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Plotting a 3d surface from an array of data

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:27 am
by breeds2000
Hello,
I have an array of 70 rows and several hundred columns of data. I'm trying to graph it but can't seem to get dplot to read the data correctly. Probably missed something obvious because excel's graphing tool automatically creates the surface after choosing the 3d surface option. My data looks something like this:
1.2399 1.9485 2.3559 2.5961
1.2857 2.0167 2.4352 2.681
1.3317 2.0849 2.5142 2.7654
1.3779 2.1531 2.593 2.8493
1.4242 2.2212 2.6714 2.9328
1.4707 2.2893 2.7496 3.0157

where the top left entry is the z-value at x=0 and y=0 and the top right value is the z-value at x=3 and y=0 and so on.

Thanks for your time,

Brian :oops:

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:48 am
by DPlotAdmin
There aren't any file or clipboard formats matching what you have that DPlot supports. I can fairly easily to put together a file import plugin to handle this, but first...
I assume from your description that the X and Y extents aren't specified in the file and that the points are evenly spaced in the X and Y directions. Correct? If not please give a bit more info about what's in the file and where. If the extents aren't included in the file then DPlot will either have to 1) ask you for the extents every time you open one of these files or 2) auto-generate them, starting at X,Y=0,0 and incrementing by 1 for every row/column.

re: 3d surface plot - information

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:36 am
by breeds2000
hello again,

The data points are evenly spaced in the x and y directions and there are no x and y points initially so dplot will need to make them like you say.

Does that help?

Thanks,

Brian

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:42 am
by DPlotAdmin
Yes. I'll try to put together a file import plugin in the next few days and let you know when it is available.

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:44 am
by breeds2000
Much appreciated,

Brian

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:40 pm
by DPlotAdmin
Brian,
Sorry for the delay; I've allowed myself to get distracted by other things.

Right click on this link and select "Save Target As". Unzip the file with ztable.dll going to the \plugins\fileimport folder below DPlot. The other file, ztable_example.txt, is an example data file that will work with this plugin.

Data values should be arranged as shown on the input dialog for the plugin:

z(x1,y1), z(x2,y1),..., z(xn,y1)
z(x1,y2), z(x2,y2),..., z(xn,y2)
...
z(x1,ym), z(x2,ym),..., z(xn,ym)

where n is the number of columns (x values) and m is the number of rows (y values). Data values can be separated by commas, spaces, or tabs. The 4th column, 4th row value in the example is intentionally omitted to demonstrate that blank values are allowed (but in this case you must use commas or tabs to separate values).

I need to add more error-checking before making this "official" but wanted to get your input on whether this suits your needs.