:orphan:
# DMPlexDistribute
Distributes the mesh and any associated sections. 
## Synopsis
```
#include "petscdmplex.h"   
#include "petscdmlabel.h"  
PetscErrorCode DMPlexDistribute(DM dm, PetscInt overlap, PetscSF *sf, DM *dmParallel)
```
Collective


## Input Parameters

- ***dm  -*** The original `DMPLEX` object
- ***overlap -*** The overlap of partitions, 0 is the default



## Output Parameters

- ***sf -*** The `PetscSF` used for point distribution, or `NULL` if not needed
- ***dmParallel -*** The distributed `DMPLEX` object





## Note
If the mesh was not distributed, the output `dmParallel` will be `NULL`.

The user can control the definition of adjacency for the mesh using `DMSetAdjacency()`. They should choose the combination appropriate for the function
representation on the mesh.


## See Also
 `DMPLEX`, `DM`, `DMPlexCreate()`, `DMSetAdjacency()`, `DMPlexGetOverlap()`

## Level
intermediate

## Location
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/plex/plexdistribute.c.html#DMPlexDistribute">src/dm/impls/plex/plexdistribute.c</A>

## Examples
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/label/tutorials/ex1.c.html">src/dm/label/tutorials/ex1.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/label/tutorials/ex1f90.F90.html">src/dm/label/tutorials/ex1f90.F90</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/tutorials/ex20.c.html">src/dm/tutorials/ex20.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/tutorials/ex21.c.html">src/dm/tutorials/ex21.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ts/tutorials/ex11_sa.c.html">src/ts/tutorials/ex11_sa.c</A><BR>


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[Edit on GitLab](https://gitlab.com/petsc/petsc/-/edit/release/src/dm/impls/plex/plexdistribute.c)


[Index of all DMPlex routines](index.md)  
[Table of Contents for all manual pages](/manualpages/index.md)  
[Index of all manual pages](/manualpages/singleindex.md)