DX Getting Started

To run IBM Data Visualization Explorer, type

module load opendx

dx

Rather than rewriting the manuals, which are fairly well written and available in the Institute's library and on line from within dx, here are some basic notes to get you started.

• To build your own programs, click on the appropriate Category (the top window on left of the Visual Program Editor), then select the desred tool in the Tools window (below the Categories window), by clicking the left mouse button. Move the mouse to the work area and click the left mouse button to position the tool (module).

  If you cannot find a tool, choose the category "All", which lists all the tools in alphabetical order.

  Use the left mouse button to wire output of one module to the input of another.

• Once the data is imported, you will not have to pay much attention to the data types. The individual modules can usually handle both structured and unstructured data.

  The module will also determine the dimension of the data set and display the data accordingly. For example, the isosurface module will display isosurfaces if the data is 3D, and contour lines if the data is 2D.

• For the most part, the module names describe the function of the modules. For more information about the modules you can use the online help. There are two methods.
  1. Pull down the "Help" menu to "Context-Sensitive Help". The cursor will change to a large question mark. Now move the cursor to a module and click on it. A help window for that module will appear.
  2. Position the mouse over a module, or click on a menu item, then press the F1 function key. Again a help window will pop up.
• When an image is displayed, you can rotate the image, zoom in or out, and resize the image window. Pull the "Options" menu down to "View Control" The "View Control..." window will pop up.
  • If you pull the "Mode" menu down to "Camera", you can set the window size, and set a view, such as top, bottom, or off-front.
  • There is an "Undo" button in the "View Control..." window, that will step back through a sequence of changes. Just keep clicking on it.
  • If you pull the "Mode" menu down to "Rotate", you can use the mouse to rotate the image. It can be difficult to get the right view with the mouse buttons.

    The right mouse button will allow you to rotate about the axis comming out of the screen.

    The left or middle mouse button controls a more complicated rotation. If you select the left or middle mouse button and move the mouse exactly horizontally, then you will rotate about the vertical axis. If you move the mouse exactly vertically, then you move rotate about the horizontal axiz. Moving in direction other than horizontal or vertical, basically gives you a rotation about a line perpendicular to the mouse motion. I tend to use a the basic rotations about the horizontal, vertical and the axis comming out of the screen.

  • If you pull the "Mode" menu down to "Pan/Zoom", you can use the mouse to zoom in or out. To zoom in, click the left mouse button at the center of the object that you want to zoom in on, then drag the mouse to define a zoom rectangle.

    To zoom out, use the right mouse button instead. The image is reduced to the rectangle that you have drawn. (This takes some getting used to. I usually have to zoom out too far, than zoom back in a bit.)