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API, Reference Guides
Overview of external readers and the Altair Binary Format, the generic ASCII reader, running applications in batch mode, using Tcl/Tk commands, translators, and result math.
HyperMesh
HMASCII
Details on the HMASCII format and associated commands.
Commands and Functions
*ales()
Creates an ales in HMASCII format.

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API, Reference Guides
Overview of external readers and the Altair Binary Format, the generic ASCII reader, running applications in batch mode, using Tcl/Tk commands, translators, and result math.
- Extensions
  Extensions are programs integrated with the application to enhance or extend the user experience.
- External Readers and Altair Binary Format
  Altair Binary Format (ABF) is the standard binary format read by the program. A library called abflib allows you to create files in ABF.
- Generic ASCII Reader
  A generic ASCII reader is now available which allows you to bring custom results directly into HyperView. The Altair ASCII format is useful for reading the results of any in-house or propriety codes which are saved in a generic format.
- Batch Mode
  Batch mode allows you perform a series of operations outside the program interface.
- External Resources
  External resources can be registered in preference files, session files, or Templex files. If an external resource is registered in a program session, it is automatically registered in the session file when the session is saved.
- Python API
  The Python API documentation for HyperMesh applications.
- Tcl/Tk Commands
  The application's scripting interface is a set of Tcl/Tk commands that follow a simple and consistent syntax.
- Translators
  Translators are utilities that are run from the command line of the operating system to convert various types of files into different formats.
- Result Math
  XML commands in the Result Math Module.
- HWC Console
  Record playback workflows in the application.
- HyperMesh Report
- Task Manager
  Use the Task Manager to load an XML file that defines tasks and their attributes.
- HyperMesh
  - API Programmer's Guides
    These provide an overview of all additions, updates, and changes to the HyperMesh APIs for each release.
  - Data Names
    Details on the core data that can be queried and manipulated.
  - Ext API
    This API allows external applications to link HyperMesh as a library and provides a limited set of functions and structures to access specific functionality.
  - FE Input Readers
    FE input readers are C programs that read information from ASCII or binary finite element models files into the HyperMesh database.
  - HMASCII
    Details on the HMASCII format and associated commands.
    - Input Format
    - Output Format
    - Commands and Functions
      - *acceleration()
      - *accelerometers()
        Creates an accelerometer in HMASCII format.
      - *alefsiprojections()
        Creates an alefsiprojection in HMASCII format.
      - *alereferencesystemcurves()
        Creates an alereferencesystemcurve in HMASCII format.
      - *alereferencesystemgroups()
        Creates an alereferencesystemgroup in HMASCII format.
      - *alereferencesystemnodes()
        Creates an alereferencesystemnode in HMASCII format.
      - *alereferencesystemswitches()
        Creates an alereferencesystemswitch in HMASCII format.
      - *ales()
        Creates an ales in HMASCII format.
      - *alesmoothings()
        Creates an alesmoothing in HMASCII format.
      - *aletanktests()
        Creates an aletanktest in HMASCII format.
      - *altline()
      - *altpoint()
      - *altsurface()
      - *analysis()
        Creates an analysis in HMASCII format.
      - *analysisparameters()
        Creates an analysis parameter in HMASCII format.
      - *assembly()
      - *assemblycomponent()
      - *attachmentcontrols()
        Creates an attachmentcontrol in HMASCII format.
      - *attachments()
        Creates an attachment in HMASCII format.
      - *attributedouble()
      - *attributedoublearray()
      - *attributedoublearray2d()
      - *attributeentity()
      - *attributeentityarray()
      - *attributeentityarray2d()
      - *attributeint()
      - *attributeintarray()
      - *attributeintarray2d()
      - *attributesforentity()
      - *attributesolverid()
      - *attributestring()
      - *attributestringarray()
      - *axisymmetries()
        Creates an axisymmetry in HMASCII format.
      - *bar2()
      - *bar3()
      - *begingeometry()
      - *behaviors()
        Creates a behavior in HMASCII format.
      - *block()
      - *blockcell()
      - *blockidiv()
      - *blockjdiv()
      - *blockkdiv()
      - *blockwall()
      - *bodies()
        Creates a body in HMASCII format.
      - *boxes()
        Creates a box in HMASCII format.
      - *charts()
        Creates a chart in HMASCII format.
      - *clearances()
        Creates a clearance in HMASCII format.
      - *collections()
        Creates a collection in HMASCII format.
      - *collisions()
        Creates a collision in HMASCII format.
      - *comments()
        Creates a comment in HMASCII format.
      - *component()
        Creates a component in HMASCII format.
      - *configurations()
        Creates a configuration in HMASCII format.
      - *connectorsets()
        Creates a connectorset in HMASCII format.
      - *constrainedextranodes()
        Creates a constrainedextranode in HMASCII format.
      - *constrainedrigidbodies()
        Creates a constrainedrigidbody in HMASCII format.
      - *constraint()
      - *constraints()
        Creates a mechanism constraint in HMASCII format.
      - *contactbehaviors()
        Creates a contactbehavior in HMASCII format.
      - *contactgroups()
        Creates a contactgroup in HMASCII format.
      - *contactsurfelement()
      - *contactsurfs()
        Starts a contactsurfs block.
      - *controlcard()
        Creates a control card in HMASCII format.
      - *controlvols()
        Starts a control volume block.
      - *controlvols_elemid()
      - *controlvols_refnode()
      - *crosssections()
        Creates a crosssection in HMASCII format.
      - *curve()
      - *curvepoint()
      - *dampings()
        Creates a damping in HMASCII format.
      - *dependentnodes()
      - *designpointmethods()
        Creates a designpointmethod in HMASCII format.
      - *designpoints()
        Creates a designpoint in HMASCII format.
      - *designpointsets()
        Creates a designpointset in HMASCII format.
      - *dictionary()
      - *directmatrixinputs()
        Creates a direct matrix input in HMASCII format.
      - *elementbehaviors()
        Creates an element behavior in HMASCII format.
      - *elementclusters()
        Creates an elementcluster in HMASCII format.
      - *encryptions()
        Creates a encryption in HMASCII format.
      - *endgeometry()
      - *enginefiles()
        Creates an enginefile in HMASCII format.
      - *equation()
        Defines an equation load in HMASCII format.
      - *explorations()
        Creates an exploration in HMASCII format.
      - *failures()
        Creates a failure in HMASCII format.
      - *fields()
        Creates a field in HMASCII format.
      - *flux()
        Creates a flux load in HMASCII format.
      - *force()
      - *freebodygroups()
        Creates a freebodygroup in HMASCII format.
      - *freebodysections()
        Creates a freebodysection in HMASCII format.
      - *frequencies()
        Creates a frequency in HMASCII format.
      - *frequencysets()
        Creates a frequencyset in HMASCII format.
      - *frictions()
        Creates a friction in HMASCII format.
      - *gap()
        Creates a gap element in HMASCII format.
      - *geometricrepresentations()
        Creates a geometricrepresentation in HMASCII format.
      - *group()
      - *groupcomponentmain()
      - *groupcomponentsecondary()
      - *groupmainbox()
      - *groupmainset()
      - *groupsecondarybox()
      - *groupsecondaryset()
      - *hexa20()
        Creates a hexa20 element in HMASCII format.
      - *hexa8()
        Creates a hexa8 element in HMASCII format.
      - *hm_features()
        Creates a feature in HMASCII format.
      - *hourglass()
        Creates an hourglass in HMASCII format.
      - *ice()
        Creates an IC element in HMASCII format.
      - *icelink()
        Defines the independent nodes for an IC element in HMASCII format.
      - *icoeffs()
        Defines the independent nodes DOF coefficients for an equation load.
      - *idofs()
        Defines the independent nodes degrees of freedom for an equation load.
      - *independentcoeffs()
      - *independentdofs()
      - *independentnodes()
      - *inodes()
        Defines the independent nodes for an equation load.
      - *integrationrules()
        Creates integrationrules in HMASCII format.
      - *interfacecomponents()
        Creates an interfacecomponent in HMASCII format.
      - *interfacelinkings()
        Creates an interfacelinking in HMASCII format.
      - *interfacepairlist()
        Defines the interface pairs for a sub-laminate laminate.
      - *interfacepairmax()
        Defines the number of interface pairs assigned to a sub-laminate laminate.
      - *internalsupports()
        Creates an internalsupport in HMASCII format.
      - *initialstates()
        Creates an initialstate in HMASCII format.
      - *joint_cylindrical()
      - *joint_locking()
      - *joint_planar()
      - *joint_revolute()
      - *joint_spherical()
      - *joint_translational()
      - *joint_universal()
      - *joints()
        Creates a mechanism joint in HMASCII format.
      - *laminateidlist()
        Defines the plies or sub-laminates assigned to a ply laminate or sub-laminate laminate.
      - *laminateidlistmax()
        Defines the number of plies or sub-laminates assigned to a ply laminate or sub-laminate laminate.
      - *laminates()
        Creates a laminate in HMASCII format.
      - *legends()
        Creates a legend in HMASCII format.
      - *lists()
        Creates a list in HMASCII format.
      - *loadcollector()
        Creates a load collector in HMASCII format.
      - *loadstepgroupsid()
      - *loadstepid()
      - *loadstepobid()
      - *loadsteps()
        Starts a loadsteps output block.
      - *main3()
        Creates a main3 element in HMASCII format.
      - *main4()
        Creates a main4 element in HMASCII format.
      - *mass()
        Creates a mass element in HMASCII format.
      - *material()
        Creates a material in HMASCII format.
      - *materialbehaviors()
        Creates a material behavior in HMASCII format.
      - *mechanismconstraints()
        Creates a mechanism constraint in HMASCII format.
      - *mechanisms()
        Creates a mechanism in HMASCII format.
      - *memberjoints()
        Creates a memberjoint in HMASCII format.
      - *memberpanels()
        Creates a memberpanel in HMASCII format.
      - *members()
        Creates a member in HMASCII format.
      - *membersections()
        Creates a membersection in HMASCII format.
      - *membersegments()
        Creates a membersegment in HMASCII format.
      - *meshcontrols()
        Creates a meshcontrol in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_date()
        Creates date metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_double()
        Creates double metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_double_array()
        Creates double array metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_entityid()
        Creates entity ID metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_entityid_array()
        Creates entity ID array metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_integer()
        Creates integer metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_integer_array()
        Creates integer array metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_string()
        Creates string metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *metadata_string_array()
        Creates string array metadata in HMASCII format.
      - *modelcheckchecks()
        Creates a model check check in HMASCII format.
      - *modelcheckcorrections()
        Creates a model check correction in HMASCII format.
      - *moment()
      - *nctlayers()
        Creates an nctlayer in HMASCII format.
      - *node()
      - *noisecontroltreatments()
        Creates a noisecontroltreatment in HMASCII format.
      - *outputblockid()
      - *outputblocks()
      - *outputrequests()
        Creates an outputrequest in HMASCII format.
      - *panels()
        Creates a panel in HMASCII format.
      - *parameters()
        Creates a parameter in HMASCII format.
      - *partsets()
        Creates a partset in HMASCII format.
      - *penta15()
        Creates a penta15 element in HMASCII format.
      - *penta6()
        Creates a penta6 element in HMASCII format.
      - *perturbations()
        Creates perturbations in HMASCII format.
      - *physicalquantities()
        Creates a physicalquantity in HMASCII format.
      - *plies()
        Creates a ply in HMASCII format.
      - *plot()
        Creates a plot in HMASCII format.
      - *plotaxis()
      - *plotborder()
      - *plotbounds()
      - *plotcontrols()
        Creates plotcontrols in HMASCII format.
      - *plotcurve()
      - *plotel()
        Creates a plotel element in HMASCII format.
      - *plotgrid()
      - *plotlabel()
      - *plotlabels()
      - *plotlegend()
      - *plotmode()
      - *plotsubtitle()
      - *plottitle()
      - *plyidlist()
        Defines the entities assigned to a ply.
      - *plyidlistmax()
        Defines the number of entities assigned to a ply.
      - *polycages()
        Creates a polycage in HMASCII format.
      - *positions()
        Creates a position in HMASCII format.
      - *pressure()
      - *pretensioners()
        Creates a pretensioner in HMASCII format.
      - *property()
        Creates a property in HMASCII format.
      - *pyramid13()
        Creates a pyramid13 element in HMASCII format.
      - *pyramid5()
        Creates a pyramid5 element in HMASCII format.
      - *quad4()
        Creates a quad4 element in HMASCII format.
      - *quad8()
        Creates a quad8 element in HMASCII format.
      - *rbe3()
        Creates an RBE3 element in HMASCII format.
      - *referencegeometries()
        Creates a reference geometry in HMASCII format.
      - *regions()
        Creates a region in HMASCII format.
      - *resources()
        Creates resources in HMASCII format.
      - *responses()
        Creates a response in HMASCII format.
      - *results()
        Creates a result in HMASCII format.
      - *resultsimulations()
        Creates resultsimulations in HMASCII format.
      - *resultsubcases()
        Creates resultsubcases in HMASCII format.
      - *retractors()
        Creates a retractor in HMASCII format.
      - *rigid()
        Creates a rigid element in HMASCII format.
      - *rigidbodies()
        Creates a rigidbody in HMASCII format.
      - *rigidlink()
        Creates a rigidlink element in HMASCII format.
      - *rigidwall()
        Creates a rigid wall group in HMASCII format.
      - *rigidwallgeometry()
        Adds geometry to a rigid wall group in HMASCII format.
      - *rigidwallmotion()
      - *rigidwalls()
        Creates a rigidwall in HMASCII format.
      - *rod()
        Creates a rod element in HMASCII format.
      - *scenarios()
        Creates a scenario in HMASCII format.
      - *seamexcitations()
        Creates a seamexcitation in HMASCII format.
      - *seamjunctions()
        Creates a seamjunction in HMASCII format.
      - *seamsubsystems()
        Creates a seamsubsystem in HMASCII format.
      - *seasubsystems()
        Creates a seasubsystem in HMASCII format.
      - *seatbeltcontrolpoints()
        Creates a seatbeltcontrolpoint in HMASCII format.
      - *seatbelts()
        Creates a seatbelt in HMASCII format.
      - *secondary1()
        Creates a secondary1 element in HMASCII format.
      - *secondary3()
        Creates a secondary3 element in HMASCII format.
      - *secondary4()
        Creates a secondary4 element in HMASCII format.
      - *sections()
      - *sequences()
        Creates a sequence in HMASCII format.
      - *set()
        Creates a set in HMASCII format.
      - *setid()
        Adds entities to a set in HMASCII format.
      - *setrigidlink()
      - *shape3ds()
        Creates a shape3d in HMASCII format.
      - *skeletons()
        Creates a skeleton in HMASCII format.
      - *sketches()
        Creates a sketch in HMASCII format.
      - *sliprings()
        Creates a slipring in HMASCII format.
      - *smartrules()
        Creates a smartrule in HMASCII format.
      - *solvermasses()
        Creates a solvermass in HMASCII format.
      - *solverrepresentations()
        Creates a solverrepresentation in HMASCII format.
      - *solversettings()
        Creates a solversetting in HMASCII format.
      - *solversubmodels()
        Creates a solver submodel in HMASCII format.
      - *spring()
        Creates a spring element in HMASCII format.
      - *spring3()
        Creates a spring3 element in HMASCII format.
      - *spring4()
        Creates a spring4 element in HMASCII format.
      - *stateequations()
        Creates a state equation in HMASCII format.
      - *structuralproperties()
        Creates a structuralproperty in HMASCII format.
      - *studies()
        Creates a study in HMASCII format.
      - *subsystemconfigurations()
        Creates a subsystemconfiguration in HMASCII format.
      - *subsystems()
        Creates a subsystem in HMASCII format.
      - *subsystemsets()
        Creates a subsystemset in HMASCII format.
      - *symmetrypivots()
        Creates a symmetrypivot in HMASCII format.
      - *system()
        Creates a system in HMASCII format.
      - *systemcollector()
        Creates a system collector in HMASCII format.
      - *tablecolumnend()
        Ends the data definition of a column in a table in HMASCII format.
      - *tablecolumnlabels()
        Defines the column labels of a table in HMASCII format.
      - *tablecolumnstart()
        Starts the data definition of a column in a table in HMASCII format.
      - *tablecolumntypes()
        Defines the column types of a table in HMASCII format.
      - *tablecolumnvalues()
        Sets the value of a cell in a table in HMASCII format.
      - *tables()
        Starts a tables block.
      - *tables_end()
        Ends a table in HMASCII format.
      - *tag()
        Creates a tag in HMASCII format.
      - *tagdescription()
        Assigns a text description to a tag in HMASCII format.
      - *temperature()
      - *terminations()
        Creates a termination in HMASCII format.
      - *tetra10()
        Creates a tetra10 element in HMASCII format.
      - *tetra4()
        Creates a tetra4 element in HMASCII format.
      - *timestepcontrols()
        Creates a timestepcontrol in HMASCII format.
      - *title()
      - *titleanchor()
      - *titleborder()
      - *transformations()
        Creates a transformation in HMASCII format.
      - *tria3()
        Creates a tria3 element in HMASCII format.
      - *tria6()
        Creates a tria6 element in HMASCII format.
      - *valuesforentity()
        Defines a data names block for new-style HyperMesh entities in HMASCII format.
      - *vectorcollector()
        Creates a vector collector in HMASCII format.
      - *vectorentity()
      - *velocity()
      - *weld()
        Creates a weld element in HMASCII format.
      - *weldlines()
        Creates a weldline in HMASCII format.
      - *xelem()
        Creates an xelem element in HMASCII format.
      - Deprecated HMASCII Commands
      - Undocumented HMASCII Commands
  - Scripts
    This section contains details on general HyperWorks scripting concepts, along with documentation on the Tcl commands that can be used to query and modify the database and GUI.
  - Solver Templates
    Solver templates are ASCII data files containing HyperMesh Template Language Commands and HyperMesh Template Language Functions.
- MotionView
- Templex and Math Reference Guide
- Script and Model Library
  The Script and Model Library is a database of freely accessible scripts and models posted by users and Altair engineers.

*ales()

Creates an ales in HMASCII format.

Syntax

*ales (id,name,color)

Type

HyperMesh HMASCII Command

Description

Creates an ales in HMASCII format.

Additional attribute or dataname information is provided separately, see referenced commands.

Inputs

id: The ID of the ales.
name: The name of the ales.
color: The color of the ales. Valid values are 1-64.

Example

To create an ales with ID 100, name "my-entity", and color 1:

*ales(100,"my-entity",1)

Errors

Incorrect usage results in an import error.

Version History

2026