Create, Edit and Assign Custom Legends

Use the Legend entity to create, edit and assign custom legends to any contour, vector and tensor plot. Legends can be numeric, or category based. It can be copied or saved to an external file and imported for re-use.

• To create a legend:
  1. Right-click in open space in the Results Browser.
  2. Select the desired configuration from Create Legend > Contour, Vector, or Tensor.
  3. For Vector/Tensor, select the desired type: numeric or category.
     The category legend is used to display vector or tensor plots by direction.

     For the following contour plots, a category legend is displayed by default as these results are discrete values.

     • MaxLayer or MinLayer plot
     • Contour plot of Envelope Trace Datatype
     • Contour plot of Contact Status datatype output by OS or Abaqus

     Note: The contour category legend cannot be directly created from the Results Browser. However, once it is displayed in the modeling window, it can be saved from the right-click context menu and an entry will be listed in the Results Browser under the Legends folder.

  Alternate methods to create a legend

  • Right-click on a legend in the graphics and select Save Legend to create a new legend. This legend is automatically linked to the displayed plot.
  • Right-click on the Legend folder to import an .xml file containing a legend definition. If a legend with the same name already exists, the imported legend is renamed with the prefix "importedlegend_".

• To edit a legend:
  1. Use the Entity Editor to edit the legend properties such as format, precision, range, color scheme, and position.
  2. Alternatively, use the graphics legend context menu to change some of the legend properties.
     This automatically updates the linked legend entity.
  Note:

  • Format and Precision are supported only for numeric legends.
  • Range can be set to automatic, or user-defined.
    • If automatic, the values of the legend are not editable and are directly obtained from the linked plot definition. If user-defined, values can be changed using the values table or by clicking directly on a value in the graphics legend.
    • Due to current graphics legend limitations, certain value inputs may not be accepted. It is thus recommended to enter values in a strictly descending or ascending order.
    • If custom values are entered and then the number of levels are changed, values get reset. It is thus recommended to first set the number of levels and then input values.
  • Color Scheme can be Divergent, Rainbow, or User-defined. If User-defined, change the color of any level by clicking directly on the color in the graphics legend.
  • Existing plots can also be displayed or cleared using the plot icons in the Results Browser.
  • Editing the definition for a displayed plot automatically updates the graphics. For large models, editing the plot definition may be faster if the plot is not displayed.
• To assign a legend:
  1. Click on a plot definition in the Results Browser to access the Entity Editor, or, open the Contour/Vector/Tensor tool, pick a plot definition from the drop-down menu on the guide bar, then click .
  2. Check Custom Legend.
  3. Click Legends and select from existing legends using IntelliSearch or the Advanced Selection dialog.

     The list shows only legends of the same config.

  4. To remove a legend and revert to default legend, simply uncheck Custom Legend.