# Streamtrace using Point Cloud as seed source explanation

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [January 20, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002 "2025-01-20T14:26:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/raniayian/32/13936_2.png) [@RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/RaniaYian)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/1 "2025-01-20T14:26:42Z")

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Hi everyone! I would like to ask some help regarding the Streamtracer filter with a point cloud.  
Can i use it to generate all the streamlines that pass through an arbitraty volume as soon as I enclose this volume inside the point cloud? For example I use it to generate streamlines of a cylindrical domain, by putting all of the cylindrical domain inside the point cloud. Thanks!

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/2 "2025-01-20T14:38:15Z")

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You should be able to use the CriticalVolume filter, and then ParticlePathToPathLines filter.

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### Author: ![RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/raniayian/32/13936_2.png) [@RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/RaniaYian)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/4 "2025-01-20T14:45:25Z")

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You mean using that After I generate the point cloud streamtracer?

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/5 "2025-01-20T14:45:41Z")

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If you already have a point cloud representing moving particle over time, then you do not want to use the StreamTracer at all.

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### Author: ![RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/raniayian/32/13936_2.png) [@RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/RaniaYian)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/6 "2025-01-20T14:53:45Z")

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No, the data I have in the cylindrical domain are point data of velocity, of one time step.

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/7 "2025-01-20T15:00:19Z")

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Then just generate all the streamlines and select the one that goes though the volume, then use ExtractSelection.

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### Author: ![RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/raniayian/32/13936_2.png) [@RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/RaniaYian)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/8 "2025-01-20T15:04:04Z")

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ok, and how do i generate all the streamlines? with a custom source filter?

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/9 "2025-01-20T15:04:26Z")

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Using the StreamTracer filter

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### Author: ![RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/raniayian/32/13936_2.png) [@RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/RaniaYian)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2025, 8:49am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/10 "2025-01-21T08:49:46Z")

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ok, just to be sure I got it clear: I have a cyclindrical volume, with velocity data for that volume, only for one timestep. To generate all the streamlines that go through this volume I have to place the line source of the streamtracer where? At the outermost point of the cylinder on the inflow side?

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2025, 10:57am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/11 "2025-01-21T10:57:31Z")

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> [@RaniaYian](#):
>
> I have a cyclindrical volume, with velocity data for that volume, only for one timestep. To generate all the streamlines that go through this volume I have to place the line source of the streamtracer where? At the outermost point of the cylinder on the inflow side?

There is no concept of “all the streamlines”, You can generate as many streamlines as you want by adding more seed points in the volume.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/raniayian/32/13936_2.png) [@RaniaYian](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/RaniaYian)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/12 "2025-01-22T17:51:11Z")

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Sorry, here you mean with a line source or a point cloud?

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2025, 8:43am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/streamtrace-using-point-cloud-as-seed-source-explanation/16002/13 "2025-01-23T08:43:29Z")

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A point cloud makes more sense, but you could generate and type of point cloud and use SteamTracerWithCustomSource.

In any case, please share your data if you want me to try it.
