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User Interface
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a Graphical User Interface generally known as the client workspace. This interface appears when you launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+ interactively.
Using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Workspace
This chapter shows you how to use the various components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, with a focus on the user interface.
Guide to the Graphics Window
The graphics window displays viewable objects such as scenes and plots. The window also hosts interactive views such as the 3D-CAD view and the surface repair environment.
Moving the View
When one or more parts of the simulation are visible in the graphics window, you can examine them in detail by moving the point of view. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides several methods by which you can change the point of view.
Alternative View Controllers
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ supports alternatives to the keyboard and mouse for controlling the view. These alternatives are joysticks, trackballs, and 3DConnexion devices.

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User Interface
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a Graphical User Interface generally known as the client workspace. This interface appears when you launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+ interactively.
- Using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Workspace
  This chapter shows you how to use the various components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, with a focus on the user interface.
  - Using the Workspace
    If you have used any GUI-based applications (such as Microsoft Word), you will have little difficulty using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workspace.
  - Using the Menus
    The menu bar is typical of GUI-based applications. It can be navigated with the mouse or with the keyboard.
  - Using the Toolbars
    Like the menu bars, the toolbars are typical of GUI-based applications, providing easy access to the most common actions.
  - Using the Explorer Pane
    The Explorer pane is typically docked on the left of the workspace.
  - Using the Table Editor
    The table editor combines the functionality of the simulation tree and Properties window.
  - Using the Properties Window
    The Properties window is a single location where all of the properties for a selected object can be viewed and manipulated.
  - Guide to the Graphics Window
    The graphics window displays viewable objects such as scenes and plots. The window also hosts interactive views such as the 3D-CAD view and the surface repair environment.
    - Object-to-Window Association
      The scenes in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ always display an up-to-date view of the server objects.
    - Contextual Right-Click Menus
      Right-click menus give you control over visualization where you need it.
    - Moving the View
      When one or more parts of the simulation are visible in the graphics window, you can examine them in detail by moving the point of view. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides several methods by which you can change the point of view.
      - Alternative Mouse Behavior
        Within Simcenter STAR-CCM+, it is possible to change the configuration of the mouse in order to suit your preferred working environment. You can change the default mouse behavior to mimic the behavior provided in Pro/E, NX, or SolidWorks.
      - View Keyboard Controls
        With keystrokes, you can interact with the scene in the First Person mode. Additionally, you can make rapid changes to the scene view.
      - Alternative View Controllers
        Simcenter STAR-CCM+ supports alternatives to the keyboard and mouse for controlling the view. These alternatives are joysticks, trackballs, and 3DConnexion devices.
    - Arranging Multiple Graphics Windows
      You can display multiple scenes and/or plots in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workspace at one time, including displays from multiple simulations, and arrange them as you like.
    - Measuring Distances
      You can measure distances in the scene. Depending where in the scene you click, these distances can be among vertices, cells and/or the background of the scene.
    - Obtaining Hardcopies
      You can print the contents of a display.
    - Probing for Scalar Data in a Scene
      You can obtain scalar data for a particular cell in an open scalar scene.
    - Selecting Objects in the Graphics Window
      Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a toolbar that lets you select objects in a scene with precision.
    - Visualization Options Reference
  - Using the Output Window
    The Output window gives a precise text description of all developments within the simulation.
  - Using Keyboard Shortcuts
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ accommodates keystrokes for a host of activities.
  - Conditions, Values, and Profiles
    Throughout the simulation tree, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ presents groups of condition nodes and their matching value nodes. For example, a boundary object has child nodes on which you choose physics conditions, and child nodes on which you set physics values. These values are quantities such as velocity, temperature, or density. The particular values available for change depend on what you set in the conditions.
  - Tables
    Tables refer to objects in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ containing tabular data.
- What Are the Important Concepts?
  This section presents the key concepts you come across when using Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Working with Simulation Objects
  Objects are the key components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. They represent various aspects of a simulation and have properties that you can set as required for your particular problem.
- Automation
  The Automation node provides easy access to a number of frequently used automated processes.
- Expressions
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can define property values using expressions, which you write using a function language that is a subset of the C programming language. Expressions can define mathematical expressions or perform other operations, such as interpolating tabular data from XY tables in the simulation.
- Global Parameters
  Global parameters include scalar and vector physical quantities (for example, 120.0 K or [0.0, 1.0, 0.0] m) that can be defined once and used in multiple objects. Another type of global parameter is a file, currently used for the Replace Parts operation in Geometry > Operations and in Design Manager.
- Field Functions
  Field functions allow you to access fields (scalar or vector data that are evaluated at cells, vertices, or boundary faces) in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. You can use field functions to visualize the computed fields, to specify boundary and region values, or to define initial conditions.
- Engineering Units
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ has flexible and customizable support for engineering units. The standard SI and USCS systems are built in, and you can add new units as desired. Physical quantities can be specified and displayed in any of these units. Individual quantities can be specified with new units on the fly by simply typing something like “80 mph”.
- Simulation Operations
  Simulation operations allow you to automate the solution processes in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ without using Java macros. Condition and loop operations provide the basic logic control common to many programming languages.
- Staged Physics
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, staged physics allows you to store multiple configurations of physics settings and apply them in sequence during a simulation. Simulation operations provide the framework in which physics stages are applied.
- Working with Volume Shapes
  A volume shape is a closed geometric figure that can be shaped as a block, cone, cylinder, or sphere.
- Simulation Guide
  The simulation guide is a single embedded document that you can edit within a simulation file. This document can contain formatted text, tables, images, and hyperlinks to nodes in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ object tree or external web resources.
- Template Simulation Files
  Template simulation files allow you to define pre-configured setups for use in new simulations. When used in conjunction with query-based selection, template files present a powerful technique for automating repeat analyses on similar geometries.
- Scripting the Application
  Scripting allows you to work more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks.
- Working with User Code
  User code allows Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to be customized with functions written in a compiled language such as C, C++ or Fortran.
- Working with the Plugins Manager
  The Plugins Manager makes it possible to install and manage NetBeans modules for Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Simulation Assistants
  A Simulation Assistant provides a visual workflow within the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ user interface (UI).
- Wizard Guide
  This part of the documentation illustrates how Simcenter STAR-CCM+ is used for special application tools and projects.

Alternative View Controllers

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ supports alternatives to the keyboard and mouse for controlling the view. These alternatives are joysticks, trackballs, and 3DConnexion devices.

Joystick

All the operations are executed simply by clicking the mouse, no mouse movement is necessary. The function of each mouse button is the same as for STAR Default, described above.

The rotate, roll, and zoom functions operate around the center of the model. So in zoom, for example, if the center of the model is at the right of the display, it will appear that the model is moving towards a point out to your right, rather than coming towards you, as you zoom in.

Trackball

All the operations are executed by dragging the mouse with the relevant mouse button held down. The function of each mouse button is the same as for STAR Default, described above.

The rotate, roll, and zoom functions operate around the center of the model. So in zoom, for example, if the center of the model is at the right of the display, it will appear that the model is moving towards a point out to your right, rather than coming towards you, as you zoom in.

3Dconnexion (Windows Only)

Currently Simcenter STAR-CCM+ supports 3Dconnexion hardware only on Windows. Only basic view navigation through the controller cap/handle is supported. Its function keys and other special keys are not supported.

To use this hardware with Simcenter STAR-CCM+:

Download and install the 64-bit version of the 3Dconnexion driver from .
From the main menu, select Tools > Options.
The Options dialog appears.
Select the STAR-CCM+ > Visualization node and activate the Enable 3Dconnexion devices option.
When this option is active, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ periodically polls to see if a 3Dconnexion device has been added. If it has, manipulating the device changes the view in the currently active scene.
Adjust the sensitivity of the device in 3Dconnexion sensitivity.
This value ranges from 0.0 to 1.0 and controls how much the view changes.

You can also adjust the sensitivity of the device through the 3Dconnexion Control Panel.