Module: Time Series Control ()

Description:

This module is created automatically if files are imported via the Open Time Series Data... option of the main window's File menu. The module assumes that all files selected in the file browser represent the same data object at different time steps. Instead of loading all files at once, a slider is provided allowing the user to select the current time step. Whenever a new time step is loaded data, objects associated with a previous time step are replaced. The replacement is performed in such a way that connections to down-stream modules are retained.

The time series module is also able to linearly interpolate between subsequent time steps. However, this only works for certain types of data objects, namely surfaces, tetrahedral grids, hexahedral grids, fields defined on surfaces, tetrahedral or hexahedral grids, and data objects derived from the vertex set base class. In addition, it is required that for each time step the same number of data objects be created, that corresponding data objects are created in the same order in all time steps, and that corresponding data objects have the same number of vertices or elements. For example, you cannot easily interpolate between surfaces with a different number of triangles ( provides other modules to support this). If multiple data objects are created for each time step, interpolation of particular objects can be suppressed by switching off the orange viewer toggle off these objects.

In addition to the step number, the module can also display the physical time associated with each time step, provided the physical time is specified as a Time parameter for each data object. It is required that the physical times of subsequent time steps be monotonically increasing. In order to use physical time mode, the relevant time steps must be loaded in index mode first.

Connections:

Time [optional]
Connection to a global time object.

Ports:

Info

This port displays the total number of time steps. If the data objects provide a physical time in a Time parameter, the physical time range is displayed too. If the last time step has not yet been loaded, a question mark is printed instead of the maximum time value. In addition, if a physical time is provided, the current physical time or the current time step index is displayed, depending on the value of the physical time toggle.

Time

Specifies the current time step or the current physical time. The port provides a popup menu (right mouse button click) which can be used to configure settings like animation mode or subrange interval. The two outer buttons allow you to automatically animate the time step or the physical time forwards or backwards. Animation speed in physical time mode can be controlled via the increment value in the configure dialog.

Advanced

Cached steps

Allows you to adjust the cache size. By default, every time step is cached, i.e., the number of cached steps is equal to the total number of time steps. If the number of cached steps is zero the cache is disabled. Data objects associated with a previous time step are deleted before a new time step is loaded. Interpolation mode requires a cache size of two, i.e., in addition to the current interpolated time step, at least two additional time steps have to be stored in memory.

Options

The first toggle is used to activate interpolation mode. In this mode, fractional time steps can be specified and a linear interpolation between two subsequent time steps is performed. Note that interpolation can only be performed if certain requirements are met (details are described above).

The second toggle is used to activate physical time mode. Physical time mode is only available if the loaded data objects provide a Time parameter. In physical time mode the time slider displays the physical time instead of the current time step.

The third toggle is used to apply to the data of the next (or previous) timestep the geometric transformation(s) applied to the data open at the current time step.

The fourth toggle is used to copy all the parameters of the current time step data to the parameters of the data of the next (or previous) timestep.