29.1.3 Understanding “Temp” and other X

29.1.3 Understanding “Temp” and other X–Y data object names

By default, when you save or plot an X–Y data object, ABAQUS/CAE names it for you. This name is an important means of identifying and referring to the X–Y data object. X–Y data object names appear in the following instances:

When you plot X–Y data, the X–Y plot legend identifies by name all X–Y data objects appearing in the plot.
When you select ToolsXY Data from the main menu bar, the Manager, Edit, Copy, Rename, Delete, and Plot tools list all X–Y data objects created during the session by name.
When you customize the appearance of the curve representing an X–Y data object, you first select the X–Y data object by name from those listed in the XY Curve Options dialog box.

In most cases ABAQUS/CAE is able to provide a meaningful default name for your X–Y data object. As you save your X–Y data object, ABAQUS/CAE shows you the default name and gives you an opportunity to override this default with the name of your choice. Once saved, you can provide a new name for your X–Y data object at any time by renaming it. For information on renaming, see “Managing objects using manager dialog boxes,” Section 3.4.9.

There are three basic forms of X–Y data object names, as follows:

Temp-n

If you produce an X–Y plot by clicking Plot from any of the following dialog boxes:

XY Data from ASCII File

XY Data from Keyboard

XY Data from Path

Plot Expression from the Operate on XY Data dialog box

ABAQUS/CAE names your X–Y data according to the pattern Temp-1, Temp-2, etc. This name indicates that the plot represents the data configured in the dialog box, which is considered temporary data whether or not you have clicked Save As to save it.

Conversely, if Temp-n appears in your plot legend, you are plotting temporary data. You cannot edit, copy, rename, delete, operate on, or produce a report of temporary data. To accomplish any of these tasks, you must first save your data. You can select curve style preferences for temporary data, but the curve styles will revert to the defaults if you replot the data without having saved it. To learn how to save your data, see “Saving an X–Y data object,” Section 29.2.5.

XYData-n

If you create a new X–Y data object using the Save As button provided in the XY Data from ASCII File or XY Data from Keyboard dialog boxes, ABAQUS/CAE suggests a default name for your X–Y data according to the pattern XYData-1, XYData-2, etc. To establish a more meaningful name, you can use the Save XY Data As dialog box to overwrite this default with the name of your choice.

To locate the XY Data from ASCII File or XY Data from Keyboard dialog boxes, select ToolsXY DataCreate from the main menu bar; then click the choice of interest in the dialog box that appears, and click Continue.

Meaningful names

You can establish a meaningful name (a name of your choice) for your X–Y data object either by specifying a name as you save your data or by subsequently renaming it. As you save your data, ABAQUS/CAE displays the default name in the Save XY Data As dialog box; you can overwrite this default. ABAQUS/CAE generates meaningful default names for X–Y data created from the History Output or XY Data from ODB Field Output dialog boxes.

To display the name of your choice in your X–Y plot legend, you must produce the plot by selecting named data objects and then clicking Plot. To do so, select ToolsXY DataManager from the main menu bar. For more information, see “Producing an X–Y plot,” Section 29.3.