Etap Plot Manager 〈UHD • 480p〉

At its simplest, the ETAP Plot Manager is a centralized output management module. But conceptually, it is far more: it is a that decouples result computation from result presentation . Unlike traditional tools where you re-run a study to see updated graphs, Plot Manager stores plot definitions (metadata: what data, on what element, for which study, with what axes) separately from the raw simulation results.

| Tab | Parameter | What it actually does | |------|-----------|------------------------| | | "Interpolation method" | For unequal time steps (e.g., variable-step TS solver), chooses linear (fast) vs. cubic spline (smooth but may overshoot). | | Axes | "Synchronize X-axis across all plots" | Locks pan/zoom so that when you scroll time on one rotor angle plot, all other plots move identically – essential for fault analysis. | | Legend | "Show at cursor position" | Floating legend that follows mouse – saves screen space. | | Annotations | "Add stability margin line" | For voltage stability, draws a horizontal line at 0.8 p.u. with a label "Undervoltage threshold". | | Export | "Batch to PDF – one plot per page" vs. "N-up" | Creates report-ready compilations. |

| Misconception | Reality | |----------------|---------| | "Plot Manager stores results" | No – it stores pointers to results. Results are in .rps or the project database. | | "You need to re-run the study to change plot scales" | False – after a plot is created, you can change axes, colors, labels, even the plotted variable (if the result file contains that variable). | | "Only time-series plots are supported" | False – Plot Manager handles bar, scatter, polar (for relay characteristics), and 3D surface (for contingency analysis). | | "Plots are static" | Actually, right-click > Animate will cycle through time steps in a transient stability plot (shows waveform evolution). |

Instead of the basic "run → view plot" cycle, a deep user does this: etap plot manager

# Access Plot Manager via ETAP COM plotMgr = project.PlotManager plot = plotMgr.GetPlot("Gen1_Rotor_Speed") plot.ResultFile = "C:\Results\FaultStudy.rps" plot.YAxisVariable = "Speed (pu)" plot.XAxisStart = 0.0 plot.XAxisEnd = 2.0 plot.Refresh() plot.ExportAsImage("Gen1_Speed.png", width=1920, height=1080) This allows integration with automated report generation pipelines (e.g., run 50 fault scenarios overnight, Plot Manager generates 150 standardized plots, a script inserts them into a Word report).

In Plot Manager, select all 12 plots → right-click Refresh from Latest Results . All plots populate simultaneously.

When you double-click a plot in Plot Manager, the property sheet reveals non-obvious controls: At its simplest, the ETAP Plot Manager is

From the ETAP Automation API (via Python or VBA), you can control Plot Manager without opening the interface. Example pseudo-code:

| Tier | Component | Example | Persistence | |------|-----------|---------|--------------| | | Project / Study Case | "MyPlant_BaseCase", "MyPlant_2025_Expansion" | Saved in .etap project | | 2 | Plot Definition | "Gen1_Rotor_Speed_During_Fault" | Saved as XML inside the project | | 3 | Result Snapshot | The actual time-series array from a simulation run | Stored in .rps (results) files |

Duplicate the plot definitions, point them to a different .rps file (e.g., Results_BaseCase.rps vs Results_WithSVC.rps ). Use the Overlay function to show both curves on one axes. | Tab | Parameter | What it actually

Plot Manager operates on a strict hierarchy:

1. Core Identity: What Plot Manager Really Is