Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide

8.6. Exporting Data

This feature allows the user to write out selected time history variable(s) to an ASCII file or to APDL ar-
ra y/table parameter. This enables you to perform several functions such as pass data on to another
program for further processing or to archive data in an easily retrievable format.

8.6.1. Interactive Mode

The "Export Data" button is used to export the currently selected variables from the variable viewer's
listing window to a file. Clicking on this button provides user with a choice of three export options:

• Export to file:

Use this option to export the selected time history variables to an ASCII file, which then can be

used by other programs for further processing. The format of this file is identical to the one

discussed in Importing Data above. The data in the file can be in one of two formats: Comma

separated (file ext ension csv), or Space delimited (file ext ension prn). The number of items that

can be exported at one time is limited to four variables (if complex) plus time variable or nine

variables (if real) plus time variable. The variable names from the variable viewer's list window

are used in the column header information line.

• Export to APDL table:

This option will store the time history variable data into the table name specified by the user.

This option allows the user to operate on time history data with the extensive APDL capabilities

available in ANSYS (such as *VFUN,*VOPER, etc.). The index of the table (0th column) is always

the independent variable (usually Time or Frequency). If multiple time history variables are ex-

ported they will be stored in consecutive columns starting with column 1. If the variables contain

complex number data, 2 columns are used per variable, one column of real and one for imaginary

data.

NOTE: When multiple variables are selected in the variable viewer for export, they are stored in

the order in which they are displayed in the variable viewer lister box at that time (top to bottom).

It is the user's responsibility to note down this order.

• Export to APDL array:

This option will store the time history variable data into an arra y parameter specified by the user.

This option allows user to operate on the time history data using the extensive APDL capabilities

of ANSYS. The first column of the arra y is reserved for the independent variable (usually time or

frequency). The time history variables are stored starting in column 2 in the order in which they

are shown in the variable viewer's list window.

8.6.2. Bat ch Mode

Exporting data from a time-history variable into a file is a two step process:

1. Export a time-history variable data to an arra y parameter. The command VGET allows you to export
   a single time-history variable into a properly dimensioned ( DIM ) arra y parameter. The size of this
   array can be determined via GET ,size,vari,,nsets.


2. Once the arra y is filled then the data can be written out to a file via *VWRITE command as shown
   below.

Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information

The Time-History Postprocessor (POST26)