FrequentlyAskedQuestions

1. Installation issues
   1. How do I install VTK suitably for MayaVi
   2. How do I build VTK suitably for MayaVi
   3. Error on startup: ValueError: method requires a VTK object
   4. Other problems
2. Interactive usage
   1. How can I use MayaVi interactively?
   2. How do I view time series data using MayaVi?
3. Miscellaneous
   1. How do I get help?

Installation issues

How do I install VTK suitably for MayaVi

The easiest way to do this is to download pre-built VTK binaries and install them. More information on this is available here

Also consider reading the InstallVTKPythonOnWin32 instructions.

You can also build VTK from sources and install it. Reading the next FAQ entry should tell you how to build VTK suitably.

How do I build VTK suitably for MayaVi

Please read BuildingVTKOnWin32 for instructions on how to build VTK on Windows.

Please read BuildingVTKOnOSX for how to do a native Aqua interface VTK build on OSX (Not X11)

The Fink project has ported Vtk and Mayavi under X11. See this page.

SourceInstallation provides step by step instructions on how to build and install VTK and MayaVi under Linux.

Error on startup: ValueError: method requires a VTK object

Please see if the following VTK FAQ entry helps:

Why do I get the Python error -- ValueError: method requires a VTK object?

Other problems

Some other potential Python, VTK and MayaVi installation problems are outlined in CommonInstallationProblems

Interactive usage

How can I use MayaVi interactively?

If MayaVi has been installed as a Python module you should be able to use it from Python as a module. Retaining interactivity with the Python interpreter will work provided one of the following is used.

• The vanilla Python interpreter.

• IPython: If you use Python interactively you should definitely check this out.

• IDLE: Note that IDLE 1.0 (as distributed with Python 2.3) will not allow you to launch MayaVi windows from the interpreter. To do this start up IDLE with the -n option. For reasons on why this is necessary please see here.

How do I view time series data using MayaVi?

Don't panic, time series is easy - MayaVi assumes that the last integer in a file name loaded indicates a time index. It then searches for other files in the same directory that match the loaded file name but for that integer. There file names are then sorted and the "Configure Data" GUI automatically addes a slider to switch between these time steps and a button to sweep through the time series (an interesting question arrises when the time interval is irregular but lets deal with that later). An unstructured mesh FE simulation of fluid flow past a cylinder is available here to experiment with (the dataset is free to use under GPL).

Miscellaneous

How do I get help?

If the information at the MayaVi website and the users guide is insufficient, please try the following:

• read the FrequentlyAskedQuestions page;

• search this Wiki;

• browse and search the mailing list archives;

• search the web with Google;

• post your questions to the MayaVi-users mailing list at mayavi-users@lists.sourceforge.net.

Before posting questions on a mailing list you might want to check this page:

• How To Ask Questions The Smart Way