Draw Shapes

The Draw Shapes command provides tools to quickly create polyhedra, boxes, cylinders, and spheres. The created shapes can be of grid, database, or source type (refer to the Terminology section for further details). This command does not require selection.

Select Create, Draw Shapes. A submenu (shown below) is provided to choose from a list of all the available shape types: Polygon, Box, Cylinder, and Sphere. This will be the default shape type applied when the Draw Shapes panel opens.

Draw Shapes Submenu
The Draw Shapes submenu is used to select the default shape type used upon opening the Draw Shapes panel.
 

Tip: When inside the Draw Shapes panel, keep in mind the following keyboard shortcuts to switch between the different modes: D for Drawing, E for Enclosing, T for Translate, R for Rotate, S for Scale, and A for Align to View. Additionally, you can use the P shortcut to loop between the available Pivot options. Once in the desired mode, use the same keyboard shortcut to toggle between the local and global coordinate systems.

Draw Shapes Panel
Use the Draw Shapes panel to create general shapes of the specified type.

Entity Type

At the top of the Draw Shapes panel, you will find the Entity Type frame (shown below) where you can choose the entity type of your new shape: Grid, Database, or Source (refer to the Terminology section for further details).

When you enter the Draw Shapes panel for the first time, the Grid Entity Type will be selected by default. Otherwise, it will be set to the latest type selected when the panel was last opened.

Draw Shapes Entity Type
Use the Entity Type frame to select whether a new shape will be an entity of Source or Database type.

Note that, while being created, the shapes of grid, database, and source types will be be rendered in the Display window in wireframe white, transparent shaded magenta and transparent shaded transparent gold respectively (figure below).

Draw Shapes Grid
Draw Shapes Grid
Draw Shapes Source
While being created, the shapes of grid, database, and source types will be rendered in the Display window in wireframe white, transparent shaded magenta and transparent shaded gold respectively.

Grid Type

The Grid Type frame is visible only if the Entity Type is set to Grid. This frame (shown below), has options to chose between structured, unstructured, and voxel grid types (refer to the Grid Types section for further information on grid types).

When you enter the Draw Shapes panel for the first time, the Unstructured Grid Type will be selected by default. Otherwise, it will be set to the latest type selected when the panel was last opened.

Draw Shapes Grid Type
Use the Grid Type frame to select whether a new Grid shape will be structured, unstructured, or of voxel type (refer to the Grid Types section for further information on grid types).

Note that the Voxel grid type is only available when the Overset Grid Assembler is set to something other than None. This can be done in the Attributes tab inside the Grid, Overset panel. Furthermore, a Voxel grid can only be created for a shape of type Box. This means that the Polygon, Cylinder, and Sphere types will be disabled if the Voxel Grid Type is selected.

Shape Type

In the Shape Type frame (shown below), there are buttons representing all the shape types Fidelity Pointwise supports: Polygon, Box, Cylinder, and Sphere. Simply click the button to choose the appropriate type for the shape currently under construction.

Shape Types
Use the Shape Type frame to select whether a new shape will be a Polygon, a Box, a Cylinder, or a Sphere.

Mode

The Mode frame provides controls to specify the current mode: Drawing, Enclosing, Translate, Rotate, or Scale. The role of the handles and their effect on the shape being created depends on the selected mode. The different modes are defined here:

Draw Shapes Modes
Use the Mode frame to change the role of the handles and their effect on the shape being created. The available modes are: Drawing, Translate, Rotate, and Scale.
Draw Shapes Handles
Use the provided handles to resize, translate, rotate, and scale the shape being created.

Note that a mouse hover over the mode buttons will produce a tooltip showing the name of the mode with one letter between parenthesis. This latter indicates the keyboard shortcut associated with each mode. For example, if you are currently using the Drawing mode, press the keyboard T key to switch to the Translate mode. Likewise, press the R or S keyboard keys to switch to the Rotate and Scale modes respectively. Once in the desired mode, press the same key to alternate between the Local and Global coordinate systems.

The Align To View command aligns the local coordinate system with the current view direction. Note that you can display the axes for the local coordinate system by selecting the Translate mode (explained above) either via the GUI or by using the T keyboard shortcut.

Enclosing Parameters, Shape Parameters, and Shape Options

Note that the contents of the Enclosing Parameters, Shape Parameters, and Shape Options frames depend on the type of shape being created. Refer to the list of topics shown below for information on how to use the options in these frames for each type: Polygon, Box, Cylinder, and Sphere.

When the new shape is complete, click OK to save it and close the panel, click Cancel to discard it and close the panel, or click Apply to save it and continue on to the next new shape.

For more information on the available Shape Types, choose a topic below:

Demonstration

Drawing and Manipulating Shapes

Creating Grid Shapes

Quickly Create Shapes with Enclosing Mode

Creating Sources