Home
Manage Files and Data
Create, open, import, and save models.
Import Files
Import various file types into the selected client.
CAD Import
Learn about the supported CAD readers and the options available for importing CAD geometry data.
Supported CAD Readers
CAD readers supported by the application.
VDAFS Reader

Welcome
What's New
View new features for Altair HyperWorks 2025.1.
Get Started
Learn the basics and discover the workspace.
Tutorials
Learn more about the Altair HyperWorks suite of products with interactive tutorials.
Startup Procedures and Customizations
Start and configure the applications.
Tool Finder
View a list of deprecated panels and their newer, equivalent workflows.
Manage Files and Data
Create, open, import, and save models.
- Supported File Types
  The following file types can be read, depending upon the active application.
- Create New Files
  Create a new file.
- Open Files
  Open a file.
- Import Files
  Import various file types into the selected client.
  - CAD Import
    Learn about the supported CAD readers and the options available for importing CAD geometry data.
    - Supported CAD Readers
      CAD readers supported by the application.
      - ACIS Reader
      - AVEVA Marine Reader
      - CATIA Reader
      - CATIA Composites Link Reader
        Use the CATIA Composites Link option to import drape data. This method is separate from the CATIA reader, where drape data is not imported.
      - Creo Reader
      - DXF Reader
      - FiberSim Reader
        The FiberSim reader is supported for Nastran and OptiStruct user profiles.
      - FORAN Reader
      - IFC Reader
      - IGES Reader
      - Inspire Reader
      - Intergraph Reader
      - Inventor Reader
      - JT Reader
      - NX Reader
        NX import is available through two different readers: UGOpen native reader and a third-party non-native reader.
      - OCX Reader
      - Parasolid Reader
      - PDGS Reader
      - Rhino Reader
      - SolidWorks Reader
      - STEP Reader
      - VDAFS Reader
    - CAD Import Options
      CAD readers provide options for processing data during import.
    - CAD Import Message Files
      Each reader reads the CAD file and stores the geometry information. When a CAD file is read, a .msg file is created (or appended to) in the current working directory.
    - CAD Import Difficulties
      Learn about possible difficulties you may encounter during CAD import.
    - CAD Metadata Naming
      The metadata names generated by the CAD readers are composed of a general prefix followed by a metadata specific name. The prefix is specified using the @MetadataPrefix option in each _reader.ini file.
  - Solver Deck Import
    Import FE models for supported solver interfaces.
  - Connector Import
    Learn about importing connector files.
- Warning Messages When Loading Files
  When loading an .hm file, you may receive a warning message depending on the version and solver interface in which the file was last saved.
- Change Solver Interfaces
  Load a different solver interface in the application.
- Conversion Between Solver Formats
  Convert finite element models to another solver format.
- Load Files
  Load command files, scripts, solver template files, preferences, or the Metadata Table.
- Save Files
  Save all of the data in your current session.
- Collect Diagnostics Information
  The Diagnostics Information Gathering utility collects diagnostics files in the case of a crash and saves them to a common folder.
- Export Files
  Export various file types from the selected client to another format.
- Include Files
  Most FEA solvers allow you to organize the input deck into separate files and provide a mechanism to include (or refer) these files in the main input deck.
- Import Templates
  Templates can be imported by means of the File > Import menu.
- Take a Screen Capture
  Record a video or take a snapshot of the screen.
- Convert Units
  Use the Units tool to convert a finite element model from its initial unit system to a new unit system.
Sessions and Report Templates
Set up sessions and create report templates.
Interface with External Products
Solver interfaces supported in HyperMesh.
Entities and Solver Interfaces
A solver interface is made up of a template and a FE-input reader.
Browsers
Browsers provide a structured view of model data, which you can use to review, modify, create, and manage the contents of a model. In addition to visualization, browsers offer features like search, filtering, and sorting, which enhance your ability to navigate and interact with the model data.
Sketching
Create and edit 2D parametric sketch geometry.
Topology
Create, edit, and cleanup geometry.
FE Geometry
FE geometry is topology on top of mesh, meaning CAD and mesh exist as a single entity. The purpose of FE geometry is to add vertices, edges, surfaces, and solids on FE models which have no CAD geometry.
Meshing and Elements
Explore the different types of mesh you can create in HyperMesh and create and edit 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D elements.
Model Build and Assembly
Create, organize and manage parts and subsystems.
Composites
HyperMesh composites modeling.
Connectors
Create connections between parts of your model.
Morph
Rapidly change the shape of the FE mesh without severely sacrificing the mesh quality.
Skeleton Modeling
Create a reduced ordered model to facilitate optimization at the concept phase.
Design Space
Workflow to support topology optimization model build and setup.
Optimization
Setup an Optimization in HyperMesh.
Design Explorer
Multi-disciplinary design exploration and optimization tools.
Validate
Validate the model built before running solver analysis.
Analyze
Models require loads and boundary conditions in order to represent the various physics and/or physical equivalents to bench and in-use testing.
Axisymmetry
Reduce a full 3D model with axisymmetric surfaces while accounting for imperfections.
Concept Modeling
Tools and workflows that are dedicated to rapidly creating new parts for specific use cases, or amending existing parts. The current capabilities are focused on stiffening parts.
Crash and Safety
Tools used for crash and safety analysis.
Airbag
Use airbag folder utilities and export a resulting airbag in a Radioss deck.
Aerospace
Essential utility tools developed using HyperMesh-Tcl.
Aeroelasticity
Import an aeroelastic finite element model with Nastran Bulk Data format.
Certification
Framework to plug certification methods to assess margin of safety from the model and result information.
PhysicsAI
Use PhysicsAI to build fast predictive models from CAE data. PhysicsAI can be trained on data with any physics or remeshing and without design variables.
Results Data in HyperMesh and HyperView
Results data can be post-processed using both HyperMesh and HyperView.
Developer
The Developer ribbon contains tools for automation and customization.
Plot Data in HyperMesh and HyperGraph
Plot data can be post-processed using both HyperMesh and HyperGraph.
Multibody Modeling in MotionView
MotionView is a general pre-processor for Multibody Dynamics.
Media Files in MediaView
MediaView plays video files, displays static images, tracks objects, and measures distances.
Tabulate Results in TableView
Use TableView to create an Excel-like spreadsheet.
Text Files in TextView
TextView math scripts reference vector data from HyperGraph windows to automate data processing and data summary.
Publishing and Reporting
Create, define, and export reports.

View All Altair HyperWorks Help

VDAFS Reader

Supported Entities

Entities supported by the VDAFS reader.

POINT
LINE
PLANE
PSET
MDI
CIRCLE
CURVE
SURF
FACE

Import Options

The VDAFS reader uses the vdafs_reader.ini file.

`@BreakAngle`
Value	Description
`double`	A negative value (default) indicates that the curves are being split at C1 discontinuities. A positive value indicates that curves are being split at G1 discontinuities with an angle greater than the given value (expressed in radians).

`@CleanupTol`
Value	Description
`double`	A negative value (default) indicates to use the auto cleanup tolerance. A value greater than the calculated auto cleanup tolerance indicates to use that specific tolerance. Refer to the CAD Import Options.

`@CreationType`
Value	Description
`Parts`	Generate a full part-based hierarchy.
`BOMOnly`	Generate an empty part-based hierarchy.
`TreeOfComponents`	Generate an assemblies/components based hierarchy.
`PackIntoSinglePart`	Consolidate hierarchy into a single part.

`@DoNotMergeEdges`
Value	Description
`on`	Preserve the original geometry edges, instead of merging them together during the import cleanup phase.
`off`	Merge edges together during the import cleanup phase (default).

`@ImportForVisualizationOnly`
Value	Description
`on`	Import the model for visualization purposes only. This skips many of the import steps (cleanup, stitching, solid creation, and so on) to provide a faster import. The resulting model may not be suitable for other uses.
`off`	Import the model in the normal fashion (default).

`@ImportFreeCurves`
Value	Description
`on`	Import free curves (wireframe entities) into the model (default).
`off`	Do not import free curves.

`@ImportFreePoints`
Value	Description
`on`	Import free points into the model (default).
`off`	Do not import free points.

`@LegacyHierarchyAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Generate metadata with the original CAD hierarchy within the part. `LEGACY_HIERARCHY`
`off`	Do not generate metadata with the original CAD hierarchy within the part (default).

`@MetadataPrefix`
Value	Description
`string`	The string is prefixed to all metadata names. No prefix is used by default. See CAD Metadata Naming for more details.

`@ParameterTolerance`
Value	Description
`Any positive real number.`	The reader considers this tolerance as the parametric tolerance used to process the CAD data. The default value is 1.00E-06.

`@Planes`
Value	Description
`on`	Treat each surface as found in the CAD file (planes/NURBS).
`off`	Convert planes into NURBS surfaces.
`preferred`	Convert NURBS surfaces to planes if they are within the object space tolerance of being planar (default).

`@ScaleFactor`
Value	Description
`double`	Define the model scaling factor during import. Default is 1.0.

`@SplitComponents`
Value	Description
`Body`	Generate body-based component (default if `CreationType`=`Parts`).
`Part`	Generate part-based component.
`General`	Keep component as in CAD (default if `CreationType`=`TreeOfComponents`).
`Components`	Generate JT component-based components.

`@StraightPolynomials`
Value	Description
`on`	Treat each polynomial segment as a straight line segment. This is necessary for reading some VDAFS files, COMPUTERVISION CADDS 4X in particular.
`off`	Treat each polynomial as found in the CAD file (default).

`@TagsAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Read tags of supported entities as metadata (default). `TAG`
`off`	Do not read tags.

`@TargetUnits`
Value	Description
`CAD units`	Keep the units of the CAD files (default for GUI).
`MKS [m kg N s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MMKS [mm kg N s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MPA [mm t N s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`CGS [cm g dyn s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MMKNMS [mm kg kN ms]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MMGNMS [mm g N ms]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`IPS Std [in pounds lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`IPS Grav [in slinch lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`FPS Std [ft pounds lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`FPS Grav [ft slug lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`Scale factor`	Apply the corresponding scale factor (default for no GUI to allow supporting legacy scripts).

`@Tolerance`
Value	Description
`Any positive real number.`	The reader considers this tolerance as the object space tolerance used to process the CAD data. The default value is 0.01.

Supported Metadata

Metadata generated from the VDAFS reader.

`LEGACY_HIERARCHY`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs	Hierarchy of an entity within a part. Generated when `@LegacyHierarchyAsMetadata`=`on`

`TAG`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs	The tag (name) of the entity as read from the CAD model, if one exists. Generated when `@TagsAsMetadata = on`