How to Work with Tecplot

1. Right click on DATA1.DATOpen WithTecplot. If Open With window does not

have Tecplot then click on Choose Program. Select Tecplot in Open With window.
2. Tecplot will launch and a window Select Initial Plot will open. Click OK.
3. Now, double click on (red line), a window Mapping Style will open.
4. In Mapping Style window X-Axis Variable is v1 while Y-Axis variable is v2. Its mean
our graph is column1 vs. column2 given in DATA1.DAT file.
5. If your data file has six columns then you can change X-Axis Variable from v1 and
Y-Axis variable from v2 to draw graphs between other variables.
6. Click Close on Mapping Style window
7. Click on ViewNice Fit to Full Size (view button is available at first row of Tecplot
main window). This will fit your graph appropriately.
8. Now click on FileLoad Data Files. A window namely Select Import Format will
open. In this window select Tecplot Data Loader and click OK.
9. A window namely Load Data File Warning will open. Here enable Add to current data
set radio button and press OK.
10. A window namely Tecplot Data Loader will open.
11. Here select DATA2.DAT file and press Open
12. Now, double click on line (red line) at Tecplot main window, a window namely Mapping
Style will open.
13. Click on Create Map.
14. Create Mappings window will open.
15. In Create Mappings windows give Mapping Name as Numerical.
16. In X-Axis box scroll V1, in Y-Axis box scroll V2, and in Zone box scroll 2: ZONE 001.
Press OK.
17. V1 vs. V2 graph will be added into Tecplot main window. In this graph values of V1 and V2
are taken from DATA2.DAT file.
18. In Mapping Style window click on Map Num 1 and then click on Map NameEdit
Name.
19. In Map Name box write Analytical. Press OK.
20. In Mapping Style window click on Map Num 1 and then click on Lines.
21. Click on Line Color and select black color for this line.
22. In Mapping Style window click on Map Num 2 and then click on Lines. Click on Line
Color and select red color for this line. (you can select any color for any line. I usually use
black color for Analytical and red or blue color for CFD results)
23. Bring mouse curser near graph and then press and hold mouse center button and move
mouse downward. It will zoom in your graph.
24. Bring mouse curser near graph and then press and hold mouse center button and move
mouse upward. It will zoom out your graph.
25. Bring mouse curser near graph and then Press and hold right mouse button and move curser
to move graph from one place to another (Left-Right-Downward-Upward).
26. Click on ViewNice Fit to Full Size (view button is available at first row of Tecplot
1
 main window). This will fit your graph appropriately.
27. Click on PlotLine Legend. A window namely Line Legend will open.
28. In Line Legend window, enable Show Line Legend radio button.
29. In Line Legend window, enable No Box radio button. (it is upto you, if you like box
around line legend then do not enable this radio button)
30. Now click on V2 (in Tecplot main window, near mid of y-axis). Axis Details window will
open.
31. Here enable Use Text radio button and write Temperature in below box.
32. In Axis Details window click on Grid tab (second row from top) and enable Gridlines
Show and Minor Gridlines Show radio buttons.
33. In Axis Details window click on X1 tab (first row from top) and enable Gridlines Show
and Minor Gridlines Show radio buttons.
34. Click on Title tab (second row from top) and enable Use Text radio button, and write X
in below box.
35. Click on Range tab and enter 0 in Min box and 1 in Max box.
36. In Axis Details window click on Y1 tab (first row from top) and click on Range tab and
enter 0 in Min box and 100 in Max box.
37. In Axis Details window click on Close.
38. At Tecplot main window, click on Line Legend box, it would be highlighted, drag it and place
where it looks appropriate. (two small lines in black and red color are inside this box, and
two words are also written in this box, namely, Analytical Numerical)
39. Click FileSave Layout as (File tab is available at the top-left corner of Tecplot)
40. A window namely Save Layout will open. In File Name box give appropriate name for this
graph. (e.g. Temperature_Profile). Press Save.
41. Click FileExport (File tab is available at the top-left corner of Tecplot)
42. A window namely Export will open. Click on Export Format box and select TIFF.
43. In Export window, enable Enter Width radio button and enter 2000 in box. Click OK.
44. A window namely Select Export File will open. In File Name box give appropriate name
for this graph. (e.g. Temperature_Profile)
45. Now your working folder will have two more file namely Temperature_Profile.lay and
Temperature_Profile.tif.
46. Temperature_Profile.tif is a picture file. You can open this file by double click on it. You can
email it. You can insert it into report, papers etc.
47. Click FileExit (File tab is available at the top-left corner of Tecplot). This step will close
your Tecplot window. But do not worry you can open it later.
48. Temperature_Profile.lay is a Tecplot file. You can open it by double click on it. It will open
previously save work.
49. You can make changes and save your layout file (step 39 and 40). You can make changes and
export your TIFF files (step 41 to 44)