{"id":15644,"date":"2018-07-25T15:05:42","date_gmt":"2018-07-25T15:05:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simscale.com\/?page_id=15644"},"modified":"2025-08-29T21:22:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T21:22:33","slug":"new-integrated-post-processor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.simscale.com\/docs\/post-processing\/new-integrated-post-processor\/","title":{"rendered":"Integrated Post-Processor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The online post-processor integrated into SimScale is compatible with all your old\/new projects and simulations that you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

This document provides a detailed overview of SimScale’s post-processor. It can be used as a general source of information and also as a follow-along. For easy understanding, an example of a fluid flow through a pipe is used to relate the features to an actual simulation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to follow along or play with the various filter settings, make sure to open the sample project below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n Open the Project to Follow Along <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

Post-Processing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, when a simulation is successful or has results available, the run dialog box will prompt a ‘Post-process results’<\/strong> button. Clicking this button or selecting ‘Solution Fields’<\/strong> in the simulation tree<\/em> will open the results in the online post-processor.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"accessing<\/a>
Figure 1: Click on ‘Post-process results<\/strong>‘ or ‘Solution Fields’<\/strong> to open the simulation result data in the online post-processor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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<\/i>Note<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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The result will only load when you stay in the same tab where the Workbench is opened<\/b>. The load time for the results will depend on the size of the data. The larger the data, the longer it takes to load results.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The post-processing environment contains several functions and filters that allow you to obtain a visual representation of the results. The figure below contains an outline of the post-processor:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"overview<\/a>
Figure 2: Different functionalities available on the SimScale’s online post-processor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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  1. Filters creation toolbox<\/strong>: Many filters, such as Cutting plane and Particle trace, are available in the post-processing environment. They are useful to obtain more insights into your results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Additional tools<\/strong>: To the right of the filters toolbox, you will find useful tools, such as Screenshot<\/em> and Inspect point<\/em>, amongst others. An on\/off toggle for the legend is also available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. After creating a filter, it will be listed in the Filters<\/strong> box. The filters box allows you to configure each filter, as well as duplicate filters’ settings, and delete existing filters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Visualization and selection modes toolbox<\/strong>: Here you can change (from left to right) the view and render mode of the geometry, as well as choose the selection mode between Select volume<\/em> and Select face<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Viewer<\/strong>: This is where you can see results. A series of quick selection tools are accessible by right-clicking on the viewer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Frame selection toolbox<\/strong>: This part of the post-processor is especially useful in transient simulations. It allows you to navigate through the various result sets that were saved during the simulation run. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. The Orientation cube<\/strong> on the bottom-right is helpful to position the camera angle. The home icon adjusts and zoom-fits the model to the screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    <\/i>Important<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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    Users should note the following about the Filters panel box:

  8. Clicking on \u201cX\u201d cancels the current filter changes and closes the panel box<\/li>
  9. Clicking on \u201c\u2713\u201d saves the current state of the filters and of the 3D model (individual part colors, parts visibility, etc.)<\/li><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Post- Processing Tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Legend <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    On the top bar of the post-processor, you can choose to show or hide the Legend<\/em>, as shown below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"enabling<\/a>
    Figure 3: Velocity magnitude being observed on the boundaries of the pipe domain using legend toggle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The post-processor goes through the list of filters, checking which parameters are being analyzed. Only the legend for these parameters will be visible. For example, in the image above the only parameter in the filters is velocity magnitude. Changing the field on the filters will change the legend as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The scale bar is highly customizable, including the displayed range, units, and the number of divisions. Figure 4 shows the details:<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"legend<\/a>
    Figure 4: Using the Legend feature one can decide a scale range, switch between units, and even change between color schemes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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    1. By clicking on the minimum value of the scale range, you can set your custom values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Likewise, the maximum value of the range can also be changed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. In the drop-down menu, next to the parameter’s name, you can change the units displayed on the scale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. By right-clicking on the scale, you can change the color schemes, number of scale divisions, scale back to the full range, or even use a continuous scale.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      The number of scale divisions is 20 by default. To change the number of scale divisions, right-click on the scale and adjust the Division number<\/em> accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"division<\/a>
      Figure 5: The number of divisions on the legend scale increased to 40 from a default of 20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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      <\/i>Did you know?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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      When you manually change the minimum and maximum values of the legend, the new range will be persistent. This means that if you run animations, step through different saved iterations or timesteps, create new filters, hide or show parts, and even exit and re-enter the post-processor, the minimum and maximum values that were manually defined will still apply.\r\n\r\n

      \r\n\r\nTo scale back to full range, you can right-click on the legend and select ‘Scale to full range’<\/b>, as illustrated in the figure above.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Statistics and Inspect Point<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The Inspect point<\/em> feature is useful to obtain an accurate read on a specific point of the surface. For example, to inspect the velocity magnitude on the top inlet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"inspect<\/a>
      Figure 6: With Inspect point<\/em> you have the freedom to click anywhere on the domain and view the physical quantity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Enable the Inspect point<\/em> toggle on the top ribbon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Click on any point within the top inlet face. In this case, the inlet is defined by a boundary condition, so the velocity is fixed at 1 \\(m\/s\\).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Another very useful option is Statistics<\/em>. When this option is on, you can obtain detailed information about faces, volumes, and cross-sections (when used alongside cutting planes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For example, using the Statistics<\/em> feature, we can easily obtain an average for the velocity magnitude on the outlet. Figure 7 shows the steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Post<\/a>
        Figure 7: The Statistics<\/em> feature in the post-processor gives you the statistical data like min-max and average of the physical quantity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Ensure that Statistics<\/em> is toggled on<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Enable the Select face<\/em> option. Note that, if your Inspect point<\/em> toggle is still on, you will need to disable it to select a face. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Click on the outlet face to select it. An information box will appear in the viewer, containing minimum and maximum values, averages, integrals, and additional information related to the selected parameter. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Turn on ‘Highlight in Model’<\/strong>, which marks the points of the maximum and minimum value.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Note that the information displayed by the statistics filter is dynamic. You can select various faces and also change the parameter that is being analyzed. To make the information box disappear, you can toggle Statistics<\/em> off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Visualization and Selection Modes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          The selection modes are designed to quickly select and modify the visualization of the geometry. By right-clicking on the viewer, you will have access to many quick selection options. Some visualization options, such as Hide selection<\/em>, are also available to hide the selected parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Hide selection<\/em> is especially useful whenever we have an enclosure around the regions of interest (in external aerodynamic simulations, for instance). To make the parts visible again, right-click on the viewer, and select ‘Show all’<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \"Post<\/a>
          Figure 8: With a simple right-click one can access a variety of visualization and selection modes. Give it a try.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Custom Coloring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          SimScale allows you to set custom colors for individual surfaces or volumes, replacing the coloring of the active field function. This can help to better visualize results or generate images for presentations and marketing purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Depending on the active selection mode, single or multiple faces or volumes can be colored. After the selection of faces or volumes, right-click in the viewer to open the selection panel. At the end of the options list, the following color features are listed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n