ModifyCompensatorCompute Distances

The Compute Distances command is an effective tool to compute the distances between points and a shape. In fact, it provides the distances of a specified set of points from a selected shape based on a chosen projection law and also provides information about the maximum, minimum and mean distances. After starting the command, you can use the following selection list options to proceed.

• In the Points drop-down list, you can choose the input method for the points:

  ASCII file

  To read the points in an ASCII ".pt" file, in which each line contains the coordinates of one point in the World Reference system (the coordinate separator is a blank character). In this case, the Browse option will be displayed in the selection list. By selecting it, a file selection box will be displayed enabling you to select the required point file. The unit of measure for the point coordinates can also be selected in the Unit of Measurement drop-down list.

  Standalone

  To select the points (by using the Points selector) directly in the model through a window selection (or even one by one).

  
  
• Then you can select the surface (or face) from which you want to compute the distance of the selected points (by using the Surfaces selector).
  
  
• In the Projection type drop-down list, you can select the projection law to be used when computing the distance values:

  Normal	The points will be projected orthogonally onto the shape.
  Flat surface	The point will be projected using a linear projection along a specified direction (using the Direction drop-down list).
  Double curvature	The points will be projected using a spherical projection for which you will have to specify the center.
  Single curvature	The points will be projected using a cylindrical projection for which you will have to specify the axis (using the Direction drop-down list).

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• The Max. presumed distance check box enables you to specify a threshold value.
  • When the check box is selected, the system discards the distance-to-shape computation of points that are farther than the threshold value, which is to be specified in the corresponding text box. Hence, there is significant reduction in the computation time.
  • When the check box is cleared, all the points are included in the computation. Also, the text box is not available.
  
  
• By selecting the Save Points with Projection option, you are enabled to save the initial points to an ASCII ".pt" file.
  
  
• By selecting the Save Projected Points option, you are enabled to save the coordinates of the points projected on the shape to an ASCII ".pt" file.
  
  
• By selecting the Save Points without Projection option, you are enabled to save the points that have no projection on the shape to an ASCII ".pt" file.
  
  

Once the distances have been computed, the markers displayed on the points in the model and the graphs — see "Displaying graphs in Compensator" for details on how to obtain graphs in Compensator — are separated into three differently colored zones:

	1 : Minimum distances - low threshold
	2 : Low threshold - high threshold
	3 : High threshold - maximum distances

The default values for low and high threshold are used in the computation, but you can change them to better focus on a particular range.


1 - Distribution    2 - Repartition