Import Maxwell Plate File

Use the Imports > Maxwell Plate option (IMPMAXPLATE GX) from the Add to 3D menu in the 3D Viewer to import a Maxwell Plate model description file into the current 3D View. The file is imported as a 3D vector group that contains the plate models selected on import.

Import Maxwell Plate File dialog options

Maxwell plate file

Select the Maxwell plate file (*.pte) to import.

Script Parameter: IMPMAXPLATE.FILE

Plates to import

Select from one of the two options:

  • Used: only the plates with the Use attribute set to "YES" in the selected file are imported and displayed.

    See the Application Notes below for an example of a Maxwell plate file with two plates.

  • All: all plates are imported and displayed; the Use attribute in the selected file to import is ignored.

Script Parameter: IMPMAXPLATE.USED [0: All (default), 1: Used]

Plot plates

Choose how to plot the plates:

  • as wire frame: only the outside edges are plotted.

  • with solid fill: each plate is plotted as a filled, non-transparent rectangle.

The colour for plotting is specified for each plate in the imported file – see the Application Notes below for an example.

Script Parameter: IMPMAXPLATE.FILL [0: as wire frame (default), 1: with solid fill]

Label plates?

Select Yes to plot a label on each plate.

The label is composed of two parts: the name of the plate and the c-t value. The values are retrieved from the imported file attributes. For instance, in the example below, for Plate 1, the label will be "1: 1500".

Script Parameter: IMPMAXPLATE.LABEL [0: No, 1: Yes (default)]

3D Controls (script mode only)

Viewing direction

The viewing direction in degrees azimuth relative to the coordinate Y axis.

Script Parameter: V3D.DEC (default 20.0)

Viewing inclination

The viewing inclination in degrees relative to the coordinate X-Y plane.

Script Parameter: V3D.INC (default 25.0)

Viewing distance

The distance of the point of view from the center of the view relative to the size of the view.

Script Parameter: V3D.DISTANCE (default 6.0)

Draw bounding box

Yes to draw a bounding box frame around the limits of the 3D View.

Script Parameter: V3D.BOX (0:No (default), 1:Yes)

Draw axis

Yes to draw an axis with labels on the X, Y and Z axis.

Script Parameter: V3D.AXIS (0:No, 1:Yes (default))

X title
Y title
Z title

Titles for the X, Y and Z axis.

Script Parameters:
V3D.TITLEX
V3D.TITLEY
V3D.TITLEZ

Application Notes

The IMPMAXPLATE GX can be used to import a MAXWELL program plate definition file into a new or existing 3D View. Up to 128 plates can be imported in a single file.

Currently, the first line in the file must be "MAXWELL PLATE FILE"; otherwise, the file will not be recognized.

MAXWELL PLATE FILE

TOTAL PLATES : 2

****************************

PLATE : 1

Name : 1

Use : YES

Attach to Tx. : NO

x : 4754.0000

y : 9277.0000

z : 1330.0000

Dip : -25.0000

Dip Direction : 0.0000

Plunge : 0.0000

Length : 100.0000

Depth Extent : 50.0000

c-t : 1500.0000

Skew : 1.0000

Ribbons : 20

Colour Red : 0

Colour Green : 255

Colour Blue : 64

****************************

PLATE : 2

Name : 2

Use : YES

Attach to Tx. : NO

x : 4816.0000

y : 9276.0000

z : 1255.0000

Dip : -27.5000

Dip Direction : 90.0000

Plunge : 20.0000

Length : 100.0000

Depth Extent : 100.0000

c-t : 5000.0000

Skew : 1.0000

Ribbons : 10

Colour Red : 255

Colour Green : 0

Colour Blue : 0

If you wish to import the example file, copy the content into a text editor and remove the empty lines before saving it to a PTE file (*.pte).