Managing Data in a Plot

You can make various types of simulation data available for plotting: monitors, tabular data, and derived data.

A data set defines the source of data and the style of plotting the data. Four types of data sets are available to plots in Simcenter STAR-CCM+:

Internal data set (or part data set)—consists of data from a part surface, a model part such as a boundary, or a derived part such as a line or point probe. For example, if you have reference data at a set of locations, you might create point probes at the corresponding coordinates in your simulation and add the point probe parts to your XY plot.
Monitor data set—represents the values collected by report-based monitors.
Tabular data set—represents the contents of a table made available to a plot. This can be useful for plotting the data alone or against other data for comparison. However, you must have read a table into Simcenter STAR-CCM+ beforehand.
Derived data set—represents a monitor plot’s access to the contents of a derived monitor data set or derived tabular data set within a data set function, such as a Fast Fourier Transform. For details, see What Are Derived Monitor Data Sets? and What Are Derived Tabular Data Sets?

XY and histogram plots can receive tabular data sets. Monitor plots, however, can receive monitors, tabular data sets, and derived data sets.

Use the following techniques:

Action

Instructions

Add one or more data sets

Use either of the following techniques:

The object selector dialog:
1. Right-click on the Data Series node and select Add Data.
2. In the object selection dialog that appears, make your selections and click OK.
  
  Note The objects that appear in the object selector dialog are of all available data objects in the simulation, not necessarily the ones that are used by the plot.
Drag-and-drop:
1. Multi-select the nodes of the data sets in the object tree.
2. Drag and drop the group onto the Data Series node.

Swap tabular data columns between plot axes

Open the Plots node, the individual plot (monitor or XY) node and the Tabular node.
Right-click the node of the tabular object and select Swap Columns.

Assuming you have the plot display open, the effect appears immediately.

Display the data in tabular form

Right-click the node of the table, plot, or data set and select Tabulate.

Remove a data set from a plot

Right-click on its node and select Delete.

Customize data display in the plot

Adjust the order of appearance of data sets in a plot display

Right-click on the Data Series node and select Reorder Data Series. For details, see instructions for changing the order of multiple data series in a plot.