Use 3D graphs to plot data in three dimensions.

Note 3D graphs are available only in LabVIEW Full and Professional editions.

When you add a 3D graph to the front panel, the graph appears on the block diagram with one of the following helper VIs:

  • 3D Scatter Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Stem Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Comet Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Surface Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Contour Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Mesh Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Waterfall Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Quiver Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Ribbon Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Bar Plot Helper VI
  • 3D Pie Plot Helper VI
Note This procedure does not apply to the 3D Surface Graph, 3D Parametric Graph, and 3D Line Graph.

To plot data on a 3D graph, complete the following steps.

  1. Add a 3D graph to the front panel.
  2. Select a polymorphic instance from the helper VI on the block diagram.
  3. Configure the appearance of the graph with the 3D Graph properties. Use the Property Node to configure the appearance from the block diagram. Select 3D Plot Properties from the shortcut menu to configure the appearance with the 3D Plot Properties dialog box.
    OptionDescription
    Interactive: general

    Modify general appearance properties:

    1. Right-click the 3D plot on the front panel.
    2. Select Properties and modify the options on the Appearance tab.

    Modify 3D-specific appearance properties:

    1. Right-click the 3D plot on the front panel.
    2. Depending on the type of 3D graph, select 3D Plot Properties or 3D Graph Properties from the shortcut menu and modify the options on the tabs of the dialog box.
    Interactive: bar and pie colors and names Use the color palette to the right of the graphs to customize each bar or pie slice.
    • To change the name of a bar or pie slice: highlight the name and enter new text.
    • To change the color of a bar or pie slice: click the color to the right of the name and select a new color.
    Interactive: projection settings To customize the plane projection view, use the projection palette near the bottom-right corner of the graph:
    Figure 25. 3D Graph Projection Palette
    3D graph projection palette with four plane projection options.

    The projection palette contains the following buttons:

    • X-Y plane projection: Displays the plot projection on the X-Y plane.
    • X-Z plane projection: Displays the plot projection on the X-Z plane.
    • Y-Z plane projection: Displays the plot projection on the Y-Z plane.
    • Default projection: Displays the plot on the 3D plane.
    Note The projection palette is not applicable to the Bar, 3D Line, 3D Parametric, and 3D Surface graphs.
    Programmatic Use the Property Node to configure the appearance from the block diagram.
  4. Wire data to each input to graph the plot.
  5. Run the VI.

Refer to the labview\examples\Controls and Indicators\Graphs and Charts\Math Plots - 3D directory for examples of plotting data on a 3D graph.