Advanced State Management

Introduction

This tutorial covers different types of state management.

Save State / Load State

ParaView state files are saved by selecting the menu option File → Save State. These files can be saved as .pvsm files (xml) or .py files (python). The pipeline, orientation of the data set, and all view windows are saved. Select File → Load State to open a saved ParaView state file.

Save Data

This feature will save the data output from the selected source/filter. The Save Data feature is selected from the main menu: File → Save Data. The data type is whatever you chose when you save the data. If a data type is missing, it probably means you are trying to output data that is not supported by this dataset format. For example, you need to have surface data, as trianges, to output .stl files.

Save Data can be used to create .csv files of your data. .csv files can be read into spreadsheets and other programs.

Save Data can be used to create .stl files. .stl files are often used for additive manufacturing, or animation programs. Run filters Extract Surface then Triangulate before Saving Data.

Save Data can be used to create files Houdini can ingest. These are .geo files. Again, run filters Extract Surface then Triangulate before Saving Data.

Export Scene

This feature will save whatever is in the viewport to a file. The Export Scene feature is selected from the main menu: File → Export Scene. Again, the data type is whatever you chose when you export scene.

Export Scene can be used to create .webgl files of what is displayed in the viewport. A .html file will be written out, which you can load in a web browser. This format allows users to create interactive data products that anyone can load in a web browser.

Export Scene can be used to create .pdf files of what is displayed in the viewport.

Traces

ParaView can now automatically save traces, or macros. This means that you can start recording a trace, do something, stop recording a trace, and save this trace into a file. You can then use this trace file as input to the pvbatch program, or as a macro within ParaView.

Example:

• Start ParaView
• Tools/ Python Shell/ Trace/ Start Trace.
• Open disk_out_ref.exo, all variables on, Apply.
• Clip, Z normal, unselect show plane, Apply.
• Slice, unselect show plane, Apply.
• Color by Temp.
• In the Python Shell window, Stop Trace.
• Save trace. Save as macro. Call it Super-disk.
• Edit/ Delete All

Now, lets run the trace.

• On the Macros toolbar, you will see Super-disk. Click it.

Acknowledgements

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA-0003525.