# Rendering 3D HDF data

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/rendering-3d-hdf-data/2640
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [September 27, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/rendering-3d-hdf-data/2640 "2019-09-27T15:16:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![skindl](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@skindl](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/skindl)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/rendering-3d-hdf-data/2640/1 "2019-09-27T15:16:20Z")

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Hi,

I’m using an Xdmf3 file to read in a three dimensional dataset in Paraview 4.4. There are three separate arrays that define the X, Y, and Z axes and a fourth three dimensional density dataset that I would like to render whose dimensions correlate to the X, Y, Z arrays.

I’m able to read the arrays as a grid and the dataset as a point array from the .xmf file. Paraview recognizes the density data and generates a colormap for it, but the RenderView only displays the outline of the grid and not the density data.

Is there a certain setting that needs to be included to visualize the density dataset? Below is a screenshot of what I’m seeing and the xmf file that I’m using.

 ![image](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/2X/b/be2e3d1a50f73eb2d79c9ac1c098e09bc9defe08.png)

```
 <?xml version="1.0" ?>
 <!DOCTYPE Xdmf SYSTEM "Xdmf.dtd" []>
 <Xdmf Version="3.0">
   <Domain Name="test_geom">
     <Grid Name="SpatialCollection" GridType="Collection" CollectionType="Spatial">
       <Grid Name="position_grid" Type="Uniform">
         <Topology TopologyType="3DRectMesh" NumberOfElements="192 108 11">
         </Topology>
         <Geometry GeometryType="VXVYVZ">
           <DataItem Name="X" Format="HDF" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Dimensions="192">
                       small-zplane.h5:/configuration/grid/small-halfday/xposition
           </DataItem>
           <DataItem Name="Y" Format="HDF" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Dimensions="108">
                       small-zplane.h5:/configuration/grid/small-halfday/yposition
           </DataItem>
           <DataItem Name="Z" Format="HDF" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Dimensions="11">
                       small-zplane.h5:/configuration/grid/small-halfday/zposition
           </DataItem>
         </Geometry>
         <Attribute Name="density" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
           <DataItem Dimensions="192 108 11" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">
                       small-zplane.h5:/runs/self/output/density_3D
           </DataItem>
         </Attribute>
       </Grid>
     </Grid>
   </Domain>
 </Xdmf>

```

Thanks,  
Scott

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### Author: ![theodorebaltis](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@theodorebaltis](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/theodorebaltis)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/rendering-3d-hdf-data/2640/2 "2019-09-27T15:18:44Z")

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Change your representation (dropdown box) from Outline to Surface (or some other representation)

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### Author: ![wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/8e8cbc/32.png) [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/rendering-3d-hdf-data/2640/3 "2019-09-30T01:40:21Z")

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You may also want to update your version of ParaView. Version 4.4.0 is ancient…  
Alan