GMS:3D Grid Viewing Modes

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3D Grid Module
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3D Grid
Creating and Editing
Viewing Modes
Converting to Other Data Types
Exporting Grids
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Display Options
Tool Palette
Cell Properties
MODFLOW Display Options
MODPATH Display Options
MT3DMS Display Options
3D Grid Commands

When a 3D cell-centered grid is in memory, two viewing modes are available: General Mode and Orthogonal Mode. The general mode is the default mode and it is the mode used when a cell-centered 3D grid is not in memory. In general mode you can view the grid from top, front, or side view or from any oblique view. With the orthogonal view, the viewing directions are restricted to three views: looking down the i, j, or k axes. As you look down an axis, you view one row, column, or layer at a time. Oblique views and shading are not available in the orthogonal mode. The default viewing mode for cell-centered 3D grids is the orthogonal mode. Thus, whenever a new cell-centered grid is created or read from a file, GMS automatically goes into the orthogonal viewing mode

There are two main advantages of the orthogonal mode:

  • It is a convenient way to view and manipulate layered models such as MODFLOW.
  • Since you only view one row, column, or layer at a time, there are fewer things to display. Thus, redrawing a grid is much faster.

Switching Modes

A command is provided in the View menu for switching between the orthogonal and general viewing modes. If the current mode is orthogonal, the menu command titled Ortho Mode is selected. If the current mode is general, the command titled General Mode is selected. There is also a toolbar Macro that can be used to switch the mode .

Mini-Grid Plot

When in orthogonal mode, the Mini-Grid Plot is activated in the Tool Palette. The plot shows which row, column, or layer is currently being displayed. The edit field and arrows just beneath the plot can be used to change the current row, column, or layer. To change the view, select one of the View Along I Axis, View Along J Axis, or View Along K Axis macros at the bottom of the Tool Palette.

True Layer Mode

With MODFLOW models, a special viewing option called the True Layer mode is available. MODFLOW includes a set of top and bottom elevation arrays for each layer. These arrays can be edited using the Top Elevation and Bottom Elevation arrays accessed through the MODFLOW Global/Basic Package dialog. These arrays can be used to display the vertical variations in the stratigraphy when in one of the side views in orthogonal viewing mode or when in oblique view in general mode. The True layer display option is found on the 3D Grid tab of the Display Options dialog. That option controls the display of the vertical variations in stratigraphy based on data from the MODFLOW elevation arrays.