Installing and Uninstalling Extensions

The processes differ for installing and uninstalling scripted extensions versus binary extensions:

Note:  When Workbench is not installed, the installation location for an extension with a Fluent or SpaceClaim wizard differs. For more information about stand-alone instances, see the ACT customization guides for these two products. The concluding section provides links to these guides.

 

Installing and Uninstalling Scripted Extensions

The Extension Manager displays all installed scripted extensions when an ACT license is available.

You can install a scripted extension in the location of your choosing and then point the software to this location.

  • If using Workbench, you have two options. You can select Tools > Options > Extensions and then point to the location. Or, from the ACT Start Page, you can click Manage Extensions, the gear icon, and then Add Folder.

  • If using standalone Mechanical, you can select Automation > Extension Manager and then click the gear icon and Add Folder.

To uninstall a scripted extension, remove the extension and its associated files and folders. If you uninstall a scripted extension while the Extension Manager is open, it continues to display this extension until you close and reopen the Extension Manager.

Note:  The Uninstall option is available on the right-click context menu only for a binary extension.

 

Installing and Uninstalling Binary Extensions

The Extension Manager displays all binary extensions (WBEX files) that are installed, regardless of whether an ACT license is available.

To install a binary extension:

  1. Access the install functionality by doing one of the following:

    • Select Extensions > Install Extension.

    • In the graphic-based Extension Manager accessed from the ACT Start Page, click one of the plus (+) icons.

  2. In the Open dialog box that appears, navigate to and select the WBEX file that you want to install and click Open.

Installed binary extensions are installed to your application data folder (%APPDATA%\Ansys\v252\ACT\extensions) and are available for loading in the Extension Manager.

Note:  When you install a binary extension, a new folder and WBEX file are created because both are necessary for compatibility with ACT. If you need to move the extension to a different folder, make sure that both the folder and WBEX file are copied to the same folder at the same time.

To uninstall a binary extension, simply right-click it and select Uninstall, which is available only for binary extensions.

Caution:  When uninstalling a binary extension, ACT permanently deletes both the definition file and folder. You will lose all changes that you have made to the extension's folder contents. Best practice is to use your application data folder %APPDATA%\Ansys\v252\ACT\extensions only for installing WBEX files and another folder for developing your source code.