48.2.2 Creating or editing a point list path

A path is a line you define by specifying a series of points through your model. In a point list path all of the points are model coordinate locations. These locations may or may not coincide with nodes. For information on alternative forms of path specification, see “Creating a path through your model,” Section 48.2.

You create a point list path by entering the coordinates of points into a table. For points that coincide with nodal locations, you can specify the node label and Abaqus will enter the undeformed coordinates of the node into the table. To help determine which node labels are of interest, you may want to produce a model plot with node symbols and node numbers visible prior to creating the path. For more information, see “Customizing model labels,” Section 55.5.

To create or edit a point list path:

Locate the path creation and editing options.
To create a new path:
1. From the main menu bar, select ToolsPathCreate. The Create Path dialog box appears.
2. Abaqus displays a default name for the path in the Name text field. To provide a more meaningful name, replace this default with the name of your choice (including blank spaces if you wish).
3. In the Create Path dialog box, click Point list; then click Continue.
To edit an existing path:
- From the main menu bar, select ToolsPathEdit. From the menu that appears, select the path you want to edit.
  Tip: You can also use the Path Manager to edit a path. From the main menu bar, select ToolsPathManager to display the manager. Select the path you want to edit, and click Edit from the buttons on the right side of the manager.
The Edit Point List Path dialog box appears.
In the Point Coordinates table, use standard keyboard and mouse editing techniques to enter, modify, or delete coordinates.
To enter coordinates, use either of the following techniques:
Type in the coordinate values of a point:
1. Specify the values as X-, Y-, Z-coordinates separated by spaces or commas; for example, 1.0, 3.4, 2.0.
2. Click [Enter].
Include the coordinates of a nodal location:
1. Choose the part instance for which you want to determine nodal coordinates. Click the arrow next to the Part instance field to see a list of the available part instances.
  To obtain the coordinates of a node, type the node label into the Node label field; then click either [Enter] or Query.
  Abaqus displays the undeformed X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates of the node.
2. To enter these coordinates into the path definition table before, after, or at the currently highlighted row, click Add Before, Add After, or Replace, respectively.
  For special table editing options or to read data from an ASCII file, press mouse button 3. (For more information, see “Entering tabular data,” Section 3.2.7.)
On the model plot in the current viewport, Abaqus highlights all points included in the path and displays the path connectivity.
When you are done, click OK.
If you created a new path, Abaqus/CAE adds the path name to the Path Manager list. By default, Abaqus/CAE saves the path you have specified for the duration of the session. If you want to retain a path for use in subsequent sessions, save it to an XML file, to the model database, or to an output database; for more information, see “Managing session objects and session options,” Section 9.9.

For information on related topics, click any of the following items: