How to Use Probes for Results Labeling

When presenting analysis results, you may want to graphically highlight results at areas of interest including the location of maximum and minimum results. In the Superview IV Results environment of FEMPRO, you can add probes to display graphical arrows indicating the location and result value. Using probes to label results is a quick and convenient way to improve presentations including saved image files, animations and reports.

To add a probe, either use the "Inquire:Probe" command sequence or click on the "Probe" icon in the "General Options" toolbar. Position the cursor over a node and the result value will appear below the cursor. (For heat transfer and electrostatic analyses, probes can also be added to faces. When adding probes to faces, use the "Result Options:Smooth Results" command sequence to deactivate smoothing of results.) Right click to access a pop-up menu of options and choose "Add Probe" (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: In the Superview IV Results environment, probe mode was activated and then the cursor was positioned over the model. Right clicking accessed a pop-up model of options including "Add Probe".

To add a probe at the point of maximum results, simply click on the "Maximum Result Probe" icon in the "General Options" toolbar. A red arrow labeled "Max" will appear pointing at the location of maximum results. Likewise, to add a probe at the point of minimum results, click on the "Minimum Result Probe" icon and a blue arrow labeled "Min" will appear (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: The "Maximum Result Probe" and "Minimum Result Probe" icons in the "General Options" toolbar were used to add probes at the location of maximum and minimum results.

After a probe has been added, you can right click in the working area to access a pop-up menu that includes options to hide, show and delete all probes (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: Right clicking in the working area accessed a pop-up menu including options to hide, show and delete all probes.

You can modify display options for probes by using the "Display Options:Plot Settings..." command sequence to access the "Plot Settings" dialog. On the "Probe Settings" tab, you can specify the font properties and other display options (see Figure 4).

Figure 4: On the "Probe Settings" tab of the "Plot Settings" dialog, display options for probes can be specified including font properties.

Thus, the capability to add probes to a model provides a quick, easy and convenient way to label results at areas of interest including the location of maximum and minimum results, which can improve presentations including saved image files, animations and reports.

For more information about probes, see the ALGOR User's Guide.