Can I create a matrix with empty elements?

[goclimb4123]

I am trying to make a 3D plot of experimentally obtained data points. I understand how to set up the block diagram, but the problem is that I dont have a z data point for every combination of x and y. I need to make a matrix like this:

5   6   7   8   9   10   11

3        53     820       15

    45       35      57

25     34      57         48

5   6   7   8   9   10   11

Where the blank spaces signify no data was taken, so the matrix needs to have some type of 'greyed' cell.

If I try to do this now, the VI just inserts zeros in those places and I get an incorrect surface. If I put NaN in those spaces, VI plots the points, but does not connect them to make a surface. 

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Luke

[ejkaiser]

Luke,

I can see two options:

1. Try to fill the voids by interpolation. Look into the interpolation vis.

2. There are methods that can plot such a so called 'scarce matrix'. Such a method basically accepts the data as a series of 3D vectors and performs a 2D curve fit. Typically 2D splines or B-splines are used as test functions. However, I don't know if this is available in Labview. Such code is available e.g. in the NAG library.

Cheers

Edgar