:topic: Per-Geometry Default Data View

.. index::
   triple: DREAM3D-NX; Visualization; Per-Geometry Default Data View

.. _PerGeometryDefaultReps:

Per-Geometry Default Data View
################################

**In this section we explain how to configure the default 3D data view
(representation) that is automatically applied to each geometry type when
data is imported into the visualization.**

Overview
*********

When a pipeline runs or a file is loaded, DREAM3D-NX automatically creates
an initial data view for each geometry. The **Per-Geometry Default Data View**
feature lets you choose a different starting representation for each of the
six supported geometry types independently, so the visualization is immediately
useful without requiring manual adjustments after every pipeline run.

Every geometry type always receives at least an **Outline** representation.
Outline is the built-in minimum — it is used whenever no other default has
been configured, and for any geometry type that is not yet listed in the
Preferences dialog.

The six configurable geometry types are:

- **Image Geometry** — regular voxel grid (e.g. from an SEM or CT scan)
- **Rectilinear Grid Geometry** — non-uniform voxel grid with variable spacing
- **Vertex Geometry** — unconnected point cloud
- **Edge Geometry** — connected line segments
- **Triangle Geometry** — triangulated surface mesh
- **Quad Geometry** — quadrilateral surface mesh

Configuring the Per-Geometry Defaults
***************************************

Per-geometry defaults are configured in the **Visualization** tab of the
DREAM3D-NX Preferences dialog.

1. Open **Preferences** from the application menu
   (*DREAM3D-NX → Preferences* on macOS, *Edit → Preferences* on Windows/Linux).

2. Select the **Visualization** tab.

.. figure:: Images/75_PerGeometryDefaultRepresentations/PerGeometryPreferencesDialog.png
   :alt: Visualization Preferences dialog showing per-geometry default data view drop-downs
   :width: 600px

   The **Visualization** tab of the Preferences dialog with per-geometry default
   data view settings for each geometry type.

3. Locate the **Per-Geometry Default 3D Data View** section.

4. For each geometry type, use the corresponding drop-down list to select the
   desired default representation. The available options are:

   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
   | Representation    | Description                                               |
   +===================+===========================================================+
   | **Outline**       | Bounding-box wireframe — lightweight, shows overall extent|
   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
   | **Points**        | Renders every vertex as a point                           |
   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
   | **Wireframe**     | Renders all cell edges                                    |
   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
   | **Surface**       | Filled surface rendering                                  |
   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
   | **Volume**        | Direct volume rendering (Image/Rectilinear Grid only)     |
   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
   | **2D Image/Slice**| Slice plane view (Image/Rectilinear Grid only)            |
   +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+

5. Click **OK** (or **Apply**) to save your changes. The new defaults take
   effect immediately for any geometry imported *after* the dialog is closed.

.. note::
   Changing the per-geometry defaults does **not** alter data views that
   are already present in the Visualization Pipeline Browser. Only newly
   imported data sources are affected.

Recommended Defaults by Geometry Type
***************************************

The following defaults are a useful starting point for common workflows:

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1
   :widths: 30 20 50

   * - Geometry Type
     - Suggested Default
     - Rationale
   * - Image Geometry
     - Surface or 2D Image/Slice
     - Most image-data workflows benefit from an immediate surface or slice view
   * - Rectilinear Grid Geometry
     - Surface or Outline
     - Surface shows the outer extent; use Outline for very large grids
   * - Vertex Geometry
     - Points
     - Point clouds are most naturally viewed as points
   * - Edge Geometry
     - Wireframe
     - Line/edge data is best viewed as connected edges
   * - Triangle Geometry
     - Surface
     - Triangle meshes are typically rendered as filled surfaces
   * - Quad Geometry
     - Surface
     - Quad meshes are typically rendered as filled surfaces

Persistence
*************

All per-geometry default selections are stored in the application's
QSettings store under the ``VisualizationSettings`` group. They persist
between DREAM3D-NX sessions and are restored automatically on start-up.
The factory default for every geometry type is **Outline**.

.. seealso::

   - :ref:`Creating Data Views <ApplyingReps>` — detailed descriptions of every
     representation type and its configurable options.
   - :ref:`Importing Data <ImportingData>` — how geometry data is loaded into the
     Visualization Toolkit from pipelines and files.

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