Cannot run Optimize on purely 2D .vtk files: "Run Optimize" button is grayed out

1

Hi everyone,

I am trying to perform a shape analysis on a dataset of strictly 2D femur contours using .vtk files in ShapeWorks Studio. However, I am completely stuck at the transition between Grooming and Optimization.

Here is a quick summary of the issue:

1. Mesh Grooming completes but something is missing: I load my 2D .vtk files and run the standard Mesh Grooming pipeline. The process finishes without crashing, but it seems it doesn’t generate the data the optimizer is expecting.

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2. “Run Optimize” is permanently disabled: When I move to the Optimize tab, the Run Optimize button remains completely grayed out, making it impossible to generate the particles. I have tried saving the project and reloading it, but the button stays locked.

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My question: I suspect the software is blocking the optimization because my meshes are strictly 2D (the Z-axis is flat/zero). Is there a specific, recommended workflow to process purely 2D .vtk data in ShapeWorks Studio? For my 2D femur contours, is .vtk the correct format to use in ShapeWorks? Is there a setting I am missing to force the Optimizer to work in a 2D plane, or do I need to artificially extrude my contours into 3D volumes first?

2

So the problem is likely your region/language settings. It’s marking the initial relative weighting as invalid because it’s expecting a comma instead of a period for the decimal.

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The easiest way to fix this is to install the development version of ShapeWorks that includes a fix for this.

Alternatively, you can set your region/language settings to US.

3

Hi again,

Thank you very much for the response. I installed the pre-release as suggested, but I am now getting different errors with my strictly 2D .vtk files. When I run the Grooming step, it seems the tool is deleting the geometry completely.

Specifically, if I run it with Alignment checked, the logs show:

  • Warning: Empty mesh in createICPTransform: source has 0 points, target has 0 points - returning identity

  • Error: meshes must have points

  • Error: Generated mesh is empty, file: groomed\Paciente04_FU0_groomed.vtk

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To troubleshoot, I tried running it with Alignment disabled (and all other filters off), but I still get this error:

  • Error: Generated mesh is empty, file: groomed\Paciente04_FU0_groomed.vtk

Furthermore, if I try to skip the Grooming step entirely to see if it bypasses the issue, I get this error instead:

  • Error: Mesh construction failed: Unable to warp mesh. Further messages will be suppressed

Could this issue be related to the nature of my data? My .vtk files are strictly 2D outlines/contours of the femurs (just the boundary lines with no internal filling or volume). Is it possible that the grooming/warping algorithms are failing or collapsing the data because they expect a filled surface or 3D surface rather than a 2D empty contour?

Is there a specific way I should format these 2D contours for this pre-release version to prevent the geometry from being deleted?

Thank you for your help!

4

I see, yeah, the grooming for contours got broken in a recent update. I’ve just merged a fix for this and new builds are available here: