Setting default properties of filters doesn't work with XML

Development
1

Hello,

I have noticed that when a filter’s output is vtkMultiBlocDataSet, the chosen representation is “Outline”. In this representation I can’t see the data generated by my filter, so I have to change it manually to “Surface” each time I add my filter to the pipeline.

In the XML file of the filter, I added this hint to set the default representation of my filter to Surface

Representation type=“Surface”

But it didn’t work…

In other cases, I also have a problem with “Coloring” defaulting to “Solid Color” or “vtkBlockColors” and not the array I added to the vtkPointData of an vtkImageData belonging to vtkMultiBlockDataSet; So, I also have to fix that manually.

I feel that XML “hints” are futile (e.g. ShowComponentLabels hint doesn’t work to show the labels of a table representing DoubleVectorProperty).

What can I change in the code to fix that fastly ?

2

That’s not entirely correct. For example try loading the can.ex2 dataset from ParaView examples dataset. It renders as surface, by default.

I suspect you’re being hit by the Outline Threshold. There’s a separate setting that controls if the data is too big and better rendered as outline by default.

image

Try adjusting this from the Settings (or Preferences on macOS) dialog.

3

Hello,

I tried playing with the outline threshold but the representation is still “Outlline”.

The solution I found is to modify this method of the source file “vtkSMRepresentationTypeDomain.cxx” :

int vtkSMRepresentationTypeDomain::SetDefaultValues(
vtkSMProperty* property, bool use_unchecked_values)

// for vtkImageData show slice (for 2D datasets) or outline (for all others).
if (info->DataSetTypeIsA(“vtkImageData”))
{
const int* ext = info->GetExtent();

if (ext[0] == ext[1] || ext[2] == ext[3] || ext[4] == ext[5])
{
  if ((info->GetCompositeDataSetType() == -1) && this->IsInDomain("Slice", temp))
  {
    helper.Set("Slice");
    return 1;
  }
  // The fix that will permit vtkMultiBlocDataSet representation to default to "Surface"
  else if (this->IsInDomain("Surface", temp))
  {
    helper.Set("Surface");
    return 1;
  }
}
else if (this->IsInDomain("Outline", temp))
{
  helper.Set("Outline");
  return 1;
}

Otherwise, I carry 2-D vtkImageData in the vtkMultiBlocDataSet (not heavy data).

Curiously, the code I added fixed my color issue too !

So there’s only one problem I want to fix now :

ShowComponentLabels hint doesn’t work to show the labels of a table representing DoubleVectorProperty).

Is that feature works only for a specific plugin ? Which source file can I debug to fix that issue ? I know that in “void pqDoubleVectorPropertyWidget::propertyDomainModified(vtkObject* domainObject)” we test if “ShowComponentLabels” hint is available in the “vtkPVXMLElement” named “hints” but then I don’t understand why it’s not being used for my filter (it has number_of_elements_per_command=2).

4

If you don’t mind, can you create a separate topic for a new issue please? It’s better for archival purposes, easy for someone else follow the thread to follow the conversation, also easier on the responders. thanks in advance.

5

OK, you are right !