# Tips and Tricks

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/c/tips-and-tricks/9.md?page=1

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**Page:** 2

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## [cividis colormap](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/cividis-colormap/5753)

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**Author:** [@louisgag](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/louisgag)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [August 2, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/cividis-colormap/5753 "2021-08-02T13:48:14Z")

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Wanting to use a colormap that could be read by the most people possible I’ve decided to use the cividis which is an optimization of the viridis sequential colormap of mathplotlib to flatten the perceptual delta perceive…

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## [Adding a context menu to ParaView](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/adding-a-context-menu-to-paraview/6344)

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**Author:** [@dcthomp](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dcthomp)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2021, 2:17am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/adding-a-context-menu-to-paraview/6344 "2021-01-30T02:17:26Z")

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Description ParaView (as soon as MR 3315 is merged) is gaining the ability to show user-provided context-menus provided in plugins. This is accomplished via a new interface class: class pqContextMenuInterface { public: …

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## [Make a Clip filter with Plane Clip Type follow a data set](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/make-a-clip-filter-with-plane-clip-type-follow-a-data-set/33)

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**Author:** [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [March 18, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/make-a-clip-filter-with-plane-clip-type-follow-a-data-set/33 "2021-03-18T14:11:19Z")

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If you have a dataset that moves over time and you would like a Clip filter to follow the center of that dataset, you can do the following. Load or create the data set. Assume the name of the data source in the Pipelin…

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## [Community Recorded Workshop: Introduction to Scientific Visualization with ParaView](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/community-recorded-workshop-introduction-to-scientific-visualization-with-paraview/6663)

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**Author:** [@Thomas\_Theussl](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Thomas_Theussl)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [March 10, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/community-recorded-workshop-introduction-to-scientific-visualization-with-paraview/6663 "2021-03-10T15:54:38Z")

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Hi everyone! The KAUST Visualization Core Lab has recently recorded an introductory workshop on scientific visualization with ParaView which is available here: The contents are as follows: 0:00:00 Introd…

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## [Building ParaView with GPU accelerated MESA](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/building-paraview-with-gpu-accelerated-mesa/1317)

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**Author:** [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [March 3, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/building-paraview-with-gpu-accelerated-mesa/1317 "2021-03-03T16:38:28Z")

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Note: This tutorial used this wiki article as a base. https://www.paraview.org/Wiki/ParaView/ParaView\_And\_Mesa\_3D Before getting into details of Mesa graphics hardware drivers, a disclaimer. If you have graphics hardw…

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## [Color map advice and resources](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/color-map-advice-and-resources/6452)

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**Author:** [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [February 17, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/color-map-advice-and-resources/6452 "2021-02-17T13:35:42Z")

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Anyone practicing data visualization that uses colors to encode data values is faced with the question: “What color map should I use?” For some guidance on effective use of color maps and some online tools for generatin…

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## [Playlist of Training Videos to learn Paraview from Scratch](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/playlist-of-training-videos-to-learn-paraview-from-scratch/5846)

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**Author:** [@CyprienR](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/CyprienR)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [November 23, 2020, 10:44am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/playlist-of-training-videos-to-learn-paraview-from-scratch/5846 "2020-11-23T10:44:06Z")

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Hello Guys, This is my first post on the Forum, so I hope this is the right place to post this :wink: I have been working with Paraview since a few years back (I started when I was in EDF R&D) and I have also a blog ab…

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## [Plotting Pressure coefficient at different locations for Ahmed Body](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/plotting-pressure-coefficient-at-different-locations-for-ahmed-body/5770)

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**Author:** [@Mudit\_Mehta](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Mudit_Mehta)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [November 12, 2020, 6:15am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/plotting-pressure-coefficient-at-different-locations-for-ahmed-body/5770 "2020-11-12T06:15:01Z")

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Hii, I am a beginner in ParaView and i am currently simulating flow past a Ahmed Body. The Ahmed Body contains four parts namely front section, mid section, slant rear end and flat rear end. I want to plot pressure coe…

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## [animation via python script](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/animation-via-python-script/5771)

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**Author:** [@domker](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/domker)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [November 11, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/animation-via-python-script/5771 "2020-11-11T19:13:22Z")

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There was no complete example for using python within animations (PythonAnimationCue) findable, so this may be of interest: ''' Example of a Paraview animation via Python, tested with Paraview 5.8.1 and Python 3.7.4. Ru…

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## [Discord channel for ParaView](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/discord-channel-for-paraview/4165)

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**Author:** [@foadsf](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/foadsf)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/discord-channel-for-paraview/4165 "2020-10-10T02:12:50Z")

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Hello everyone, I see on the internet that there are a lot of people looking for an IRC channel for ParaView, showing that there is a need for a chat platform. So I have created a #paraview channel on Elmer’s Discord s…

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## [How to debug a pvpython script](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-debug-a-pvpython-script/5468)

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**Author:** [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-debug-a-pvpython-script/5468 "2020-10-01T14:07:33Z")

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The first thing to look at would be if there are any error messages. If there are, those might point the way to solving the bug. They will at least tell you the offending line in your Python script. If the problem is tha…

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## [How to analyse OpenFOAM data with ParaView: A community contributed 25min video tutorial.](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-analyse-openfoam-data-with-paraview-a-community-contributed-25min-video-tutorial/5348)

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**Author:** [@wouterremmerie](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wouterremmerie)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [September 16, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-analyse-openfoam-data-with-paraview-a-community-contributed-25min-video-tutorial/5348 "2020-09-16T17:32:04Z")

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Hi everyone, I’ve created a Paraview Tutorial video: I’m looking forward to your feedback! Cheers, Wouter.

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## [Building ParaView 5.7.0 and 5.8.0 on the Power 9 Architecture under Linux (Update)](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/building-paraview-5-7-0-and-5-8-0-on-the-power-9-architecture-under-linux-update/4364)

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**Author:** [@joeh](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/joeh)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [August 13, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/building-paraview-5-7-0-and-5-8-0-on-the-power-9-architecture-under-linux-update/4364 "2020-08-13T17:15:40Z")

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Here is revised version of my previous post Building ParaView 5.8.0 on the Power 9 Architecture under Linux in which I have narrowed down the compilation problems, and improved my fixes, based on feedback from the pre…

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## [How to figure out a python code using the python trace mechanism](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-figure-out-a-python-code-using-the-python-trace-mechanism/4186)

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**Author:** [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [June 20, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-figure-out-a-python-code-using-the-python-trace-mechanism/4186 "2020-06-20T01:51:38Z")

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Starting to use the python shell and pvpython can be overwhelming sometimes as it can be hard to figure out how to implement what you are looking to do using only python, even with the documentation. Here is a simple so…

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## [How to displace by time(t) - time(0)](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-displace-by-time-t-time-0/138)

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**Author:** [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-displace-by-time-t-time-0/138 "2018-06-08T21:16:30Z")

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Goal To visualize a displacement field from a simulation run with its initial non-zero, spatially-varying displacement field subtracted off. Essentially, at every element I want \[displacement(t) – displacement(t0)\]. So…

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## [How to limit CPU threads and memory usage in client/server mode](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-limit-cpu-threads-and-memory-usage-in-client-server-mode/3814)

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**Author:** [@mconti](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mconti)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [March 14, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-limit-cpu-threads-and-memory-usage-in-client-server-mode/3814 "2020-03-14T15:07:24Z")

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Hey everyone, as some of you are already aware, when using Paraview with OSPRay enabled in client/server mode if will EAT up memory and CPU usage. We have found that on server side it will eat up 4-5 times the memory it …

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## [Setting up an object/property link using Python](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/setting-up-an-object-property-link-using-python/3731)

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**Author:** [@debbie-z](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/debbie-z)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [March 3, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/setting-up-an-object-property-link-using-python/3731 "2020-03-03T14:59:05Z")

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Continuing the discussion from How to set up an object or property link with python: See working method below: def AddObjectLink(objProxy, objProxyOther, linkname): """"Create a link between two proxies. A na…

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## [New Multithreaded LagrangianParticleTracker.](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/new-multithreaded-lagrangianparticletracker/1838)

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**Author:** [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [February 13, 2020, 7:44am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/new-multithreaded-lagrangianparticletracker/1838 "2020-02-13T07:44:39Z")

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Multithreaded LagrangianParticleTracker The LagragianParticleTracker filter, provided in a Plugin in ParaView, has been reimplemented with an multithreaded algorithm using VTK SMP backed that one can benefit from when …

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## [Python plugin for a meshio reader (external blog post)](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/python-plugin-for-a-meshio-reader-external-blog-post/3377)

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**Author:** [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [January 22, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/python-plugin-for-a-meshio-reader-external-blog-post/3377 "2020-01-22T05:03:58Z")

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## [Basic Contour Plot for a passive scalar simulation (for beginners)](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/basic-contour-plot-for-a-passive-scalar-simulation-for-beginners/3253)

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**Author:** [@newb](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/newb)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [January 14, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/basic-contour-plot-for-a-passive-scalar-simulation-for-beginners/3253 "2020-01-14T19:42:00Z")

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Hey guys! Here a quick and brief tutorial on a contour plot for a passive scalar simulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGd-dGh9jnI Let me know what you think, happy to hear what feedback you have for future ParaV…

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## [How to export ParaView colormap into a format that could be read by matplotlib](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-export-paraview-colormap-into-a-format-that-could-be-read-by-matplotlib/2436)

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**Author:** [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [October 24, 2019, 5:17am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-export-paraview-colormap-into-a-format-that-could-be-read-by-matplotlib/2436 "2019-10-24T05:17:20Z")

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A beautiful little python function that Cory Quammen created: Sure, here is a little function that can export the color map in a table: def ExportPreset(lutName): from paraview import servermanager presets = paravi…

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## [Programmable filter for Pivot table functionality using Pandas](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/programmable-filter-for-pivot-table-functionality-using-pandas/2412)

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**Author:** [@DaveD](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/DaveD)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [August 12, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/programmable-filter-for-pivot-table-functionality-using-pandas/2412 "2019-08-12T08:48:36Z")

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Dear all, based on this old thread, I implemented a Programmable Filter in ParaView 5.4.1 that uses Pivot Table functionailty in Pandas to calculate a circumferential average of VTK-PointData, in my case read in from cs…

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## [Recover OpenGL Informations from pvpython](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/recover-opengl-informations-from-pvpython/1536)

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**Author:** [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [June 10, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/recover-opengl-informations-from-pvpython/1536 "2019-06-10T15:40:30Z")

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The OpenGL informations, visible in Help → About dialog, are not easily recoverable in pvpython yet. Here is how to do it. On ParaView 5.6 and earlier versions: import vtk as VTK openGLInfo=VTK.vtkPVOpenGLInformation(…

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## [how to create a distributed dataset](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-create-a-distributed-dataset/1862)

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**Author:** [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [May 15, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-create-a-distributed-dataset/1862 "2019-05-15T17:16:57Z")

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From a support ticket reply from @mwestphal With unstructured grids, such as a single vtu file, the distribution of data is not free and has to be done explicitly. One way to do that is to use the D3 filter, like this …

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## [Pointing the camera at the center of a dataset using Python](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/pointing-the-camera-at-the-center-of-a-dataset-using-python/1257)

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**Author:** [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/pointing-the-camera-at-the-center-of-a-dataset-using-python/1257 "2019-02-08T19:11:30Z")

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E-mail from Cory at Kitware (lightly edited) Say ‘canexo’ is the name of the ExodusIIReader object returned when you read the can.exo file. If the filter is named ‘warpByVector1’. Then the code is basically the same, j…

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## [Read NetGen neutral mesh files via a python algorithm plugin](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-netgen-neutral-mesh-files-via-a-python-algorithm-plugin/953)

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**Author:** [@dcthomp](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dcthomp)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [November 25, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-netgen-neutral-mesh-files-via-a-python-algorithm-plugin/953 "2018-11-25T03:51:54Z")

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If you have a mesh in NetGen’s neutral file format (a simple ASCII file), this python algorithm: """Read Netgen neutral files.""" from \_\_future\_\_ import print\_function from paraview.util.vtkAlgorithm import \* @smproxy…

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## [Create Undeformed Geometry Coordinates for use in Selecting Deformed Geometry (Exodus example)](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-undeformed-geometry-coordinates-for-use-in-selecting-deformed-geometry-exodus-example/693)

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**Author:** [@DennisConklin](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/DennisConklin)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [October 15, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-undeformed-geometry-coordinates-for-use-in-selecting-deformed-geometry-exodus-example/693 "2018-10-15T13:28:59Z")

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Basically, when a model is deformed, plane sections do not necessary remain plane and regular geometry can become quite irregular. Because of this, selection of an appropriate portion of a deformed model is problematic…

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## [extract data from a volume along an elliptical line](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extract-data-from-a-volume-along-an-elliptical-line/723)

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**Author:** [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [October 12, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/extract-data-from-a-volume-along-an-elliptical-line/723 "2018-10-12T23:21:33Z")

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Here is how to extract the data along an elliptical line. Open your dataset. Add all variables. Apply. Sources/ Spline Source. Place your spline. Apply. Filters/ Resample With Dataset. Apply.

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## [How to set up material lookuptable for OSPRay](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-set-up-material-lookuptable-for-ospray/56)

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**Author:** [@Dave\_DeMarle](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Dave_DeMarle)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [May 31, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-set-up-material-lookuptable-for-ospray/56 "2018-05-31T18:49:31Z")

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Howdy, The new OSPRay path tracer in ParaView 5.5.0 has a mode in which each cell gets a material assigned via colormapping. To use it: choose “Value Indexed” for the OSPRay Material instead of any of the individual m…

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## [How to deal with multitexture coordinates and OSPRay in ParaView 5.5](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-deal-with-multitexture-coordinates-and-ospray-in-paraview-5-5/57)

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**Author:** [@Dave\_DeMarle](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Dave_DeMarle)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [May 31, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-deal-with-multitexture-coordinates-and-ospray-in-paraview-5-5/57 "2018-05-31T18:58:35Z")

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Howdy, In ParaView 5.5.0, the OSPRay interface doesn’t know what to do with the disparate texture coordinate arrays that the OBJ reader can produce. One trick to deal with this for the time being is to collapse all the …

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