Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

Chapter 16: Annotation
A common step in the analysis process is presenting model and results data with additional notations applied,
such as dimensions, comments, highlights, or other text or artwork. You can enhance the standard ANSYS
display with a variety of annotation primitives including text, dimensions, polygons, symbols, and even pie
charts. (The “!” and “$” characters are not available for text annotation.)
ANSYS annotation functions are available for both 2-D and 3-D graphics cards. You can apply 3-D annotation
even if a 2-D graphics card is installed or a 2-D driver (Win32 or X11) is loaded. For best results, however,
ANSYS recommends installing a quality 3-D graphics card is installed and the appropriate 3-D or Open GL
device driver.
The following annotation topics are available:
16.1. 2-D Annotation
16.2. Creating Annotations for ANSYS Models
16.3. 3-D Annotation
16.4. 3-D Query Annotation
16.1. 2-D Annotation
2-D text and graphics annotations are formed as a 2-D overlay on the graphics screen. Because this overlay
exists as an imaginary plane, when you transform your model (by changing the scaling, focus, viewing angle,
magnification, etc.), your carefully-constructed annotation will not move with the model. Because of this, 2-
D annotation should be used primarily for finalized output (reports and printouts) and for representations
of the model's state at various stages in the analysis. 3-D annotations will remain anchored to a specific
location on the model, and are discussed later in this chapter.
You access 2-D annotation functions through the GUI at Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Annotation> Create 2D
Annotation. Every annotation function performed from the GUI places one or more underlying ANSYS
command(s) in the log file. This allows you to accurately reproduce the display if the log file is later submitted
for batch input. Annotation commands that might appear in such a session log include /ANNOT, /ANUM,
/TLABEL, /LINE, /LARC, /LSYMBOL, /POLYGON, /PMORE, /PCIRCLE, /PWEDGE, /TSPEC, /PSPEC, and /LSPEC.
The following annotation primitives are available from the 2-D annotation dialog box:
• Text
• Lines
• Rectangles
• Circles
• Arcs
• Polygons
• Wedges
• Arrows
• Dimensions
• Pies
• Symbols
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