== Create a 1-Element 3-D Spherical Polar Mesh ==
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[[TableOfContents(3)]]

=== Description ===
 * In this example a 3-D spheroidal mesh is created in spherical polar coordinates using one trilinear Lagrange element.
 * The nodal coordinates and element connectivities are read from tab-delimited spreadsheets.
 * An automated script that runs this tutorial is included in the Continuity installation: `examples\mesh12\sphericalPolar.py`. To run it, click [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/ReadPythonScript:File→Scripts→Read script→Python or session script].  Note that you may not be able to see through the large outer sphere; however, you can temporarily hide that sphere from View→Show Open Mesh→element surfaces4→Properties tab→ click/unclick the Show/Hide button.

=== Start Continuity ===
 * Launch the Continuity Client
 * On the [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/HelpAboutContinuity:About Continuity startup screen]
  * leave the '''mesh''' checkbox checked under `Use Modules:`
 * Click '''OK''' to bring up the main window

=== Create coordinates and basis function ===
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshEditCoordinates:Mesh→Edit→Coordinates...]
  * Select '''spherical polar''' in the `Global Coordinates:` pop-up menu
  * Click '''OK''' to submit `Coordinate Form`
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshEditBasis:Mesh→Edit→Basis...]
  * Choose '''Lagrange Basis Function→3D→Linear-Linear-Linear'''
  * Click '''Add Linear-Linear-Linear'''
  * Verify that the list of basis functions now contains:
   * Linear-Linear-Linear Lagrange 3*3*3
   * Linear-Linear Lagrange 3*3
  * Click '''OK''' to submit `Basis Form`

=== Read nodes and elements ===
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshEditNodes:Mesh→Edit→Nodes...]
  * Click '''Import/Export/Graph''' button to open [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/TableManager:Continuity Table Manager]
   * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/TableManager#FileMenu:Continuity Table Manager→File→Open...]
     * Select tab-delimited nodes file (attachment:nodes.xls)
    * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/TableManager#FileMenu:Continuity Table Manager→File→Close and update form]
  * You should now have nodes numbered 1-4
  * Click '''OK''' to submit `Node Form`
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshEditElements:Mesh→Edit→Elements...]
  * Click '''Import/Export/Graph''' button to open [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/TableManager:Continuity Table Manager]
   * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/TableManager#FileMenu:Continuity Table Manager→File→Open...]
    * Select tab-delimited elements file (attachment:elems.xls)
    * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/TableManager#FileMenu:Continuity Table Manager→File→Close and update form]
  * Click '''OK''' to submit `Element Form`

=== Calculate and render mesh ===
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshRenderNodes:Mesh→Render→Nodes...]
  * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/ViewShowOpenMesh:View→Show Open Mesh...]
   * Click on '''nodes1''' in the list on the left
   * Click on the {{{Properties}}} tab
   * Change the {{{Size}}} field to '''0.1''' and hit '''Enter''' to make the nodes a little bit bigger
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshRenderElements:Mesh→Render→Elements...]
  * Click '''lines''' radio button
  * Click '''Render''' to display mesh wireframe
  * The mesh should now look similar to the first screenshot, you might have to rotate the mesh to get the same view.
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshRenderElements:Mesh→Render→Elements...]
  * Click '''surfaces''' radio button
  * Click '''Render''' to display mesh surfaces
  * The mesh should now look similar to the second screenshot.
 * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/MeshRenderElements:Mesh→Render→Elements...]
  * Click '''surfaces''' radio button
  * Enter '''1.0''' for the `Location` field
  * Click '''Render''' to display mesh surfaces
  * [:Continuity/Documentation/Help/ViewShowOpenMesh:View→Show Open Mesh...]
   * Click on '''element surfaces4''' in the list on the left
   * Click on the {{{Properties}}} tab
   * Drag the {{{Opacity}}} scale bar under to '''50'''
  * The mesh should now look similar to the third screenshot.

=== Pre-built model ===
This cont6 file contains all data and parameters for this problem: attachment:mesh6.cont6

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 . '''Warning: Render Fields does not always work correctly with the !DejaVu renderer on laptops. If this is the case, try using the !OpenMesh renderer.'''