# How can I visualize a mesh data?

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [December 26, 2024, 6:32am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909 "2024-12-26T06:32:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Trijean](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Trijean](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Trijean)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2024, 6:32am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909/1 "2024-12-26T06:32:42Z")

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Hi, I’m having problem to visualize a mesh data (car.stl) with streamline filter or streamline tracer (fluid flow) which I created it by using 3D Cad software.

I managed to import it, but I can’t choose streamline filter or stream tracer.

I would like to know how I can generate streamlines as photo below with a stl data which created by using 3D Cad software.

![IMG_1882](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3b62bf538b91a1502f092583451ad3f7a3228d0c.jpeg)

I would also like to know how I can add a vector data to .stl data.

I’m really seeking for help and really appreciate your kindness and would like to receive your advice.

Thank you in advance.

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### Author: ![jourdain](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/jourdain/32/11_2.png) [@jourdain](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jourdain)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909/2 "2024-12-26T20:53:01Z")

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A stl file is just a surface mesh with “no data”. So when looking at a STL inside ParaView, you can only see the surface defined from the file (car, bike, …).

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### Author: ![Trijean](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Trijean](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Trijean)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909/3 "2024-12-26T21:38:40Z")

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Hi, Mr.Sebastien Jourdain

Thank you very much for your information.  
It seems like there is no way to use A STL file inside paraview, is there any way to solve this problem like modifiying the stl file by adding data?

Thank you.

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### Author: ![jourdain](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/jourdain/32/11_2.png) [@jourdain](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jourdain)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909/4 "2024-12-29T01:04:11Z")

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ParaView is fine with STL, the issue is the information the STL contains. It is not enough for what you aim to do with it.

What you want/need is a mesh with 3D cells containing the fields to compute streamlines via ParaView. But what you have is a mesh with 2D cells and no data to integrate over.

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### Author: ![Trijean](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Trijean](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Trijean)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2024, 11:37am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-can-i-visualize-a-mesh-data/15909/5 "2024-12-30T11:37:39Z")

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Hi, Mr.Sebastien Jourdain

Thank you for the useful advice you gave me, I finally know what I should do and how to solve my problem. Without your advice I don’t think I’ll be able solve this issue. Really thanks alot and much appreciated.

Thank you!