SMS:Scatter Data Menu

Most of the SMS modules have a Data menu, but the items in this menu are different for each module. The menu items work with the active scatter set unless otherwise noted. The Scatter Module commands include:

Dataset Commands

• Data Calculator – Can be used to perform mathematical operations with datasets to create new datasets.
• Dataset Toolbox – Opens the Data Toolbox containing various tools to work with datasets.
• Create Datasets – Brings up the Create Datasets dialogue for creating functions for the active scatter set.
• Smooth Size Dataset – Opens the Smooth Dataset dialog that can be used to condition scattered data scalar values.
• Transform – Brings up the Transform dialog. The Transform command is used to move scatter points.
• Zonal Classification – Can be used to identify areas that meet a set of criteria. The criteria can be based upon scalar dataset values and/or specific material ids in a coverage. Opens the Classification Wizard.

Visualization Commands / Options

• Contour Options – Brings up the Display Options dialogue. See Contour Display Options for more information.
• Vector Options – Brings up the Display Options dialogue. See Vector Visualization for more information.
• Film Loop – Opens the Film Loop Setup Wizard. See Animation for more information.

Data Conversion Commands

• Scatter → Mesh

The scatter points are converted to a mesh by this command. All functional data, scalar and vector, is copied to the mesh. The mesh nodes can be triangulated in the Mesh module using the menu command Elements | Triangulate.

• Scatter Contour → Feature

When this command is invoked, the Create Contour Arcs dialog opens. For more information, see Create Contour Arcs.

• Boundary → Feature

The outer boundary of the scatter set is converted to Map module arcs. Arcs are created where scatter triangles do not border another triangle.

Scatter Commands

• Find

This menu item allows you to find a specific scatter point either by specifying its ID or by specifying the nearest (x,y) coordinate. This can be useful if one specific scatter point needs to be located in a large scatter set.

• Scatter Filter

There are two filter options. The first option is to filter by adjacent triangle normal angle filter. The second option is to filter by using the VTK Decimate Pro.

You can access the Filter Options dialog by going to Data | Filter... while in the Scatter Module.

• Filter – Adjacent Triangle Normal Angle Filter

Redundant and overlapping data may exist in a scatter. SMS offers the ability to filter the data and remove unnecessary data points in relatively flat areas in the Filter option from the Scatter module, Data menu. The user specifies an angle. Each data point is checked to see if it is in a flat region by dotting the normals of the surrounding triangles.

File:Filter diagram.bmp

If the normals are all within the specified angle, the region is flat and the point is deleted.

• Filter – VTK Decimate Pro

VTK Decimate Pro is a filter to reduce the number of triangles in a triangle mesh, forming a good approximation to the original geometry. To get a detailed description of the options to set when performing this kind of filter, please visit the website:

http://www.vtk.org/doc/release/4.0/html/classvtkDecimatePro.html

• Select/Delete Duplicate Points

This menu item changes according to the option set in the Scatter Options dialog. In the options, the user can opt to select or delete duplicate points and set a tolerance. The check works by checking each point and selecting/deleting any point that is within the tolerance. Points with lower ids are checked first; the point with the higher id is therefore selected/deleted.

Related Topics

• Scatter Module
• Scatter Module Menus
• Create Coastline
• Coastline Files