Export Command

This command opens the Export Solution window, from which you can export the field quantity in the top register to a file, mapping it to a grid of points. Use this command to save field quantities in a format that can be read by other modeling or postprocessing software packages. Two options are available for defining the grid points on which to export:



To export a field quantity to a customized grid:

Note: Use of the Global Coordinate System is assumed. Local coordinate systems are not used.
  1. Load the quantity into the top register for the fields calculator, and perform any operations on it.
  2. If desired, load a volume using the Geometry command.

You can use the Domain command to limit the calculation to the volume you specify. If you export a Domain filtered numeric, points that are filtered out by the domain will not be written out.

  1. Click the Export button in the Fields Calculator.

This opens the Export Solution dialog.

  1. Type or select the name of the file in which the field quantity is to be saved in the Output File Name text box. You can use the file icon to open the file browser to specify the file name and directory path. A .reg extension is automatically assigned to this file.
  2. Click either the Input grid points from file button if you have a created a .pts file containing the grid points, or click the Calculate grid points button.
    • If you select Input grid points from file, either type the name and directory of the file containing the points on which the field is to be mapped, or, click on the file icon and use the file browser to locate the point file (.pts extension).
    Note: By default, the field calculator uses SI units. Optionally, you can also specify the units that you want while exporting. Add a line in the beginning of the .pts file to specify the units. For example, if you want to use mm, a sample file would like this:

    Unit=mm

    -5.5 -5.5 -5.21475

    -5.5 -5.5 -5.14425

    -5.5 -5.5 -5.07375

    -5.5 -5.5 -5.021

    • If you select Calculate grid points button, you can specify the coordinate system as Cartesian, Cylindrical, or Spherical.

    Cartesian: for each grid dimension on X, Y, and Z, enter the Minimum, Maximum, and grid point spacing.

    Cylindrical: for each dimension Rho, Phi, and Z, enter the Minimum, Maximum, and grid point Spacing. You can also specify an origin of Offset.

    Spherical: for each dimension R, Theta, and Phi, enter the Minimum, Maximum, and grid point Spacing. You can also specify an origin of Offset.

    The default coordinate system is Cartesian. The default offset will be all zeros. The length units will default to model unit and default angle unit will be degree. At the start the minimum/maximum/Spacing entries are blank. The user-entered values are not retained when the dialog is closed.

    Note: When you export fields on a 1D or 2D line/surface from the field calculator, the start and stop values must be the same for one or two of the coordinate system start/stop ranges. If you specify a zero spacing for a dimension, the export uses only the minimum value.
  3. For larger files, you may want to uncheck the Include points in output file box. If you uncheck the box, the file header will include minimum, maximum and spacing information from which you can recalculate the grid points.
  4. Click OK to export the file.

The field quantity is mapped to the grid and saved to the file you specified (.reg extension.).

Related Topics 

Using the Fields Calculator

Input Commands

Domain Command