importing 3D plot data from labview

[Maelstrom2]

Post for a coworker:

I have a LabVIEW routine that creates a 3-D surface plot from a data file created in LabVIEW.  Unfortunately, when I import this data file into DIAdem, I am unable to recreate the plot.  My data file was imported successfully, but I am unable to create the 3-D surface plot.  I open the Curve and Axis definition window and try to set the Display mode to Surface.  I then receive the following error:

"Cannot display in the "Surface" display mode because the "[9]/TC1" channel contains repeated values or NoValues.  Please check the data and display mode."

I do not have any NoValues in my data TC1 data channel and I do not understand why repeated values are a problem.  I looked at several examples in DIAdem and I do not see what I am doing wrong.

Any help with what the error means and how to correct it would be appreciated.

[Brad_Turpin]

Hi DaveFromMO,

The simplest thing would be for you to send over your data set.  You may have data in three channels: "X", "Y", "Z", which DIAdem calls "3D triplet data".  In this case you first need to transform your data into what DIAdem calls "3D matrix data".  Note that in DIAdem 10.1 the surface graph now accepts X,Y,Z data channels directly, so this is now only a legacy frustration.

If your data is already in the "3D matrix" structure or you have no idea what that is, then again, the simplest thing would be to just send over your data and let me have a look at it.

Regards,
Brad Turpin
DIAdem Product Support Engineer
National Instruments

[Maelstrom2]

Brad,

I've attached a spreadsheet with the data listed.

Thanks for the help

[Brad_Turpin]

Hi Dave,

DIAdem calls your type of 3D data "triplet" data, i.e. an X channel, a Y channel, and a Z channel.  For DIAdem versions earlier than 10.1 (which released in Dec. 2006) DIAdem could ONLY plot 3D triplet data with the following curve types:

Spikes
3D Curve
Symbol

DIAdem 10.0 and earlier could NOT plot 3D data directly with any of the remaining curve types:

Surface
Isolines
Waterfall
Bars
2D Matrix

In order to plot your data with one of these remaining 5 curve types, you first had to convert you data from 3D "triplet" to 3D "matrix" representation.  There's a detailed explanation of this in Exercise 7 of the DIAdem 9.0 Hands-On.

Now in DIAdem 10.1, the Surface curve type and the new "Characteristic Diagram" curve type directly accept 3D "triplet" data, so I went ahead and made a graph with the "Characteristic Diagram" in DIAdem 10.1 to show you what that looks like (attached below).  Exercise 7 from the above link results in an almost identical graph.

Cheers,
Brad Turpin
DIAdem Product Support Engineer
National Instruments