1.x.
attribute_1.
If the varname attribute_1 is attached to the y-vector, reference the attribute as p1w1c1.y.attribute_1.
342

Altair Engineering
Coordinate Info Panel - Polar Plot

The Coordinate Info panel,
, enables you to review individual point data on any curve in the active window.
When a point is selected, the point data is displayed on the panel.
Find Point controls, or selected from the point list table.
The Point List
The point list displays the phase and magnitude data points for the selected curve. The point number, the phasevalue, and the mag-value for each point are displayed in the list. Use the scroll bars to view the entire list. Click
on a point in the list to display the point data. For vector plots, frequency is included in the value table.
Point Data
Curve
Point
Theta
the theta value of the data point
the r value of the data point
Slope
Freq
the current animation time step (frequency) and not the frequency of the picked point.
Phase in the table is shown in degrees.
The range boundaries can also be picked using the Find point controls.
Find Point controls.
Altair Engineering

343
Click:
To find:
or
the left-most or right-most end point.
or
the next point to the left or right.
global maximum of the curve across all frequencies of points.

HyperGraph 2D moves the cursor the Max magnitude value which is the
maximum value from the center of the polar plot and across all frequencies for
vector plots.
or
the next local maximum in the previous or next frequencies for vector plots.
the next or previous local maximum point for phase/magnitude and radar plots.
HyperGraph 2D moves to the next peak with respect to the center of the polar
plot.
the global minimum of the curve across all frequencies or points.

HyperGraph 2D moves the cursor the minimum magnitude value, which is the
minimum value from the center of the polar plot.
or
the next local minimum in the previous or next frequencies.

HyperGraph 2D moves to the next peak with respect to the center of the polar
plot.
Next Curve
the same frequency on the next curve for vector plots.

the same phase on the next curve for phase/magnitude and radar plots.
344

Altair Engineering
Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignments Panel - Polar Plot

Curve scaling, offsets, and axis assignments can be applied to multiple curves using the Scales, Offsets, and
Axis Assingments panel,
Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignments panel
Curves
The curves in the active window are displayed in the Curves list. Curves must be either
selected from the list or picked from the window in order to apply any scaling or offsets.
Settings apply only to selected curves. Selected curves are highlighted in the list.
Scale and Offset
When a data vector is scaled, the vector is multiplied by a specified value. The source data
values are not actually altered. Multiple curves can be scaled simultaneously.
Offsetting a data vector shifts the data along the corresponding axis. Multiple curves can be
offset at the same time.
You can enter math expressions, such as converting inches to meters, in the scale and offset
fields.
Altair Engineering

345
To scale phase vectors:

2. From the toolbar, select the Scales, Offsets, and Axis Assignements panel.
3. From HyperGraph 2D, select theSelect the curves to be scaled from the list.
4. Activate the Phase scale check box.
The selected curves are scaled along the phase axis.
346

Altair Engineering
To scale mag vectors:

4. Activate the Magnitude scale check box.
The selected curves are scaled along the mag axis.
Altair Engineering

347
To offset curves along the phase axis:

4. Turn on the Phase offset check box.
5. Enter the distance to shift the curves in the Phase offset text box.
The data is shifted to the right for positive values and to the left for negative values.
348

Altair Engineering
To offset curves along the mag axis:

4. Turn on the Magnitude offset check box.
5. Enter the distance to shift the curves in the Magnitude offset text box.
The data is shifted up for positive values and down for negative values.
Altair Engineering

349
Options Panel - Polar Plot

The Options panel,
, allows you to set default parameters for polar plots.
Options panel
Options panel/Range tab
Options panel - Color tab
Session
The Session tab includes these options:

Save All Curve Data to Script File
Choose this option to save all curve data to the

session file.
Precision
Range
The Range tab includes these options:

Use even cycles when fitting log axes
350
By default, HyperGraph 2D fits logarithmic

curves using the minimum and maximum values
of the data. Select Use even cycles when
fitting to fit logarithmic curves using the next
power of 10 greater than the maximum and the
next power of 10 less than the minimum.

Altair Engineering
Default dynamic range (in decades)
Calculates the minimum value shown when

plotting non-positive numbers on a log scale.
The minimum value shown is equal to the
maximum divided by 10 raised to the default
dynamic range. To specify a new dynamic
range, enter a new range in the Default dynamic
range text field or use the
default is 4.
buttons. The
For example, if you use the default value of 4,

four tics with a difference of one decade (ten
placement) are placed on the curve. 1E-005,
0.0001, 0.001, and 0.01 would be the tic
increment used by default and the curve for that
particular axes would change accordingly. If the
value were set to 3, then the tics on those axes
would change to 0.0001, 0.001, and 0.01. If the
value were set to 2, then the tics on the axes
would change to 0.001 and 0.01 and so on.
Color
Any of the 64 colors can be assigned to plot elements such as plot background, frame, grid lines,
and the zero line. Choose a plot element, then select a color from the palette to change the color
of the selected element.
Background
Changes the background color of the HyperGraph 2D window. The

default is black.
Frame
Grid Line
Quadrant Line
Changes the quadrant line color.
Use Preferences
Sets the active HyperGraph 2D window's background, frame, grid

line, quadrant line, header, footer, tic, and note colors to the defaults
specified in the preferences.mvw file.
Altair Engineering

351
HyperGraph Solver Interfacing

The following sections describe support for various solvers in HyperGraph.
Abaqus
LS-DYNA
Nastran
OptiStruct
PAM-CRASH
PAM-CRASH 2G
RADIOSS
352

Altair Engineering
Interfacing with Abaqus

This section discusses how the HyperGraph applications interface with the Abaqus solver.
ODB History Results in the HyperView Plot Window

The Abaqus ODB reader in the HyperView and HyperGraph plot window reads both field and history results from
the Abaqus ODB file. The history result names are post-fixed with (Time History). Results without this postfix are
field data. Time history results have two components (or columns): Time and Value.
The Time component is the first column of the result. The value can be time steps, frequency, or mode number,
depending on the analysis types.
Note: Time data for different result types can be different. It is recommended to use both the Time and Value
Altair Engineering

353
Interfacing with Nastran

This section discusses how the HyperGraph applications interface with the Nastran solver.
Supported Nastran Results
354

Altair Engineering
Supported Nastran Results

hgnastpch_freq External Reader
HyperGraph directly reads Nastran punch files SOL 108 and SOL 111 and supports the following result types:
Displacement (regular and PSD format)
Velocity (regular and PSD format)
Acceleration (regular and PSD format)
SPC and MPC forces
Element forces (CELAS1, CELAS2, CDAMP, CDAMP2, CBUSH).
Nastran .op2 Files

HyperGraph also reads Nastran .op2 files from the following solution and result types:
Solution Types
SOL101
SOL103
SOL105
SOL108
SOL109
SOL111
SOL112
Result Types
Displacement
Rotation
Velocity
Acceleration
SPC Forces
Stress
Strain
1D Forces (CBEAM, CELAS1, CGAP,
CBAR)
2D Forces
Strain Energy
Altair Engineering

355
Nastran .f06 Files

HyperGraph reads Nastran .f06 files for the following results types:
SOL200: Design Variables and Design Objectives
SOL108, 111: Modal Participation Factors
HyperMesh .res Files

HyperGraph also reads HyperMesh .res files created by hmnast and hmnasto2.
Summary of Nastran Support in HyperGraph

Functionality
HyperGraph Support
Reads results file directly
PCH, OP2
Reads translated results
PCH (hmnast: HMRES)

OP2 (hmnast02:HMRES)
Supported SOLs
PCH translated: 101, 103, 105, 106, 107,

108, 109, 110, 111, 112
PCH direct: 108, 109
OP2 translated: 101, 103, 105, 106, 107,
108, 109, 110, 111, 112
OP2 direct: None in 7.0.
OP2 direct: any SOLs with SA-006 patch.
Nastran version supported
356
2005

Altair Engineering
Interfacing with LS-DYNA

Hypergraph can read the following ASCII files and the corresponding information in binary format in binout from
the LSDYNA solver.
Supported ASCII files in HyperGraph

ABSTAT
BNDOUT
DEFORC
ELOUT
GLSTAT
JNTFORC
MATSUM
NCFORC
NODFOR
NODOUT
RBDOUT
RCFORC
RWFORC
SBTOUT
SECFORC
SLEOUT
SPCFORC
SPHOUT
SWFORC
TRHIST
Unsupported ASCII files in HyperGraph

SSTAT
DCFAIL
ABSTAT_CPM
Altair Engineering

357
Supported binary files

HyperGraph can read all the ASCII file data supported in binary format present in the binout file. In addition, it
can read ABSTAT_CPM , DCFAIL results in binout file.
Supported animation files

The result file d3plot, intforc can be directly read in HyperGraph and plotted for the available outputs in the results
file.
358

Altair Engineering
Interfacing with OptiStruct

This section discusses how the HyperGraph applications interface with the OptiStruct solver.
HyperGraph
Altair Engineering

359
HyperGraph
This section explains how HyperGraph interfaces with the OptiStruct solver.
HyperGraph hgopt External Reader
360

Altair Engineering
Interfacing with PAM-CRASH

This section discusses how the HyperGraph applications interface with the PAM-CRASH solver.
HyperGraph hgdaisy External Reader
HyperGraph hgthp External Reader
Altair Engineering

361

Description
Supports
Does Not Support
Reads PAM-CRASH and

PAM-CRASH 2G DSY
into HyperGraph.
NODES
Displacements
Velocities
Accelerations
Stamp options.
No ESI license is
DSY files are also
supported.
BEAMS and BARS

FAXI-Axial force
MTOR-Torsion moment
MSN1-S moment at n1
MTN1-T moment at n1
MSN2-S moment at n2
MTN2-T moment at n2
SHELLS
MXX- Local bending moment about x-axis
MYY- Local bending moment about y-axis
MXY- Local twisting moment in xy plane
EPMA- Maximum plastic strain over thickness
EPMI- Minimum plastic strain over thickness
NXX- Local membrane stress resultant in xdirection
NYY- Local membrane stress resultant in ydirection
NXY- Local in-plane shear membrane stress
resultant
SOLIDS
TOOLS
362

Altair Engineering
Usage
(ABF files):
To run in HyperGraph:
DSY files directly into HyperGraph.
Altair Engineering

363
HyperGraph hgthp External Reader

Description
Supports
Reads PAM-CRASH and

PAM-CRASH 2G THP
files (time history files
into HyperGraph.
The PAM-CRASH and PAM-SAFE options. The PAM-STAMP

option.
Solid Elements
Also reads ASCII files

generated by exporting
curves from PAMVIEW.
Does Not
Support
Only the first seven variables of Table A in

the PAM-CRASH Notes Manual, Plot
Output 5, (output qualifiers SXYZ and
EPLE).
Shell and Membrane Elements
hgthp can be run from

the command prompt to
convert THP files into
Altair Binary Files (ABF
files).
Only the first fourteen variables of Table A

in the PAM-CRASH Notes Manual, Plot
Output 7, (output qualifiers MXYZ to
STRA).

reader.
Results for nodal time histories,

transmission sections, airbags, airbag
chambers, airbag walls, materials,
contacts, and rigid walls are also
supported.
Beam and Bar Elements Only the first

Pamcrash2003 THP files fourteen variables of Table A in the PAMare also supported.
CRASH Notes Manual, Plot Output 13,
(output qualifiers FAXI to RTN2).
No ESI license is
A new data type, shell_user, is added to

display the results for user-defined shell
materials.
Usage
THP files or PAMVIEW ASCII files directly into HyperGraph.
364

Altair Engineering
Interfacing with PAM-CRASH 2G

This section discusses how the HyperGraph applications interface with the PAM-CRASH 2G solver.
HyperGraph hgthp Results Reader
Altair Engineering

365

Description
Supports
Does Not Support
Reads PAM-CRASH and

PAM-CRASH 2G DSY
into HyperGraph.
NODES
Displacements
Velocities
Accelerations
Stamp options.
No ESI license is
DSY files are also
supported.
BEAMS and BARS

FAXI-Axial force
MTOR-Torsion moment
MSN1-S moment at n1
MTN1-T moment at n1
MSN2-S moment at n2
MTN2-T moment at n2
SHELLS
MXX- Local bending moment about x-axis
MYY- Local bending moment about y-axis
MXY- Local twisting moment in xy plane
EPMA- Maximum plastic strain over thickness
EPMI- Minimum plastic strain over thickness
NXX- Local membrane stress resultant in xdirection
NYY- Local membrane stress resultant in ydirection
NXY- Local in-plane shear membrane stress
resultant
SOLIDS
TOOLS
366

Altair Engineering
Usage
(ABF files):
DSY files directly into HyperGraph.
Altair Engineering

367
HyperGraph hgthp Result Reader

Description
Supports
Does Not
Support
Reads PAM-CRASH and PAMCRASH 2G THP files (time history

files generated by the solver) into
HyperGraph.
The PAM-CRASH and PAMSAFE options.
The PAMSTAMP option.
Solid Elements
Only the first seven variables of

Table A in the PAM-CRASH
Notes Manual, Plot Output 5,
hgthp can be run from the command (output qualifiers SXYZ and
prompt to convert THP files into Altair EPLE).
Binary Files (ABF files).
Shell and Membrane Elements
Pamcrash2003 THP files are also
Only the first fourteen variables
supported.
of Table A in the PAM-CRASH
No ESI license is required to use this Notes Manual, Plot Output 7,
reader.
(output qualifiers MXYZ to
STRA).
Also reads ASCII files generated by
exporting curves from PAMVIEW.
Beam and Bar Elements Only

the first fourteen variables of
Table A in the PAM-CRASH
Notes Manual, Plot Output 13,
(output qualifiers FAXI to RTN2).
Results for nodal time histories,
transmission sections, airbags,
airbag chambers, airbag walls,
materials, contacts, and rigid
walls are also supported.
A new data type, shell_user, is
added to display the results for
user-defined shell materials.
Usage
THP files or PAMVIEW ASCII files directly into HyperGraph.
368

Altair Engineering
Interfacing with RADIOSS

This section discusses how the HyperGraph applications interface with the RADIOSS solver.
HyperGraph hgradioss External Reader
Altair Engineering

369
HyperGraph hgradioss External Reader

Description
Supports
Does Not
Support
Reads RADIOSS T01

files (result files
into HyperGraph.
Global Variables
NSTRAND
PARTS
PROP
MAT
NODE
BRIC
QUAD
SHEL, SH3N
BEAM
TRUSS
SPRING
ACCEL
SECTIO
CYL_JO
MONV
RWALL
RBODY
INTER
SUBS
Usage
hgradioss(.exe) f fileT01 outfile
By default, this reader is registered. If not, please register it before reading T01 files directly into HyperGraph. It
is located in the HWDIR\externalreaders\ directory.
Notes:
HyperGraph now supports T01, T01a, .. T01i time history files
HyperGraph now supports _0001.thy, _0001a.thy, ._0001i.thy time history files
Hyperview support #T01, @T01 files from RAD2NOISE tool
Hyperview support .lst files from HELIOSS
370

Altair Engineering

HyperGraph 2D

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

HyperGraph 2D

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

HyperGraph 2D 11.

Altair Engineering Contact Information

Address: ftp.altair.com or ftp2.altair.com or http://ftp.altair.com/ftp

The following countries have distributors for Altair Engineering:

HyperWorks 11.0 Release Notes

Trademark and Registered Trademark Acknowledgments

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

Graphical User Interface

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

Panel/Dialog Reorganization in HyperGraph 2D 11.0

New 11.0 Location

Build Plots button on the Curves > Build Plots

Plot Macros button on

Define Curves button on Curves > Define Curve

Define Tip to Tail

Define Tip to Tail button Curves > Define Tip to

(Polar Plot plot type

Curves > Plot Macros

Datum Lines button on

Modify Curves button on Curves > Modify Curves

Curve Attributes button

Coordinate Info button on Curves > Coordinate

Statistics button on the

Scales, Offsets, and

Scales, Offsets, and Axis Curves > Scales, Offsets,

Axes button on the

Annotations > Axes

Legends button on the

Annotations > Legends

Annotations > Headers/

Notes button on the

Annotations > Notes

Options button on the

Preferences > Options

New Plot button on the

File > New > Plot

Curves > Datum Lines

Curves > Curve

Curves > Statistics

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

Plot Type Options

Plot type option menu.

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

The Session Browser is detailed in the HyperWorks Desktop Framework help.

HyperGraph 2D Plot browser

HyperGraph 2D 11.0 User's Guide

Context Sensitive Menu

Context sensitive menu with Single Curve Math options

Context sensitive menu with Multiple Curve Math options

Turns on a curve in the display window.

Turns off a curve in the display window.

Deletes the curve from the session.

Performs math functions on a single curve, which results in the creation of a

Performs math functions on a multiple curves, which results in the creation of a