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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.
Translators
Translators are utilities that are run from the command line of the operating system to convert various types of files into different formats.
cad2h3d
Translates any HyperMesh supported CAD file into an H3D (.h3d) file.

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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.
  - cad2h3d
    Translates any HyperMesh supported CAD file into an H3D (.h3d) file.
  - dads_graph
    Translates a DADS .bin file into an Altair Binary File (.abf).
  - fatigueprep
    Translates various ADAMS and nCode fatigue formats.
  - fil2mrf
    Translates Abaqus .fil files into various formats.
  - flexprep
    Creates and translates flexbody H3D files.
  - hgares
    Translates ADAMS .res files into various formats.
  - hgmadymo
    Translates a MADYMO time history file into an Altair Binary File (.abf).
  - hmabaqus
    Translates a binary or ASCII Abaqus results file into a HyperMesh binary results file.
  - hmansys
    Translates a binary ANSYS results file into a HyperMesh binary results file.
  - hmgenres
    Translates generic ASCII-formatted results into HyperMesh binary results (.res).
  - hmmflow
    Translates ASCII files from MF/FLOW, MF/COOL, MF/WARP, MF/GAS. hmmflow also translates .OUT ASCII results files from MOLDFLOW to HyperMesh binary results files.
  - hmnast
    Translates Nastran ASCII punch files into HyperMesh binary results files. hmnast can be executed either independently or directly from HyperMesh.
  - hmnastf06
    Translates Nastran *.f06 ASCII files into HyperMesh binary results files. hmnastf06 reads only the GPSTRESS output from the .f06 file for SOL101 analyses.
  - hmnasto2
    Translates OUTPUT2 Nastran binary results into HyperMesh binary results files. hmnasto2 can be executed either independently or directly from HyperMesh.
  - hmnastopt
    Translates Nastran SOL 200 punch files into HyperMesh binary results files.
  - hmnike
    Translates files from the -state database to HyperMesh binary results files.
  - hmpam
    Translates information from a PAM-CRASH and PAM-CRASH 2G results file (.DSY file) to a HyperMesh binary results file or to a Hyper3D (.h3d) file.
  - hmpatran
    Translates information from a PATRAN binary results file to a HyperMesh binary results file.
  - hmresdmp
    Translates HyperMesh binary results (.res) into ASCII-formatted data.
  - mvg
    A graphics translator which extracts components from an input file and creates a MotionView graphics file.
- 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
- 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.

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cad2h3d

Translates any HyperMesh supported CAD file into an H3D (.h3d) file.

Syntax

cad2h3d cad_source_file h3d_target_file visualization_only ?cad_translator?

Application

Translator

Description

The tool is available from the <altair_home>/hm/bin/<platform> directory.

Inputs

cad_source_file

The name and path of the CAD file to translate. This can be any HyperMesh supported CAD file.

h3d_target_file

The name and path of the H3D file to write.

visualization_only

An option that specifies whether the H3D is for visualization only.

If set to 1, this enables the @ImportForVisualizationOnly option for the CAD readers, which skip performing certain import and cleanup steps to get a model for visualization quality, but not analysis quality.
If set to 0, the normal CAD import process is used.

cad_translator

An optional argument that specifies which CAD translator to use. By default, the "#Detect" translator is used to automatically determine the CAD reader to use. However, for cases where that fails, specifying the required translator is necessary.

The translator can be specified in one of two ways:

Absolute path of the translator
Translator name (for example, #iges, #iges/iges, #iges/iges_reader)

Example

To translate the file C:/cube.iges into C:/cube.h3d:

cad2h3d C:/cube.iges C:/cube.h3d 0

or

cad2h3d C:/cube.iges C:/cube.h3d 0 #iges

or

cad2h3d C:/cube.iges C:/cube.h3d 0 #iges/iges

or

cad2h3d C:/cube.iges C:/cube.h3d 0 #iges/iges_reader