The Tools Menu contains a number of general purpose and auxiliary features. Each module has its own Tools menu, which will be discussed in the section for that module.
Tools > Send to UIPLOT – Sends the sieved and truncated FRF dataset imat_fn to UIPLOT, which is an IMAT GUI that provides extended functionality for plotting functions.
Tools > Send to spVIEW – Sends the sieved and truncated FRF dataset imat_fn to the spVIEW Spectra module. spVIEW™ is an IMAT application for plotting multiple datasets of time and frequency domain functions. If spVIEW is already running, the functions will be sent to this instance of spVIEW, otherwise a new spVIEW will be started. If a new spVIEW is started, the coordinate traces are also sent.
Tools > Send to Animation – Sends the shapes of the enabled poles (i.e., checked in the Poles List) to the IMAT animator, which runs in another MATLAB figure. This tool is not available in the Setup module.
Tools > Send to SDOFit – Sends the sieved FRF dataset, coordinate traces, test display model, and test-analysis model to SDOFit™ . SDOFit is an IMAT application that computes the modal parameters of a small number of modes, in a narrow frequency band, from a single FRF. The results (poles, residue vectors, and participation factors) returned from SDOFit are incorporated into the AFPoly stability diagram. The default frequency range in SDOFit is set to the AFPoly stability diagram x-limits. This tool is only available in the Poles module.
Tools > Send to Edit Attributes – Sends the FRF dataset imat_fn to EDIT_ATTRIBUTES, which is an IMAT GUI for editing imat_fn attributes. Unless canceled, upon returning to AFPoly, the edited dataset is treated as if it were read anew
Tools > Model > Import File – Import a test display model (TDM), test-analysis model (TAM), or FEM shapes from a file. A file selection dialog is presented from which to browse and select the file to import. A TDM is the geometry that is used for animation, and it can be imported from a Universal file or a Nastran Output2 or Bulk Data file. A TAM is used for back-expanding mode shapes and orthogonality, and can be imported from a Universal file or a Nastran Output2 or Punch file. FEM shapes are used for cross-orthogonality and can be imported from an I-deas Shape (ASH) file, Universal file, or a Nastran Output2 or Punch file.
Tools > Model > Import Workspace – Import TDM, TAM, or FEM shapes from the MATLAB workspace. A TDM is imported from an imat_fem that contains I-deas FEM data (i.e., nodes, tracelines, elements, and coordinate systems). A TAM is imported from a structure that contains an I-deas substructure. FEM shapes are imported from an imat_shp array that contains FEM mode shapes. A variable selection dialog is presented from which to select the structure, imat_fem, or imat_shp to import.
Tools > Model > Export Workspace – Export the previously imported TDM, TAM, and FEM shapes to the MATLAB workspace. A variable selection dialog is presented from which to select the imat_fem, structure, or imat_shp to export. The exported variable types are the same as those described above.
Tools > Model > Clear – Clears the previously imported TDM, TAM, and FEM shapes from the AFPoly application.
Tools > Model > Send to IMAT Plot – Sends the test display model imat_fem to an IMAT FEM plot figure.
Tools > Model > Send to VTK Plot – Sends the test display model imat_fem to a VTK plot figure.