MEscopeVES Reference

ME’scopeVES
Reference Manual
Volume IIA – Basic Operations
(March 2012)
Index
Notice
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Vibrant Technology. Except as otherwise noted, names, companies, and data used in
examples, sample outputs, or screen shots, are fictitious and are used solely to illustrate potential
applications of the software.
Warranty
Vibrant Technology, Inc. warrants that (a) the software in this product will perform substantially in
accordance with the accompanying documentation, for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery,
and that (b) any hardware accompanying the software will be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery. During this period, if a defect is reported
to Vibrant Technology, replacement software or hardware will be provided to the customer at no cost,
excluding delivery charges. Any replacement software will be warranted for the remainder of the original
warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer.
This warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by the
customer, customer supplied software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation
outside of the environmental specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.
In the event that the software does not materially operate as warranted above, the sole remedy of the
customer (and the entire liability of Vibrant Technology) shall be the correction or detour of programming
errors attributable to Vibrant Technology. The software should not be relied on as the sole basis to solve a
problem whose incorrect solution could result in injury to a person or property. If the software is employed in
such a manner, it is at the entire risk of the customer, and Vibrant Technology disclaims all liability for such
misuse.
NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. VIBRANT TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICALLY
MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE.
THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE THE CUSTOMER'S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES.
VIBRANT TECHNOLOGY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE FURNISHING,
PERFORMANCE, OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY
OTHER LEGAL THEORY.
Copyright
The software described in this document is copyrighted by Vibrant Technology, Inc. or its suppliers and is
protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Unauthorized reproduction or
distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be
prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.
You may make copies of the software only for backup or archival purposes. No part of this manual may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any purpose without the express written
permission of Vibrant Technology.
Copyright  1992-2012 by Vibrant Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America
Vibrant Technology, Inc.

5 Erba Lane, Suite B
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
phone: (831) 430-9045
fax: (831) 430-9057
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.vibetech.com
Table of Contents
ME'scopeVES Window Commands ......................................................................................................... 1
Project Fly Out Panel ........................................................................................................................... 1
Right Click Menu .................................................................................................................................. 1
Menu Commands................................................................................................................................. 2
Opening a Project .................................................................................................................................... 2
Opening Data Files .............................................................................................................................. 3
Saving Data Files ................................................................................................................................. 3
Demo Projects Fly Out Panels ................................................................................................................. 3
Opening a Project From a Fly Out Panel .............................................................................................. 4
Moving a Fly Out Panel ........................................................................................................................ 4
Creating a New Fly Out Panel .............................................................................................................. 5
Adding a File to a Project ......................................................................................................................... 5
Opening a Data File in its Window ........................................................................................................... 5
Project | New ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Project | Open ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Project | Close ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Project | Save .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Project | Save As ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Project | Save A Copy.............................................................................................................................. 7
Project | Open Library .............................................................................................................................. 7
Drawing Assistant SubStructure Tab .................................................................................................... 8
Project | Save Graphics in File ................................................................................................................. 8
Project | Options ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Display Tab.......................................................................................................................................... 8
General Tab ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Numbers Tab ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Project | Exit ............................................................................................................................................ 9
File | New Menu....................................................................................................................................... 9
File | New | Structure .......................................................................................................................... 10
File | New | Data Block ....................................................................................................................... 10
File | New | Shape Table .................................................................................................................... 12
Manual Shape Data Entry .................................................................................................................. 13
File | New | Acquisition ....................................................................................................................... 13
File | New | Report ............................................................................................................................. 13
File | New | Program........................................................................................................................... 13
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Reference Volume IIA - Basic Operations
File | Import | Structure .......................................................................................................................... 13

Importing ASCII Text Spreadsheet Files ................................................................................................ 14
Creating a File Template .................................................................................................................... 14
Importing From a UFF File ..................................................................................................................... 14
The UFF Format ................................................................................................................................ 15
File | Import | Data Block........................................................................................................................ 15
Selecting Multiple Files....................................................................................................................... 16
Measurement Selection Dialog Box .................................................................................................... 16
Translate Files Dialog Box.................................................................................................................. 17
File | Import | Shape Table ..................................................................................................................... 18
File | Import | Project.............................................................................................................................. 19
File | Import | Add File............................................................................................................................ 19
Display Menu......................................................................................................................................... 20
Display | Center Window .................................................................................................................... 20
Display | Toolbars .............................................................................................................................. 20
Display | Status Bar............................................................................................................................ 20
Window Menu........................................................................................................................................ 21
Window | Arrange Windows | Auto Arrange ........................................................................................ 21
Window | Arrange Windows | For Animation ....................................................................................... 21
Window | Arrange Windows | Tile ....................................................................................................... 21
Window | Arrange Windows | Cascade ............................................................................................... 21
Window | Arrange Icons ..................................................................................................................... 21
Window | Close All Windows .............................................................................................................. 21
List of Open Windows ........................................................................................................................ 22
Help Menu ............................................................................................................................................. 22
Help | Tutorial Help ............................................................................................................................ 22
Help | Commands Help ...................................................................................................................... 22
Help | Show Tool Tips ........................................................................................................................ 22
Help | About ....................................................................................................................................... 23
Structure Window Commands ............................................................................................................... 25
Drawing & Animation States ............................................................................................................... 25
Graphics Area & Spreadsheet ............................................................................................................ 26
Menu Commands............................................................................................................................... 26
Special Mouse & Keyboard Operations.................................................................................................. 26
Right Click Menus .............................................................................................................................. 26
Moving Spreadsheet Columns............................................................................................................ 26
Scrolling Spreadsheets ...................................................................................................................... 26
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Table of Contents
Spreadsheet Text Size ....................................................................................................................... 26

Rotation in the 3D View ...................................................................................................................... 26
Zooming............................................................................................................................................. 26
Panning the Display ........................................................................................................................... 27
Toggle Object Selection ..................................................................................................................... 27
Select a Range of Objects.................................................................................................................. 27
Object Selection Box .......................................................................................................................... 27
Shape Values during Animation ......................................................................................................... 27
Delete Key ......................................................................................................................................... 27
F2, F3 & F4 Keys ............................................................................................................................... 27
During Dwell Animation ...................................................................................................................... 27
Cut, Copy & Paste Text ...................................................................................................................... 27
Object Spreadsheets ............................................................................................................................. 28
Scroll Bars ......................................................................................................................................... 28
Select, Hide, Label, Color & Bold Columns ......................................................................................... 28
Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ........................................................................................... 29
Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths .................................................................................................... 29
Editing Spreadsheet Properties by Column ............................................................................................ 29
Zoom & Pan .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Rotation in the 3D View ......................................................................................................................... 29
File | Save ............................................................................................................................................. 29
File | Save As... ..................................................................................................................................... 29
File | Save In Library .............................................................................................................................. 29
SubStructure Browser ........................................................................................................................ 30
Saving a Single SubStructure............................................................................................................. 30
File | Save Graphics in a File ................................................................................................................. 30
File | Export ........................................................................................................................................... 30
Exporting a UFF File .......................................................................................................................... 30
Exporting a Structure & Shape Table into the Same UFF File ............................................................. 31
Exporting Shapes in Global Coordinates ............................................................................................ 31
Importing a Structure Model in Text Format ........................................................................................... 31
1. Create a Text File Template ........................................................................................................... 31
2. Add Your Data to the Text File Template ........................................................................................ 31
3. Import the Text (.TXT) File ............................................................................................................. 32
File | Copy to Clipboard Menu................................................................................................................ 32
File | Copy to Clipboard | Graphics ..................................................................................................... 32
File | Copy to Clipboard | Spreadsheet ............................................................................................... 32
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File | Print Menu .................................................................................................................................... 32

File | Print | Graphics.......................................................................................................................... 32
File | Print | Spreadsheet .................................................................................................................... 32
File | Clone Structure and Source .......................................................................................................... 32
File | Options ......................................................................................................................................... 33
Display Tab........................................................................................................................................ 34
Units Tab ........................................................................................................................................... 34
Labels Tab ......................................................................................................................................... 35
Show/Hide Tab .................................................................................................................................. 35
Lights Tab .......................................................................................................................................... 35
Animation Tab.................................................................................................................................... 36
Movies Tab ........................................................................................................................................ 37
File | Close ............................................................................................................................................ 37
Opening a Window............................................................................................................................. 37
Edit | Undo, Redo .................................................................................................................................. 37
Edit | Undo ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Edit | Redo ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Edit | Object List ................................................................................................................................... 37
Current Object Type ........................................................................................................................... 38
Edit | Add Objects .................................................................................................................................. 38
Selecting Objects................................................................................................................................... 38
Using the Object Selection Box .......................................................................................................... 38
Using the Shift, Ctrl, & Alt Keys with the Selection Box ....................................................................... 38
Selecting All Objects .......................................................................................................................... 38
Un-selecting All Objects ..................................................................................................................... 39
Toggle Object Selection ..................................................................................................................... 39
Selecting a Range of Objects in the Objects Spreadsheet .................................................................. 39
Edit | Select Objects Menu..................................................................................................................... 39
Edit | Select Objects | Select All.......................................................................................................... 39
Edit | Select Objects | Invert Selection ................................................................................................ 39
Edit | Select Objects | Select None ..................................................................................................... 39
Edit | Select Objects | Select Labeled Points ...................................................................................... 39
Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box ................................................................................................... 40
Edit | Select Objects | Click Select ...................................................................................................... 40
Points Spreadsheet ............................................................................................................................... 40
Label Column..................................................................................................................................... 40
Point Coordinates Columns ................................................................................................................ 41
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Table of Contents
Center Point Column .......................................................................................................................... 41

Display Column.................................................................................................................................. 41
Area & Normal Vector Columns.......................................................................................................... 41
Deformation Column .......................................................................................................................... 41
Icon Column....................................................................................................................................... 42
Rotating Point Icons ........................................................................................................................... 42
Re-sizing Point Icons ......................................................................................................................... 42
Adding Points to a Model ....................................................................................................................... 42
Adding Points Graphically .................................................................................................................. 42
Adding Points to the Points Spreadsheet ............................................................................................ 42
Editing Point Coordinates ...................................................................................................................... 43
Editing Spreadsheet Coordinates ....................................................................................................... 43
Distance Between Two Points ............................................................................................................... 43
Lines Spreadsheet................................................................................................................................. 44
Adding Lines to a Model ........................................................................................................................ 45
Surface Spreadsheets ........................................................................................................................... 45
Surface Triangles ............................................................................................................................... 45
Surface Quads ................................................................................................................................... 46
Adding Surfaces to a Model ................................................................................................................... 46
SubStructures Spreadsheet ................................................................................................................... 47
Color Column ..................................................................................................................................... 47
Transparent button ............................................................................................................................. 48
Hide Texture button............................................................................................................................ 48
Deformation Column .......................................................................................................................... 48
Contours Data Type Column .............................................................................................................. 48
Creating a SubStructure ........................................................................................................................ 49
Edit | Cut Objects to File ........................................................................................................................ 49
Edit | Copy Objects to File ..................................................................................................................... 49
Edit | Paste Objects from File................................................................................................................. 49
Edit | Delete Selected Objects ............................................................................................................... 49
Edit | Drag Selected Objects .................................................................................................................. 50
F2, F3 & F4 keys................................................................................................................................ 50
Edit | Resize Selected Objects ............................................................................................................... 50
F2, F3, & F4 keys............................................................................................................................... 50
Re-sizing in the 3D View .................................................................................................................... 50
Changing the Shape .......................................................................................................................... 51
Re-sizing Point Icons ......................................................................................................................... 51
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Edit | Rotate Selected Objects ............................................................................................................... 52

Rotating Point Icons ........................................................................................................................... 52
Display | Center Window........................................................................................................................ 52
Display | Spreadsheet ............................................................................................................................ 52
Display | Toolbars .................................................................................................................................. 52
Display | View Menu .............................................................................................................................. 52
Display | View | Active View................................................................................................................ 53
Quad View Versus Single View .......................................................................................................... 53
Display | View | Flip View ................................................................................................................... 53
Display | Zoom, mooZ............................................................................................................................ 53
Display | Zoom ................................................................................................................................... 53
Using the Mouse Wheel ..................................................................................................................... 54
Display | mooZ ................................................................................................................................... 54
Display | Pan ......................................................................................................................................... 54
Display | Re-Center All Views ................................................................................................................ 54
Display | View Control............................................................................................................................ 54
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View Menu ..................................................................................................... 56
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View | Rotate CCW ..................................................................................... 56
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View | Stop.................................................................................................. 56
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View | Rotate CW ........................................................................................ 56
Display | Points Menu ............................................................................................................................ 56
Display | Points | Show Points ............................................................................................................ 56
Display | Points | Point Labels ............................................................................................................ 56
Display | Points | Point Icons .............................................................................................................. 56
Display | Points | Measured DOFs ...................................................................................................... 57
Display | Points | Interpolated DOFs ................................................................................................... 57
Display | Points | Fixed DOFs ............................................................................................................. 57
Display | Points | Select Measurements .............................................................................................. 58
Display | Lines Menu ............................................................................................................................. 58
Display | Lines | Show Lines ............................................................................................................... 58
Display | Lines | Line Labels ............................................................................................................... 58
Display | Surfaces Menu ........................................................................................................................ 58
Display | Surfaces | Filled ................................................................................................................... 58
Display | Surfaces | Outlined .............................................................................................................. 59
Display | Surfaces | Texture................................................................................................................ 59
Display | Surfaces | Transparent......................................................................................................... 59
Display | Surfaces | Surface Labels .................................................................................................... 59
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Table of Contents
Display | Surfaces | Lights .................................................................................................................. 59

Display | Surfaces | Surface Normals ................................................................................................. 59
Display | Surfaces | Reverse Normals ................................................................................................ 59
Surface Colors ................................................................................................................................... 59
Display | FEA Objects Menu .................................................................................................................. 59
Display | FEA Objects | Show Objects ................................................................................................ 59
Display | FEA Objects | Object Labels ................................................................................................ 60
Draw Menu ............................................................................................................................................ 60
Draw or Animate | Draw Structure.......................................................................................................... 60
Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes ....................................................................................................... 60
Requirements for Animation ............................................................................................................... 60
Data Block or Acquisition Window Animation ...................................................................................... 60
Shape Table Animation ...................................................................................................................... 61
Which Shape Data is Displayed? ....................................................................................................... 61
Changing the Animation Source ......................................................................................................... 61
Selected M#s ..................................................................................................................................... 61
Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes ...................................................................................................... 61
Arranging Windows During Animation ................................................................................................ 62
Draw | Drawing Assistant ....................................................................................................................... 62
SubStructure Tab ............................................................................................................................... 63
Editable SubStructures....................................................................................................................... 63
Dimensions Tab ................................................................................................................................. 63
Position Tab ....................................................................................................................................... 63
Extrude Tab ....................................................................................................................................... 64
Revolve Tab....................................................................................................................................... 64
Rotating SubStructures During Animation .............................................................................................. 64
Creating a Rotating SubStructure ....................................................................................................... 64
Testing the Rotation ........................................................................................................................... 64
Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor ........................................................................................ 65
Measurement Axes Tab ..................................................................................................................... 65
Animation Equations Tab ................................................................................................................... 67
Draw | Animation Equations Menu ......................................................................................................... 68
Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured (Assign M#s) ............................................................ 68
Draw | Animation Equations | Create Interpolated............................................................................... 68
Draw | Animation Equations | Interpolated to Measured ...................................................................... 70
Draw | Animation Equations | Fix DOFs .............................................................................................. 70
Draw | Animation Equations | Fixed to Interpolated............................................................................. 71
ix
Draw | Animation Equations | Delete Equations .................................................................................. 71

Examining the Animation Equations ................................................................................................... 72
Draw | Mesh Selected Objects Menu ..................................................................................................... 73
Draw | Mesh Selected Objects | Mesh All Edges ................................................................................ 74
Draw | Mesh Selected Objects | Mesh Longest Edges ........................................................................ 74
Meshing Substructures....................................................................................................................... 75
Draw | Add Selected Objects to SubStructure ........................................................................................ 75
Draw | Remove Selected Objects from SubStructure ............................................................................. 76
Draw | Points Menu ............................................................................................................................... 76
Draw | Points | Number Points............................................................................................................ 76
Draw | Points | Sort Points by Label.................................................................................................... 77
Draw | Points | Add Point To Line ....................................................................................................... 77
Draw | Points | Add Point To Surface.................................................................................................. 78
Draw | Points | Remove Duplicate Points............................................................................................ 78
Draw | Points | Create Center Point .................................................................................................... 78
Animate Menu ....................................................................................................................................... 79
Draw or Animate | Draw Structure.......................................................................................................... 79
Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes ....................................................................................................... 79
Requirements for Animation ............................................................................................................... 79
Data Block or Acquisition Window Animation ...................................................................................... 79
Shape Table Animation ...................................................................................................................... 79
Which Shape Data is Displayed? ....................................................................................................... 80
Changing the Animation Source ......................................................................................................... 80
Selected M#s ..................................................................................................................................... 80
Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes ...................................................................................................... 80
Arranging Windows During Animation ................................................................................................ 81
Animate | Show Animation Source ......................................................................................................... 81
Animate | Show Comparison Source...................................................................................................... 82
Animating From Multiple Source Files .................................................................................................... 83
Displaying Shape Values ....................................................................................................................... 83
Animate | Method Menu ......................................................................................................................... 83
Animate | Method | Sweep ................................................................................................................. 83
Animate | Method | Sine Dwell............................................................................................................ 84
Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell ................................................................................................... 84
Animate | With Interpolation ................................................................................................................... 84
Animate | Speed Menu .......................................................................................................................... 85
Data Block Sweep Speed ................................................................................................................... 85
x
Table of Contents
Sine Dwell Speeds ............................................................................................................................. 86

Speed Settings .................................................................................................................................. 86
Animate | Amplitude Menu ..................................................................................................................... 86
Animate | Amplitude | Increase Amplitude .......................................................................................... 86
Animate | Amplitude | Decrease Amplitude ......................................................................................... 86
Animate | Amplitude | Amplitude ......................................................................................................... 86
Settings box ....................................................................................................................................... 87
Animate | Step Menu ............................................................................................................................. 87
Animate | Step | Stop/Continue .......................................................................................................... 87
Animate | Step | Next Frame .............................................................................................................. 87
Animate | Step | Previous Frame ........................................................................................................ 87
Animate | Scale Shapes Menu ............................................................................................................... 87
Animate | Scale Shapes | Auto Scaling ............................................................................................... 87
Animate | Scale Shapes | Relative Scaling ......................................................................................... 87
Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scaling ............................................................................................. 88
Animate | Scale Shapes | Relative To Left Shape ............................................................................... 88
Animate | Deformation Menu ................................................................................................................. 88
Animate | Deformation | Undeformed.................................................................................................. 88
Animate | Deformation | Deformed ..................................................................................................... 88
Animate | Deformation | Arrows .......................................................................................................... 88
Animate | Deformation | Persistence................................................................................................... 89
Animate | Deformation | Orbits ........................................................................................................... 89
Animate | Direction Menu....................................................................................................................... 90
Animate | Direction | X direction.......................................................................................................... 90
Animate | Direction | Y direction.......................................................................................................... 90
Animate | Direction | Z direction .......................................................................................................... 90
Animate | Contours Menu ...................................................................................................................... 90
Animate | Contours | Node Lines ........................................................................................................ 90
Normal Versus Complex Shapes........................................................................................................ 90
Animate | Contours | Contour Colors .................................................................................................. 91
Animate | Contours | Point Icons ........................................................................................................ 91
Animate | Contours | Color Key .......................................................................................................... 91
Animate | Flip Sign ................................................................................................................................ 92
Flipping the Sign In a Complexity Plot ................................................................................................ 92
Animate | Shape Difference ................................................................................................................... 92
Animate | Synchronize Shapes .............................................................................................................. 92
Animate | Save Shape ........................................................................................................................... 93
xi
Movie Menu........................................................................................................................................... 93
Movie | Make Structure Movie ............................................................................................................ 93
Movie | Make Work Area Movie .......................................................................................................... 94
Data Block Window Commands............................................................................................................. 95
Graphics Area & Spreadsheet ............................................................................................................ 95
Menu Commands............................................................................................................................... 96
Special Mouse & Keyboard Operations.................................................................................................. 96
Right Click Menus .............................................................................................................................. 96
Moving Spreadsheet Columns............................................................................................................ 96
Scrolling Spreadsheets ...................................................................................................................... 96
Spreadsheet Text Size ....................................................................................................................... 96
Scrolling Traces ................................................................................................................................. 96
Zooming............................................................................................................................................. 96
Panning a Zoomed Display ................................................................................................................ 96
Moving the Line Cursor ...................................................................................................................... 96
Moving the Peak or Band Cursor ........................................................................................................ 96
Moving an Edge of the Peak or Band Cursor ...................................................................................... 97
Selecting a Range of Traces .............................................................................................................. 97
Toggle Trace Selection ...................................................................................................................... 97
Trace Values...................................................................................................................................... 97
Cut, Copy & Paste Text ...................................................................................................................... 97
Graphics Scroll Bars .............................................................................................................................. 97
Vertical Scroll Bar .............................................................................................................................. 97
Horizontal Scroll Bar .......................................................................................................................... 97
Traces Spreadsheet .............................................................................................................................. 98
Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ........................................................................................... 98
Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths .................................................................................................... 98
Unique M#s........................................................................................................................................ 99
Selecting Traces ................................................................................................................................ 99
Changing Trace Properties................................................................................................................. 99
Hide Column ...................................................................................................................................... 99
Measurement Type Column ............................................................................................................... 99
DOFs Column .................................................................................................................................... 99
Units Column ................................................................................................................................... 100
Color Column ................................................................................................................................... 100
Sound Column ................................................................................................................................. 100
Label Column................................................................................................................................... 101
xii
Table of Contents
Data Type Column ........................................................................................................................... 101

Scale Method, Minimum Scale, & Maximum Scale Columns............................................................. 101
Date/Time Column ........................................................................................................................... 101
Animation Group Column ................................................................................................................. 101
Using the DOF Generator .................................................................................................................... 101
Single Channel DOFs ...................................................................................................................... 102
Cross Channel DOFs ....................................................................................................................... 103
Add To DOFs ................................................................................................................................... 103
Roving Impact Test .......................................................................................................................... 103
Swap DOFs ..................................................................................................................................... 103
Delete DOFs .................................................................................................................................... 103
File | Save ........................................................................................................................................... 103
File | Save As... ................................................................................................................................... 104
File | Save Graphics in a File ............................................................................................................... 104
File | Export ......................................................................................................................................... 104
UFF File Export ................................................................................................................................ 104
Importing a Data Block in Spreadsheet Format .................................................................................... 105
Column Format ................................................................................................................................ 105
Header Data .................................................................................................................................... 105
Creating a (.TXT) File Template ....................................................................................................... 106
Adding Your Data to the Template.................................................................................................... 107
Importing the (.TXT) File .................................................................................................................. 107
File | Copy to Clipboard Menu.............................................................................................................. 107
Editing Trace Data ............................................................................................................................... 107
Exporting the Trace Data ................................................................................................................. 107
Importing the Edited Trace Data ....................................................................................................... 108
File | Print Menu .................................................................................................................................. 108
File | Print | Graphics........................................................................................................................ 108
File | Print | Traces Spreadsheet ...................................................................................................... 108
File | Properties ................................................................................................................................... 108
File | Options ....................................................................................................................................... 109
Display Tab...................................................................................................................................... 110
Contour Colors Tab .......................................................................................................................... 110
Contours for Each Animation Group ................................................................................................. 110
High & Low Contour Limits ............................................................................................................... 110
Labels & Grids Tab .......................................................................................................................... 111
Show/Hide Tab ................................................................................................................................ 111
xiii
Animation Tab.................................................................................................................................. 111

File | Close .......................................................................................................................................... 111
Opening a Window........................................................................................................................... 111
Edit | Undo, Redo ................................................................................................................................ 111
Edit | Undo ....................................................................................................................................... 111
Edit | Redo ....................................................................................................................................... 112
Edit | Select Traces Menu .................................................................................................................... 112
Edit | Select Traces | By ................................................................................................................... 112
Edit | Select Traces | Select All ......................................................................................................... 114
Edit | Select Traces | Invert Selection ............................................................................................... 114
Edit | Select Traces | Select None .................................................................................................... 114
Edit | Sort Traces Menu ....................................................................................................................... 115
Edit | Sort Traces | By ...................................................................................................................... 115
Edit | Sort Traces | Manual ............................................................................................................... 117
Display | Center Window...................................................................................................................... 117
Display | Spreadsheet .......................................................................................................................... 117
Display | Toolbars ................................................................................................................................ 117
Display | Trace Label on Graph............................................................................................................ 117
Display | Real ...................................................................................................................................... 118
Display | Imaginary .............................................................................................................................. 118
Display | Magnitude ............................................................................................................................. 119
Linear, Log or dB ............................................................................................................................. 120
dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities..................................................................................... 120
Display | Phase ................................................................................................................................... 120
Display | CoQuad ................................................................................................................................ 121
Display | Bode ..................................................................................................................................... 121
Display | Nyquist .................................................................................................................................. 122
Display | Cursor Menu ......................................................................................................................... 122
Display | Cursor | Line Cursor........................................................................................................... 122
Display | Cursor | Band Cursor ......................................................................................................... 123
Display | Cursor | Peak Cursor ......................................................................................................... 123
Display | Cursor | Cursor Values....................................................................................................... 123
Display | Cursor | Orders .................................................................................................................. 123
Display | Cursor | Peak Finder .......................................................................................................... 123
Moving the Cursors .......................................................................................................................... 124
Animating the Shape at the Cursor Position ..................................................................................... 124
Saving Shapes................................................................................................................................. 124
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Table of Contents
Display | Zoom, mooZ.......................................................................................................................... 124

Horizontal & Vertical Zoom ............................................................................................................... 125
Using the Mouse Wheel ................................................................................................................... 125
Panning After a Zoom ...................................................................................................................... 125
Display | Maximize............................................................................................................................... 126
Display | Fill Under Graph Menu .......................................................................................................... 127
Display | Fill Under Graph | Trace Color ........................................................................................... 127
Display | Fill Under Graph | Fill Colors .............................................................................................. 127
Display | Fill Under Graph | Contour Colors ...................................................................................... 127
Format | Rows Columns ...................................................................................................................... 127
Format | Overlaid ................................................................................................................................. 128
Format | Overlay By DOF .................................................................................................................... 128
Format | Strip Chart ............................................................................................................................. 129
Format | Cascade ................................................................................................................................ 130
Format | Contour Map.......................................................................................................................... 131
Format | Vertical Axis........................................................................................................................... 131
Scaling............................................................................................................................................. 132
Scaling from the Traces Spreadsheet ............................................................................................... 132
dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities..................................................................................... 132
Labels & Grids ................................................................................................................................. 133
Format | Horizontal Axis....................................................................................................................... 133
Display Limits................................................................................................................................... 133
Show Axis As, Axis Units ................................................................................................................. 133
Labels & Grids ................................................................................................................................. 133
Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) ................................................................................ 133
Connected Structure Window ........................................................................................................... 134
Match Structure and Source DOFs Method ...................................................................................... 134
Equation Types ................................................................................................................................ 134
Measurement Axes .......................................................................................................................... 134
Multiple Reference Measurements ................................................................................................... 135
Graphical Assignment ...................................................................................................................... 135
Trace DOF Creation ......................................................................................................................... 136
Tools Renumber M#s .......................................................................................................................... 136
Tools | Animate Shapes ....................................................................................................................... 137
Sweep or Dwell Animation................................................................................................................ 137
Which Data is Animated? ................................................................................................................. 137
Selected M#s ................................................................................................................................... 137
xv
Multiple Reference DOFs ................................................................................................................. 137

Terminating Animation ..................................................................................................................... 138
Tools | Animate Using | Animation Groups ........................................................................................... 138
Entering Animation Group Names .................................................................................................... 138
Tools | Save Shape ............................................................................................................................. 138
Add To or Replace Shapes .............................................................................................................. 139
Replacing a Shape ........................................................................................................................... 139
Replacing DOFs of a Shape ............................................................................................................. 139
Shape Table Window Commands ........................................................................................................ 141
Shapes & DOFs Spreadsheets......................................................................................................... 141
Menu Commands............................................................................................................................. 141
Special Mouse & Keyboard Operations................................................................................................ 142
Right Click Menus ............................................................................................................................ 142
Moving Spreadsheet Columns.......................................................................................................... 142
Scrolling Spreadsheets .................................................................................................................... 142
Spreadsheet Text Size ..................................................................................................................... 142
Cut, Copy & Paste Text .................................................................................................................... 142
Shapes Spreadsheet ........................................................................................................................... 142
Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ......................................................................................... 143
Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths .................................................................................................. 143
DOFs Spreadsheet .............................................................................................................................. 143
Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ......................................................................................... 143
Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths .................................................................................................. 143
Unique M#s...................................................................................................................................... 144
Animation Group Column ................................................................................................................. 144
File | Save ........................................................................................................................................... 144
File | Save As... ................................................................................................................................... 144
Importing Shapes Using Spreadsheet Format ...................................................................................... 144
Creating a .TXT File Template.......................................................................................................... 144
Add Your Data To The .TXT File ...................................................................................................... 144
Import The .TXT File ........................................................................................................................ 144
File | Export ......................................................................................................................................... 145
UFF File Export ................................................................................................................................ 145
File | Copy to Clipboard Menu.............................................................................................................. 145
File | Copy to Clipboard | Shape Spreadsheet .................................................................................. 145
File | Copy to Clipboard | DOFs Spreadsheet ................................................................................... 146
File | Print Menu .................................................................................................................................. 146
xvi
Table of Contents
File | Print | Shapes Spreadsheet ..................................................................................................... 146

File | Print | DOFs Spreadsheet ........................................................................................................ 146
File | Properties ................................................................................................................................... 146
File | Options ....................................................................................................................................... 146
Display Tab...................................................................................................................................... 147
Animation Tab.................................................................................................................................. 147
Show/Hide Tab ................................................................................................................................ 147
Contour Colors Tab .......................................................................................................................... 147
Contours for Each Animation Group ................................................................................................. 148
High & Low Contour Limits ............................................................................................................... 148
File | Close .......................................................................................................................................... 148
Opening a Window........................................................................................................................... 148
Edit | Undo, Redo ................................................................................................................................ 148
Edit | Undo ....................................................................................................................................... 148
Edit | Redo ....................................................................................................................................... 148
Edit | Select Shapes Menu ................................................................................................................... 149
Edit | Select Shapes | All .................................................................................................................. 149
Edit | Select Shapes | None .............................................................................................................. 149
Edit | Select Shapes | Invert ............................................................................................................. 149
Edit | Sort Shapes Menu ...................................................................................................................... 149
Edit | Sort Shapes | Ascending ......................................................................................................... 149
Edit | Sort Shapes | Descending ....................................................................................................... 149
Edit | Select DOFs Menu ..................................................................................................................... 149
Edit | Select DOFs | By..................................................................................................................... 149
Edit | Select DOFs | Select All .......................................................................................................... 151
Edit | Select DOFs | Invert Selection ................................................................................................. 151
Edit | Select DOFs | Select None ...................................................................................................... 151
Edit | Sort DOFs .................................................................................................................................. 151
Display Menu....................................................................................................................................... 153
Display | Center Window .................................................................................................................. 153
Display | Toolbars ............................................................................................................................ 153
Display | Split ................................................................................................................................... 153
Display | Shape DOFs Menu................................................................................................................ 153
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude / Phase ...................................................................................... 154
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude (dB) / Phase .............................................................................. 154
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude ................................................................................................... 154
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude dB.............................................................................................. 154
xvii
Display | Shape DOFs | Phase ......................................................................................................... 154

Display | Shape DOFs | Real / Imaginary.......................................................................................... 154
Display | Shape DOFs | Real ............................................................................................................ 155
Display | Shape DOFs | Imaginary.................................................................................................... 155
Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) ................................................................................ 155
Tools | Renumber M#s ........................................................................................................................ 155
Tools | Animate Shapes ....................................................................................................................... 155
Sweep or Dwell Animation................................................................................................................ 155
Which Data is Used? ........................................................................................................................ 155
Selected M#'s .................................................................................................................................. 156
Terminating Animation ..................................................................................................................... 156
Tools | Animate Using | Animation Groups ........................................................................................... 156
Entering Animation Group Names .................................................................................................... 156
Report Window Commands ................................................................................................................. 157
Report Window .................................................................................................................................... 157
Menu Commands............................................................................................................................. 157
File Menu ............................................................................................................................................ 157
File | Save........................................................................................................................................ 157
File | Save As................................................................................................................................... 157
File | Export...................................................................................................................................... 158
File | Print ........................................................................................................................................ 158
File | Page Setup ............................................................................................................................. 158
File | Print Preview ........................................................................................................................... 158
File | Close ....................................................................................................................................... 159
Opening a Window........................................................................................................................... 159
Edit Menu ............................................................................................................................................ 159
Edit | Undo ....................................................................................................................................... 159
Edit | Cut .......................................................................................................................................... 159
Edit | Copy ....................................................................................................................................... 159
Edit | Paste ...................................................................................................................................... 160
Edit | Select All ................................................................................................................................. 160
Edit | Select None ............................................................................................................................ 160
Edit | Delete ..................................................................................................................................... 160
Edit | Find Next ................................................................................................................................ 160
Edit | Insert Picture From File ........................................................................................................... 160
Format Menu ....................................................................................................................................... 161
Format | Font Type, Size, Color........................................................................................................ 161
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Table of Contents
Format | Bold, Italic, Underlined Font................................................................................................ 161

Format | Align Left, Center, Right ..................................................................................................... 161
Format | Increase, Decrease Indent ................................................................................................. 161
Format | Bullets ................................................................................................................................ 161
Glossary .............................................................................................................................................. 163
Index ................................................................................................................................................... 173
xix
ME'scopeVES Window Commands
ME'scopeVES Window.
This chapter contains descriptions of all of the commands in the ME'scopeVES window. The
ME'scopeVES window is the container window for ME'scopeVES.
• When the ME'scopeVES window is open, ME'scopeVES is running.
• When the ME'scopeVES window is closed, ME'scopeVES is terminated.
• All other ME'scopeVES windows are contained inside the Work Area of ME'scopeVES window.
Project Fly Out Panel
• Hover the mouse pointer over the Project tab to open the Project fly out panel.
The Project fly out panel contains two panes, separated by a moveable red splitter bar.
• The pane on the (top or left) lists the files in the currently open Project (VTprj) file.
• The pane on the (bottom or right) lists all of the Project (VTprj) files in the current folder on
disk.
Right Click Menu
• Right click on one of the Project file names in the Project fly out panel to display a drop down
menu;
• Execute Open to open the Project (same as clicking on the Project name).
• Execute Name & Description to rename the Project and add a description.
1
• Execute Delete to mark the Project file for deletion from the disk.
• A Project that is marked for deletion can be un-deleted by right clicking on it.
• Execute Open Folder to display the disk folder where the Project (VTprj) file is located.
Menu Commands
Menu command descriptions are ordered by command menu (from left to right), and then by the
commands in each menu (from top to bottom).
• Each command is executed by choosing it from a command menu, or by clicking on its Tool if it
is on a Toolbar.
• See the Command Toolbars section in the Tutorial - Introduction to ME'scopeVES
chapter for details on customizing the Toolbars in this window.
Opening a Project
There are several ways to open a previously saved Project file,

1. Execute Project | Open in the ME'scopeVES window.
2. On the Project Fly Out panel,
• Double click on the Project name in the (right or lower) pane.
• Right click on the Project name in the (right or lower) pane, and select Open from the
drop down menu.
3. From the Demos Fly Out panel,
• See the next section for details.
4. From the Start Page,
• Execute File | Project | Close to display the Start Page.
• Select the Project from the list of Recent Projects,
• Or, click on Open an Existing Project.
Start Page
NOTE: Only one Project can be open at a time in ME'scopeVES.
2
All work in ME'scopeVES is done in the currently open Project. A Project file can contain one or more of
the following data files:
• Structure (STR) file
• Data Block (BLK) file
• Shape Table (SHP) file
• Acquisition (ACQ) file
• Report (RTF) file
• Program (PGM) file
• Added Files (WMV, PDF, JPG, or files that run in other windows applications).
NOTE: All data files in a Project are contained within the Project file on disk, except Added files. Added
files are stored separately on disk, and are opened from a separate application program.
Opening Data Files
A separate window is used for displaying and manipulating the contents of each data file within the
currently open Project. When a data file is opened, a copy of its contents on disk is put into RAM
memory and displayed in its window.
ME'scopeVES with a Structure (STR) and Data Block (BLK) Window Open.
Saving Data Files
When a file is saved, its file contents in RAM memory replace the contents of the file stored in the Project
file on disk. If a Project is closed without saving changes to one of its data files, the contents of that file
on disk are not changed.
Demo Projects Fly Out Panels
3
ME'scopeVES is installed with several Fly Out Panels in the ME'scopeVES window, which contain Demo
Projects. A Demo Project can be opened by clicking on it in one of the Demo Fly Out Panels.
Opening a Project From a Fly Out Panel
• Hover the mouse pointer over one of the tabs at the top of the ME'scopeVES window to open its
Fly Out Panel.
• Hover the mouse pointer over each Project thumbnail on the Panel to display its name.
• Double click on any Project in the Fly Out Panel to open the Project and initiate animation.
• Move the mouse pointer off of a Fly Out Panel to close it.
ME'scopeVES Window Showing Demos Fly Out Panel.
Moving a Fly Out Panel
• Hover the mouse pointer over a Fly Out Panel tab to open the panel.
• Click on the pin icon in the upper right corner to pin the Fly Out Panel open, as shown below.
Pinned Fly Out Panel.

• Drag the pinned Fly Out Panel into the middle of the Work Area.
Notice that four arrow icons appear near the top, bottom & sides of the Work Area.
• Drag the pinned Fly Out Panel onto an arrow icon to attach it to the top, bottom or a side of
the Work Area.
• Click on the pin icon again in the upper right corner to un-pin the Fly Out Panel.
4
Creating a New Fly Out Panel
Any Folder of Project files on your computer disk can be added as a fly out panel to the ME'scopeVES
window.
• Hover the mouse pointer over the Project tab to open its Fly Out Panel.
• Right click on a Folder in the (right or bottom) pane in the Project Fly Out Panel.
• Select Show Folder as Tab from the menu.
Right Click To Create a New Fly Out Panel.
Adding a File to a Project
• In the ME'scopeVES window,

• Execute one of the File | Import commands in the ME'scopeVES window.
• (See the File | Import command sections for details.)
• In the Project fly out panel,
• Right click on the data file in the right (or lower) pane and select Add from the drop
down menu.
• Or, double click on the data file in the right (or lower) pane.
Opening a Data File in its Window
A Data File can be opened from the Project Flyout panel in several ways;
• Double click on the data file in the left (or upper) pane.
• Right click on data file in the left (or upper) pane and select Open from the drop down menu.
• Double click on the data file in the right (or lower) pane.
Project | New
• Creates a new (empty) Project file.

Each new Project file must be named and stored to disk before it can be opened. When the new Project
is created, all of the data files in the currently open Project are removed from the computer RAM
memory.
5
Project fly out panel Showing a New (Empty) Project.
Project | Open
• Opens a previously saved Project file from disk.

All files with the file extension (.VTprj) in the current disk folder are listed in the Windows File Open dialog
box.
• Double click on the Project (VTprj) file name, or select the file and click on the Open button.
Project File Open Dialog Box.
6
Project | Close
• Closes the currently open Project file and removes its data files from the computer memory.
NOTE: You will be prompted to save all new or modified data files before they are removed from
memory.
Project | Save
• Saves the currently open Project file into a file on the disk.
RECOMMENDATION: Routinely save your Project to avoid having to recreate any data files should a
system error occur.
Project | Save As
• Saves the currently open Project file into a file on disk with a new name.
When this command is executed, the Windows Save File dialog box is opened.
• Enter the desired Project file name into the File name box, and click on the Save button.
Project Save As Dialog Box.
Project | Save A Copy...
• Saves a copy of the currently open Project file under a new name into a file on disk.
Project | Open Library
• Opens the ME'scope SubStructure Library.
7
The SubStructure Library is a Project file (ME'scope Library.VTprj), which is located in the
ME'scope/Application Data folder on disk.
• Execute File | Save in Library to add the current model in a Structure window to the ME'scope
Library.VTprj file.
Drawing Assistant SubStructure Tab
The contents of the SubStructure Library are displayed on the SubStructure tab when the Drawing
Assistant tabs are displayed in a Structure window.
• Double click on a SubStructure in the SubStructure browser (on the SubStructure tab) to add it
to a structure window drawing.
• (See Draw | Drawing Assistant for details.)
Project | Save Graphics in File
• Saves the graphics in the Work Area of the ME'scopeVES window into a disk file.
Graphics files can be saved in the JPG, GIF, PNG or BMP file formats.
Project | Options
• Opens the Project Options dialog box.
Project Options Box.
The Project Options box contains several Tabs with options pertaining to the operation of ME'scopeVES.
Display Tab
• Language list
• Changes the display of all of the text in ME'scopeVES to a local language.
NOTE: A Local language (other than English) is an extra cost ME'scopeVES Option.
• Clear User Settings
8
• Restores the Toolbars, Spreadsheets, and Windows to default settings.

• Show Start Page
• If checked, the Start Page will be displayed when ME'scopeVES is started.
• Show More Prompts
• If checked, more prompting message boxes are displayed during the execution of some
commands.
General Tab
• User Interface Sounds

• If checked, sounds will be made when certain commands are executed.
NOTE: If an internal error occurs during the operation of ME'scope, the computer will make an "Uh-Oh"
sound.
• Send Internal Errors to Vibrant Technology

• If checked, all internal errors that occur during the operation of ME'scopeVES will be
sent to a Vibrant Technology Internet site when the operation of ME'scope is terminated.
NOTE: Software bugs can be fixed more quickly when you use this feature.
• Include Contact Email Address

• If checked, you will be notified by Email when an internal error that you reported has
been fixed.
• Make Backup Files
• If checked, a copy of a Project file will be saving on disk whenever a Project is saved.
• Number of Edits Saved
• The number of edits that will be saved during editing operations.
• When Edit | Undo is executed in a window, a previous copy of the data in that window is
restored.
Numbers Tab
• Format
• Shows the format in which numbers will be displayed on graphs, in spreadsheets, etc.
• Maximum Number of Digits
• The number of decimal digits that will be used to display numbers.
Project | Exit
• Terminates the operation of ME'scopeVES.
NOTE: If any files in a Project are new or have been modified since they were last saved, you will be
prompted to save them before exiting.
File | New Menu
9
File | New | Structure
• Creates a new Structure file, adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty) Structure
window for the new file.
New (Empty) Structure window.
File | New | Data Block
• Creates a new Data Block file and adds it to the current Project.
When this command is executed, the following dialog box is opened allowing you to choose one of
several different types of synthesized time waveforms to put into the new Data Block.
• Enter the desired Time Axis and Frequency Axis parameters.
• Enter parameters into the Sinusoidal, Random, Chirp or Impact tab, and click on OK to create
a new Data Block file and open its window.
10
Synthesize Time Traces Dialog Box.
• Time Axis
• Block Size (N): Number of samples in a Sampling Window.
• Ending Value (T): Ending time of the Data Block time axis, in seconds.
• Resolution (delta t): Time increment of the Data Block time axis, in seconds.
• Pre-Trigger Delay (Samples): Adds zero valued samples to the beginning of each
Sampling Window .
• Number of Averages: The number of Sampling Windows used for Spectrum averaging.
• Samples per Trace: (Number of Averages) x (Block Size).
• Frequency Axis
• Block Size (N/2): Number of frequency Lines per Trace.
• Ending Value (Fmax): Ending frequency of the Data Block frequency axis, in Hertz.
• Resolution (delta f): Frequency increment between Lines, in Hertz.
• Sample Rate (Samples/Second): Equal to twice the value of Fmax.
• The maximum frequency (Fmax) and the Time Step are related to one another.
• Fmax = 1 / (2 x Time Step), or Sample Rate = 2 x Fmax.
• Sinusoidal Tab
• If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with sinusoidal Traces will be created.
11
• Number of Frequencies: Number of rows in the sine wave spreadsheet, for entry of
sinusoidal frequencies, (modal) damping, magnitude & phase.
• Number of Traces: Number of Traces to be synthesized.
• Frequency (Hz): Sinusoidal frequencies.
• Damping (%): The percentage of critical damping for each shape. Enter 0 for no
damping. Enter non-zero damping (0<damping<100) to synthesize an Impulse
Response Function (IRF).
• Magnitude: The sinusoidal magnitude.
• Phase (degrees): The sinusoidal phase.
• When (Number of Traces =1), you can enter a magnitude & phase.
• When (Number of Traces >1), magnitudes & phases are randomly generated for
all Traces.
• Random Tab
• If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with random signal Traces will be created.
• Magnitude: All Traces are synthesized with this magnitude, and a random phase.
• Burst Random Width (%)
• Width of the non-zero random signal as a percentage of each Sampling Window.
• Used to make random response signals periodic in the Sampling Window.
• Chirp Tab
• If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with chirp (swept sine) Traces will be created.
• Starting Frequency (Hz): starting frequency of the swept sine signal, in Hertz.
• Ending Frequency (Hz): Ending frequency of the swept sine signal, in Hertz.
• Magnitude: Sinusoidal magnitude for all Traces.
• Burst Chirp Width (%)
• Width of the non-zero chirp signal as a percentage of each Sampling Window.
• Used to make chirp response signals periodic in the Sampling Window.
• Impact Tab
• If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with one Trace with an impact signal in it is
created.
• Magnitude: Magnitude of the pulse signal.
• Width (samples): Width of the pulse, in samples.
File | New | Shape Table
• Creates a new Shape Table file and adds it to the current Project.
When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open.
• Enter the size of the Shape Table (Number of Shapes and Number of DOFs per shape) into the
dialog box.
• Click on OK to open a new (empty) Shape Table window.
12
Manual Shape Data Entry
• Click on a cell to select it, type the entry on the keyboard, and press the Enter key.
File | New | Acquisition
• Creates a new Acquisition file and adds it to the current Project.

An Acquisition window is used to acquire multi-channel data directly from third party front end hardware.
NOTE: An Acquisition window is an extra cost ME'scopeVES Option.
File | New | Report
• Creates a new (empty) Report file, adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty) Report
window.
Reports are used for documenting tests using both text and graphics.
File | New | Program
• Creates a new (empty) Program file, adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty)
Program window.
NOTE: Programming is an extra cost ME'scopeVES Option.
File | Import | Structure
• Imports Structure data from a third party disk file into the current Project.
NOTE: After the data has been imported, it is put into a Structure (STR) file and need not be imported
again.
When this command is executed, the Windows File Open dialog box will open, as shown below.
• Choose the appropriate external file from the File Name & Extension list on the lower right of
the dialog box.
The Files Extension List (lower right side) contains the names and extensions of the third party
formats that can be imported into a Structure (STR) file.
• Select a file to import, and click on Open to import it.
13
Import Structure File Dialog Box Showing a Structure File Selected.
Importing ASCII Text Spreadsheet Files
Many third party software packages can export data in an ASCII text spreadsheet format. Structure, Data
Block and Shape Tables can each be imported from ASCII text spreadsheet files. ME'scopeVES data
files can also imported and exported in ASCII text spreadsheet format.
Creating a File Template
• Open any Project that contains a Structure (STR), Data Block (BLK), or Shape Table (SHP) file.
• Execute File | Export in the appropriate file window to export the file in ASCII text spreadsheet
format.
When files are exported from ME'scope in ASCII spreadsheet format, they are given different file
extensions; (.STS) for Structure, (.BLS) for Data Block, and (.SHS) for Shape Table files.
• Open the file in a text processor (such as MS Word) or a spreadsheet program (such as MS
Excel).
• Paste the columns of data from the third party spreadsheet file into the (.STS), (.BLS), or (.SHS)
file.
• Edit the header information as required to describe the new data in the file.
• Save the ASCII text file to disk.
• Execute one of the File | Import commands in the ME'scopeVES window to import the ASCII text
file.
• See Importing a (Structure, Data Block, or Shape Table) in Spreadsheet Format in their
respective Window Command chapters for more details.
Importing From a UFF File
14
The Universal File Format (UFF) is commonly used for exchanging data between different structural
analysis applications. ME'scopeVES can import & export data in the UFF format. The most common
UFF file format stores everything as ASCII text. Measurement data can also be stored in a binary UFF
data format.
The UFF Format
• Execute File | Export in any Structure, Data Block or Shape Table window.
• Choose ASCII Universal File Format in the Save as type list in the dialog box that opens, and
click on Save.
• Open the UFF file in a text processor.
Each line of data in a UFF file is arranged in fixed field format. This means that all of the characters on
each line must be precisely in the correct columns to be readable.
• Each UFF data type is stored as a data set.
• Each UFF data set begins and ends with a "-1" line.
• Each UFF data set also has an identification number, which is on the second line of the data set.
ME'scopeVES can import and export the following numbered data sets,
UFF Data Set Number Type of Data
15 Points
82 Lines
55 Shapes
58 Measurements
In UFF terminology, Points are called Grid Points, Lines are called Trace Lines, and mode shapes are
called Functions at Nodal DOFs.
• Imported Point and Line data is put into a Structure file.
• Imported mode shape data is put into a Shape Table file.
File | Import | Data Block
• Imports time or frequency domain measurements from third party data files.
After the data has been imported, it is saved in a Data Block (BLK) file in the current Project and need
not be imported again. When this command is executed, the Windows Open dialog box will open, as
shown below.
the dialog box.
• The File Name & Extension list contains the names and extensions of the third party file
formats that can be imported into ME'scopeVES.
• Select a file to import, and click on Open to import it
15
Import Data Block Dialog Box Showing Multiple Files Selected.
Selecting Multiple Files
Some analyzers and data acquisition systems save only one measurement per disk file.
• Hold down the Shift to select a range of files listed in the Windows Open dialog box.
• Hold down the Ctrl key to select individual files listed in the Windows Open dialog box.
• Click on the Open button to open the files.
Measurement Selection Dialog Box
If the selected files contain different types of measurements, the Measurement Selection dialog box will
open.
• Select the time domain or frequency domain measurements tab, if both are available in the
imported files.
• Press buttons in the Translate column to select individual measurements.
• Click on the Translate button to translate the selected files.
16
Measurement Selection Dialog Box.
Translate Files Dialog Box
Each measurement listed in this dialog box is imported into a Trace and put into a Data Block file.
• Change X Axis Button
• Allows you to edit the time or frequency axis parameters (Block Size, Start Value,
Resolution, End Value).
• Load Previous Values Button
• Loads previously used spreadsheet values into the spreadsheet.
• This is useful for restoring previously used DOFs, Units, etc.
• Use File Name as DOFs Button
• Uses the imported data file name as the DOFs on each measurement.
• DOFs are listed in the DOFs column of the spreadsheet.
• Following are examples of file names that can be interpreted as Trace DOFs.
• Roving DOF: 1Z.Ext
• Roving & Reference DOFs: 1Z2Z.ext, 1Z_2Z.Ext
• Reference DOF: _2Z.Ext
• Measurement Set: 1Z_2Z[1].Ext, _2Z[1].Ext
• Negative Direction: -1Z.Ext, m1Z.Ext
• Rotational DOF: 1rX.Ext or 1U.Ext, 1rY.Ext or 1V.Ext, 1rZ.Ext or 1W.Ext
17
Translate Files Dialog Box.
File | Import | Shape Table
• Imports Shape data from a third party disk file into the current Project.
After the data has been imported, it is put into a Shape Table (SHP) file and need not be imported again.
When this command is executed, the Windows Open dialog box will open, as shown below.
the dialog box.
The File Name & Extension list contains the names and extensions of all of the third party file formats
that can be imported into a Shape Table (SHP) file.
• Select a file to import, and click on Open to import it.
18
Import Shape Table Dialog Box Showing a File Selected.
File | Import | Project
• Imports a pre-Version 5.0 ME'scope Project file and all of the data files referenced by it.
After the data has been imported, it is put into a new ME'scope Project file and need not be imported
again. When this command is executed, the Windows File Open dialog box will open. The pre-Version
5.0 ME'scope Project file extension (.PRJ) will be displayed in the File Name & Extension list on the
lower right of the dialog box.
• Select the Project file, and click on Open to import it.
File | Import | Add File
• Adds any external disk file to the current Project file.

The added file remains separate on the disk and is only referenced by the Project. When this command
is executed, the Windows File Open dialog box will open.
the dialog box.
• Double click on the file name, or select it and click on the Open button.
NOTE: Each added file type must be associated with another Windows application program to open it
from within ME'scopeVES.
19
Add File Dialog Box Showing All File Extensions Displayed.
Display Menu
Display | Center Window
• Centers the ME'scopeVES window on the Windows desktop.

• Repeated execution centers the window and returns it to its former position.
Display | Toolbars
• If checked, Toolbars are displayed in the ME'scopeVES window.
Display | Status Bar
• If checked, the Status Bar is displayed at the bottom of the ME'scopeVES window.
20
ME'scope (Main) Window.
Window Menu
Window | Arrange Windows | Auto Arrange
• If checked, all windows are automatically arranged in the Work Area whenever a window is
opened or closed.
Window | Arrange Windows | For Animation
• Arranges all of the open windows in a predefined manner so that animation can take place
between the Structure window and its Animation Source windows.
Structure (STR) windows occupy the left side of the Work Area. Data Block (BLK), Shape Table (SHP)
and Acquisition (ACQ) windows occupy the right side of the Work Area.
NOTE: The window that was active before Window | Arrange Windows | For Animation is executed
will retain its size after this command is executed.
Window | Arrange Windows | Tile
• Tiles all of the open windows in the Work Area.
Window | Arrange Windows | Cascade
• Cascades all open windows along a diagonal in the Work Area.
Window | Arrange Icons
• Arranges the Icons of all minimized windows on the lower left side of the Work Area.
Window | Close All Windows
21
• Closes all of the windows in the Work Area.
List of Open Windows
All windows that are open (or iconed) in the Work Area are listed in the bottom of the Window menu.
• Select a window from the Window menu to re-open it in the Work Area.
Help Menu
Help | Tutorial Help
• Opens the Tutorial Help window.

This Help window contains all of the same material as the Tutorial chapters in Volumes I A & I B of
the Operating Manual.
Help | Commands Help
• Opens the Commands Help window.

This Help window contains all of the same material as the Commands chapters in Volumes II A & II
B of the Operating Manual.
NOTE: The Help window can be left open during other operations in ME'scopeVES.
Help | Show Tool Tips
• If checked, hover the mouse pointer over a button on a Toolbar to display a brief description
(Tool Tip) of the command.
• See the Introduction to ME'scopeVES chapter for details on adding commands to Toolbars.
ME'scopeVES Window Showing a Tool Tip.
22
Help | About
• Opens the ME'scopeVES About box, as shown below.
About Box.
• License Number
• The license number is unique for your Software.
If your software uses a hardware Security Key, the security file, VESxxxxx.DAT, in the Program
Files (x86) / ME'scopeVES_v5 folder on your hard disk must match the serial number on your
Security Key in order to authorize the software for operation.
• License Type
• The type of license for your software (Single User, Educational, Site, Network,
Monthly, or Annual)
• License Key
• The name of the hardware Security Key that is required with your license..
• User Support Expiration
• The date after which you can no longer download new date codes of software from the
Vibrant Internet site.
Your current date code of software will operate indefinitely unless you have a Monthly or Annual
License. If you have a Monthly or Annual License, ME'scopeVES will not operate after the
Expiration date. Annual User Support renewal is strongly recommended to keep your software
current with the latest improvements and bug fixes.
• Version
The Version number is a unique number assigned to the software currently installed on your
computer. The Version number is incremented each time a new Date Code of software is released.
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• The least significant part of the Version number is always incremented with each new
Date Code.
• The most significant part is only incremented with major releases of the software.
• Date Code
• The software Date Code is the date on which the software was released for customer
shipments, and put on the Vibrant Technology Internet site for downloading.
• Options List
• A list of all of the ME'scopeVES Options that are authorized for operation with your
License.
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Structure Window Commands
Structure Window in Quad View.
This chapter contains descriptions of the basic commands in the Structure window.
NOTE: Additional Structure window commands are documented in the Command Reference chapters for
certain ME'scopeVES Options.
The Structure window is used for;

• Drawing a 3D structure model
• Animating shape data on the model.
• Executing SDM, Experimental FEA and FEA Model Updating commands.
Drawing & Animation States
The Structure window has two states, Draw & Animate.

• In the Draw state, you can interactively draw and modify a 3D model of the test article.
• The Draw menu is enabled in the Draw state.
• In the Animate state, shapes from the current Animation Source are displayed in animation on
the 3D model.
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• The Animate menu is enabled in the Animate state.

• The current Animation Source is listed in a drop down list on the Structure window
Toolbar.
• A Data Block (BLK), Shape Table (SHP), or Acquisition (ACQ) file can be an Animation
Source
Graphics Area & Spreadsheet
The Structure window contains graphics on the left and an Objects spreadsheet on the right,
separated by a vertical blue splitter bar.
• The graphics area contains a 3D model of the structure.
• The spreadsheet lists the properties of all of the Objects of the current Object type.
• Drag the blue splitter bar horizontally in the window to make the graphics area or the
spreadsheet larger.
Menu Commands
is on a Toolbar.
• See the Command Toolbars section in the Tutorial - Introduction to ME'scopeVES chapter for
details on customizing the Toolbars in this window.
Special Mouse & Keyboard Operations
Right Click Menus
• Position the mouse over the graphics area or the Objects spreadsheet and right click to
display a menu of frequently used commands.
Moving Spreadsheet Columns
• Click on a spreadsheet column header and drag it to a new position.
Scrolling Spreadsheets
• Click on the spreadsheet and spin the mouse wheel.
Spreadsheet Text Size
• Hold down the Ctrl key, click on the spreadsheet and spin the mouse wheel.
Rotation in the 3D View
• Click & drag the mouse in the 3D View to rotate the structure model.
Zooming
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• Click in the graphics area, and spin the mouse wheel.
Panning the Display
• Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag to Pan the structure model in the graphics area.
Toggle Object Selection
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click in the graphics area to toggle the selection of the nearest
Object.
Select a Range of Objects
• Click on a Select button of the first Object in the Objects spreadsheet.

• Hold down the Shift key, and click on the Select button of the last Object to select all Objects
between the first and last Object
Object Selection Box
• Execute Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box.

• Hold down the Alt key, and draw a box to enclose all Objects to be un-selected.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and draw a box to toggle the selection of the Objects in the box.
• Hold down the Shift key, and draw a box to enclose the Objects to be added to the selected
Objects.
Shape Values during Animation
• Execute Animate | Step | Stop/Continue to pause the animation.

• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click near a Point to toggle the display of its shape values.
Delete Key
• In the Drawing state, press the Delete key to delete all selected Objects from the structure
model.
• (This is the same as executing Edit | Delete Selected Objects.)
F2, F3 & F4 Keys
• Used with Edit | Drag Selected Objects and Edit | Resize Selected Objects to control the
movement and re-sizing of selected Objects.
During Dwell Animation
• Press Left or Right Arrow key to move the cursor left or right in the Data Block window.
• Press Left or Right Arrow key to select the next or previous shape in the Shape Table
window.
Cut, Copy & Paste Text
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• Select one or more spreadsheet text cells.

• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the X key to Cut the selected text to the Clipboard.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the C key to Copy the selected text to the Clipboard.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the V key to Paste text from the Clipboard into the selected
cells.
Object Spreadsheets
The properties of each modeling Object are displayed and edited in the Objects spreadsheet. Only the
properties of Objects of the current Object type (selected in the Edit | Object List) are displayed in the
Objects spreadsheet.
• Each row contains all of the properties of a single Object.
• Each column contains the values of a single property for all Objects.
NOTE: Most operations are performed on selected Objects, or on all Objects if none are selected.
Scroll Bars
Vertical and horizontal scroll bars are displayed if there is more data to display in an Object spreadsheet.
• To scroll vertically,
• Or click & drag the vertical scroll bar.
• To scroll horizontally,
• Click & drag the horizontal scroll bar.
Select, Hide, Label, Color & Bold Columns
All Object spreadsheets contain the following columns,

• Select Object button
• Selects or Un-selects each Object.
• Contains the unique row number of the Object in the spreadsheet.
• Hide button
• Hides or Shows each Object on the structure model.
• Label
• A text label for each Object.
• Point labels are used for numbering Points, and for assigning measurements (M#s) to
Points & directions on the structure model.
• Color
• The color for each Object on the structure model.
• Bold button
• If depressed, the Object is displayed as bold.
• Points are displayed as larger dots.
• All other Objects are displayed using thick lines.
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Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns
• Right click on any spreadsheet and execute Show/Hide Columns from the menu.
• The File | Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab.
• Check columns to show them, and Un-check columns to hide them.
Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths
• Right click on any spreadsheet and execute Reset Column Widths from the menu.
• Click on the Reset Column Widths button.
Editing Spreadsheet Properties by Column
• Select the Objects to be edited, or un-select all Objects to edit the properties of all Objects.
• Double click on the column heading for the property to be edited.
• Choose or enter a property value in the dialog box that opens, and click on OK.
Zoom & Pan
To Zoom the structure model in a View,

• Click in the View to make it active, and spin the mouse wheel.
To Pan the structure model in a View,
• Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag the mouse in the View.
To Re-center the structure model in the active View,
• Execute Display | mooZ
The active View can also be Zoomed & Panned using the Display | View Control command.
Rotation in the 3D View
• Click in the 3D View, and drag the mouse pointer to rotate the structure model.
The Display | View Control command can also be used to rotate and change the perspective distance
to the structure model in the 3D View.
File | Save
• Saves the Structure file into the current Project file on disk.
File | Save As...
• Saves a copy of the Structure file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.
File | Save In Library
• Saves the current structure model into the ME'scope SubStructure Library on the disk.
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All SubStructures are saved into the Library as a single SubStructure. The current Structure file name is
used as the SubStructure name.
NOTE: The SubStructure Library is contained in a Project file named ME'scope Library.VTprj.
• Execute Project | Open Library in the ME'scopeVES window to open the SubStructure Library.
SubStructure Browser
All of the Structures in the ME'scope Library are displayed in the SubStructure browser when the
Drawing Assistant tabs are displayed. Any model in a Structure window can be saved in the ME'scope
Library and used for building other structure models.
• See Draw | Drawing Assistant for details.
Saving a Single SubStructure
• Select the desired SubStructure.

• Execute Edit | Copy Objects to File, and copy the selected SubStructure to a new Structure file.
• Execute File | Save In Library in the new Structure window to save the SubStructure into the
Library.
File | Save Graphics in a File
• Saves the Structure model graphics into a disk file.

File | Export
• Exports the model in the Structure window to a disk file in an external disk format.
When this command is executed, the Windows File Save dialog box is opened.
• All external file formats for exporting Structure files are listed in the Save as type list.
• Choose an export file format from the Save as type list.
• Choose a disk folder, or create a new one.
• Enter the desired file name into the File name box, and click on the Save button.
Exporting a UFF File
The table below shows the Data Set Type that is created when a Structure file is exported in UFF file
format.
ME'scopeVES Type of Data UFF Data

File Type
Structure (STR) Structure Points 15 & 82

& Lines
Shape Table Shapes 55
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(SHP)
Data Block Time 58

(BLK) Waveforms,
FRFs,
Transmissibility's,
Auto & Cross
Spectra, Fourier
Spectra.
Exporting a Structure & Shape Table into the Same UFF File
• Export the STR file first, and then export the SHP file into the same UFF file.
Exporting Shapes in Global Coordinates
• Execute File | Clone Structure & Source.

• Click on Yes in the following dialog box.
• Export the Structure & Shape Table into the Same UFF File from the cloned Structure & Shape
Table files.
Importing a Structure Model in Text Format
The Structure spreadsheet (.TXT) file format is used to import a Structure model in text format.
1. Create a Text File Template
• Open the binary Structure (STR) file from disk. (Use any file, or one from the Examples or
Demos folder.)
• Execute File | Export and save the file as a template in (.TXT) format.
2. Add Your Data to the Text File Template
• Open the (.TXT) template file in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or a word processor
like Microsoft Word.
• Replace the Structure data (Point coordinates and optionally Lines & Surfaces) in the
spreadsheet columns with your data.
• Edit the other information where applicable, and save the file to disk.
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.TXT File In Excel Spreadsheet.
3. Import the Text (.TXT) File
• Make sure that the (.TXT) file is no longer open in the spreadsheet or word processor program.
• Execute File | Import | Structure and import the (.TXT) file into a Structure file.
File | Copy to Clipboard Menu
File | Copy to Clipboard | Graphics
• Copies the currently displayed graphics area to the Windows Clipboard.
File | Copy to Clipboard | Spreadsheet
• Copies the currently displayed Objects spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.
File | Print Menu
NOTE: The installed Windows printer must be a graphics printer to use these commands.
File | Print | Graphics
• Prints the currently displayed graphics on the system printer, or into a PDF file.
File | Print | Spreadsheet
• Prints the Objects spreadsheet on the system printer, or into a PDF file.
File | Clone Structure and Source
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• Copies both the Structure (STR) file and its current Animation Source file into new Structure &
Source files.
When this command is executed, dialog boxes will open allowing you to name the new Structure and
Source files. The following dialog box will also open,
• Click on No to maintain the current Measurement Axes and Animation Equations in the cloned
files.
• Click on Yes to convert the Measurement Axes and Animation Equations to Global
coordinates in the cloned files.
Measurement to Global Coordinates Dialog Box.
File | Options
• Opens the Structure Options box.
NOTE: Many options take effect as soon as they are chosen in the Options box.
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Structure Options Box.
Display Tab
• Colors
• Choose colors for the borders, background and new Objects.
• Vertical Axis
• Choose which Global axis of the structure model to display in the vertical direction.
• Background Image
• Insert a digital photograph (.JPG) file into the background of the X, Y or Z-Axis View.
• Disable Auto Scaling
• If checked, the Point coordinates remain fixed in relation to the background image.
• Un-check Disable Auto Scaling after tracing is completed.
• Point Size
• Changes the size of Points displayed on the structure model.
Units Tab
• Choose the Mass, Force, and Length units to be used in the Structure window.
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These units are displayed in the appropriate column headings in the Drawing & FEA Object
spreadsheets, and in the Drawing Assistant. Correct Structure window units are not required in order to
draw a structure model and animate shapes on it. Structure window units must be consistent with the
Shape Table or Data Block units for certain SDM and FEA commands.
Labels Tab
• Axes Lines
• If checked, a line is displayed for each Global (X, Y, Z) axis in each View.
The axis lines cross at the Global (X, Y, Z) origin. The color of the axis lines can also be chosen by
clicking on the color box next to Axis Lines.
• XYZ Axes
• If checked, the Global (X, Y, Z) Axes are displayed in the lower right corner of each
View.
• Show Comparison MAC
• If checked, the MAC (Modal Assurance Criterion) value between the two shapes is
displayed on the Comparison animation display.
• Click & drag to move this box in a View.
• Show Comparison SPD
• If checked, the SPD (Shape Percent Difference) value between the two shapes is
displayed on Comparison animation display.
• Legend
• If checked, a legend box is displayed in each View.
• The background color of the legend box can also be chosen by clicking on the color box
next to the Legend.
• Animation Source
• If checked, the name of the Animation Source file being used for animation is listed in
the Legend box.
• Settings
• If checked, the Amplitude and speed of animation are listed in the Legend box.
• User
• If checked, the contents of the User text box are listed in the Legend box.
• Object Labels
• If Label Background is checked, a background box is drawn around each Object label.
• If Transparent Background is checked, the Label background is made transparent.
Show/Hide Tab
• Check columns to show them.

• Un-check columns to hide them.
Lights Tab
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• Used for controlling the Surface lights in the Structure window.

There are two lights for lighting the Surfaces of a structure model.
• Controls
• Adjust the Intensity of each light between Low & High.
• Adjust the Shininess of the structure model Surfaces between Low & High.
• Adjust the Ambient light between Low & High.
• Screen Area
• Drag the red or blue light icon in this area to re-position the lights in the Structure
window.
Animation Tab
• Animate Using
• If Baseline Line Color is checked, the Lines on the structure model (or the left-hand
model in Comparison display) use the color in the color box.
• If Comparison Line Color is checked, the Lines on the right-hand structure model in
Comparison display use the color in the color box.
• Click on the color box to change its color.
• Comparison Animation Source Position
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• If Sources Below Structure Window is checked, both animation Source windows are
displayed below the Structure window during animation.
• If Sources Right of Structure Window is checked, both animation Source windows are
displayed on the right side of the Structure window during animation.
Movies Tab
• Movie Quality
• Low quality utilizes compression, so that the Movie file is smaller.
• High quality doesn't use file compression, so the Movie file can be very large.
• Frames per Second
Frames per Second is the desired playback speed for Digital Movies It should be adjusted to achieve a
suitable playback speed, depending on the speed of your computer.
File | Close
• Closes the Structure window.

• The window can also be closed by clicking on the close button in the upper right corner of
the window.
Opening a Window
• Double click on its name in the (upper or left) pane of the Project Panel.
• Right click on its name in the (upper or left) pane, and execute Open from the menu.
Edit | Undo, Redo
Edit | Undo
• Restores the window to the state it was in before the last operation.
This command can be used repeatedly to undo the last N operations, N = Number of edits saved.
• The Number of edits saved is changed on the General tab in the Project | Options dialog box
of the ME'scopeVES window.
Edit | Redo
• Restores the window to the state it was in before the last execution of the Edit | Undo
command.
Edit | Object List
• Lists all drawing and FEA Objects available in ME'scopeVES.

Drawing Objects are,
• Points
• Lines
• Surfaces
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• SubStructures
FEA Objects are only listed if one of the SDM or FEA Options is authorized in your software.
Current Object Type
• The current Object type is displayed in the list on the Toolbar, and is checked in the Edit |
Object List menu.
Operations can only be performed on the current Object type. The properties of all Objects of the
current Object are listed in the Objects spreadsheet.
Edit | Add Objects
• If checked, the Add Objects operation is enabled for the current Object type.
• (See the Adding Points to a Model, Adding Lines to a Model, Adding Surfaces to a Model
sections for details on adding Objects to a structure model.)
Selecting Objects
Many operations in the Structure window are only performed on selected Objects, or on all Objects if
none are selected. When an Object is selected, it is displayed differently on the model and its Select
button is depressed in the Objects spreadsheet. There are several ways to select Objects;
• Enable Edit | Click Select, and click near the center of an Object in a View.
• Hold down the Ctrl key and click near the center of an Object.
• Depress the Select button on the Object spreadsheet.
• Execute Edit | Selection Box and draw a Selection Box to enclose Objects in a View.
Using the Object Selection Box
When Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box is executed, the mouse pointer will change to a Cross
when moved inside a View.
• Move the Cross pointer to a corner of the desired selection area.
• Click & drag to draw a Selection Box enclosing the desired Objects.
• Release the mouse button to select the Objects.
Using the Shift, Ctrl, & Alt Keys with the Selection Box
• Hold down the Shift key and draw a Selection Box to Add To the selected Objects.
• Hold down the Ctrl key and draw a Selection Box to Toggle the selection of the enclosed
Objects.
• Hold down the Alt key and draw a Selection Box to Un-select the enclosed Objects.
Selecting All Objects
• Double click on the Select column heading in the Objects spreadsheet until all Select buttons
say Yes.
• Execute Edit | Select Objects | Select All .
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• Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Select All from the menu.
Un-selecting All Objects
• Double click on the Select column in the Objects spreadsheet until all of the Select buttons say
No.
• Execute Edit | Select Objects | Select None .

• Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Select None from the menu.
Toggle Object Selection
• Hold down the Ctrl key and click near the center of an Object.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and draw a Selection Box.
• Execute Edit | Objects | Invert Selection.
• Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Invert Selection from the menu.
Selecting a Range of Objects in the Objects Spreadsheet
• Depress the Select button for the first Object in the range to be selected.
• Hold down the Shift key, and depress the Select button for the last Object in the range.
Edit | Select Objects Menu
This menu contains commands for selecting and un-selecting Objects of the current Object type.
NOTE: The current Object type is checked in the Edit | Object List on the Toolbar.
Edit | Select Objects | Select All
• Selects all Objects.
Edit | Select Objects | Invert Selection
• All selected Objects are un-selected.

• All un-selected Objects are selected.
Edit | Select Objects | Select None
• Un-selects all Objects.
Edit | Select Objects | Select Labeled Points
• Selects all Points that have Labels.

• Labels are entered into the Labels column of the Point properties spreadsheet.
• Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Select Labeled Points from the menu.
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Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box
• Selects or un-selects all Objects within a rectangular area of one of the Views.
When it is executed, the mouse pointer will change to a Cross when moved inside a View.
• Move the Cross pointer to a corner of the desired selection area on one of the Views.
• Click & drag to draw a Selection Box enclosing the desired Objects.
• Release the mouse button to select the Objects.
• Hold down the Shift key to Add To the Object selection.
• Hold down the Ctrl key to Toggle Object selection.
• Hold down the Alt key to Un-Select the Objects.
Edit | Select Objects | Click Select
• If checked, the Click Select function is enabled

• With Click Select enabled, click near the center of an Object in a View to select it.
Points Spreadsheet
• Lists the properties of all Points on the structure model.

The Points spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Points from the Edit | Object List. Each Point is
defined by its global coordinates, (X Coordinate, Y Coordinate, Z Coordinate) listed in its row of the
Points spreadsheet.
NOTE: Only Points are required for displaying shapes in animation. Lines and Surfaces are optional.
Point Properties Spreadsheet.
Label Column
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• Contains an (optional) text label for each Point.

All Points are referenced by their spreadsheet row number & [Label]. The Point Label is used to
describe the Point, or for Point numbering.
• Numbered Point Labels are used by the Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured
Equations (Assign M#s) command.
• (See Tools | Create Measured Equations (Assign M#s) in the Data Block window commands
chapter for details.)
Point Coordinates Columns
• These columns (X Coord, Y Coord & Z Coord) contain the Global rectangular (Cartesian)
coordinates of each Point.
If Length units are specified on the Units tab in the File | Options dialog box, those units are displayed
in the Coordinates column headings.
NOTE: Correct length units are not required in order to build a structure model and animate shape data
on it.
Center Point Column
• Used to reference a Point at the center of a cylinder, sphere, or rotating SubStructure.

• Center Point: Any Point that is listed in the Center Point column.
• Radial Point: Any Point that references a Center Point in its Center Point column.
Center Points are used for the following purposes;
• Describing the center of cylindrical or spherical structures.
• Animating Shaft Rotational measurements.
• Defining the axis of rotation for rotating SubStructures during animation.
Display Column
• Normal: Displays a Point if Points is the current Object type, or if Display | Points | Show
Points is checked.
• Always: Displays a Point always.
Area & Normal Vector Columns
• These two columns are used for calculating the Sound Power passing through an acoustic
surface.
• Acoustic Area: The acoustic area surrounding the Point.
• Acoustic Normal: The normal vector to the acoustic surface surrounding the Point.
These values are automatically calculated when an acoustic surface it created with the Drawing
Assistant.
Deformation Column
• Defines the type of animation allowed at a Point during animation.
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• Deformation
• If selected, Deformation will occur at the Point using shape data.
• Animate | Deformation | Deformed must be checked for deformation to occur.
• Arrows
• If selected, an Arrow will be displayed at the Point, indicating the magnitude and
direction of the shape data.
• Animate | Deformation | Arrows must be checked for arrows to be displayed.
• Both
• If selected, either Deformation or Arrows, or both types of animation can occur at a
Point.
• None
• If selected, the Point will not move during animation.
Icon Column
• Displays an Icon at a Point.

Icons are useful for depicting a transducer at measurement Points. During shape animation, color
contours from the animation source are displayed on each Icon.
Rotating Point Icons
• Select the Points with Icons to be rotated.

• Execute Edit | Rotate Selected Objects and check Rotate Point Icons in the dialog box.
Re-sizing Point Icons
• Select the Points with Icons to be re-sized.

• Execute Edit | Resize Selected Objects and click on Yes in the dialog box that opens.
Adding Points to a Model
Adding Points Graphically
• Choose Points from the Edit | Object List.
• Execute Edit | Add Objects to enable the Add Objects operation.

• Move the mouse pointer into a desired position in a View and click to add a Point.
• Execute Edit | Add Objects again to terminate the Add Objects operation.
Each new Point is added to the structure model and to the Points spreadsheet as a selected Point.
WARNING: When the Add Objects operation is enabled, each mouse click adds a new Point to the
structure model.
Adding Points to the Points Spreadsheet
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• Place the mouse pointer in the X coord, Y coord or Z coord column in the last row of the Points
spreadsheet.
• Press the Down Arrow key on the keyboard to add a new Point;
The coordinates of the previous row are copied into the new row when a new Point is added to the
spreadsheet. The coordinate in the selected cell is incremented by the difference between the
previous two coordinates in its column, or by ”1” if there is no difference.
Editing Point Coordinates
Point coordinates can be edited in two ways;

• Select the Points to be edited, execute Edit | Drag Selected Objects, and drag the selected
Points in a View.
• Or, edit the Point coordinates in the Points spreadsheet.
Editing Spreadsheet Coordinates
• Select the Points with coordinates to be edited.

• Double click on the appropriate X coord, Y coord or Z coord column heading to edit the
coordinates of the selected Points.
• In the dialog box that opens, choose Replace with, Add to or Scale by.
• Enter the new coordinate value into the box, and click on OK.
Edit Point Coordinates Dialog Box.
Distance Between Two Points
• Choose Points from the Edit | Object List.

• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click near a Point to select it.
• Move the mouse Pointer near to a different Point.
The distance between the two Points is displayed on the Status bar.
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Distance Between Two Points Shown on Status Bar.
Lines Spreadsheet
• Contains the properties of all Line Objects on the structure model.

The Lines properties are displayed by selecting Lines is checked as the current Object type in the Edit |
Object List. Each Line is defined between two end Points, labeled Point 1 and Point 2 in its row of the
Lines spreadsheet. Each end Point (Point 1 or Point 2) of a Line is defined by its row number in the
Points spreadsheet followed by its [Point Label].
• The row number of each Line end Point is unique.
• The end Point [Point Label] is optional and is enclosed in brackets [ ].
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Line Properties Spreadsheet.
Adding Lines to a Model
• Choose Lines from the Edit | Object List.
• Execute Edit | Add Objects to enable the Add Lines operation.

All of the Points are displayed as bold Points so you can see them more clearly.
• Click near the first end Point of the Line to select it.
• If you select the wrong first end Point, click on it again to un-select it, and repeat the
step above.
• Click near the second end Point to add a new Line to the model, and a new row to the Lines
spreadsheet.
• Execute Edit | Add Objects again to terminate the Add Lines operation.
Surface Spreadsheets
Structure models can have two types of Surfaces, Surface Triangles and Surface Quads. Surfaces are
required for displaying surface textures or contour colors during animation.
Surface Triangles
The Surface Triangles spreadsheet contains the properties of all of Surface Triangle Objects on the
structure model. This spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Surface Triangles from the Edit | Object
List. Each Surface Triangle is defined between three corner Points (Point 1, Point 2, and Point 3). Each
corner Point (Point 1, Point 2, Point 3) of a Surface Triangle is defined by its row number in the Points
spreadsheet followed by its [Point Label].
• The row number of each Surface Triangle end Point is unique.
• The end Point [Point Label] is optional and is enclosed in brackets [ ].
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Surface Triangles Spreadsheet.
Surface Quads
The Surface Quads spreadsheet contains the properties of all of the Surface Quad Objects on the
structure model. This spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Surface Quads from the Edit | Object List.
Each Surface Quad is defined between four corner Points (Point 1, Point 2, Point 3 and Point 4).
Surface Quads Spreadsheet.
Adding Surfaces to a Model
• Choose either Surface Triangles or Surface Quads from the Edit | Object List.
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• Execute Edit | Add Objects to enable the Add Surfaces operation.

All of the Points are displayed as bold Points so you can see them more clearly.
• Click near the first corner Point of the Surface to select it.
• If you select the wrong corner Point, click on it again to un-select it, and continue
selecting Points.
• Click near the second corner Point of the Surface to select it.
• Click near the third corner Point of the Surface to select it.
If you are adding Surface Triangles, after you click near the third corner Point, a new selected Surface
Triangle is added to the model, and a new row is added to the Surface Triangles spreadsheet. If you are
adding Surface Quads, after you click near the fourth corner Point, a new selected Surface Quad is
added to the model, and a new row is added to the Surface Quads spreadsheet.
• Execute Edit | Add Objects again to terminate the Add Objects operation.
SubStructures Spreadsheet
• Contains the properties of all Substructure Objects on the structure model.

A SubStructure simply references a collection of Points, Lines, Surfaces, and FEA Objects.
Substructures are used for,
• Building structure models using several simpler parts.
• Editing or hiding different parts of a complex model.
NOTE: The same Points, Lines, Surfaces, or FEA Objects can be referenced by multiple SubStructures.
SubStructure Properties Spreadsheet.
Color Column
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• Contains four color bars that contain the colors of the Points, Lines, Surfaces, and FEA Objects
that are referenced by to each SubStructure.
If an (X) symbol is displayed in place of a color bar, there is more than one color for the Objects
referenced by the SubStructure. If the color for an Object type is changed in the SubStructure
spreadsheet, the color of all Objects referenced by the SubStructure will change.
Transparent button
• When this button is depressed, all of the Surfaces referenced by the SubStructure are displayed
as transparent.
Hide Texture button
• When this button is depressed, the surface textures of all of the Surface textures referenced by
the SubStructure will not be displayed.
Deformation Column
• Defines the type of animation allowed at the Points referenced by the SubStructure.
• Deformation
• If selected, Deformation will occur at the Point using shape data.
• Animate | Deformation | Deformed must be checked for deformation to occur.
• Arrows
• If selected, an Arrow will be displayed at the Point, indicating the magnitude and
direction of the shape data.
• Animate | Deformation | Arrows must be checked for arrows to be displayed.
• Both
• If selected, either Deformation or Arrows, or both types of animation can occur at a
Point.
• None
• If selected, the Point will not move during animation.
Contours Data Type Column
• Defines the type of data that is displayed using color contours on Substructure Surfaces during
animation.
NOTE: One of the Animate | Contours commands must be checked in order to display color contours.
• Vector
• Only Vector data will be displayed using color contours.
• Scalar
• Only Scalar data will be displayed using color contours.
• Shaft Rotation
• Only Shaft Rotation data will be displayed using color contours.
• FEA Rotation
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• Only FEA Rotation data will be displayed using color contours.

• None
• No color contours will be displayed on the SubStructure.
Creating a SubStructure
• See the Draw | Add Selected Objects to SubStructure command reference for details.
Edit | Cut Objects to File
• Removes selected Objects from the structure model and adds them to another Structure file.
NOTE: If you attempt to cut Points that are being referenced by other Objects, you are given the option
of also cutting the other Objects.
Edit | Copy Objects to File
• Copies all (or selected) Objects from the structure model into another Structure file.
The following rules apply when Copying Objects;
1. If Objects other than Points are copied, then all Points referenced by the copied Objects will be
copied also.
2. If SubStructures are copied, then all Objects referenced by the copied SubStructures will be
copied also.
3. All Objects are duplicated if they are copied into the same Structure file as the one they are
copied from.
Edit | Paste Objects from File
• Pastes all (or selected) Objects from another Structure file into the structure model.
The following rules apply when Pasting Objects;
1. If Objects other than Points are pasted, then all Points referenced by the pasted Objects will be
pasted also.
2. If SubStructures are pasted, then all Objects referenced by the pasted SubStructures will be
pasted also.
3. All Objects are duplicated if they are pasted into the same Structure file as the one they are in.
Edit | Delete Selected Objects
• Deletes all selected Objects from the structure model.

• Pressing the Delete key on the keyboard is the same as executing this command.
NOTES:
1. If you attempt to delete Points that are being referenced by other Objects, you are given the option of
also deleting the other Objects.
2. If you attempt to delete SubStructures that reference other Objects, you are given the option of also
deleting the other Objects.
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Edit | Drag Selected Objects
• Changes the position of all selected Objects in a structure model by dragging them in a View.
• Execute Edit | Drag Selected Objects to enable the Drag operation.

• Move the mouse pointer into the View where the Drag operation is to take place.
The mouse pointer will change to a drag pointer when it enters a View.
• Click & drag the selected Objects in the View.
F2, F3 & F4 keys
• Hold down the F2 key to drag the selected Objects in the horizontal direction only.
• Hold down the F3 key to drag the selected Objects in the vertical direction only.
• Hold down the F4 key to drag the selected Objects on a diagonal line in the View.
Edit | Resize Selected Objects
• Changes the size or shape of all selected Objects.
• Execute Edit | Resize Selected Objects to enable the Resize operation.

• Move the mouse pointer into the View where the Resize operation is to take place.
The mouse pointer will change to a Resize pointer when it enters a View.
• Click & drag to re-size the selected Objects.
F2, F3, & F4 keys
• Hold down the F2 key and drag to re-size in the horizontal direction.
• Hold down the F3 key and drag to re-size in the vertical direction.
• Hold down the F4 key and drag to re-size in both horizontal & vertical directions.
Re-sizing in the 3D View
• Click & drag the mouse pointer to the right to increase the size, or to the left to decrease the
size.
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Changing the Size of a Cylindrical SubStructure.
Changing the Shape
The size of a selected Object will change in the direction that you drag the mouse pointer, thus
changing its shape.
Changing the Shape of a Cylindrical Object.
Re-sizing Point Icons
• Select Points with Icons (see Points Spreadsheet)

• Execute Edit | Resize Selected Objects and click on Yes in the dialog box.
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Edit | Rotate Selected Objects
• Rotates all selected Objects about the global (X, Y, Z) axes.
• Execute Edit | Rotate Selected Objects .

The following dialog box will open.
• Enter the Rotational Increment in degrees.
• Click on the Up/Down Arrows next to the axis about which rotation is desired.
• Press the Close button.
NOTE: When Objects are rotated, their coordinates in the Points spreadsheet are changed.
Rotate Selected Objects Dialog Box.
Rotating Point Icons
• Select Points with Icons (see Points Spreadsheet)

• Execute Edit | Rotate Selected Objects and check Rotate Point Icons in the dialog box.
• Centers the Structure window in the Work Area of the ME'scopeVES window.
NOTE: Successive execution of this command alternately centers the window and returns it to its former
position.
Display | Spreadsheet
• Moves the vertical blue splitter bar horizontally to show or hide the Objects spreadsheet.
Display | Toolbars
• If checked, the Toolbars in the Structure window are displayed.
Display | View Menu
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Display | View | Active View
NOTE: One of the four Views (X view, Y View, Z view, 3D View) is always the active View.
• Click on a View to make it active.

• Or, execute its command in the Display | View menu.
Quad View Versus Single View
NOTE: Either the Quad View or one of the four Views (X view, Y View, Z view, 3D View) is always
displayed in the Structure window graphics area.
• Double click on a single View to display the Quad View.

• Double click on one of the Views in the Quad View to display it alone.
Display | View | Flip View
• Displays the active View from the opposite side.
Structure Window in Quad View.
Display | Zoom, mooZ
Display | Zoom
• Initiates a display Zoom operation.

After executing this command,
• Move the mouse pointer into the View to be zoomed.
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The mouse pointer will change to the Cross when it enters a View.
• Move the Zoom pointer to a corner of the area to be zoomed.
• Click & drag to draw a Zoom Box on the area to be zoomed.
• Move the Zoom pointer out of the graphics area to cancel a Zoom operation.
Using the Mouse Wheel
• Click on a View to make it active.

• Spin the mouse wheel to Zoom the display of the structure model in or out.
Display | mooZ
• Restores a full display of the structure model in the active View.
Display | Pan
• Enables the Pan operation in the active View.

Panning moves the structure model in a View.
• Hold down the Shift key to enable a Pan operation.
• Or execute Display | Pan to enable a Pan operation.

• Move the mouse pointer into a View.
The mouse pointer will change to a Cross when it enters a View.
• Click & drag to Pan the structure in the active View.
• Move the Cross pointer out of the graphics area to disable the Pan operation.
Display | Re-Center All Views
• Re-centers the structure model in all four Views in the Structure window.
Display | View Control
The View Control is used to;

• Rotate the structure model in the 3D View.
• Zoom, Pan, and change Perspective distance of the structure model in the active View.
The View Control is displayed in its sleep state in the upper right corner of the active View.
• Execute Display | View Control .

• Move the mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the View to wake up the View Control, as
shown below.
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View Control in the Sleep State.
View Control in the Awake State.
Each part of the View Control performs a different function;

• Arrows (3D View only)
• Click on an arrow to Rotate the structure model.
• Circle (3D View only)
• Click & drag the circle clockwise or counter-clockwise to Rotate the structure model.
• Middle Ball
• Click & drag to Pan the structure model.
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• Vertical scroll bar

• Click & drag to Zoom the structure model.
• Horizontal scroll bar
• Click & Drag to change the Perspective distance from the structure model.
• Star
• Click on it to Reset all display parameters.
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View Menu
NOTE: These commands control the rotation of the structure model only around the vertical axis in the
3D View.
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View | Rotate CCW
• Successive execution rotates the model faster in a counter clockwise (CCW) direction, or
slower in a clockwise (CW) direction, in the 3D View.
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View | Stop
• Stops rotation of the model in the 3D View.
Display | Auto Rotate 3D View | Rotate CW
• Successive execution rotates the model faster in a clockwise (CW) direction, or slower in a
counter clockwise (CCW) direction, in the 3D View.
Display | Points Menu
Display | Points | Show Points
• If checked, displays all Points as dots on the structure model.
NOTES:
1. Points are also displayed when Points is chosen in the Edit | Object List.
2. Point size can be changed on the Display tab in the File | Options box.
Display | Points | Point Labels
• If checked, displays the Point Label next to each Point on the structure model. (See below.)
The Point label display format is;
Point spreadsheet row [ text Label ]
NOTE: Point text Labels are optional. Labels are used to create Measured Animation equations by
matching M# DOFs to Points & directions on a structure model.
Display | Points | Point Icons
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• If checked, displays the Point Icon for each Point that has an Icon.
NOTE: Points Icons are optional. Point Icons are defined in the Icon column of the Points spreadsheet.
Display | Points | Measured DOFs
• If checked, displays Measured DOFs at each selected Point.

Translational or Rotational Measured Animation equations are indicated with Red Arrows. Measured
Animation equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured
(Assign M#s) in the Structure window or Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in one of
the Animation Source windows.
Measured DOFs Displayed on the Top Plate.
Display | Points | Interpolated DOFs
• If checked, displays Interpolated DOFs at each selected Point.

Translational or Rotational Interpolated Animation equations are indicated with Blue Arrows.
Interpolated Animation equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create
Interpolated.
Display | Points | Fixed DOFs
• If checked, displays Fixed DOFs at each selected Point.

Translational or Rotational Fixed DOFs are indicated with Green Arrows. Fixed DOFs are created by
executing Draw | Animation Equations | Fixed DOFs.
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Fixed DOFs Displayed on the Antenna Base.
Display | Points | Select Measurements
• Selects the measurements (M#s) in the current Animation Source using the Animation
Equations of selected Points.
When this command is executed, the current Animation Source window is opened, and the selected
M#s are displayed in the Traces or DOFs spreadsheet.
Display | Lines Menu
Display | Lines | Show Lines
• If checked, displays the Lines on the structure model.
NOTE: Lines are also displayed when Lines is checked in the Edit | Object List.
Display | Lines | Line Labels
• If checked, displays Line text Labels on the structure model.
NOTE: Line text Labels are entered into the Label column in the Lines spreadsheet. Line text Labels are
optional.
Display | Surfaces Menu
Display | Surfaces | Filled
• If checked, Surfaces are displayed and filled with their Surface color.
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NOTE: Surfaces are also displayed when Surface Triangles or Surface Quads is checked in the Edit |
Object List.
Display | Surfaces | Outlined
• If checked, Surfaces are displayed in outlined format using their Surface color.
Display | Surfaces | Texture
• If checked, Surfaces are displayed using their Surface textures, if available.
Display | Surfaces | Transparent
• If checked, Surfaces are displayed as transparent Surfaces.
Display | Surfaces | Surface Labels
• If checked, Surface text Labels are displayed on the structure model.
NOTE: Surface text Labels are entered into the Label column on the Surfaces spreadsheet. Surface
text Labels are optional.
Display | Surfaces | Lights
• If checked, lighted Surfaces are displayed on the structure model.

• (See Lights Tab in the File | Options section for details on surface lighting.)
Display | Surfaces | Surface Normals
• If checked, Surface normals are displayed on the structure model.

Surface normals are used to display surfaces with lights and hidden lines.
Display | Surfaces | Reverse Normals
• If executed, the Surface normals of all (or selected) Surfaces are reversed in direction.
Surface Colors
Surface colors can be changed in the Color column of the Surface Triangles or Surface Quads
spreadsheets. All of the Surfaces referenced by a SubStructure can also be colored by changing the
Surface color in the Colors column of the SubStructure spreadsheet.
Display | FEA Objects Menu
Display | FEA Objects | Show Objects
• If checked, FEA Objects are displayed on the structure model.
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NOTE: FEA Objects are also displayed when an FEA Object is chosen in the Edit | Object List.
Display | FEA Objects | Object Labels
• If checked, FEA Objects text Labels are displayed on the structure model.
NOTE: FEA Object text Labels are entered into the Label column in an FEA Object spreadsheet. FEA
Object text Labels are optional.
Draw Menu
This menu is enabled when the Structure window is in the Draw state.
Draw or Animate | Draw Structure
• Terminates animation and returns the Structure window to the Draw state.
Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes
• Initiates animation using shapes from a single Animation Source.

The current Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window) is displayed in the
Animation Source list on the Structure window Toolbar.
NOTE: Animation can also be initiated by executing Tools | Animate Shapes from any Data Block,
Shape Table, or Acquisition window.
Requirements for Animation
1. The structure model must have Measured Animation equations at one or more Points.
2. An Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window) must be open in the
Work Area.
Data Block or Acquisition Window Animation
If the Animation Source is a Data Block or Acquisition window, animation depends on which Animate |
Method command is checked;

• If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, the cursor is swept through the Data Block or
Acquisition window, and the Trace values (M#s) at the cursor position are displayed as the
shape.
• If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are
modulated by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.
• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are
displayed as the shape without modulation.
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Shape Table Animation
If the Animation Source is a Shape Table, animation depends on which Animate | Method command
is checked;
• If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, each shape in displayed in Sine Dwell animation,
followed by the next shape in the Shape Table.
• After the last shape is animated, animation continues using the first shape.
• If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are modulated
by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.
• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are
displayed without modulation.
Which Shape Data is Displayed?
The shape data that is displayed in animation depends upon which part of the data is being displayed in
the Animation Source.
• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace or Shape DOF data is
animated on the structure model.
• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace or Shape DOF data
is animated on the model.
• Otherwise, a complex shape (Magnitude & Phase) is animated.
Changing the Animation Source
• Click on any Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window to make it the current Animation
Source.
• Or choose a Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window from the Animation Source List to
make it the current Animation Source.
• See the Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) command description in the Data
Block commands chapter for details.
Since the Animation equations only use M#s to display shape data, each M# in the current Animation
Source must contain the correct shape data for each DOF of the structure model in order to animate the
shape correctly.
Selected M#s
If M#s are selected, then only shape data for the selected M#s is displayed in animation.
• Traces (M#s) are selected in a Data Block or Acquisition window by using one of the Edit |
Select Traces commands.
• Shape DOFs (M#s) are selected in a Shape Table window by using one of the Edit | Select
DOFs commands.
Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes
• Displays shapes from two Animation Sources together in animation.

• Enabled when two or more Animation Source windows are open.
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• Use the Comparison Scroll Bar for moving the two structure models closer together or farther
apart.
Comparison Animation With Sources Arranged on Right.
Arranging Windows During Animation
The Comparison Source positions are controlled from the Animation tab in the File | Options dialog
box.
• If Sources Below Structure window is checked, the two Animation Source windows are
arranged below the Structure window.
• If Sources Right of Structure window is checked, the two Animation Source windows are
arranged to the right of the Structure window.
Draw | Drawing Assistant
• Displays the Drawing Assistant tabs in the Structure window.

The Drawing Assistant tabs are displayed to the right of the vertical blue splitter bar, as shown below.
Complex structure models can be built by assembling together several simpler SubStructures.
With the Drawing Assistant, you can;
1. Choose a SubStructure from the SubStructure Library.
2. Create a new Editable SubStructure starting from a simple geometry such as a line, plate,
cube, circle, cylinder, etc.
3. Extrude or Revolve a 2D SubStructure to create a 3D SubStructure.
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Structure Window Showing Drawing Assistant Tabs.
SubStructure Tab
• Contains a listing of the Substructures in the SubStructure Library.

• Double click on a SubStructure in the Library browser to add it to the model in the Structure
window.
Any structure model can be added to the SubStructure Library with the File | Save in Library command.
Editable SubStructures
The Substructures with green surfaces at the top of the Library browser are called editable
SubStructures.
• The dimensions and number of points in each direction can be changed on an editable
SubStructure.
Dimensions Tab
• The Length, Width & Height dimensions of the selected SubStructure can be changed on this
tab.
• Depending on its coordinate type, the dimensions of an editable SubStructure are;
• Rectangular: Width, Height, Length.
• Cylindrical: Radius, Tangential Angle, Length.
• Spherical: Radius, Tangential Angle, Elevation Angle.
Position Tab
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• The selected SubStructure can be rotated about its Local or Global (X, Y, Z) axes using the
controls on this tab.
• The Local origin of the selected SubStructure can also be translated with respect to the Global
axes.
Extrude Tab
• The selected 2D SubStructure can be extruded into a 3D SubStructure using the controls on this
tab.
Revolve Tab
• The selected 2D SubStructure can be revolved into a 3D SubStructure using the controls on this
tab.
Rotating SubStructures During Animation
Rotating components of a machine or structure can be made to rotate during animation by defining each
component as a SubStructure. Each SubStructure will rotate about its Center Points, using the
rotational speed defined in the RPM column of the SubStructures spreadsheet. If an animated shape has
a speed (RPM or Hz) associated with it, the rotational speed of all rotating SubStructures is scaled to the
speed of the shape being animated. A rotating SubStructure rotates about the Z-axis of the
Measurement Axes of its Center Points.
Creating a Rotating SubStructure
NOTE: During animation, all SubStructures with depressed Rotate buttons will rotate.
• Create the SubStructure to be rotated.

• (See the Draw | Add Selected Objects to SubStructure command reference for
details.)
• Select the SubStructure.
• Execute Draw | Create Center Point to create a Center Point for the SubStructure.
• Execute Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor.
• On the Measurement Axes tab, orient the Measurement Axes of the Center Point so that its Z-
Axis coincides with the axis of rotation.
NOTE: Rotation will only occur about the Z-Axis of the Center Point.
• Depress the Rotate button for the SubStructure in the Rotation column of the SubStructure
spreadsheet.
• Enter the RPM of the rotating SubStructure into the RPM column of the SubStructure
spreadsheet.
Testing the Rotation
• Select "None" in the Animation Source list on the Structure window Toolbar.
• Execute Draw | Animate Shapes.
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Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor
• Opens or closes the Animation Equation Editor.

When the Equation Editor is open, Measurement Axes and Animation Equation tabs are displayed
above the Points spreadsheet as shown below.
Animation Equation Editor.
Measurement Axes Tab
• Used to define and orient the Measurement Axes at each Point on the structure model.
Measurement Axes are used to define the directions of the measurement transducers at each Point.
NOTE: Measurement Axes give you the freedom to mount transducers in arbitrary directions at each
Point. Measurement Axes don't have to coincide with the Global axes of the structure model.
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Structure Showing Cylindrical Measurement Axes.
The Measurement Axes of each Point are defaulted to coincide with the Global X, Y, Z axes of the
structure model. To display the Measurement Axes for a Point,
• Make sure that Show Axes is checked on the Measurement Axes tab.
• Select a Point to display its Measurement Axes.
• Measurement Axes can be chosen as rectangular, cylindrical, spherical or machine
coordinates. Different symbols are used for each axis, according to the table below.
Measurement Axes Symbols

Axes
Rectangular X, Y, Z
Cylindrical R (radial), T (tangential),

Z (axial)
Spherical R (radial), T (tangential),

P (elevation)
Machine H (horizontal), V
(vertical), A (axial)
• Press one of the Rotate arrows to rotate the Measurement axes of all selected Points about a
Measurement or Global axis.
• Rotational Increment
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• The amount of rotational increment (in degrees) that the Measurement Axes will rotate
each time a rotate arrow is pressed.
• Reset button
• Returns the Measurement Axes to their default position.
Animation Equations Tab
• Used to view and edit the Animation equations at each Point on the structure model.
Each Point on a structure model is animated by evaluating its Animation equations. An Animation
equation is simply a weighted summation of measurements (or M#s). If the current Animation Source
has an M# that is contained in an Animation equation, data from the M# is used to evaluate the equation
and animate the Point & direction (DOF) to which the equation belongs.
NOTE: Each Trace in a Data Block or Acquisition window has a unique M#. Each shape DOF in the
DOFs spreadsheet of the a Shape Table also has a unique M#.
Once Animation equations are created, they become part of the Structure (STR) file and can be used to
animate shape data from any Animation Source. Different types of Animation Equations can be created
at each Point,
• Translation Equations
• Vibration data and acoustic intensity are Translation data.
• A separate Translation equation can be created at each Point in each Measurement Axis
direction.
• Scalar Equations
• Sound pressure level (SPL), sound power, temperature or pressure data are examples of
Scalar data.
• Scalar data is typically animated using color contours on a surface model.
• A single Scalar equation can be created at each Point.
• Machine Rotations
• Machine rotational data is measured from a rotating shaft.
• This data is animated by displaying the rigid body rotation of all shaft Radial Points
about a shaft Center Point.
• A separate Machine Rotation equation can be created at each Center Point for each
Measurement Axis direction.
• FEA Rotations
• FEA modal shapes contain three Translational DOFs and three Rotational DOFs at
each Point.
• FEA rotations are animated with separate Animation Equations.
• A separate FEA Rotation equation can be created at each Point for each Measurement
Axis direction.
• FEA Rotation equations are also used by the SDM and FEA Model Updating commands
which use FEA mode shapes.
Each DOF (Point & direction) on a structure model has a Measured or Interpolated Animation Equation,
or is Fixed;
• Measured Equation
• Each measured DOF is animated by evaluating its Measured animation equation.
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• Interpolated equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create

Interpolated after the Measured equations have been created.
• See Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in the Data Block command
reference chapter for details.
• Interpolated Equation
• All un-measured DOFs are animated with Interpolated animation equations.
• Interpolated equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create
Interpolated after the Measured equations have been created.
• Fixed DOF
• A Fixed DOF has no Animation Equation, and will not move during animation.
Draw | Animation Equations Menu
The commands in this menu are used to create Animation Equations. Animation Equations are used in a
Structure window to display shapes in animation on a structure model. All Animation Equations are
saved with the Structure file when it is saved to the disk.
Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured (Assign M#s)
• Creates Measured Animation equations for all (or selected) Points on the structure mode.
Measured Animation Equations are created by assigning the measurements (M#s) of the current
Animation Source to DOFs (Points & directions) on the structure model.
• This command is the same as Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in a Data
Block, Acquisition or Shape Table window.
• (See Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in the Data Block command reference
chapter for details.)
Draw | Animation Equations | Create Interpolated
• Creates Interpolated Animation equations for all (or selected) Points & directions that don't have
Measured Equations or Fixed DOFs.
Interpolated equations are used to provide animation for all un-measured DOFs on the structure model
so that its animated shapes look more realistic. Each Interpolated equation is created in a Global
direction (X, Y, Z) as a weighted summation of the M#s of neighboring Measured & Fixed DOFs in that
direction. The weighted summation of M#s is based on the geometric distance of Measured or Fixed
Points from the Interpolated Point. When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is
opened.
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Each Point has one of the following types of Measurement Axes,

• Check the first, second, or third axis direction for creating Interpolated equations, and click on
OK.
Measurement Axes Symbols

Axes
Rectangular X, Y, Z
Cylindrical R (radial), T (tangential),

Z (axial)
Spherical R (radial), T (tangential),

P (elevation)
Machine H (horizontal), V
(vertical), A (axial)
In dialog box above, you can specify the maximum number of nearest Measured and Fixed DOFs to be
used to create each Interpolated equation.
• Enter a maximum number of nearest Measured and Fixed Points (1 to 10) to be used, and click
on OK.
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Draw | Animation Equations | Interpolated to Measured
• Converts the Interpolated animation equations for all (or selected) Points to Measured equations.
Converting to Measured equations insures that they will always be used during animation, whether or not
Animate | With Interpolation is checked. When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below
is opened.
• Four different type of equations can be converted; Translation, FEA Rotation, Scalar, and
Machine Rotation.
• Select the Measurement Axes directions for converting Interpolated to Measured equations, and
click on OK.
Draw | Animation Equations | Fix DOFs
• Fixes directions of all (or selected) Points so that they will not move during animation.
Each Point has one of four types of Measurement Axes, each type having different Axis Directions.
When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.
• Select the Measurement Axes directions to be fixed , and click on OK.
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Draw | Animation Equations | Fixed to Interpolated
• Converts Fixed DOFs to Interpolated DOFs for all (or selected) Points.
• Select the Measurement Axes directions for converting Fixed to Interpolated DOFs, and click on
OK.
Draw | Animation Equations | Delete Equations
• Deletes all of the Animation Equations for all (or selected) Points and changes their Equation
Type to Interpolated.
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• Select the Measurement Axes directions for clearing all equations, and click on OK.
Examining the Animation Equations
• Execute Animation Equations | Equation Editor to display the Equation Editor tabs.
• Select the Animation Equation tab.
• Select a Point to display its Animation Equations.
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Animation Equation Tab Showing Interpolated Equations.
Draw | Mesh Selected Objects Menu
The commands in this menu are used to mesh (subdivide) all (or selected) Objects on a structure model.
All original Objects are replaced by new Objects of the same type.
The following types of Objects can be meshed,
• Line Objects: Lines & FEA Line Objects (Springs, Dampers, Rods & Bars).
• Triangular Objects: Surface Triangles & FEA Plates.
• Quad Objects: Quad Surfaces & FEA Quad Plates.
• SubStructures: All Line, Triangular & Quad Objects referenced by the SubStructure.
Circle SubStructure Before Meshing All Edges.
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Circle SubStructure After Meshing All Edges.
Draw | Mesh Selected Objects | Mesh All Edges
• Subdivides the edges of the selected Objects using a number of evenly spaced midpoints.
Meshing a Line Object divides it into equal segments. Meshing a Triangle or Quad Object evenly
subdivides each of its edges.
When this command is executed, a dialog box will open,
• Enter the number of midpoints, and click on OK.
The number of midpoints is the number of Points that will be added between the endpoints of each Line
Object or Object edge.
Draw | Mesh Selected Objects | Mesh Longest Edges
• Divides in half the edges of the selected Objects so that no edge is longer than half of the
longest edge found among the Objects.
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Circle SubStructure After Meshing Longest Edges.
Meshing Substructures
NOTE: To ensure that all Line and Surface Objects are meshed properly, it is better to create a new
SubStructure and mesh the SubStructure.
• Select all of the Points being referenced by the Objects to be meshed.

• Execute Draw | Add Selected Objects to SubStructure.
• Click on New SubStructure in the dialog box that opens, and click on Add Objects.
• Select the new SubStructure and mesh it.
Draw | Add Selected Objects to SubStructure
Creates a new SubStructure or adds selected Objects to an existing SubStructure.

• A SubStructure only references other Objects.
• The referenced Objects still exist as unique Objects in the Structure file.
• If Points are added to a SubStructure, all of the Objects that use the Points as end Points are
also added to the SubStructure.
• If Objects other than Points are added, the end Points referenced by the Objects are also added
to the SubStructure.
• If a SubStructure is selected, all of the Objects referenced by the SubStructure are added to the
new SubStructure.
When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open;
• Choose an existing SubStructure, or click on New Substructure to create a new one.
• Click on Add Objects.
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Draw | Remove Selected Objects from SubStructure
Removes selected Objects from a SubStructure. The selected Objects are no longer referenced by the
SubStructure, but they are not removed from the structure model. When this command is executed, the
following dialog box will open;
• Choose a SubStructure from which to remove the selected Objects, and click on Remove
Objects.
Draw | Points Menu
Draw | Points | Number Points
Used to graphically number the Points on a structure model.

• Point Labels are used for Point numbering.
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• Point Labels can also be entered into the Points spreadsheet.

• Point numbering is required before using the Match Structure and Source DOFs method in the
Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured (Assign M#s) command.
When this command is executed, the Number Points dialog box is opened, as shown below.
• Click near a Point to number it using the Next Point number in the dialog box.
• Check the Clear box, and click near the Point to clear its Label.
• Click on Clear All to clear all of the Point Labels.
• Each time a Point is numbered, the Next Point number is incremented in the dialog box.
• (The Next Point number can be edited at any time during Point numbering.)
3D View During Point Numbering.
Draw | Points | Sort Points by Label
• Re-orders Points in the Points spreadsheet according to an ascending order of their numbered
Labels.
• Points are sorted in the following order;
1. Points with numbered Labels
2. Points with non-numeric Labels
3. Points with no Labels.
Draw | Points | Add Point To Line
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• Adds a new Point to a Line.

• The original Line is replaced with two new Lines.
• Click near a Line to select it and add a Point to the selected Line.
• To re-position the new Point along the Line, do not release the mouse button after the
Point is added.
• Drag the new Point to its desired position along the Line before releasing the mouse
button.
Draw | Points | Add Point To Surface
• Adds a new Point to a Surface Triangle or Surface Quad.

• The original Surface is replaced with new Surfaces.
• Click near a Surface to select it and add a Point to the selected Surface.
• To re-position the new Point on the Surface, do not release the mouse button after the
Point is added.
• Drag the new Point to its desired position on the Surface before releasing the mouse
button.
Draw | Points | Remove Duplicate Points
• Removes all duplicate Points from the structure model.

• When this command is executed, the following dialog box is opened;
• Enter a distance tolerance for removing duplicate Points, and click on OK.
Draw | Points | Create Center Point
• Creates a new Center Point at the geometric center of all selected Points or a selected
SubStructure.
• The new Center Point is added to the Points spreadsheet as a Bold Point.
The coordinates of the new Center Point are calculated as the average of the coordinates of all of the
selected Points. If a SubStructure is selected, the coordinates of the new Center Point are calculated as
the average of the coordinates of all of the Points referenced by the selected SubStructure.
• When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open;
• Click on Yes to add the new Point to the Center Point column in the Points spreadsheet for the
selected Points.
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Animate Menu
This menu is enabled when the Structure window is in the Animate state.
Draw or Animate | Draw Structure
• Terminates animation and returns the Structure window to the Draw state.
Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes
• Initiates animation using shapes from a single Animation Source.

The current Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window) is displayed in the
Animation Source list on the Structure window Toolbar.
NOTE: Animation can also be initiated by executing Tools | Animate Shapes from any Data Block,
Shape Table, or Acquisition window.
Requirements for Animation
1. The structure model must have Measured Animation equations at one or more Points.
2. An Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window) must be open in the
Work Area.
Data Block or Acquisition Window Animation
If the Animation Source is a Data Block or Acquisition window, animation depends on which Animate |
Method command is checked;

• If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, the cursor is swept through the Data Block or
Acquisition window, and the Trace values (M#s) at the cursor position are displayed as the
shape.
• If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are
modulated by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.
• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are
displayed as the shape without modulation.
Shape Table Animation
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If the Animation Source is a Shape Table, animation depends on which Animate | Method command
is checked;
• If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, each shape in displayed in Sine Dwell animation,
followed by the next shape in the Shape Table.
• After the last shape is animated, animation continues using the first shape.
• If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are modulated
by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.
• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are
displayed without modulation.
Which Shape Data is Displayed?
The shape data that is displayed in animation depends upon which part of the data is being displayed in
the Animation Source.
• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace or Shape DOF data is
animated on the structure model.
• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace or Shape DOF data
is animated on the model.
• Otherwise, a complex shape (Magnitude & Phase) is animated.
Changing the Animation Source
• Click on any Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window to make it the current Animation
Source.
• Or choose a Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window from the Animation Source List to
make it the current Animation Source.
• See the Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) command description in the Data
Block commands chapter for details.
Since the Animation equations only use M#s to display shape data, each M# in the current Animation
Source must contain the correct shape data for each DOF of the structure model in order to animate the
shape correctly.
Selected M#s
If M#s are selected, then only shape data for the selected M#s is displayed in animation.
• Traces (M#s) are selected in a Data Block or Acquisition window by using one of the Edit |
Select Traces commands.
• Shape DOFs (M#s) are selected in a Shape Table window by using one of the Edit | Select
DOFs commands.
Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes
• Displays shapes from two Animation Sources together in animation.

• Enabled when two or more Animation Source windows are open.
• Use the Comparison Scroll Bar for moving the two structure models closer together or farther
apart.
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Comparison Animation With Sources Arranged on Right.
Arranging Windows During Animation
The Comparison Source positions are controlled from the Animation tab in the File | Options dialog
box.
• If Sources Below Structure window is checked, the two Animation Source windows are
arranged below the Structure window.
• If Sources Right of Structure window is checked, the two Animation Source windows are
arranged to the right of the Structure window.
Animate | Show Animation Source
• Displays the current Animation Source window.

The current Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source List on the Structure window
Toolbar, and the Show Animation Source Tool is next to it.
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Animation Source List and Show Source Tool.
Animate | Show Comparison Source
• Displays the current Comparison Source window.

The current Comparison Source is listed in the Comparison Source List on the Structure window
Toolbar, as shown below, and the Show Comparison Source Tool is next to it.
Comparison Source List and Show Comparison Source Tool.
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Animating From Multiple Source Files
If the M#s in two or more Animation Sources correspond to measurements at the same DOFs on a
structure model, animation can be switched from one Animation Source to another.
• Click anywhere on a Data Block or Acquisition window to animate its shape data.
• Click on a Shape button in a Shape Table window to animate its shape data.
• Or choose a different Source from the Animation Source List on the Structure window Toolbar.
Displaying Shape Values
When animation is paused, shape values can be displayed next to each selected Point.
• Execute Animate | Step | Stop/Continue to pause the animation.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click near a Point to toggle the display of its shape values.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and right click to clear the display of all shape values.
Using the Ctrl key to Display Shape Values During Animation.
Animate | Method Menu
The commands in this menu change the animation method between Sweep, Sine Dwell & Stationary
Dwell.
Animate | Method | Sweep
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• Initiates Sweep animation using data from the current Animation Source.
• Data Block or Acquisition window
• Sweep animation is achieved by sweeping the cursor through the Traces.
• The Trace values at the cursor position are displayed as the shape.
• Shape Table window
• Sweep animation is achieved by displaying each shape for one or more cycles of
sinusoidal animation.
• Sine Dwell Cycles per Shape
• N cycles of Sine Dwell animation are displayed before moving to the next shape.
• N is specified on the Animation tab in the File | Options dialog box of the current
Animation Source.
Animate | Method | Sine Dwell
• Initiates Sine Dwell animation using data from the current Animation Source.
During animation, the shape is modulated by multiplying each shape component by a different sinusoidal
value (ranging between -1 & +1).
• The shape at any time or frequency value can be displayed by dragging the cursor to a
desired location.
• Shape Table
• Click on a Shape button to display that shape.
Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell
• Initiates Stationary Dwell animation using data from the current Animation Source.
Same as Sine Dwell, but shapes are not modulated with sinusoidal values.
• Pressing the Left or Right Arrow key on the keyboard moves the cursor left or right on
the Traces.
• Shape Table window
• Pressing the Left or Right Arrow key displays the next or previous shape.
Animate | With Interpolation
• Enables evaluation of the Interpolated equations during animation.

• If checked, shape values for all Interpolated DOFs on the structure model are animated using the
Interpolated Animation Equations at each Point.
• If not checked, only the Measured equations are used for animation.
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Animation with Interpolation Disabled.
Animation with Interpolation Enabled.
Animate | Speed Menu
• Click on the turtle of the rabbit on the Toolbar to decrease or increase the
animation speed.
Data Block Sweep Speed
During Sweep animation, the animation speed is controlled by how many samples of Trace data are
skipped or interpolated.
• For a speed of 1, every sample of Trace data is displayed during a sweep.
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• For a speed greater than 1, samples of Trace data are skipped over.
• For a speed of 2, every other sample is displayed, for a speed of 3, every third sample
is displayed, and so on.
• For a speed less than 1, shape values are calculated using linear interpolation between
adjacent samples of Trace data.
• For a speed of 0.5, one interpolated value is calculated between adjacent samples, for a
speed of 0.33, two interpolated values are calculated between adjacent samples, and so
on.
Sine Dwell Speeds
During Sine Dwell animation, the animation speed is controlled by using a different number of sine values
per cycle of animation.
• For a speed of 4, four sine values per cycle is used.
• For a speed of (N>4), N sine values per cycle are used.
Speed Settings
• If Settings is checking on the Labels tab in the File | Options box, the animation speed is
displayed in the Settings box during animation.
Animate | Amplitude Menu
• These commands are used to change the amplitude of shape animation
Animate | Amplitude | Increase Amplitude
• Click on to increase the amplitude of animation.
Animate | Amplitude | Decrease Amplitude
• Click on to decrease the amplitude of animation.
Animate | Amplitude | Amplitude
• Click on to enter a specific animation amplitude into a dialog box.
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Animation amplitude is also used in conjunction with Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scale to fix the
amplitude of animation.
• See Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scale for details.
Settings box
• If Settings is checking on the Labels tab in File | Options, the animation speed is displayed in
the Settings box during animation.
Animate | Step Menu
• These commands are used to pause and resume the animation, and to step through
the animation frames.
Animate | Step | Stop/Continue
• If checked, animation is paused.

• When the animation is paused, the current animation frame is displayed, and the Next Frame
and Previous Frame commands are enabled.
• If un-checked, animation is resumed.
Animate | Step | Next Frame
• Press the Right Arrow to display the next animation Frame.
Animate | Step | Previous Frame
• Press the Left Arrow to display the previous animation Frame.
Animate | Scale Shapes Menu
 Execute Animate | Scale Shapes | Auto Scale to enable Auto scaling, Animate | Scale
Shapes | Relative Scale to enable Relative scaling, and Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scale
to enable Fixed scaling.
Animate | Scale Shapes | Auto Scaling
• When Auto scaling is enabled, each shape component is divided by the maximum component
of the shape.
• When Dwell animation is initiated, Auto Scaling is automatically enabled unless Fixed Scaling
is enabled.
Animate | Scale Shapes | Relative Scaling
• When Relative scaling is enabled, each shape is divided by the maximum shape component of
all data in the current Animation Source.
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• When Sweep animation is initiated, Relative scaling is automatically enabled unless Fixed
scaling is enabled.
Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scaling
• When Fixed scaling is enabled, each shape is scaled using a user-defined fixed scale factor.
• When Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scale is executed, a dialog box is opened.
Assume that an animating structure model has the following values;

The largest structure coordinate = 100 Length Units.
The Animation Amplitude = 1.
The largest shape component (M# value) = 10.
To fix the maximum amplitude of an animated shape so that it is 20% of the largest structure coordinate.
Shape Amplitude = 0.20 x 100 = (Fixed Scale Factor) x (1) x (10)
Therefore: Fixed Scale Factor = 20/10 = 2.
Animate | Scale Shapes | Relative To Left Shape
• If checked during Comparison animation, the right-hand (comparison) shape is scaled relative
to the left-hand (baseline) shape.
Animate | Deformation Menu
Animate | Deformation | Undeformed
• If checked, the un-deformed structure is displayed during animation.
Animate | Deformation | Deformed
• If checked, the deformed structure is displayed during animation.
Animate | Deformation | Arrows
• If checked, Arrows are used to show Deformations during animation.

To display arrows, either Arrows or Both must be selected in the Deformation column in either the
Points or SubStructures spreadsheet. Arrow colors are the same as the Point colors.
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Animation with Arrows and Deformed Enabled.
Animate | Deformation | Persistence
• If checked, animation frames are displayed with persistence.

• Execute Animate | Step | Stop/Continue to refresh the persistence display.
Animation with Persistence.
Animate | Deformation | Orbits
• If checked, complex shape data is displayed as an orbit at each Point.
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Animate | Direction Menu
Animate | Direction | X direction
• If checked, shape values in the Global X direction are displayed.
Animate | Direction | Y direction
• If checked, shape values in the Global Y direction are displayed.
Animate | Direction | Z direction
• If checked, shape values in the Global Z direction are displayed.
Animate | Contours Menu
The commands in this menu display shape Node Lines and shape contour colors during animation.
• A contour is a locus of equal values of the currently displayed shape.
• Contours are displayed as Fill Colors on surfaces.
• Contour colors are chosen on the Contour Colors Tab in the File | Options dialog box of the
current Animation source.
• The number of colors chosen determines how many different contour Fill levels will be displayed.
Animate | Contours | Node Lines
• If checked, Node Lines are displayed during animation. Node Lines are displayed as heavy
black lines where the shape values are zero.
Normal Versus Complex Shapes
A shape is called a Normal Shape if all of its shape components have 0 or 180 degrees of phase. A
Normal Shape will look like a standing wave during animation, and its Node Lines will not move. A
complex shape can have arbitrary phases in its shape components. A complex shape will look like a
traveling wave during animation, and its Node Lines will move. Complex shapes can be normalized
from the Complexity Plot in either the Shape Table or Data Block window.
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Animation With Node Lines Displayed.
Animate | Contours | Contour Colors
• If checked, shapes are displayed using contour colors on Surfaces during animation.
• Contours are only displayed on Surfaces.
• The data type to be displayed with contours is specified in the Contours Data Type column of
the SubStructures, or Surfaces spreadsheets.
Animate | Contours | Point Icons
• If checked, displays shape data using color contours on Point Icons.
Animate | Contours | Color Key
• If checked, contour values are displayed on a color key in all Views.
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Animation With Contour Colors and Color Key Displayed.
Animate | Flip Sign
• Multiplies the right hand (Comparison) shape by "-1" during Comparison Animation.
If two similar shapes appear to be animating 180 degrees out of phase with one another, the phases of
one shape can be changed by 180 degrees so that the two shapes animate more closely together.
Flipping the Sign In a Complexity Plot
If the Animation Sources contain complex shapes, flipping the sign of the Comparison shapes may not
align them. The Complexity Plot gives more control over the signs of shapes from an Animation Source;
• During Comparison animation, execute Display | Complexity Plot in the Animation Source
window to open its Complexity Plot.
• Execute Display | Shape Normalized in the Complexity Plot window.
• Rotate the normalization line on the Complexity Plot by clicking & dragging it to flip the phase
of the normalized shape.
Animate | Shape Difference
• If checked, the Right Hand (Comparison) shape is replaced with the difference between the
Right and Left Hand shapes during Comparison Animation.
• If checked, the Animate | Amplitude commands only change the amplitude of animation of the
Right hand Shape Difference.
Animate | Synchronize Shapes
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• Synchronizes the frequency (or time) of the right hand and left hand shapes during
Comparison Animation.
When the shape from one Animation Source is changed, the shape that is nearest to the shape
frequency (or time) in the other Animation Source is displayed.
Animate | Save Shape
• Saves the currently displayed shape into a Shape Table.
Movie Menu
The commands in this menu are used to create Digital Movies of the animation in the Structure window.
Movies are made by saving animation frames into a Microsoft WMV file.
• See the Movies tab in the File | Options section for details on Movie Quality and Frames per
Second.
Movie | Make Structure Movie
• Makes a Movie of the current animation in the Structure window.

When this command is executed, the Windows File Save dialog box will open, requiring you to choose a
name and place to save the movie file on disk. Next, the Make Movie dialog box will open;
• If Use Window Width and Height is checked, the movies will be the size of the graphics area.
• If un-checked the Width and Height can be entered into their respective boxes.
• Check Stop After Full Cycles of Animation to stop movie making after (N) animation cycles are
completed.
• Enter the number of cycles (N) into the box on the same line.
• Check Restart Dwell Cycle to start making the movie at the beginning of the animation dwell
cycle.
• Press the Start button to start making a movie.
While a movie is being made, you can change the Rotation, Zoom, Pan, display Points, Lines, Surfaces,
etc.
• Press the Stop button to finish making the movie, and open it in the Windows Media player.
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Make Movie Dialog Box.
Digital Movie in Windows Media Player.
Movie | Make Work Area Movie
• Makes a Digital Movie using all of the graphics in the Work Area.
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Data Block Window Commands
Data Block Window.
This chapter contains descriptions of the basic commands in the Data Block window.
NOTE: Additional Data Block commands are documented in the Command Reference chapters for
The Data Block window is used for;

• Displaying time or frequency domain measurements and performing operations on them.
• Displaying Operating Deflection Shapes (ODS's) in animation directly from measurements on a
3D model in a connected Structure window.
• Curve fitting measurements to obtain the experimental modal parameters of a structure,
Graphics Area & Spreadsheet
The Data Block window contains graphics on the left and a Traces spreadsheet on the right, separated
by a vertical blue splitter bar.
• Each measurement in a Data Block is called a Trace.
• Each Trace in a Data Block is plotted in the graphics area.
• The properties of each Trace are displayed in the Traces spreadsheet.
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• Drag the vertical blue splitter bar horizontally in the window to make the Trace graphics or
the Traces spreadsheet larger.
Menu Commands
is on a Toolbar.
• See the Command Toolbars section in the Tutorial - Introduction to ME'scopeVES
chapter for details on customizing the Toolbars in this window.
Right Click Menus
• Position the mouse over the graphics area or the Traces spreadsheet and right click to display
a menu of frequently used commands.
Scrolling Traces
• Click on the vertical Traces scroll bar, and spin the mouse wheel.
Zooming
• Click in the Trace graphics area, and spin the mouse wheel.
Panning a Zoomed Display
• Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag to Pan the display of Zoomed Trace data.
• Or use the horizontal scroll bar displayed below the Traces.
Moving the Line Cursor
• Position the mouse pointer in the Trace graphics area, and click, or click & drag the mouse.
Moving the Peak or Band Cursor
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• Position the mouse pointer inside the band, and click & drag the mouse.
Moving an Edge of the Peak or Band Cursor
• Position the mouse pointer outside the band, and click & drag the mouse.
Selecting a Range of Traces
• Click on a Select Trace button in the Traces spreadsheet of the first Trace.
• Hold down the Shift key, and click on the Select Trace button of the last Trace of the range of
Traces.
Toggle Trace Selection
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click in the Trace graphics area to toggle the selection of a
Trace.
NOTE: A selected Trace has a shaded background in the graphics area, and its Select Trace button
will change from No to Yes in the Traces spreadsheet.
Trace Values
• Hold down the Alt key to display cursor values at the nearest sample to the mouse pointer.
• Left click to display the values permanently.
• Right click to erase all permanent values.

cells.
Graphics Scroll Bars
Under certain conditions, both vertical & horizontal scroll bars will be displayed on the right side and
below the graphics area in a Data Block window.
Vertical Scroll Bar
If the number of displayed Traces is less than the total number of Traces, a scroll bar is displayed on the
right side of the Trace graphics area.
• Click & drag on the scroll bar to scroll the display through the Traces.
Horizontal Scroll Bar
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When the Trace display is Zoomed, not all of the Trace samples are displayed, and a scroll bar is
displayed below the Trace graphics area.
• Click & drag on the scroll bar to scroll through the Trace samples.
• Or, hold down the Shift key and drag in the graphics area to scroll through the Trace samples.
Traces Spreadsheet
The Traces spreadsheet contains all of the properties associated with each Trace in the Data Block file.
• Each row contains all of the properties of a single Trace.
• Each column contains the values of a single property for all Traces.
NOTE: Some of the columns in the Traces spreadsheet are only enabled when certain Options are
authorized in your software.
• Drag the Vertical Blue Splitter Bar to the left to display the Traces spreadsheet.
• Or execute Display | Spreadsheet.
If the spreadsheet contains more rows & columns than are currently displayed, scroll bars will appear
on the bottom and right side of the spreadsheet.
Data Block Window Showing Traces Spreadsheet.
• Right click on the spreadsheet and execute Show/Hide Columns from the menu.
• Right click on the spreadsheet and execute Reset Column Widths from the menu.
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Unique M#s
• M# is the unique row number of each Trace in the Traces spreadsheet.

• The M#s are always listed in the Select column.
• M#s are used by Animation Equations in a connected Structure window to retrieve Trace
data for displaying shapes in animation.
Selecting Traces
• A selected Trace has a shaded background in the graphics area, and its Select Trace button
will change from No to Yes in the Traces spreadsheet.
• Selecting Traces in the Spreadsheet
• Right click on the Select Traces column heading choose one of the commands from the
menu.
• Double click on the Select Traces column heading to select or un-select all Traces.
• Click on the Select Trace button for a Trace in the Traces spreadsheet.
• Selecting Traces in the Graphics Area
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click in the Trace graphics area to toggle the selection of
a Trace.
• Execute one of the Edit | Select Traces commands in the Data Block window.
Changing Trace Properties
• Click on a property cell and edit the property of a single Trace.

• Property of All (or selected) Traces:
• Double click on the column heading of the property to be changed. A dialog box will
open.
• Choose or enter the property value, and click on OK.
Hide Column
• Shows or Hides each Trace.

• Hidden Traces are not displayed, and are excluded from all Data Block calculations.
Measurement Type Column
• The Measurement Type of each Trace.

• Click on a cell in this column to display a list of available Measurement Type choices.
DOFs Column
• Lists the DOFs of each Trace.

• A DOF is typically the Point number and a direction of the transducer location on the
test article.
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• All DOFs are either a Roving DOF (moving transducer) or a Reference DOF (fixed
transducer).
• Single Channel Measurement
• Has only one Point & direction.
• If a transducer is located at Point 1 in the X direction, then Trace DOF = 1X
• Cross Channel Measurement
• A cross-channel measurement (FRF or Cross Spectrum), contains both Roving & Reference
DOFs, separated by a colon (:).
• If a Trace contains an FRF made with a Roving impact at DOF 1X, and a (fixed)
Reference accelerometer was at DOF 2Z, then Trace DOF = 1X : 2Z
• Double click on the DOFs column header to open the DOF Generator for creating DOFs. (See
Using the DOF Generator section in this chapter for details on using the DOF Generator.)
Units Column
• The transducer engineering units of each Trace.

• Typical input (or excitation) units are force units.
• Typical output (or response) units are displacement, velocity, or acceleration units.
• FRF units are (response units / force units).
• Transmissibility units are (Roving response units / Reference response units).
• Cross Spectrum units are (response units)^2 or (response units * force units).
• ODS FRF units are (Roving response units * Reference response units).
Color Column
• The line color of each Trace.

• All Traces are displayed using the Trace color, except in the Contour Map format.
• To color all (or selected) Traces using either a Single Color or the colors in the Contour Colors
tab in the File | Options box,
• Double click on the Color column header. The following dialog box will open.
• Select either a Single Color or Use Contour Colors, and click on OK.
Sound Column
• Plays the sound of the Trace through the sound system on your computer.
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• If the Band Cursor is displayed, then only the Trace samples in the cursor band are
played through the sound system.
• If the selected Trace is a frequency domain Trace, it is Inverse FFT'd before playing it
through the sound system.
Label Column
• A text description of each Trace.
Data Type Column
• The Data Type of each Trace.

• Click on a cell in this column to display a list of available Data Type choices.
Scale Method, Minimum Scale, & Maximum Scale Columns
• Auto Scale
• Each Trace is displayed with its maximum value near the top of the Trace graphics
display.
• Relative Scale
• All Traces are displayed relative to the to the maximum value of all of the Traces.
• Fixed Scale
• All traces are displayed between the specified Minimum & Maximum values.
• Format | Vertical Axis
• Auto, Relative and Fixed scales can also be chosen in this dialog box.
Date/Time Column
• A text date & time of the acquisition or calculation of each Trace.
Animation Group Column
• Animation Groups are used for scaling different types of Trace data (such as vibration and
acoustic data), so that both can be displayed together in animation.
• If no names are entered in this column, then all M#s are treated as a single Animation Group.
• See Tools | Animate Using | Animation Groups for details.
• Contour colors can be defined for each Animation Group.
• See the Color Contours tab under the File | Options command for details.
Using the DOF Generator
The DOF Generator is used to create Trace DOFs for all (or selected) Traces. Trace DOFs are
displayed in the DOFs column of the Traces spreadsheet.
• Double click on the DOFs column heading in the Traces spreadsheet to open the DOF
Generator dialog box.
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DOF Generator Dialog Box.
Each Trace DOF has the format; Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set].
• The Roving DOF precedes the colon ":" and the Reference DOF follows the colon ":".
• The Measurement Set number must be enclosed in brackets [ ].
• Measurement Set number is used for measurements that were acquired in multiple measurement
sets.
Measurement directions depend on the type of Measurement Axes used. The notations shown in the
Table below are used.
Measurement Axes Direction Symbols
Rectangular X, Y, Z
Cylindrical R (radial), T (theta angle),

Z (axial)
Spherical R (radial), T (theta angle),

P (phi angle)
Machine H (horizontal), V (vertical),

A (axial)
Single Channel DOFs
Single channel measurements (e.g. Auto Spectrum, PSD) normally have only a Roving DOF.
To generate single channel DOFs,
• Choose Measurement Axes (Rectangular, Cylindrical, Spherical or Machine).
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• Choose Replace With.

• Check Roving DOF, un-check Reference DOF, un-check Measurement Set.
• Enter a Point number & Direction in the Start boxes under Roving DOF.
• Check Increment under the Roving DOF.
• If the Data Type is Translation or Rotational, enter a Point number & direction in the Increment
boxes under Roving DOF.
• If the Data Type is Scalar, enter a Point number in the Increment box under Roving DOF.
• If the DOF list doesn't contain the correct sequence of directions, type in the desired sequence.
• Enter the number of M#’s after which the Roving DOF is to be incremented.
• If you enter 10, the same Roving DOF will be given to the first 10 M#’s.
• Click on OK to generate new DOFs.
Cross Channel DOFs
Cross-channel measurements (e.g. FRF or Cross Spectrum) have a Roving DOF & Reference DOF.
To generate cross channel DOFs,
• Choose Measurement Axes (Rectangular, Cylindrical, Spherical or Machine).
• Choose Replace With.
• Check Roving DOF, check Reference DOF, un-check Measurement Set.
• Setup the Roving DOF and Reference DOF sections as described above.
• Click on OK to generate new DOFs.
Add To DOFs
• Retains a portion of each existing Trace DOF, and either replaces or adds to a portion of each
DOF.
Roving Impact Test
• If your measurements were acquired using a roving impact hammer,

• Each Roving DOF should be a hammer impact Point & direction.
• The Reference DOF should be the fixed accelerometer DOF.
Swap DOFs
• If your Trace DOFs have a fixed Roving DOF and variable Reference DOFs,
• Choose Swap in the DOF Generator, and click on OK.
Delete DOFs
• Deletes the DOFs of all (or the selected) Traces.
File | Save
• Saves the Data Block file into the current Project file on disk.
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File | Save As...
• Saves a copy of the Data Block file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.
File | Save Graphics in a File
• Saves the Trace graphics area in the Data Block window into a file on disk.
File | Export
• Exports the Trace data in the Data Block window to a disk file in an external file format.
• Data Block files can be exported in Universal File Format (UFF) and several other formats.
• When this command is executed, the Windows File Save As dialog box is opened,
• Choose a disk folder for saving the file, or create a new one.
• Type the desired file name into the File name box.
• Click on the Save button.
Data Block File Export Dialog Box.
UFF File Export
• The table below shows the Data Set Types that are created when a Data Block is exported to a
disk file in UFF format.
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File Type
Structure (STR) Structure Points 15 & 82

and Lines

(SHP)
Data Block Time 58

(BLK) Waveforms,
FRFs,
Transmissibility's,
Auto & Cross
Spectra, Fourier
Spectra.
Importing a Data Block in Spreadsheet Format
• The Data Block spreadsheet format is columns of text separated by delimiters such as commas
or tab characters.
• To import Data Block data in ASCII text spreadsheet format, it is strongly recommended that you
use the Data Block spreadsheet (.TXT) file format as a template.
Column Format
• Each column (or pair of columns) in spreadsheet format is assumed to contain samples of data
for a different Trace.
• A single column is used for real data, two columns for complex data.
Header Data
• The Trace data is preceded by a header, which describes the type of measurement (Time
Response, FRF, etc.), the time or frequency axis units (seconds, Hz, etc.), the measurement
DOFs (e.g. 1Z : 3Z) and units (e.g. Gs / Lbf).
• The file header consists of a Keyword followed by a Value. (Not all Keywords have
Values however.)
• A Value is separated from its Keyword by the same delimiter used to separate data
values in the spreadsheet columns.
NOTE: The header is optional. If there is no header, each column of data is assumed to be a real valued
time domain measurement, and all other header information is set to default values.
Keyword Value Description
Measurement Type Time Waveform, Default: Time

Fourier Spectrum, Waveform for time
Auto & Cross domain, Linear
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Spectrum, Auto & Spectrum for

Cross Correlation, frequency domain.
PSD, FRF,
Time Domain: each
Coherence, IRF.
column is a Trace.
Frequency Domain:
each pair of columns
is a Trace.
Label Any text Data Block

description.
X Axis Spacing Uniform, Non-uniform, No X Data: Defaults

No X Data. (Uniform Spacing, X
Start = 0, X Step = 1)
Uniform, Non-uniform:
first column is X Axis
values.
X Axis Units Any text X axis time or

frequency units.
Y Axis Type Magnitude, For complex data

Real/Imaginary only. Magnitude
denotes magnitude &
phase,
Real/Imaginary
denotes real &
imaginary data.
Measurement Label Any text measurement label
Y Axis Units formatted text (output units) / or *

(input units).
Examples: Gs, Gs/N,
Gs*Gs.
Y Axis DOFs formatted text Roving DOF :

Reference DOF
[Meas. Set].
Examples: 1Z, 1Z:3Z,
1Z:3Z [1].
Remark Any text Not read
Keywords &Fields of an ASCII Text Data Block (.TXT) file.
Creating a (.TXT) File Template
• The best way to put measurement data into a (.TXT) file format is to start with a file template and
add your data to it using a spreadsheet or text program
• To create a (.TXT) file template, start with any Data Block file in ME'scopeVES.
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• Use a time domain Data Block file if you want to import time domain
measurements, or a frequency domain Data Block file if you want to import
frequency domain measurements.
• Open the binary Data Block (BLK) file from disk. (Use any file, or one from the
Examples or Demos folder.)
• Execute File | Export and save the file in (.TXT) format.
Adding Your Data to the Template
• Open the (.TXT) file in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or a word processor like
Microsoft Word.
• Replace the Trace data into the spreadsheet columns with your measurement data.
• Edit the other information where applicable, and save the file to disk.
NOTE: Make sure that the (.TXT) file is no longer open in the spreadsheet or word processor program
before importing it into ME'scopeVES.
Importing the (.TXT) File
• Execute File | Import | Data Block in the ME'scopeVES window and import the (.TXT) File.
• File | Copy to Clipboard | Graphics

• Copies the current Trace graphics area to the Windows Clipboard.
• File | Copy to Clipboard | Traces Spreadsheet
• Copies the Traces spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.
• File | Copy to Clipboard | Trace Data
• Copies the Trace data values to the Windows Clipboard in column format.
Editing Trace Data
• The Data Block text spreadsheet (.TXT) file format can be used together with a text program (like
MS Word) or spreadsheet program (like MS Excel) to edit Trace data.
• To edit one or more Traces,
• Open the Data Block file containing the Trace data that requires editing.
• Select the Traces that require editing.
• If editing frequency domain data, display the CoQuad format to edit the Real & Imaginary
parts, or the Bode format to edit the Magnitudes & Phases.
Exporting the Trace Data
• Execute File | Export, and save the data in Data Block ASCII text (.TXT) file format to a disk file.
• Open the Data Block ASCII text (.TXT) file in a word processor or spreadsheet program. (See
Importing a Data Block in Spreadsheet Format for details.)
• Edit the Trace samples as required.
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• Save the file.
Importing the Edited Trace Data
• Execute File | Import in the ME'scopeVES window.

• Select All Files in the File of type drop down list, and open the file.
• A new Data Block window will open with the edited Trace data in it.
• Make sure the unedited Traces are still selected in the original Data Block window.
• Execute Edit | Delete Selected Traces and delete the unedited Traces.
• Execute Edit | Paste Traces from File. A dialog box will open.
• Choose the new Data Block containing the edited Traces, and click on the Paste button.
File | Print Menu
File | Print | Graphics
• Prints the current Trace graphics area to the Windows printer.
File | Print | Traces Spreadsheet
• Prints the Traces spreadsheet to the Windows printer.
File | Properties
• Opens the Data Block Properties dialog box, wherein you can edit several Data Block file
properties.
• Editing Data Block Label does not change the Trace data.
• Editing the Block Size does change the number of Trace samples for all Traces.
• Editing the Starting, Increment and Ending values does not change the Trace data.
• Editing these parameters only affects the labeling of the Horizontal Axis.
• These parameters cannot be edited if the Data Block has a Non-Uniform X-
axis.
• If a non-zero Machine Speed is entered, the Horizontal Axis values are displayed as
machine Orders (multiples of the machine speed).
• See Format | Horizontal Axis for details.
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Data Block Properties Box.
File | Options
• Opens the Data Block File | Options box.
NOTE: Many options take effect in the Data Block window as soon as they are chosen in the Options
box.
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Data Block Options Dialog Box.
Display Tab
• Changes the Window, Borders, Grids, Background, Text & Fill colors.
• Changes the Data Block cursor Dot Size.
Contour Colors Tab
Contour colors are used by the following commands;

• Display | Fill Under Graph | Contour Colors.
• Format | Contour Map.
• Animate | Contours Menu commands in a connected Structure window during animation.
• Curve Fitting; Stable pole groups on a Stability diagram.
Contours for Each Animation Group
Animation Groups are defined by entering names into the Animation Groups column of the Traces
spreadsheet.
• If Animation Groups are defined in the Data Block, then different contour colors can be defined
for each Animation Group.
• If no Animation Groups are defined, then the Contour colors are defined as Ungrouped for all
M#s in the Data Block.
High & Low Contour Limits
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• High & Low Limits are entered into the High Limit and Low Limit boxes above and below the
color bar.
• If the Low Limit = 50 and the High Limit = 100, then color contours will only be
displayed for shape values between 50 & 100.
• Values above or below the limits are displayed using the limit colors.
• If shape data at a Point is only one dimensional (only one of the Animate | Direction commands
is checked), then contours are displayed for shape values between Plus & Minus limits.
• If shape data at a Point is more than one dimensional, contours are displayed for shape
magnitudes between positive Low & High limits.
Labels & Grids Tab
• If checked, Graph Titles, X-axis & Y-axis Labels are displayed.

• If checked, Vertical & Horizontal Grid Lines are displayed.
• If checked, a Scroll Tip, M#'s, or DOFs are displayed next to the vertical scroll bar.
Show/Hide Tab
• Shows and hides columns of the Traces spreadsheet.

• Check columns to show them. Un-check columns to hide them.
• Right click on the Traces spreadsheet and select Show/Hide Columns from the menu to
display this tab.
Animation Tab
• During Sweep animation, the number of Sine Dwell Cycles per Shape is executed before
proceeding to the next shape.
File | Close
• Closes the Data Block window.

the window.
Opening a Window
Edit | Undo, Redo
Edit | Undo
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Edit | Redo
command.
Edit | Select Traces Menu
• Most Data Block window commands operate on all (or selected) Traces.
• Some Data Block window commands operate only on selected Traces.
• A selected Trace is displayed with a green background, and its Select button is depressed in
the Traces spreadsheet.
• Right click on the Traces spreadsheet to execute these commands from the Right Click menu.
Data Block Showing Four Selected Traces.
Edit | Select Traces | By
• When executed, a floating dialog box will open containing a drop down list of options for selecting
Traces.
• Choose a method from the Select Traces By drop down list.
• Choose items from the selection list below.
• Hold down the Shift or Ctrl key to make multiple selections.
• Click on Select to select the Traces.
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Select Traces By Dialog box.
• Start and Skip M#s

• Opens another dialog box wherein you can enter a Starting M# and a Skip M#s (number
of M#s to skip over) for selecting Traces.
• The default values are Starting M# = 1, and Skip M#s = 0.
• By Units
• Selects Traces by their Engineering Units.
Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By DOF
• Selects Traces by their DOF;
Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set]
• Single channel Traces have only a Roving DOF.
• Cross channel Traces have a Roving & Reference DOFs.
• Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple measurement
sets.
Trace DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Roving DOF
• Selects Traces by their Roving DOF;
Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF
• By Reference DOF
• Selects Traces by their Reference DOF;
• By Point
• Selects Traces by their Roving DOF Point number;
Trace DOF = Point Number & Direction : Reference DOF.
• By Direction
• Selects Traces by their Roving DOF direction;
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• By Rectangular Matrix DOFs

• Selects Traces that form a rectangular matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.
• Roving DOFs correspond to rows of the rectangular matrix.
• Reference DOFs correspond to columns of the rectangular matrix.
• By Measurement Type
• Selects Traces by their Measurement Type.
Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Measurement Set
• Selects Traces by their Measurement Set number;
• By Data Type
• Selects Traces by their Data Type.
Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Label
• Selects Traces by their Label.
Labels are listed in the Label column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By SubShape
• Selects Traces by their SubShape.
SubShapes are listed in the SubShape column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Input Output
• Selects Traces by their Input Output.
Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Source
• Selects Traces by their Source.
Source names are listed in the Source column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Z Axis
• Selects Traces by their Z-Axis label.
The Z Axis labels are listed in the Z-Axis column in the Traces spreadsheet.
Edit | Select Traces | Select All
• Selects all Traces.
Edit | Select Traces | Invert Selection
• Inverts the Trace selection.

• All selected Traces are un-selected, and all un-selected Traces are selected.
Edit | Select Traces | Select None
• Un-selects all Traces.
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Edit | Sort Traces Menu
• These commands sort (or re-order) the Traces in a Data Block file.
• Each Trace has a unique M#, which is its row in the Traces spreadsheet
• Traces are numbered in order, from (M# 1) to (M# N), N = the number of Traces in the
Data Block.
NOTE: Trace ordering is important because the Animation Equations of a connected structure model
use M#s to animate shapes from a Data Block.
Edit | Sort Traces | By
• When executed, a dialog box will open containing a list of Sorting options,
1. Choose a sorting method from the Sort Traces By drop down list.
2. Choose items from the Select From list, or check Select All to choose all items in the
Select From list.
3. Use Ascending, Descending, and the Remove button to obtain the desired Sort Using
list.
4. Click on Sort to sort the Traces.
Sort Traces By Dialog box.
• By Units
• Sorts Traces by their Engineering Units.
Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By DOF
• Sorts Traces by their DOF;
• Single channel Traces have only a Roving DOF.
• Cross channel Traces have a Roving & Reference DOFs.
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• Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple measurement
sets.
Trace DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Roving DOF
• Sorts Traces by their Roving DOF;
• Sorts Traces by their Reference DOF;
• By Point
• Sorts Traces by their Roving DOF Point number;
• By Direction
• Sorts Traces by their Roving DOF direction;
• Sorts Traces into a rectangular matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.
• Roving DOFs correspond to rows of the rectangular matrix.
• Reference DOFs correspond to columns of the rectangular matrix.
• Sorts Traces by their Measurement Type.
Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• Sorts Traces by their Measurement Set number;
• By Data Type
• Sorts Traces by their Data Type.
Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Label
• Sorts Traces by their Label.
Labels are listed in the Label column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By SubShape
• Sorts Traces by their SubShape.
SubShapes are listed in the SubShape column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Input Output
• Sorts Traces by their Input Output.
Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• By Source
• Sorts Traces by their Source.
Source names are listed in the Source column in the Traces spreadsheet.
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• By Z Axis
• Sorts Traces by their Z-Axis label.
The Z Axis labels are listed in the Z-Axis column in the Traces spreadsheet.
Edit | Sort Traces | Manual
• Enables manual sorting of Traces by selecting them in a desired order.

• When this command is executed, a dialog box is opened with instructions for selecting Traces.
• The first Trace selected will become M#1, the second Trace M#2, and so on, after they
are sorted.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click on each Trace to select it in the desired order.
• Or click on Select buttons in the Traces spreadsheet to select Traces in the desired
order.
• When you have selected all of the Traces to be ordered, execute this command again to sort the
Traces in the order in which they were selected.
• All un-selected Traces will follow the selected Traces in the new sorted order.
Selected Traces Prior to a Manual Sort.
• Centers the window in the Work Area of the ME'scopeVES window.

Display | Spreadsheet
• Moves the vertical blue splitter bar either to the left to display the Traces spreadsheet, or to the
right to hide the spreadsheet.
Display | Toolbars
• If checked, the Toolbars are displayed in the Data Block window.
Display | Trace Label on Graph
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• Displays the Trace Label on each Trace graph.

Trace Labels are viewed and edited in the Traces spreadsheet.
Trace Label Displayed on a Trace Graph.
Display | Real
• Displays real Trace data or the Real Part of complex Trace data.
Data Block Window Showing Real Part of an FRF.
Display | Imaginary
• Displays the Imaginary Part of complex Trace data.
118
Data Block Window Showing Imaginary Part of an FRF.
Display | Magnitude
• Displays the magnitude of the Trace data.
Real & Imaginary Parts on the Complex Plane.
119
Data Block Window Showing Log Magnitude of an FRF.
Linear, Log or dB
Magnitudes can be displayed in Linear, Log or dB (decibels) format. When Log or dB is chosen, you
can also choose the number of decades to display.
• Linear, Log, dB & decades choices are made in the Format | Vertical Axis dialog box.
• Right click in the graphics area, or double click on the vertical axis labels area to open the
Format | Vertical Axis dialog box.
dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities
• For Linear (RMS) quantities (FRFs, Fourier Spectra, etc.),

Magnitude (dB) = 20 Log 10 ( Magnitude )
• For Power (MS) quantities (Auto Spectra, PSD’s, etc.),
Display | Phase
• Displays the Phase of complex Trace data, with values between +180 & -180 degrees.
120
Data Block Window Showing Phase of an FRF.
Display | CoQuad
• Displays the Traces in CoQuad (Real & Imaginary part) format.

• The Real part is also called the Coincident waveform.
• The Imaginary part is called the Quadrature waveform.
CoQuad Display.
Display | Bode
• Displays the Traces in Bode (Magnitude & Phase) format.
121
Bode Plot.
Display | Nyquist
• Displays the Real part on the horizontal axis and the Imaginary part on the vertical axis of each
displayed Trace.
Nyquist Plot of an FRF.
Display | Cursor Menu
Display | Cursor | Line Cursor
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• If checked, the Line cursor is displayed as a vertical red line on each Trace.
Display | Cursor | Band Cursor
• If checked, the Band cursor is displayed as two vertical red lines (or edges) on each Trace.
Display | Cursor | Peak Cursor
• If checked, the Peak cursor is displayed as two vertical red lines (or edges) on each Trace,
and the peak sample (maximum value of the displayed data) within the cursor band is displayed
as a red dot.
Display | Cursor | Cursor Values
• If checked, the cursor values are displayed in a text box next to the cursor on each Trace.
• If un-checked, hold down the left mouse button to display cursor values next to the cursor.
• Click & drag to move the cursor value text box vertically on the display.
Display | Cursor | Orders
• If checked, all of the visible orders (2x, 3x, 4x, etc.) of the Line or Peak cursor are displayed on
each Trace
NOTE: Each order is highlighted with a red dot at the nearest sample to the order.
Data Block Showing Order cursors.
Display | Cursor | Peak Finder
• Moves the cursor to the maximum value of the displayed data in the visible Traces.
• If the Line cursor is displayed, it will be displayed at the maximum value within the
current cursor band.
• If the Peak or Band cursor is displayed, its band is centered around the maximum value
within the current cursor band.
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Moving the Cursors
• Position the mouse pointer at the desired position on a Trace graph, and click the left mouse
button.
• Or place the mouse pointer anywhere on a Trace graph, and click & drag the mouse pointer.
• To move both edges of the Band or Peak cursor, place the mouse pointer inside the band, and
click & drag.
• To move one edge of the Band or Peak cursor, place the mouse pointer outside the band near
the edge, and click & drag.
Animating the Shape at the Cursor Position
NOTE: The Line, Peak or Band cursor must be displayed in order to animate shapes from a Data Block
in the connected Structure window.
• If the Line cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the cursor position are displayed as the shape.
• If the Peak cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the peak in each Trace are displayed as the
shape.
• If the Band cursor is displayed, the Trace values in the cursor band are summed together for
each Trace and displayed as the shape.
Saving Shapes
NOTE: The Line, Peak or Band cursor must be displayed in order to execute Tools | Save Shape.
• If the Line cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the cursor position are saved as the shape.
• If the Peak cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the peak in each Trace are saved as the
shape.
• If the Band cursor is displayed, the Trace values in the cursor band are summed together for
each Trace and saved as the shape.
• If the Order cursors are displayed, the Trace values at each order are saved as multiple shapes.
Display | Zoom, mooZ
Zoom expands the display of the Traces in the graphics area. mooZ restores the display of all Trace
samples.
• Execute Display | Zoom .

• Move the mouse pointer into a Trace graph.
• The mouse pointer will change to the Zoom cursor (<=>).
• Click & drag to draw a Zoom box over the area to be zoomed.
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Traces During a Zoom Operation.
Traces After Zoom.
Horizontal & Vertical Zoom
• Execute Display | Zoom .

• Hold down the Ctrl key.
• The mouse pointer will change to the Zoom cursor (+).
• Click & drag to draw a Zoom box over the area to be zoomed.
Using the Mouse Wheel
• Move the mouse pointer into a Trace graph, and spin the mouse wheel.
• The display will expand in the horizontal direction about the mouse position.
Panning After a Zoom
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When the Traces display is zoomed, the Zoom scroll bar will be displayed at the bottom of the Trace
graphics area.
• Use the horizontal scroll bar to pan the display to other samples of data along the X-axis
• Or hold down the Shift key, and click & drag the mouse in the graphics area.
Display | Maximize
• Maximizes the vertical scaling of the Traces to make the data more visible.
• The Vertical Axis scaling is changed to Fixed.
• If the Peak or Band cursor is displayed, the data in the cursor band is maximized.
• If Traces are selected, then only the selected Traces are maximized.
• If the Real or Imaginary part of the Traces is displayed, successive execution of Display |
Maximize will change the display between,
• The plus (+) and minus (-) limits of the data.
• The vertical axis centered about the zero "0".
Trace Before Maximizing in a Cursor Band.
Trace After Maximizing in a Cursor Band.
126
Display | Fill Under Graph Menu
Display | Fill Under Graph | Trace Color
• If checked, color fill is added to each Trace using the Trace color.
• Each Trace color is changed in the Color column of the Traces spreadsheet.
Display | Fill Under Graph | Fill Colors
• If checked, color fill is added to each Trace using the + Fill & - Fill colors on the Display tab of
the File | Options box.
Display | Fill Under Graph | Contour Colors
• If checked, color fill is added to each Trace using the colors on the Contour Colors tab of the
File | Options box.
Bode Plot Using Contour Colors to Fill Under the Graph.
Format | Rows Columns
• Displays Traces in a Row & Column format.

• When it is executed, a matrix of possible (row, column) formats is displayed.
• Up to 10 rows and 10 columns can be displayed at once.
• If there are more than 100 Traces, a scroll bar is displayed on the right for scrolling
through the Traces.
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Traces in Row/Column Format.
Format | Overlaid
• Displays all (or selected) Traces in overlaid format.

• Traces can be overlaid if their Vertical Axis scaling is Fixed or Relative.
• If their Vertical Axis scaling is Auto, it will be changed to Relative when this command is
executed.
Imaginary Parts of FRFs in Overlaid Format.
Format | Overlay By DOF
• If checked, all Traces with the same DOF are displayed together in Overlaid format.
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NOTE: This command is useful for displaying FRFs & Coherences together in overlaid format.
FRFs & Coherence Overlaid by DOF.
Format | Strip Chart
• Displays up to 10 Traces together aligned vertically over a common horizontal axis.

• If there are more than 10 Traces, a scroll bar is displayed on the right for scrolling
through the Traces.
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Strip Chart Showing Three Traces.
Format | Cascade
• Displays all (or selected) Traces in a Cascade plot.

• To change the angle of the Cascade axes, place the mouse pointer on the Cascade Plot,
and right click & drag the mouse.
Cascade Plot.
130
NOTE: The third axis is labeled using either Trace M#s or DOFs, which are chosen in the Scroll Tip
section on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Options box.
Format | Contour Map
• Displays all (or selected) Traces in a color contour map.

The colors for the contour map are chosen in the Contour Colors tab in the File | Options dialog box.
Cascade Map Showing Four Traces.
NOTE: The vertical axis is labeled using either Trace M#s or DOFs, which are chosen in Scroll Tip
section on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Options box.
Format | Vertical Axis
• Opens the Vertical Axis dialog box.

• Also right click in the graphics area, and select it from the menu.
• Or double click on the vertical axis area of any Trace.
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Scaling
• Auto Scale displays each Trace between its minimum & maximum values.
• Relative Scale displays each Trace between the minimum & maximum values of all Traces in
the Data Block.
• Fixed Scale displays each Trace in the current format between user-defined minimum &
maximum limits.
Fixed scaling limits can be defined for the following display formats,
• Real part, Imaginary part, Linear Magnitude, Log Magnitude, Magnitude in dB, or Phase.
Scaling from the Traces Spreadsheet
Each Trace can be scaled by editing its cells in the Y-Axis Scale, Minimum Scale & Maximum Scale
columns of the Traces spreadsheet.
• Select the Traces to be scaled.
• Double click on the Y-Axis Scale column heading.
• Choose the scaling method in the dialog box that opens, and click on OK.
NOTE: If Fixed scaling is chosen, the minimum & maximum limits must be entered into the Minimum
Scale & Maximum Scale columns in the spreadsheet.
dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities
Magnitudes can be displayed in dB (decibels) units. For Linear (RMS) quantities, (such as FRFs, Fourier
Spectra, etc.) the Magnitude is displayed as,

For Power (MS) quantities, (such as Auto & Cross Spectra), the Magnitude is displayed as,
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Labels & Grids
• Same as the choices on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Options box.
Format | Horizontal Axis
• Opens the Horizontal Axis dialog box.

• Also right click in the graphics area, and select it from the menu.
• Or double click on the horizontal axis area of any Trace.
Display Limits
• The Starting & Ending horizontal axis displayed values.

• All Traces are displayed between these limits unless the Reset button is pressed.
Show Axis As, Axis Units
These two drop down lists define either the horizontal axis for all Traces.
• Time domain Traces can be displayed as Linear Time, Log Time or Samples, with Units of
Seconds, Milliseconds or Micro-seconds.
• Frequency domain Traces can be displayed as Linear Frequency, Log Frequency or
Samples, with units of Hz, CPM, RPM or Orders.
Labels & Grids
• Same as the choices on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Options box.
Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s)
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• Creates Measured Animation equations on the structure model in a connected Structure

window.
Animation equations are required in order to display shapes in animation on a structure model.
• Animation equations are created by assigning all (or selected) Traces (M#s) in the Data Block to
DOFs (Points & directions) on the structure model.
Connected Structure Window
• When this command is executed, a dialog box will open allowing you to choose a Structure to
connect with the Data Block.
• After a Structure window has been chosen, the following dialog box will open,
Match Structure and Source DOFs Method
Before using this method, the following conditions are required,

• Each Point on the structure model where a measurement was made must be numbered (1, 2, 3,
etc.).
• See Draw | Points Menu in the Structure Window Commands chapter for details on
Point numbering.
• The Roving DOF of all (or selected) Traces in the Data Block must contain Point numbers &
directions that match those on the structure model.
Equation Types
• Translation Equation
• If a Trace Data Type is Translation, a term is added to the Translation Measured
equation at each Point & direction that matches the Trace Roving DOF.
• FEA Rotation Equation
• If a Trace Data Type is FEA Rotation, a term is added to the FEA Rotation Measured
equation for each Point & direction that matches the Trace Roving DOF.
• Scalar Equation
• If a Trace Data Type is Scalar, a term is added to the Scalar Measured equation for
each Point that matches the Trace Roving DOF.
• Machine Rotation Equation
• If the Trace Data Type is Machine Rotation, a term is added to the Machine Rotation
Measured equation for each Point & Z direction that matches the Trace Roving DOF.
Measurement Axes
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Before creating Translation or FEA Rotation equations, the Measurement Axes at each Point must
defined properly;
• The Measurement Axes directions at each Point where a measurement was made must match
the directions in the Trace DOFs;
• Directions must be Rectangular (X, Y, Z), Cylindrical (R, T, Z) , Spherical (R, T, P), or
Machine (H, V, A).
• The Measurement Axes must be oriented to coincide with the actual directions of
measurement.
• See the Measurement Axes section in the Structure Window Commands chapter for
details.
Multiple Reference Measurements
• If the Trace DOFs contain Multiple References, a Measured equation will contain a term for
each reference.
• For example, for Traces with DOFs in the following table, the following Animation equations
would be created;
• Point 1 in the X direction: +1.0*[M#1] +1.0*[M#4]
• Point 2 in the X direction: -1.0*[M#2] -1.0*[M#5]
• Point 3 in the X direction: +1.0*[M#3] +1.0*[M#6]
Graphical Assignment
• When this method is chosen, a dialog box is opened as shown below,
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Graphical Assignment Dialog Box.
• Make sure the M# box in the Graphical M# Assignment dialog contains the number of the next
M# to be assigned to the structure model.
• Click on a Point to select it.
• Its Measurement Axes will be displayed in a separate dialog box, as shown above
• Click on one of the Measurement Axes in the dialog box.
• A Measured Animation equation will be created and displayed in the dialog box.
• If you select the wrong direction, check Clear Equations and Source DOFs in the dialog, and
click on the wrong direction to clear it.
Edit | Click Select is also enabled when Graphical Assignment is chosen,
• With Edit | Click Select is enabled, the Measurement Axes of the Point nearest to the mouse
pointer is automatically displayed.
• Click the left mouse button to select the Point.
• Hold down the Ctrl key to toggle Point selection.
Trace DOF Creation
During Graphical Assignment, if a selected Point is numbered (its Label contains a number), a Trace
DOF is automatically created for the M# in the Traces spreadsheet. The Trace DOF will contain the Point
number and the selected Measurement Axis direction. For example, if M#1 is graphically assigned to
Point 1 in the Z direction on the structure model, DOF 1Z will be created for M#1 in the Traces
spreadsheet.
Tools Renumber M#s
• Renumbers the M#s of the Traces in the Data Block file.
NOTE: Each Trace has a unique M# which is used in the Animation equations in a Structure window to
animation shapes from a Data Block. If the M#s are renumbered, new animation equations must be
created by executing Tools | Create Animation Equations.
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Tools | Animate Shapes
• Initiates animation in the connected Structure window using Trace values in the Data Block.
• The Animation Equations in the connected Structure file use Trace M#s to retrieve Trace
data.
• The displayed shape is defined by the current cursor position in the Data Block.
• Executing this command is the same as executing Draw | Animate Shapes in a connected
Structure window.
Sweep or Dwell Animation
• Sweep animation sweeps the cursor through the Traces and displays the Trace values at the
cursor position as the animated shape components.
• Sine Dwell animation displays the Trace values at the cursor position as the animated shape
components.
• Each shape component is multiplied by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to
provide the sinusoidal motion.
• Stationary Dwell animation displays the Trace values at the cursor position as the animated
shape components.
• To cycle through each of the three kinds of animation, repeatedly click on the Animate |
Animate With commands list in the connected Structure window.
Which Data is Animated?
• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace data is displayed as the
animated shape.
• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace data is displayed as
the animated shape.
• For all other data formats, the complex Trace data is displayed as the animated shape.
Selected M#s
• If M#s are selected, only Trace values for the selected M#s are used for the animated shape.
• If M#s are not selected, Trace values from all M#s in the Animation equations are used for the
animated shape.
Multiple Reference DOFs
• Shapes can only be animated from a Data Block of multiple reference Traces, but only from one
Reference DOF at a time.
• Shapes are animated from one Traces with one Reference DOF by selecting those Traces with
the same Reference DOF.
• If animation is initiated from a Data Block with multiple reference Traces, the Edit | Select Traces
| By dialog box will open.
• Choose a Reference DOF, and press the Select button to display shapes for that
Reference DOF.
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Multi-Reference Trace Selection Box.
Terminating Animation
• Execute Tools | Animate Shape during animation to terminate shape animation
Tools | Animate Using | Animation Groups
• Animates data from different Animation groups together on the same structure model.
• Uses the names in the Animation Group column in the Traces spreadsheet to scale the shape
data.
• If checked, each Animation Group is scaled for animation using shape values with the same
Animation Group name.
For example, Animation Group "Acoustic Power" with values in the range (+100, -100) will be scaled
separately from Animation Group "Vibration" with values in the range (+10,000, -10,000). If there are no
names in the Animation Group column, then all M#s are scaled as a single group.
Entering Animation Group Names
• Execute Edit | Select Traces | By, choose Data Type and select all of the Traces with one Data
Type.
• Double click on the Animation Group column in the Traces spreadsheet.
• Enter the Animation Group name into the dialog box, and click on OK.
Tools | Save Shape
• Saves the Trace data at the current cursor position from all (or selected) Traces, into a Shape
Table.
• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace data is saved.
• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace data is saved.
• For all other data formats, the complex Trace data is saved.
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• If the Peak cursor is displayed, the peak value in the cursor band in each Trace is saved as a
shape component.
• If the Band cursor is displayed, the RMS of the data in the band is saved as a shape component.
• If the Order cursor is displayed, values in each Trace for all orders are saved as components of
multiple shapes.
Add To or Replace Shapes
When this command is executed, a Shape Table selection dialog box opens, as shown below.
• Press Add To to add the shape as a new shape to the Shape Table.
• Press Replace to replace all of the shapes in the Shape Table with the new shape.
NOTE: The DOFs of the new shape are matched with the DOFs in the Shape Table. If any DOF doesn't
match, a new DOF is added to the Shape Table.
Shape Table Selection Box.
Replacing a Shape
To replace a shape in the Shape Table with the new shape,

• Select the shape in the Shape Table.
• Execute Tools | Save Shape.
• Press Replace in the Shape Table selection dialog box.
Replacing DOFs of a Shape
To replace certain DOFs of a shape in the Shape Table with DOFs of the new shape,
• Select the shape in the Shape Table.
• Select the DOFs in the Shape Table.
• Execute Tools | Save Shape.
• Press Replace in the Shape Table selection dialog box.
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Shape Table Window Commands
Shape Table Window.
This chapter contains descriptions of the basic commands in the Shape Table window.
NOTE: Additional Shape Table commands are documented in the Command Reference chapters for
The Shape Table window is used for;

• Viewing, editing, and performing math operations on operating deflection shapes (ODS's) ,
mode shapes, acoustic shapes, and engineering data shapes.
• Animating shapes on a 3D model in a connected Structure window.
Shapes & DOFs Spreadsheets
The Shape Table window is divided into two spreadsheets, separated by a blue splitter bar.
• The Shapes spreadsheet is (above or left of) the blue splitter bar.
• The DOFs spreadsheet is (below or right of) of the blue splitter bar.
• Drag the blue splitter bar in the window to make either spreadsheet larger.
Menu Commands
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is on a Toolbar.
Right Click Menus
• Position the mouse over the graphics area or the Objects spreadsheet and right click.

cells.
Shapes Spreadsheet
The Shapes spreadsheet is (above or left of) the blue splitter bar. Each row of the Shapes
spreadsheet contains a parameter for each shape in the Shape Table.
The Shapes spreadsheet contains the following columns;
• Select Shape button
• Frequency (or Time)
• Damping
• Units of frequency & damping (or time)
• Damping (%)
• Label
• Date/Time
• Color
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Shape color is used during animation if Animate Using the Shape Color is checked on the File |
Options Animation tab.
DOFs Spreadsheet
The DOFs spreadsheet is (below or right of) of the blue splitter bar. Each row of the DOFs
spreadsheet contains a parameter for each shape in the Shape Table.
The DOFs spreadsheet contains the following columns,
• See Traces Spreadsheet for details on these columns.
• Select DOFs button
• DOFs
• Measurement Type
• Units
• Label
• Data Type
• Animation Group
• Color
• Shape components, displayed in each Shape (number) column as Magnitude, Phase, Real, or
Imaginary.
• Execute commands in the Display | Shape DOFs menu to display different formats.
The File | Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab.
The File | Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab.
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Unique M#s
Each row in the DOFs spreadsheet is numbered with a unique measurement number (M#). M#s are
listed in the first column.
NOTE: During animation of shapes from a Shape Table, the M#s are used by Animation equations in a
connected Structure window to retrieve data from the DOFs spreadsheet.
Animation Group Column
Animation Groups are used for scaling different types of shape data (such as vibration and acoustic data),
so that both can be displayed together in animation.
• If no names are entered in this column, all M#s are treated as a single Animation Group.
• See Tools | Animate Using | Animation Groups for details.
• Contour colors can be defined for each Animation Group.
• See the Color Contours tab under the File | Options command for details.
File | Save
• Saves the Shape Table file into the current Project file on disk.
File | Save As...
• Saves a copy of the Shape Table file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.
Importing Shapes Using Spreadsheet Format
• To import shape data in ASCII text spreadsheet format, use the ME'scopeVES Shape Table
spreadsheet (.TXT) file format.
• The spreadsheet format is columns of text separated by delimiters such as commas or tab
characters.
Creating a .TXT File Template
• To create an .TXT file template, start with any Shape Table (SHP) file in ME'scopeVES.
• Open the Shape Table (SHP) file.
• Use any file from one of the Projects in the Examples or Demos folder.
• Execute File | Export and export the file in .TXT format.
Add Your Data To The .TXT File
• Open the .TXT file in a spreadsheet program like MS Excel or a word processor like MS Word.
• Replace the shape data in the spreadsheet columns with your data.
• Edit the other information where applicable.
• Save the file to disk.
Import The .TXT File
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• Make sure that the .TXT file is no longer open in the spreadsheet or word processor program
before opening it in ME'scopeVES.
• Execute File | Import | Shape Table in the ME'scopeVES window and import the .TXT File.
File | Export
• Exports the data in the Shape Table window to a disk file in an external file format.
Shape Tables can be exported in several different formats, including Universal File Format (UFF).
When this command is executed, the Windows File Save As dialog box is opened.
• Choose a disk folder in which to save the file, or create a new one.
• Type the desired file name into the File name box.
• Click on the Save button.
UFF File Export
The table below shows the Data Set Type that is created when a Shape Table is exported to a disk file in
UFF format. If the Shape Table is connected to a Structure file, a dialog box will open asking if you want
to export both the Structure and Shape Table files together in the same file.
• If you click on Yes, both files are exported.
• If you click on No, then only the Shape Table file is exported.
UFF only supports Global (X, Y, Z) coordinates, so the shape components will be converted from
Measurement Axes to Global (X, Y, Z) coordinates when exported to a UFF file.

File Type
Structure (.STR) Structure Points 15 & 82

& Lines

(.SHP)
Data Block Time 58

(.BLK) Waveforms,
FRFs,
Transmissibility's,
Auto & Cross
Spectra, Fourier
Spectra.
File | Copy to Clipboard | Shape Spreadsheet
• Copies the Shapes spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.
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File | Copy to Clipboard | DOFs Spreadsheet
• Copies the DOFs spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.
File | Print Menu
File | Print | Shapes Spreadsheet
• Prints the Shapes spreadsheet on the Windows printer.
File | Print | DOFs Spreadsheet
• Prints the DOFs spreadsheet on the Windows printer.
File | Properties
• Opens the Shape Properties dialog box, as shown below.
Shape Properties Dialog Box.
File | Options
• Opens the Shape Table Options box.

Options are grouped under tabs. Many options take effect in the Shape Table window as soon as they
are chosen in this Options box.
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Display Tab
• Allows you to choose the format for displaying shape Phase angles.
• Phase angles can be displayed in the ranges (0 to 360) or (-180 to 180) degrees.
Animation Tab
• During Sweep animation, the number of Sine Dwell Cycles per Shape is executed before
displaying the next shape.
• If Line Color uses Shape Color is checked, the Shape color is used as the Line color during
animation.
Show/Hide Tab
• Shows or hides columns of the Shapes or DOFs spreadsheets.

• Alternatively, right click on the Shapes or DOFs spreadsheet and select Show/Hide Columns
from the menu.
• Check columns to show them. Un-check columns to hide them.
Contour Colors Tab
Contour colors are used by the following commands,
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• Display | MAC.
• Display | Source Rank.
• Commands in the Animate | Contours Menu in a connected Structure window.
• Click on one of the Default button to assign pre-defined colors to the contours.
Contours for Each Animation Group
Animation Groups are defined by entering names into the Animation Groups column of the Traces
spreadsheet.
• If Animation Groups are defined in a Data Block, then different contour colors can be defined for
each Animation Group.
• If Animation Groups are not defined, Contour colors are defined as Ungrouped for all M#s in
the Data Block.
High & Low Contour Limits
High & Low Limits are entered into the High Limit and Low Limit boxes above and below the color bar.
• If the Low Limit = 50 and the High Limit = 100, then color contours will only be displayed for
shape values between 50 & 100.
• Values above or below the limits are displayed using the limit colors.
If shape data at a Point is only one dimensional (only one of the Animate | Direction commands is
checked), then contours are displayed for shape values between Plus & Minus limits. If shape data at a
Point is more than one dimensional, contours are displayed for shape magnitudes between positive
Low & High limits.
File | Close
• Closes the Shape Table window.

the window.
Opening a Window
Edit | Undo, Redo
Edit | Undo
Edit | Redo
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command.
Edit | Select Shapes Menu
Edit | Select Shapes | All
• Selects all shapes.
Edit | Select Shapes | None
• Un-selects all shapes.

• Double click on the Shape column heading in the Shapes spreadsheet to select or un-select all
shapes.
Edit | Select Shapes | Invert
• Changes un-selected shapes to selected, and selected shapes to un-selected.
Edit | Sort Shapes Menu
Edit | Sort Shapes | Ascending
• Sorts all shapes in the Shape Table by ascending order of their frequencies (or times).
Edit | Sort Shapes | Descending
• Sorts all shapes in the Shape Table by descending order of their frequencies (or times).
Edit | Select DOFs Menu
• Some commands operate only on selected M#s, while others operate on all (or selected) M#s.
• A selected M#s is displayed with a green background, and its Select button is depressed in
the DOFs spreadsheet.
• Alternatively, right click on the DOFs spreadsheet and execute these commands from the menu.
Edit | Select DOFs | By
When executed, a dialog box will open containing a list of options for selecting M#s;
• Choose a method from the Select DOFs By drop down list.
• Choose items from the selection list below.
• Hold down the Shift or Ctrl key and make multiple selections.
• Click on Select to select the DOFs.
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Select DOFs By Dialog box.
• Start and Skip M#s

• Opens another dialog box wherein you can enter a Starting M# and a Skip M#s (number
of M#s to skip over) for selecting DOFs.
• The default values are Starting M# = 1, and Skip M#s = 0 which will select all DOFs.
• By DOF
• Selects M#s by their Shape DOF.
• Shape DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• Shape DOFs have the format; Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set].
• Single channel measurements have only a Roving DOF.
• Cross channel measurements have a Roving and a Reference DOF.
• The Measurement Set number is enclosed in brackets [ ].
• Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple
measurement sets.
• By Roving DOF
• Selects M#s by the Roving DOF portion of their DOF; Roving DOF : Reference DOF.
• Selects M#s by the Reference DOF portion of their DOF; Roving DOF : Reference DOF.
• By Point
• Selects M#s by the Point number in the Roving DOF portion of their DOF; Point Number
& Direction : Reference DOF.
• By Direction
• Selects M#s by the direction in the Roving DOF portion of their DOF; Point Number &
Direction : Reference DOF.
• Selects M#s that form a Rectangular Matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.
• Roving DOFs correspond to rows, Reference DOFs correspond to columns.
• Selects M#s by the [Measurement Set] number of their DOF; Roving DOF: Reference
DOF [Measurement Set].
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• Selects M#s by their Measurement Type.
• Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the DOFs
spreadsheet.
• By Data Type
• Selects M#s by their Data Type.
• Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By Label
• Selects M#s by their Label.
• Labels are listed in the Label column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By SubShape
• Selects M#s by their SubShape name.
• SubShapes are listed in the SubShape column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By Input Output
• Selects M#s by their Input Output.
• Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By Source
• Selects M#s by their Source.
• Sources are listed in the Source column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
Edit | Select DOFs | Select All
• Selects all M#s.
Edit | Select DOFs | Invert Selection
• Inverts the selection of all M#s.

• All selected M#s are un-selected, and all un-selected M#s are selected.
Edit | Select DOFs | Select None
• Un-selects all M#s.
Edit | Sort DOFs
• Sorts (or re-orders) M#s in the DOFs spreadsheet.

• Operates on all (or selected) M#s.
• Each DOF has a unique M# in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• DOFs are numbered in order, from M# 1 to M# N, N = the number of DOFs in the DOFs
spreadsheet.
NOTE: M#s are used in the Animation equations in a connected Structure window to animate shapes
from a Shape Table.
When this command is executed, the dialog box below opens;
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• Choose a sorting method from the Sort DOFs By drop down list.
• Use individual selections from the Select From list, or Select All to obtain an initial Sort Using
list.
• Use the Ascending, Descending selections to order the Sort Using list.
• Select items in the list and use the Remove button to obtain the desired list.
• Click on Sort to sort the M#s according to the Sort Using list.
All DOFs that don't satisfy the criterion in the Sort Using list will follow the sorted DOFs in the sorted
order.
Sort DOFs By Dialog box.
• By Units
• Sorts M#s by their engineering Units.
• Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By DOF
• Sorts M#s by their Shape DOF.
• Shape DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• Shape DOFs have the format; Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set].
NOTE: Single channel measurements have only a Roving DOF. Cross channel measurements have a
Roving and a Reference DOF.
• The Measurement Set number is enclosed in brackets [ ].
NOTE: Measurement Set numbers are used only when data is acquired in multiple measurement sets.
• By Roving DOF
• Sorts M#s by the Roving DOF portion of their DOF; Roving DOF : Reference DOF.
• Sorts M#s by the Reference DOF portion of their DOF; Roving DOF : Reference DOF.
• By Point
• Sorts M#s by the Point number in the Roving DOF portion of their DOF; Point Number &
• By Direction
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• Sorts M#s by the direction in the Roving DOF portion of their DOF; Point Number &
• Sorts M#s by the [Measurement Set] number of their DOF; Roving DOF: Reference
DOF [Measurement Set].
• Sorts M#s that form a Rectangular Matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.
• Roving DOFs correspond to rows, Reference DOFs correspond to columns.
• By Data Type
• Sorts M#s by their Data Type.
• Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• Sorts M#s by their Measurement Type.
• Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the DOFs
spreadsheet.
• By Label
• Sorts M#s by their Label.
• Labels are listed in the Label column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By Input Output
• Sorts M#s by their Input Output.
• Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
• By Acoustic Source
• Sorts M#s by their Acoustic Source text.
• Sources are listed in the Acoustic Source column in the DOFs spreadsheet.
Display Menu
• Centers the Shape Table window in the Work Area of the ME'scopeVES window.
Display | Toolbars
• If checked, the Toolbars are displayed in the Shape Table window.
Display | Split
• Displays the two spreadsheets in side-by-side or upper-lower format.

In side-by-side format, the Shape spreadsheet is on the left and the DOFs spreadsheet is on the right
of the blue splitter bar. In upper-lower format, the Shapes spreadsheet is above and the DOFs
spreadsheet is below the blue splitter bar.
Display | Shape DOFs Menu
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These commands display columns in the shape DOFs spreadsheet in several different formats.
• Each Shape (number) column contains shape components of one shape.
• Each row contains the components of all shapes for the same DOF (or M#).
Shape Table Window.
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude / Phase
• Displays the magnitude & phase of each shape.
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude (dB) / Phase
• Displays the magnitude (in dB units) & phase of each shape.
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude
• Displays the magnitude of each shape.
Display | Shape DOFs | Magnitude dB
• Displays the magnitude (in dB units) of each shape.
Display | Shape DOFs | Phase
• Displays the phase of each shape.
Display | Shape DOFs | Real / Imaginary
• Displays the real & imaginary parts of each shape.
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Display | Shape DOFs | Real
• Displays the real part of each shape.
Display | Shape DOFs | Imaginary
• Displays the imaginary part of each shape.
Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s)
• Creates Measured Animation equations on the structure model in a connected Structure

window.
• Measured Animation equations are created by assigning all (or selected) M#’s in the DOFs
spreadsheet to Points & directions on the structure model.
• See Tools | Create Animation Equations in the Data Block Window Commands chapter for
details.
Tools | Renumber M#s
• Renumbers the M#s of the DOFs in the Shape Table.
NOTE: Each DOF has a unique M# which is used in the Animation equations in a Structure window to
animation shapes from a Shape Table. If the M#s are renumbered, new animation equations must be
created by executing Tools | Create Animation Equations.
Tools | Animate Shapes
• Initiates animation in the connected Structure window using the selected shape.
Executing this command is the same as executing Draw | Animate Shapes in a connected Structure
window. Data for only one selected Shape is displayed at a time during animation.
• Use the left arrow & right arrow keys on the keyboard to select a different shape.
Sweep or Dwell Animation
• Sweep Animation
• Each shape is displayed in sequence, using N cycles of Sine Dwell animation.
• (N is specified on the Animation tab in the File | Options dialog box.)
• Sine Dwell
• Each frame of sinusoidal animation is created by multiplying the shape by a different sine
wave value in the range (-1 to +1).
• Stationary Dwell
• Each selected shape is displayed without any animation.
• To cycle through each of the three kinds of animation, repeatedly click on the Animate |
Animate With commands list in the connected Structure window.
Which Data is Used?
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• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of each shape is displayed in animation.
• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of each shape is displayed in
animation.
• For all other data display formats, the complex shape data is displayed in animation.
Selected M#'s
• If M#s are selected, then only shape components from the selected M#s are displayed in
animation.
• In no M#s are selected, data from all M#s specified in the Animation Equations are used.
• M#s are selected by using the Edit | Select DOFs commands, or by pressing Select DOF
buttons in the DOFs spreadsheet.
Terminating Animation
• During animation, execute Tools | Animate Shapes to terminate animation in the connected
Structure window.
Tools | Animate Using | Animation Groups
• Animates data from different Animation groups together on the same structure model.
• Uses the names in the Animation Group column in the DOFs spreadsheet to scale the shape
data.
• If checked, each Animation Group is scaled for animation using shape values with the same
Animation Group name.
For example, Animation Group "Acoustic Power" with values in the range (+100, -100) will be scaled
separately from Animation Group "Vibration" with values in the range (+10,000, -10,000). If there are no
names in the Animation Group column, then all M#s are scaled as a single group.
Entering Animation Group Names
• Execute Edit | Select Traces | By, choose Data Type and select the DOFs with one Data Type.
• Double click on the Animation Group column in the DOFs spreadsheet. A dialog box will open,
• Enter the Animation Group name and click on OK.
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Report Window Commands
Report Window
Report Window.
This chapter contains descriptions of the commands in the Report window.

• A Report window is a text and graphics processor that can be used to document a Project.
• A Report file (in RTF format) can be imported into MS Word and further enhanced.
Menu Commands
is on a Toolbar.
File Menu
File | Save
• Saves the Report file into the current Project file on disk.
File | Save As
• Saves a copy of the Report file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.
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File | Export
• Exports the Report file to a disk file in an external file format.

• Report files can be exported in text (.TXT) and rich text format (.RTF) formats.
File | Print
NOTE: The installed Windows printer must be a graphics printer to use this command.
• Prints the current Report file on the Windows printer.
File | Page Setup
• Opens the following dialog box for formatting pages in the Report document.
Report Page Setup Dialog.
File | Print Preview
• Opens the following dialog box for previewing the Report document before printing it.
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Report Print Preview Dialog.
File | Close
• Closes the Report file window.

the window.
Opening a Window
Edit Menu
Edit | Undo
• Hold down the Ctrl key and press the Z key to also execute this command.
Edit | Cut
• Deletes the selected text & graphics from the Report document onto the Windows Clipboard.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the X key to also execute this command.
Edit | Copy
• Copies the selected text & graphics from the Report document onto the Windows Clipboard.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the C key to also execute this command.
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Edit | Paste
• Pastes the text & graphics from the Windows Clipboard into the Report document at the cursor
position.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the V key to also execute this command.
Edit | Select All
• Selects all of the text & graphics in the Report document.

• Hold down the Ctrl key, and press the A key to also execute this command.
Edit | Select None
• Un-selects all of the text & graphics in the Report document.
Edit | Delete
• Deletes the selected text & graphics from the Report document.
Edit | Find Next
• Opens the following dialog box for finding text in the Report document.
Find Next Dialog.
Edit | Insert Picture From File
• Opens the following dialog box for locating a picture file to insert into the Report document.
160
Insert Picture From File Dialog.
Format Menu
Format | Font Type, Size, Color
• Changes the Font Type, Size and Color of the selected text.
Format | Bold, Italic, Underlined Font
• Changes the selected text to Bold, Italic or Underlined.
Format | Align Left, Center, Right
• Changes the selected text to Left, Center or Right justified on the page.
Format | Increase, Decrease Indent
• Increases or decreases the indentation of the selected text.
Format | Bullets
• Adds a bullet to the front of each line of selected text.
161
Glossary
A
Acoustic Source: A group of Points on an Acoustic Surface containing measurements from an identified
noise source. Sources are used for Source Ranking of acoustic data. Source names are entered
in the Acoustic Source column in the Traces or Shapes spreadsheet.
Acoustic Surface: A special type of SubStructure represented by a grid of measurement Points. Each
measurement Point has a surrounding area and surface normal. Acoustic Surfaces are created
with the Drawing Assistant.
Active Graph: Either the upper or lower Traces in the graphics area on the left side of the Acquisition
window. The upper or lower Traces are made active by clicking on them, or by executing Display
| Active Graph in the Acquisition window.
Active Traces: The Acquisition window displays upper & lower Traces in its graphics area. The upper
Traces are time domain data acquired from the front end. The lower Traces are time or frequency
domain measurements calculated from the upper Traces. The Display | Active Graph command
toggles the active Traces between the upper & lower Traces.
Active View: One of the four Views in the Structure window graphics area. Drawing operations like Move,
Rotate and Resize are performed in the active View. A View is made active by clicking on it, or by
executing on of the Display | View commands.
Animation Equation: All animation is created in a Structure window by evaluating the Animation
equations at each Point on a structure model. Each animation equation defines which
measurements (M#s) are used to animate a Point in a direction. Animation equations are
displayed on tabs above the Points spreadsheet by executing Edit | Animation Equations |
Equation Editor in the Structure window.
Animation Frame: Animation is created by displaying still pictures (frames) in rapid succession in a
Structure window. The animation can be paused and stepped through the frames by using the
Animate | Step commands.
Animation Group: A group of M#s having the same text name in the Animation Group column in a Data
Block or Shape Table window. All M#s in the same Animation Group are scaled together during
animation when Animate Using | Animation Groups is checked.
Animation Source: Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area.
The current Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the
Structure window. During animation, M# data from the current Animation Source is animated
using to the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. During a Comparison
display, two Animation Sources are used.
Auto spectrum: An Auto Spectrum is calculated by multiplying a Fourier spectrum by its complex
conjugate. The Auto spectrum has magnitude only. Its phase is zero. An Auto spectrum can have
either Linear (RMS) units or Power (MS) units.
B
Band Cursor: One of the Data Block window cursors, represented by two vertical lines on each Trace.
Click & drag inside the band to move it. Click & drag outside the band to move the nearest edge
of the band.
Bitmap: A copy of the pixels used to draw the graphics in a window. Bitmaps are used in all Copy to
Clipboard and Print commands that operate on graphics.
163
Block Size: The number of samples (time or frequency values) in the Traces of a Data Block or
Acquisition window. The current Block Size can be viewed and edited in the File | Properties
dialog box. Increasing the Block Size appends zero valued samples to each Trace. Decreasing
the Block Size removes samples from the high frequencies or time values of each Trace.
C
Center Point: Any Point that is referenced in the Center Point column of the Points spreadsheet. A Point
that references a Center Point is called a Radial Point. If a Center Point has a Machine Rotation
Animation equation, all Radial Points that reference the Center Point will exhibit rotational motion
about the Center Point during animation.
Closely Coupled Modes: Two or more modes that appear as a single peak in a frequency domain
measurement. This occurs when two or more modes have have resonance curves that sum
together to form a single peak.
CMIF: An acronym for Complex Mode Indicator Function. Multiple CMIFs are used to indicate closely
coupled modes and repeated roots. Modal participation factors are also calculated and used in
succeeding multiple reference curve fitting steps.
CoMAC: An Acronym for Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion. It indicates whether or not two shape
components have the same value. It has values between 0 & 1. If CoMAC > 0.95, the shape
components are the same. If CoMAC > 0.8, the shape components are similar. If CoMAC < 0.8
the shape components are different.
Complex Shape: A shape with components that have phases other than 0 or 180 degrees. During
animation, complex shapes will exhibit a "traveling wave" motion. Complex shape components
can be normalized (to phases of 0 or 180 degrees) using the Complexity Plot in the Shape Table
or Data Block window.
Contour: A locus of equal magnitudes of a displayed shape during animation. Contours are displayed
only on surfaces of a structure model. Data Block Traces can also be displayed in a contour
format.
Cross spectrum: A cross-channel measurement, calculated by multiplying the Fourier spectrum of signal
by the complex conjugate of the Fourier spectrum of another signal.
Cross-channel Measurement: A measurement that is calculated between two different simultaneously
acquired signals. Examples are Transfer Functions, Transmissibility's, Cross spectra, and ODS
FRFs.
Current Animation Source: The Data Block, Acquisition, or Shape Table file that is currently used for
animating shapes in a Structure window. Its name is displayed in the Animation Source list on the
Structure window Toolbar.
D
Data Block file: One or more Traces of measurement data with a common time or frequency axis. Time
domain measurements are real valued. Frequency domain measurements are complex valued.
Each Trace has a unique measurement number M#. M#s are displayed in the Select Trace
column of the Traces spreadsheet.
DFT: An acronym for Digital Fourier Transform. The forward FFT transforms a sampled time domain
waveform into its equivalent DFT. The inverse FFT transforms a DFT back into its equivalent
sampled time waveform. If the time domain signal has N real samples, the DFT will have (N/2)
complex samples.
Digital Movie: A Windows video file that documents the animation in the Structure window. Digital
Movies are made using commands in the Movies menu. Each Digital Movie file is played back
from its own window.
164
Glossary
DOF: An acronym for degree-of-freedom. A DOF includes a Point number & direction. Each
measurement (M#) in a Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window can have a DOF. DOF
directions should correspond to the Measurement Axes directions at Points on the structure
model used for animating shapes. Scalar data has no direction associated with it.
Drawing Assistant: A set of tabs in the Structure window that are used for drawing and modifying
structure models. The Drawing Assistant tabs are displayed above the SubStructure spreadsheet
by executing Draw | Drawing Assistant.
Drawing Object: A Point, Line, Surface, or SubStructure in a structure model. Each Point is defined by its
global X, Y, Z coordinates. Each Line is defined between two Points, each Surface Triangle
between three Points, and each Surface Quad between four Points. Each SubStructure is a
collection of Points, Lines & Surfaces.
Driving Point: The DOF (Point & direction) where excitation is applied to a structure. A driving point
measurement has the same Roving & Reference DOFs.
Driving Point Residue: A driving point residue is obtained by curve fitting a driving point FRF
measurement.
E
EDS: An acronym for Engineering Data Shape, a general term for any type of data measured from or
calculated for two or more points on a machine, structure, or acoustic surface.
EMA: An acronym for Experimental Modal Analysis. During an EMA, the test article is artificially excited
with either an impactor or a shaker. The excitation force and one or more responses caused by
the force are simultaneously measured, and a set of FRF measurements is calculated The FRFs
are then curve fit to obtain experimental modal parameters for the structure.
F
FEA Assistant: A set of tabs in the Structure window that are used for drawing a structure model and
adding FEA Objects to it. The FEA Assistant tabs are displayed above the SubStructure
spreadsheet by executing FEA | FEA Assistant.
FEA Object: FEA Objects are used by the SDM commands as modification elements of a structure
model, by Experimental FEA commands to construct FEA models, and by FEA Model Updating
commands to modify element properties. FEA Objects are added between Points on a structure
model. Their physical & material properties must be defined before using them.
FEA Rotations: FEA rotational data is used for SDM and FEA Model Updating calculations, and can be
displayed in animation by executing Animate | Shapes | FEA Rotations. FEA Rotational data is
animated using FEA Rotation animation equations. Up to three FEA Rotation animation equations
can be defined at each Point on a structure model.
FFT: An acronym for Fast Fourier Transform. The FFT is an algorithm that transforms a uniformly
sampled time domain signal into its equivalent Digital Fourier Transform (DFT). The Inverse FFT
transforms the DFT back into its original sampled time domain signal. The FFT in ME'scopeVES
is a prime number FFT which doesn't restrict the number of samples transformed to powers of 2.
Fixed DOF: A Fixed DOF on a structure model will not move during animation. Fixed DOFs are defined
by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Fix DOFs.
Fourier spectrum: A Fourier spectrum is the forward FFT of a uniformly sampled time waveform. The
Fourier spectrum is also called a DFT.
FRF: An acronym for Frequency Response Function. An FRF is a cross-channel frequency domain
measurement that defines the dynamic properties of a machine or structure between an
excitation force DOF and a response DOF caused by the force. It is the ratio (response Fourier
165
spectrum / force Fourier spectrum). The FRF is a special case of a Transfer Function, where the
force is the Input and the response is the Output between to DOFs of a structure.
G
Geometric Center: The average of the minimum & maximum coordinates in each direction (X,Y,Z) of all
Points on a structure model, drawing or FEA Object.
Global Curve Fitting: Global curve fitting processes multiple FRFs to obtain a global frequency &
damping estimate for each mode in the measurement span, or cursor band of interest.
I
Interpolated Equation: An animation equation used to animate all un-measured DOFs of a structure
model. Interpolated animation equations by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create
Interpolated. Interpolated equations are used when Animate | With Interpolation is checked.
L
Line Cursor: One of the Data Block or Acquisition window cursors. It is represented by a vertical line on
each Trace. The Line cursor is moved by clicking & dragging on any Trace. Clicking on a Trace
will place the cursor at the mouse pointer position.
Line Object: A drawing Object, displayed as a straight line between two Points. Lines are displayed by
executing Display | Lines | Show Lines. Line properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet
by executing Edit | Object List | Lines.
Local Curve Fitting: Local curve fitting extracts a modal frequency & damping estimate from each FRF
for each mode.
M
M#: An abbreviation for Measurement number. Each Trace in a Data Block or Acquisition window, and
each shape component in a Shape Table window has a unique M#. M#s are used by the
Animation equations at each Point on a structure model to animate the Point using data from
M#s.
MAC: An Acronym for Modal Assurance Criterion. MAC indicates whether two shapes are the same or
different. If MAC =1 the shapes are the same. If MAC > 0.90, the shapes are similar. If MAC <
0.90 the shapes are different. Also called the Shape Correlation Cofficient (SCC).
Machine Rotation Data: One of the kinds of shape data that can be displayed in animation on a
structure model. Machine rotation data must be assigned to a Center Point in the Z-direction.
During animation, all of the Radial Points that reference a Center Point are animated with rotation
about the Center Point.
Measured Equation: A Measured animation equation is a weighted summation of M#s that specifies
which Trace or Shape component data is to be used to animate the Point on a structure model.
Animation equations can be viewed on the Animation Equator tab, which is displayed by
executing Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor.
Measurement: A Trace in a Data Block or Acquisition window, or a shape component in a Shape Table.
Traces and shape components have unique M#s. Measured animation equations are created by
assigning each M# to a Point & direction on a structure model.
Measurement Axes: Each Point on a structure model has 3 Measurement Axes. Measurement Axes
define the directions in which measurements were made at the Point. Measurement Axes are
166
Glossary
displayed and edited using the Measurement Axes tab, which is displayed by executing Draw |
Animation Equations | Equation Editor.
Measurement Set: All of the data that was simultaneously acquired during data acquisition.
Simultaneous acquisition includes simultaneous amplification, anti-alias filtering, and analog to
digital conversion. Cross-channel measurements are calculated using data from the same
measurement set.
Meshing: Selected Lines, Surfaces, FEA Objects, & SubStructures are meshed (subdivided into more
Objects) using one of the commands in the Draw | Mesh menu. If a SubStructure is meshed, all
of its Lines, Surfaces, & FEA Objects are subdivided.
MIMO model: A Multiple Input Multiple Output frequency domain matrix model. A MIMO model is a
dynamic model of a structure that relates its Inputs to its Outputs. The dynamic properties are
contained in a Transfer function matrix. The Transfer function matrix is multiplied by Fourier
spectra of multiple Inputs to obtain Fourier spectra of multiple Outputs.
MMIF: An acronym for Multivariate Mode Indicator Function. Multiple MMIFs can indicate closely coupled
modes & repeated roots. Modal participation factors are also calculated and used in succeeding
multiple reference curve fitting steps.
Modal Model: A set of scaled mode shapes that defines the dynamic properties of a structure. Unit modal
mass (UMM) scaling is used in ME'scope to preserve the dynamic properties of a structure.
Modal Peaks Function: A mode indicator function which is used for determining how many modes
(resonance peaks) are represented in a set of measurements.
Mode Shape: Modes are used to characterize resonant vibration in structures. Each mode has a natural
frequency, damping value, and a mode shape. The mode shape is a standing wave deformation
of the structure at its natural (resonant or modal) frequency.
mooZ: The reverse of a Zoom operation in a Structure, Data Block, or Acquisition window. It restores the
display of the structure model in a Structure window, or display of the Trace data in a Data Block
or Acquisition window.
MPC: An Acronym for Modal Phase Colinearity. The MPC has values between 0 & 1. If MPC = 1, all of
the components of a shape lie on a straight line in the complex plane. If MPC < 1, the
components do not lie on a strraight line. Lightly damped structures wll have mode shapes with
MPC's close to 1.
Multiple Reference Test: Using two or more fixed exciters or fixed response transducers during a
structural test. This is equivalent to measuring two or more rows or columns of the Transfer
function matrix in the MIMO model.
N
Node Line: A line on a structure model where all shape components are zero. Node Lines are displayed
as black lines in an animated display of Contour Lines. The Node Lines of a complex shape will
move during animation, while Node Lines of a normalized shape will not.
Normalized Shape: A shape that has components with phases of 0 & 180 degrees. During animation, a
normalized shape will exhibit a "standing wave" motion. Complex shapes can be "normalized"
(have their phases rotated to 0 or 180 degrees) by using the Complexity Plot in a Shape Table or
Data Block window.
O
Octave: A frequency band where the highest frequency is twice the lowest frequency. Acoustic
measurements are often acquired using 1/1, 1/3, or 1/12 octave bands.
167
ODS: An acronym for Operating Deflection Shape. An ODS is the deformation of a machine or structure
at two or more DOFs due to its own operation and/or applied forces. A time domain ODS
characterizes the structural deformation at a specific time. A frequency domain ODS
characterizes the structural deformation at a specific frequency.
ODS FRF: A cross-channel frequency domain measurement that is obtained from operating data. It
requires a Roving response and a (fixed) Reference response. ODS's can be displayed in
animation directly from a set of ODS FRFs. Operating mode shapes can be extracted by curve
fitting a set of ODS FRFs.
OMA: An acronym for Operational Modal Analysis. An OMA is performed when the excitation forces are
not or cannot be measured. One or more reference responses are used, and Cross spectra or
ODS FRFs are curve fit instead of FRFs to extract operating modal parameters.
Operating Mode Shape: A mode shape obtained by curve fitting a set of output-only cross-channel
measurements.
Orthogonal Polynomial: An MDOF curve fitting algorithm for estimating modal parameters from a set of
FRFs. Either Global or a Local curve fitting can be chosen using this method.
Orthogonal Views: The three 2D Views that are part of the Quad View in a Structure window. These
three Views are orthogonal (at right angles) to one another. All three orthogonal Views and the
3D View are displayed together in a Quad View.
P
Peak Cursor: One of the Data Block window cursors, represented by two vertical lines on each Trace. It
finds the largest value of the displayed data in the band. Click & drag inside the band to move it.
Click & drag outside the band to move the nearest edge of the band.
Periodic Signal: The FFT assumes that the signal to be transforming is periodic in the transform window
(the samples used by the FFT). To be periodic, the Trace waveform cannot have a discontinuity
at the ends of the window. Traces that are completely contained within the transform window
satisfy this criterion. Cyclical signals that complete an integer number of cycles within the
transform window also satisfy this criterion.
Photo Realistic Model: A surface or solid model that has digital photographs attached to its surfaces.
Photo realistic models are created using third party software, and imported into ME'scope.
Point Matching: The process of matching and re-numbering Points and mode shape DOFs between an
FEA and an EMA model.
Point Object: A 3D Object defined by three global coordinates (X,Y,Z). Points are used as end points
that define all other Objects in the Structure window. Each Point has its own Animation Equations
that are used to animate the Point with shape data from an Animation Source (Data Block, Shape
Table or Acquisition window). Point properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by
executing Edit | Object List | Points.
Pole: The frequency & damping of mode of vibration or resonance.
Pole Plot: A graph of pole estimates (modal frequency versus modal damping). Pole frequencies are
plotted along the horizontal axis and pole damping values on the vertical axis. A pole plot can be
displayed during Stability curve fitting, or from a Shape Table by executing Display | Poles.
Project: All work inside ME'scope is done with data in an open Project file. A Project file can contain one
or more Structure, Data Block, Shape Table, Acquisition, Program, Report, or Added files. All of
the files of the currently open Project are displayed in the top (or left) pane of the Project Flyout
panel.
PSD: An acronym for Power Spectral Density. A PSD is calculated by dividing an Auto spectrum by its
frequency resolution (the increment between frequency lines).
168
Glossary
Q
Quad View: A Quad View consists of four Views (X View, Y View, Z View & 3D View), of a structure
model displayed together in a Structure window. The Quad View is obtained by double clicking on
a single View.
R
Radial Point: Any Point that references a Center Point in the Center Point column of the Points
spreadsheet. During animation, a Radial Point is given rotational motion about its Center Point if
the Center Point has a Machine Rotation Animation equation defined for it.
Reference DOF: The fixed DOF in a set of cross-channel measurements. All cross-channel
measurements should have both a Roving and a Reference DOF. The Reference DOF follows
the colon in a Measurement DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF.
Repeated Roots: Two or more modes with the same modal frequency but different mode shapes.
Repeated Roots can occur in many types of geometrically symmetric structures such as disks,
cylinders, square plates and cubes.
Residue: One of the three modal parameters (along with frequency & damping) obtained from FRF-
based curve fitting. The residue is the constant numerator term in the partial fraction form of an
analytical FRF. It carries the FRF engineering units multiplied by Hz (or radians per second).
Each mode has a Residue matrix associated with it the corresponding MIMO model of the
structure. The residues from one row or column of the Residue matrix define a Residue mode
shape.
Residue Mode Shapes: The Residues (numerator terms) of the FRF curve fitting model used to extract
experimental modal parameters from a set of FRFs. Residue mode shapes are used to
synthesize FRFs and to create UMM mode shapes.
Roving DOF: The DOF that changes in a set of cross-channel measurements. All cross-channel
measurements should have a Roving and a (fixed) Reference DOF, denoted as; Measurement
DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF.
S
Sampling Window: The time domain samples used by the FFT to calculate a DFT. Also called the
transform window. A special time domain windowing function (Hanning, Flat Top, Exponential,
etc.) may also be applied to the samples in the Sampling Window prior to applying the FFT.
Scalar Data: One of the kinds of shape data that can be displayed in animation on a structure model.
Scalar data has no direction associated with it. Examples include Sound Pressure Level (SPL),
Sound Power, temperature, and pressure. Scalar data is animated on a structure model with
surfaces using color contours.
SCC: An Acronym for Shape Correlation Coefficient. SCC indicates whether two shapes are the same or
different. Also called the Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC). If SCC =1 the shapes are the same.
If SCC > 0.90, the shapes are similar. If SCC < 0.90 the shapes are different.
Shape: The measured or calculated values at two or more DOFs on a machine, structure or acoustic
surface. Specific types of shapes are an Operating Deflection Shape (ODS ), mode shape,
acoustic shape, and Engineering Data Shape (EDS ). Shape components can be Translational,
Rotational, or Scalar. For animation, all shape components must have correct magnitude & phase
values relative to one another.
Shape Interpolation: Shape components at each Point of a structure model can be Measured, Fixed or
Interpolated. During animation, the shape components of Interpolated DOFs are calculated by
evaluating Interpolated Animation equations. Interpolated Equations are created using
169
neighboring Measured or Fixed DOFs. Interpolated Animation equations are created by executing
Draw | Animation Equations | Create Interpolated.
Shape Table file: A file for storing shapes. A shape is a spatial description of data measured or
calculated for two or more Points or DOFs on a structure or Acoustic Surface. Shapes can be
imported from an external source, saved during animation or created by modal parameter
estimation (curve fitting).
Sine Dwell: One of the types of shape animation. During sine dwell animation, the shape is defined by
M# values from the current Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window),
and is modulated using sine wave values.
Single Reference Test: Using a single fixed exciter or fixed response transducer during a structural test.
This is equivalent to measuring one row or column of the FRF matrix in the MIMO model of the
structure.
Single-channel Measurement: A measurement that was calculated using data acquired from a single
acquisition channel. Examples are a Fourier spectrum of an Auto spectrum. During data
acquisition, analog data from a transducer is amplified, anti-alias filtered, and digitized. Single-
channel measurements are then calculated using post-processing techniques on each channel of
acquired data.
SPD: An acronym for Shape Percent Difference, calculated as the magnitude of the difference between
two shapes divided by the magnitude of the reference shape. In Comparison animation, the
reference shape is the left hand shape.
SPL: Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is a measure of the RMS sound pressure relative to a reference value.
It is measured in logarithmic units of decibels (dB) above a standard reference level. A common
reference level used is 20 μPa RMS, which is considered the threshold of human hearing.
Stability Diagram: A graph of modal frequency & damping (or pole) estimates extracted from different
curve fitting model sizes during Stability curve fitting. Pole estimates from multiple model sizes
that are within user-specified tolerance limits are said to be stable. When the Save Stable Groups
button is pressed, the average pole value for each stable group is added to the Modal
Parameters spreadsheet.
Stationary Dwell: One of the types of shape animation. During stationary dwell animation, the shape is
defined by M# values from the current Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition
window), and is not modulated.
Structure file: A file of drawing Objects (and FEA Objects) used to model a machine, structure or
acoustic surface. Points, Lines & Surfaces are used for drawing 3D structure models and
Acoustic Surfaces. FEA Objects can also be added between Points on a model, and are used by
the SDM, Experimental FEA, and FEA Model Updating commands in a Structure window.
Structure Model: 3D structure models are used for displaying operating deflection shapes, mode
shapes, acoustic shapes or engineering data shapes in animation. A structure model consists of
two or more Points connected by Lines. If Surfaces are added to the model, it is called a Surface
model. If digital photos are attached to the Surfaces, the model is called a Photo Realistic model.
SubStructure: A collection of Points, Lines, Surfaces, and FE Objects. SubStructures can be selected,
moved, cut, copied & pasted like any other Object. SubStructure properties are displayed in the
SubStructures spreadsheet. SubStructures from the SubStructure Library can be added to a
model using the Drawing Assistant. The FEA Assistant is used to add FEA Objects to
SubStructures.
SubStructure Library: A collection of pre-defined SubStructures that can be added to any structure
model using the Drawing Assistant. Any structure model can be saving into the Library by
executing File | Save In Library in its Structure window.
170
Glossary
Surface Quad: A 3D Object that defines a surface between four Points on a structure model. Surfaces
are used for hidden line, surface fill, texture, and contour displays. Surface Quad properties are
displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Object List | Surface Quads.
Surface Triangle: A 3D Object that defines a surface between three Points on a structure model.
Surfaces are used for hidden line, surface fill, texture, and contour displays. Surface Triangle
properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Object List | Surface
Triangles.
Sweep Animation: One of the types of shape animation. During Sweep animation from a Data Block or
Acquisition window, the cursor is moved through the Traces from left to right, and the shape is
displayed at each cursor position. During Sweep animation from a Shape Table, each shape is
displayed in succession using the number of cycles on the Animation tab in the File | Options box.
T
Tool Tip: A brief description of each button (or Tool) on a Toolbar. If Help | Show Tool Tips is checked, a
Tool Tip will be displayed when the mouse pointer is hovered on a button.
Trace: One of the measurements displayed in a Data Block or Acquisition window. Each Trace contains
values of either a single measurement or a cross-channel measurement. Each Trace has a
unique measurement number (M#), which is listed in the first column of the Traces spreadsheet.
These M#s are used in the Animation equations on a structure model to display shapes directly
from the Trace data.
Trace Matrix: A Data Block where each Trace Roving DOF designates the row, and each Reference
DOF designates the column of the Trace in a matrix of Trace rows & columns.
Transfer Function: A cross-channel frequency domain measurement between an Output signal and an
Input signal It is defined as the ratio (Output Fourier spectrum / Input Fourier spectrum). An FRF
is a special case of a Transfer Function where the Input is a force, and the Output is caused by
the force.
Translational Data: One of the kinds of shape data that can be displayed in animation on a structure
modal. Examples are vibration and acoustic intensity. Each Translational measurement has a
direction associated with it. Measurement directions are defined by the Measurement Axes at
each Point on the structure model. Up to three Translational measurements can be defined at
each Point on a structure model.
Transmissibility: A cross-channel frequency domain measurement typically made from operating or
output-only data. It is defined as the ratio (Output Fourier spectrum / Input Fourier spectrum).
Operating mode shapes can be obtained from a set of Transmissibility's, calculated between two
or more Roving responses and a (fixed) Reference response. A set of Cross spectra can be
obtained by multiplying a set of Transmissibilities by a reference Auto spectrum.
U
UFF: An acronym for Universal File Format. The UFF is a disk file format used for exchanging data
between different structural testing & analysis systems. Structure models (Points & Lines), mode
shapes, ODS's, and time or frequency domain measurements can be imported & exported using
UFF files. Typical UFF file name extensions are .UFF, .UNV and .ASC.
UMM Mode Shapes: Mode shapes that have been scaled to Unit Modal Masses. A set of UMM mode
shapes preserves the dynamic properties of a structure, and is called a modal model. UMM mode
shapes are used by SDM, FRF Synthesis, MIMO, and FEA Modal Updating commands in
ME'scope.
171
Zoom: Enlarging the display of the model in a Structure window, or the Trace graphics in a Data Block or
Acquisition window. A Zoom is initiated by executing Display | Zoom, or by clicking in the graphics
area and using the mouse wheel.
172
Index
A Mouse Operations.......................................... 26
Acoustic Surface .................................. 9, 37, 65 P
Active View.....................................................52 Pan ................................................................ 54
Add Object ............................................... 42, 49 Paste ............................................................. 49
Animation Equations............... 68, 133, 153, 155 Perspective .................................................... 54
Animation speed .............................................85 Points ................................................ 40, 65, 76
Assign M#s..................................... 68, 133, 155 Print ................................................32, 108, 146
C Q
Color .................................33, 90, 109, 131, 146 Quad View ..................................................... 52
Contours .................................................. 45, 90 R
Copy to Clipboard ................................... 32, 107 Resize ........................................................... 54
Cursors ........................................................122 Rotate ................................................ 26, 52, 54
D S
Damping.......................................................108 Selection Box ................................................. 38
Data Block Animation ............................. 83, 137 Shape
DOF Generator............................. 101, 133, 155 DOFs spreadsheet ......................65, 153, 155
Drawing Object ......................................... 38, 42 Shape Animation .......................137, 153, 155
E Shapes spreadsheet ................................. 155
Exponential Window .....................................108 Sort ...............................................115, 149, 151
F SPD ............................................................... 33
Fixed Point .....................................................65 SubStructure ........................... 47, 62, 73, 75, 76
G Surface Area .................................................. 45
Group .............................................................49 T
I Traces spreadsheet ............................... 98, 108
Icon ................................................................40 U
Import .............................................................14 UFF .......................................... 14, 30, 104, 145
Interpolated Point ...........................................65 V
L View Control .................................................. 54
Lines ..............................................................44 W
M Work Area.................................................. 6, 37
Measured Point ..............................................65 Z
Meshing .........................................................73 Zoom .......................................... 26, 53, 54, 124
173

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MEscopeVES Reference

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ME’scopeVES

Vibrant Technology, Inc.

File | Import | Structure .......................................................................................................................... 13

Spreadsheet Text Size ....................................................................................................................... 26

File | Print Menu .................................................................................................................................... 32

Center Point Column .......................................................................................................................... 41

Edit | Rotate Selected Objects ............................................................................................................... 52

Display | Surfaces | Lights .................................................................................................................. 59

Draw | Animation Equations | Delete Equations .................................................................................. 71

Sine Dwell Speeds ............................................................................................................................. 86

Data Type Column ........................................................................................................................... 101

Animation Tab.................................................................................................................................. 111

Display | Zoom, mooZ.......................................................................................................................... 124

Multiple Reference DOFs ................................................................................................................. 137

File | Print | Shapes Spreadsheet ..................................................................................................... 146

Display | Shape DOFs | Phase ......................................................................................................... 154

Format | Bold, Italic, Underlined Font................................................................................................ 161

Project Fly Out Panel

Right Click Menu

There are several ways to open a previously saved Project file,

NOTE: Only one Project can be open at a time in ME'scopeVES.

Opening Data Files

Saving Data Files

Demo Projects Fly Out Panels

Opening a Project From a Fly Out Panel

ME'scopeVES Window Showing Demos Fly Out Panel.

Moving a Fly Out Panel

Pinned Fly Out Panel.

Creating a New Fly Out Panel

Right Click To Create a New Fly Out Panel.

Adding a File to a Project

• In the ME'scopeVES window,

Opening a Data File in its Window

• Creates a new (empty) Project file.

Project fly out panel Showing a New (Empty) Project.

• Opens a previously saved Project file from disk.

Project File Open Dialog Box.

Project Save As Dialog Box.

Project | Save A Copy...

Project | Open Library

• Opens the ME'scope SubStructure Library.

Drawing Assistant SubStructure Tab

Project | Save Graphics in File

• Opens the Project Options dialog box.

Project Options Box.

• Clear User Settings

• Restores the Toolbars, Spreadsheets, and Windows to default settings.

• User Interface Sounds

• Send Internal Errors to Vibrant Technology

• Include Contact Email Address

• Terminates the operation of ME'scopeVES.

File | New Menu

File | New | Structure

New (Empty) Structure window.

File | New | Data Block

Synthesize Time Traces Dialog Box.

File | New | Shape Table

Manual Shape Data Entry

File | New | Acquisition

• Creates a new Acquisition file and adds it to the current Project.