How to Plot ETab

[xiangyue0510]

I find Mapdl.pletab not working
I can use Mapdl.pretab to verify the Etab values, it shows good results
I can use Mapdl.eplot to plot element
but I can not use Mapdl.pletab show Etab Plots. It gives No Err, No Plot window.

from ansys.mapdl.core import launch_mapdl
Mapdl = launch_mapdl()
Mapdl.resume(r"1.db")
Mapdl.post1()
Mapdl.file(r"1","rst")   
Mapdl.set(lstep="1", sbstep="", fact="", kimg="", time="", angle="", nset="", order="")
Mapdl.esel(type_="S", item="ELEM", comp="", vmin=1, vmax=10, vinc="", kabs="")   
Mapdl.etable(lab="UC1", item="S", comp="X", option="")
for i  in range(1,11):
    Mapdl.detab(elem=i, lab="UC1", v1=i, v2="", v3="", v4="", v5="", v6="")
result=Mapdl.result
result.plot_nodal_displacement(0, show_edges=True)
Mapdl.pletab(itlab='UC1', avglab='AVG')
print(Mapdl.pretab("UC1"))
#Mapdl.eplot()
Mapdl.exit()

[mikerife]

Hi @xiangyue0510 MAPDL aaS runs similar to batch with respect to MAPDL plotting. So we need to redirect plots from the terminal (default) to a file type like png. Then plot. Please see the APDL command /SHOW in the MAPDL help. PNG is a good file type so you could use:

Mapdl.show('png')
Mapdl.pletab(itlab='UC1', avglab='AVG')
Mapd.show('close')

The file will be named jobnameXX.png where 'jobname' is the MAPDL job name (defaults to 'file') and XX is a counter number.

Mike

[xiangyue0510]

Thanks a lot.
I think it just exports the plot to a *.png file.
Is there anyway to show the result in a interactive windows? Just like Mapdl.eplot(), it can be zoomed, moved or rotated as will

[mikerife]

Hi @xiangyue0510 Yes, it does export the plot to a png file. MAPDL as a Service, which is how it runs in PyMAPDL, is like MAPDL interactive with inputs, but batch with outputs. MAPDL batch does not have an interactive window...it's a batch process after all. So we can only create static images. In PyMAPDL the developers have done a great job augmenting MAPDL with methods to interactively plot some things (nodes, elements, 'normal' results like with plnsol etc) but the list of things that can be plotted interactively in MAPDL is quite large. And the developers just have not had time to address them all.

Until Element Tables can be interactively plotted in PyMAPDL I suggest to use the open_gui() option after creating the element table. This way you can plot it interactively in MAPDL. Then when ready exit out of MAPDL and you can continue with the PyMAPDL session.

Mike

[xiangyue0510]

All right, I got it. Will study on it
Aprreciate your reply.