[abrueck109]

Hi ,

I just started using OpenFoam last week for my bachelor thesis and I have a big problem with the installation. I'm not really experienced in installing such software, it's more or less the first time and I hope you can help me, I'm an absolute beginner.

My computer runs on Windows 7 and I followed the installation instructions "Windows binary".

My problem is, that i can't find the files on windows, they should be somewhere "home/users/...", but there is nothing, I think it didn't work to copy from the docker, but I don't know how to fix it

What I did (execute as admin) :
1) Installation
2) Start "OF-Env_Create" which was succesful
3) Start "OpenFOAM_Start" :
- created a workingDir (which is empty, when I try to copy the tutorial in here, there is an error "cp: cannot create directory`./tutorials' :Permission denied"
- cd $FOAM_RUN
cp -r $FOAM_TUTORIALS/incompressible/icoFoam/cavity/cavity .
cd cavity

this was kind of succesfull, i could execute blockMesh, but when I tried to visualize it with "paraFoam" (Paraview is installed, do I have to change some settings?), it's not working

I googled and tried a lot, watched YT-videos, but it does not help and it's just so frustrating

Hope you can help me to fix my problem. Thanks a lot in advance

[wyldckat]

Quick questions:

1. Which specific download/installation instructions did you follow?
2. Which specific features do you need from OpenFOAM?

[abrueck109]

I followed the instructions in the Readme :

https://www.openfoam.com/download/tx...adme_v1906.txt

I want to use OpenFoam for a Multiphase Flow:

https://www.openfoam.com/documentati...p#x14-680004.1

Is the installation for Windows 10 less complicated? Maybe I could have a friend's laptop..

And have you heard of butterfly (for GUI)? if yes, do you know if it's working for a multiphase flow?

Thank you!

----


Maybe I found the issue. I took a screenshot from the Virtual Box settings and it's not like in the "OF_Windows_Guid_v1906"-pdf (see image below).
Do you have an idea how i can fix it?

[wyldckat]

Quick answers:
If you prefer to keep using the Docker based container, please run the following commands within the OpenFOAM terminal:

echo $FOAM_RUN
mkdir -p $FOAM_RUN
cd $FOAM_RUN
pwd
touch test.txt

1. The first command will tell you the complete path to the "run" folder that OpenFOAM has by default.
2. The second command will create the folder(s) on that path.
3. The third command will try to go into that folder.
4. The next one tells us which path we are one right now.
5. The last one tries to create an empty file named "test.txt"

Please show us what these commands give you, so that it's easier for us to help diagnose the problem.

I'm not familiar with the details of how the Docker based installation is working on OpenFOAM-v1906, but if starting the terminal it does not give any error messages, then my guess is that this should not be a problem.

That said, at the end of the README file you gave a link for, it is indicating that your Windows user name should not have spaces in it, otherwise this installation will not work properly.

Originally Posted by abrueck109

And have you heard of butterfly (for GUI)? if yes, do you know if it's working for a multiphase flow?

If you are referring to this: https://www.ladybug.tools/butterfly.html - they don't seem to provide support setting up cases for multiphase flow.

If you are still using Windows 7, may I suggest that you try instead blueCFD-Core 2017-2? It's a port of OpenFOAM for Windows: http://bluecfd.github.io/Core/ - I'm responsible for the blueCFD-Core project and it should be a lot easier to install and use. Furthermore, it should work well with the Butterfly GUI.

[abrueck109]

Originally Posted by wyldckat

Quick answers:
If you prefer to keep using the Docker based container, ...

is there an alternative instead of using the Docker based container? I just want to work with the software, for me it does not matter how..

I tried your instructions and attached the screenshot.
In my windows user name is no space, so that should be fine.

Oh I haven't heard of blueCFD-Core 2017-2. So if OpenFoam is not working, I will definately try this, thank you. Does it support multiphase flows? Unfortunately I'm not sure then if butterfly is right for me, when it does not support multiphase flows.

Thanks a lot for your help!

[wyldckat]

Originally Posted by abrueck109

I tried your instructions and attached the screenshot.
In my windows user name is no space, so that should be fine.

OK, from the image you provided, it should be working as intended. Now try to follow the tutorial instructions: https://www.openfoam.com/documentation/tutorial-guide/

Originally Posted by abrueck109

Oh I haven't heard of blueCFD-Core 2017-2. So if OpenFoam is not working, I will definately try this, thank you. Does it support multiphase flows?

Yes, it should support multiphase flows, since version 2017-2 provides a complete port of OpenFOAM 5 for Windows. If there are any problems with it, the blueCFD-Core has its own issue tracker for reporting problems.

• Side note: OpenFOAM 5 is a version provided by the OpenFOAM Foundation at openfoam.org, which doesn't have as many features as the versions provided by ESI-OpenCFD at openfoam.com, namely from where you got your version from.

[abrueck109]

hmm, i tried to follow the instructions, but it's the same problem: i cannot copy the files into workingDir

Really don't know, why..

----

hmmm, i checked again the folders, and after the new installation the tutorial folder is missing..

----

now, i have copied the tutorials, but i cannot copy them to workingDir, same problem

----

well, i tried to copy in "su" (root) and it seems it worked.
But when I now try to execute I got this "Fatal error".

Sorry for spamming

[wyldckat]

Quick answer: Run these commands:

cd $FOAM_RUN
cp -r $FOAM_TUTORIALS ./
cd tutorials/incompressible/icoFoam/cavity/cavity
blockMesh
icoFoam

It should work properly, namely it should copy the tutorials folder without problems and run the "cavity" tutorial commands without problems.

From what I can figure out, the "workingDir" folder is somehow restricted from doing anything, which is why it's not working for you.

[anon_q]

Originally Posted by wyldckat

Quick answer: Run these commands:

cd $FOAM_RUN
cp -r $FOAM_TUTORIALS ./
cd tutorials/incompressible/icoFoam/cavity/cavity
blockMesh
icoFoam

.

Just as a side note, I noticed that newly installed OpenFOAM has no $FOAM_RUN folder. So I have to create it (only once after installing OF) before trying to cd to it.

mkdir $FOAM_RUN

[wyldckat]

Originally Posted by Evren Linda

Just as a side note, I noticed that newly installed OpenFOAM has no $FOAM_RUN folder. So I have to create it (only once after installing OF) before trying to cd to it.

mkdir $FOAM_RUN

Quick answer: I didn't mention that because in abrueck109's screenshots, the folder already existed and I had also stated that command in a previous post above...

[anon_q]

Originally Posted by wyldckat

Quick answer: I didn't mention that because in abrueck109's screenshots, the folder already existed and I had also stated that command in a previous post above...

Oh sorry! , Yes I can see that in the screenshots.