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Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
Run a Simulation
Use the Analyze icons that appear on various ribbons to run and view the results of a simulation.
Run Analysis
Use the Run Analysis window to set up and run a simulation.

Welcome
Inspire Release Notes
Discover new features and enhancements in Inspire.
Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
- What is Altair Inspire?
  Inspire is a concept design tool, which you can use to run structural optimization, finite element analysis, motion analysis, and additive manufacturing analysis.
- Videos: Getting Started with Inspire
  A series of videos introducing the view controls, 3D modeling, structural analysis, topology optimization, and PolyNURBS.
- Licensing Features
  Some ribbon tabs are associated with license features. Depending upon the tab you have invoked, additional units may be drawn. These features will be checked out for the duration of the session.
- Workspace and Tool Belts
  Learn how to customize the workspace and tool belts.
- Find and Search for Tools
  Quickly find and open the tools that are available on the ribbons.
- File Import and Export
  Learn how to import geometry and export results.
- Select and Edit
  Review techniques for selecting and editing objects.
- Adjust the View
  Change the view in the modeling window using the mouse or view controls.
- Move and Snap
  Translate, rotate, and align parts and other objects using the Move tool and snaps.
- Systems
  The Systems tool is useful for aligning loads to a local coordinate system rather than the global coordinate system. Keep in mind that results are only shown in the global coordinate system.
- Screen Capture
  Record a video or take a snapshot of the screen.
- Units and Measurement
  Change the default unit system, create custom units, and measure geometry features.
- The Model Browser
  Use the Model Browser to organize your model, organize analysis and optimization objects, and access objects that aren't currently shown in the modeling window.
- Run a Simulation
  Use the Analyze icons that appear on various ribbons to run and view the results of a simulation.
  - Run Options: Local vs. Remote
    Choose whether to run jobs locally or on a remote job server.
  - Run Analysis
    Use the Run Analysis window to set up and run a simulation.
    - Run Status
      View the status of the current run, as well runs for the current model that have not yet been viewed. To see all past runs, you need to view the run history.
    - Run History
      View, sort, open, and delete past runs for the current and previous models.
  - Analysis Explorer
    Use the Analysis Explorer to view the results of a completed simulation.
  - Animate and Record Results
    Use the Animation Toolbar that appears at the bottom of the modeling window to animate and record results.
- Help and User Assistance
  Learn about the forms of help and user assistance available from the product.
- Preferences
  Modify the workspace display, default keyboard shortcuts, and other settings.
- Inspire System Requirements
  A list of supported operating systems and minimum requirements for hardware and memory.
- Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
  Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire with our interactive tutorials.
Variables
Create and assign variables to parametrize a model. This allows you to quickly iterate and compare design concepts by tweaking the values of the variables.
Parametric Modeling
Create parametric sketches, geometry, and PolyNURBS with construction history and variables.
Implicit Modeling
Create implicit models with primitives, lattices, point clouds, fields, offsetting, Booleans, inverting, smoothing, morphing, and filleting.
Structures
Set up your model and run a structural analysis or optimization.
Motion
Inspire Motion provides Multibody Simulation (MBS) capabilities to analyze the motion, dynamics, and interactions of interconnected rigid or flexible bodies within a system.
Fluids
Prepare and run a computational fluid dynamics simulation.
Design Explorer
Evaluate designs by using geometric variables and applying a design-of-experiments (DOE) or optimization method. We recommend fully constraining your sketch when sketch variables are used in the design exploration.
Manufacture
Set up and run a basic porosity or thinning analysis.
Print 3D
Prepare and run an additive manufacturing simulation, and export a file for 3D printing.
Rendering
Adjust the materials and environment of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Inspire Python API
Learn how to access the Inspire Python API including online help, quick start demos, and the Extension Manager.
Reference
View the glossary, frequently asked questions, and errors and alerts.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.

Run Analysis

Use the Run Analysis window to set up and run a simulation.

Select the Run Analysis tool on one the Analyze icons to define settings for the desired type of analysis (structures, motion, print3D, etc.)

Some of the Analyze tools, such as Motion, feature a quick run button that automatically runs the analysis with the default settings. To change the settings, click the icon that appears when you hover over the Analyze tool.
The Optimize and Optimize Part tools that appear on the Structures and Motion ribbon work similarly to the Analyze icons. When the optimization is complete, Inspire will open the Shape Explorer rather than the Analysis Explorer.

Note: Windows does not support Unicode characters in folder names by default. When using a run folder that contains Unicode characters, please enable Beta: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support in the Windows system locale settings.

Select Start > Settings.
In Settings, select Time & language.
Select Language & region.
Select Administrative language settings.
Click Change system locale.
Select the Beta: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support checkbox.