Method and tool for viewing data

A method comprising:

• selecting, using a computer, a plot type for viewing data from a data set, the data set containing data representing a physical system obtained from a graphical model of the physical system;
• determining, using the computer, a subset of the data set for use in viewing the data based on the plot type selected, the subset being defined by a plurality of dimensions of the subset including at least one dimension defined by an undefined or arbitrary value, the determining including searching along a breakpoint or an index associated with data in the at least one dimension until a cell or nodal point associated with the definition of the plurality of dimensions cannot be identified;
• generating, using the computer, a plot of the subset of the data set based on the selected plot type;
• and
• visually displaying the plot on a display device associated with the computer.

A system for use in practicing a technical computing environment, the technical computing environment for developing and performing engineering and scientific related functions, the system comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive input for generating a user-defined drawing function for a new plot type,
• receive input for generating a plot of data selected from a data set in the new plot type, the data set containing data representing a physical system obtained from a graphical model of the physical system,
• generate the user-defined drawing function for the new plot type,
• select data from the data set based on the new plot type, and
• generate the plot of data from the data selected from the data set based on the new plot type;
• and
• a display device for displaying the plot of data selected from the data set in the new plot type.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions when executed in a processor of a computer causing the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• selecting a plot type for viewing data from a partially-populated or incomplete data set in which data is absent at selected locations, the data set containing data representing a physical system obtained from a graphical model of the physical system;
• determining a number of data slices required to plot data in the selected plot type;
• slicing the data set in at least one fixed dimension based on the number of data slices;
• selecting the data from the data set as data for display on a display device associated with the computer, the selecting based on the data set slicing;
• displaying the data in the selected plot type on the display device;
• and
• updating the display of the data in the selected plot type on the display device at a desired interval or at the request of a user to reflect any change in the data in the partially-populated or incomplete data set.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions when executed in a processor of a computer causing the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• selecting a plot type for viewing data from a data set of a first number of dimensions, the data set containing data representing a physical system obtained from a graphical model of the physical system;
• determining a data slice of a second number of dimensions based on the plot type selected, the second number of dimensions being lower than the first number of dimensions;
• generating the data slice by slicing the data set using a fixed dimension and leaving the other dimensions of the data set open;
• determining a subset of the data set for use in viewing the data based on the data slice;
• generating a plot of the subset of the data set in the plot type selected;
• and
• displaying the plot on a display device associated with the computer.