# Using RuledSurfaceFilter in Paraview

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/using-ruledsurfacefilter-in-paraview/4994
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Tags:** python, vtk
**Created:** [July 31, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/using-ruledsurfacefilter-in-paraview/4994 "2020-07-31T02:25:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jared711](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/jared711/32/4530_2.png) [@jared711](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jared711)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/using-ruledsurfacefilter-in-paraview/4994/1 "2020-07-31T02:25:16Z")

</div>

I’ve got a set of curves in space that follow a tube-like pattern, and I want to connect the lines with surfaces to create a solid walled tube. After some investigation, I found the RuledSurfaceFilter in VTK, but was disappointed to see that it isn’t on the list of Paraview filters accessible in the GUI. I worked out a python script to load in my curves, apply the RuledSurfaceFilter, and plot the surface in a vtk renderer.[ManifoldSurface.py](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/rfn9M8NG33K5ra3FnKt4C6ZUR3N.py) (2.2 KB) However, I was wondering if there’s a way to export this surface into Paraview so I can work on smoothing it out and plotting other things with it.

Thanks,  
Jared

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Andrew\_Maclean](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Andrew\_Maclean](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Andrew_Maclean)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/using-ruledsurfacefilter-in-paraview/4994/3 "2020-08-02T23:49:47Z")

</div>

Here is an example that writes out a vtp file that can be used in ParaView: [RuledSurfaceFilter.py](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/tlhVWmvY6gXdjTKwznCK7OdjWSi.py) (2.5 KB).

It is based on [RuledSurfaceFilter](https://lorensen.github.io/VTKExamples/site/Python/PolyData/RuledSurfaceFilter/), please note that this VTK Examples site is no longer being updated. A new site is coming soon.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jared711](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/jared711/32/4530_2.png) [@jared711](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jared711)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/using-ruledsurfacefilter-in-paraview/4994/4 "2020-08-03T19:03:39Z")

</div>

Perfect, this was exactly what I needed. Thank you!
