Triangle Counting

This task shows you how to count the number of triangles in the entire scene or in the objects you select.
Open the document Search1.CATProduct.

  1. Select an object if you want to display triangle information specific to this object or do not perform any selection if you want to display triangle information for the whole scene.

  2. In the power input box, enter the following command:

    c:triangles count
    You can also select Tools > Customize... then click the Commands tab and select Triangles count in the All Commands category.
    If at least one object has been selected ("My Part Number" in this example), the following dialog box opens and gives information on the selected objects only:
    If no object has been selected, the following dialog box opens and gives information on the whole scene:

    Total triangle number

    Total number of triangles used to draw the selected objects or the scene. This number is computed ads follows:

    Total triangle number = simple triangle number + (triangle strip number x average triangle number in triangle strips) + (triangle fan number x average triangle number in triangle fans)

    Simple triangle number

    Number of simple triangles used to draw the selected object or the scene.

    A simple triangle is made up of three vertices, V1, v2 and V3 in the example below:

    Triangle strip number

    Number of strip triangles used to draw the selected object or the scene.

    In a triangle strip, all triangles are connected and share one vertex.

    In the example below, V1, V2 and V3 are used to draw the first triangle then v2, v3 and v4  to draw the second triangle, and so on:
    The maximum number of tirangles used in triangle strips as well as the average number of triangles used in triangle strips are also indicated.

    Triangle fan number

    Number of fan triangles used to draw the selected object or the scene.

    In a triangle fan, all triangles are connected and share one central vertex.

    In the example below, V1, V2 and V3 are used to draw the first triangle then v1, v3 and v4 to draw the second triangle, and so on:
    The maximum number of tirangles used in triangle fans as well as the average number of triangles used in triangle fans are also indicated.

  3. Click OK to close the dialog box.

  4. To start the command again, re-enter c:triangles count in the power input box.