starccm+ solution files (.plt) into tecplot

akshaybagi · January 18, 2017, 20:43

Hi,

I am trying to read starccm+ solution files in .plt format into tecplot. It is a 3D transient simulation. I have saved .plt files at different time steps. When I load these files into tecplot I get this error - "A grid file must be specified before any solution files that depend on it are specified." What is a grid file and what format must that be in? How do I get it from starccm+.

Also the .plt files start from time 2s and not from 0s. I had forgotten to save in the beginning. Is this causing any problem?

Please help.

Thanks

wsfowler · February 1, 2017, 20:22

I've heard from other customers that the Tecplot PLT output from Star-CCM+ is not great. Tecplot 360 has a good EnSight reader and most people I've interacted with use the EnSight file format export from Star-CCM+ when viewing their results in Tecplot 360.

Let me know if that works for you.

Regards,
Scott Fowler
Tecplot Product Manager

akshaybagi · February 1, 2017, 20:27

Hi,

Thanks for getting back. Actually, it is working now. I had to save the mesh data along with the solution data in each .plt file. It works fine.

Actually, I am facing a new issue. I am using Tecplot on OpenSuse. I have installed Tecplot on a different RAID drive (other than home drive). While working it is using space on the Home drive and using up all the available space. So when I probe a time series data at a point and create a time series plot, there is no space left on the home drive. When I click on Fourier Transform, Tecplot shuts down since there is no space left. Do you know how to avoid this?

Thanks

wsfowler · February 1, 2017, 20:45

Tecplot will cache data in a temporary directory. You can configure the temporary directory in the tecplot.cfg file. Information on this is available in the User's Manual - search for "Default Temporary Directory"

I'd try this first. If you're still having problems I'd suggest contacting tech support as this may be difficult to diagnose via the forum.

Scott

akshaybagi · February 1, 2017, 21:21

Thanks, it worked.

elebelly · November 23, 2018, 16:36

Hi akshaybagi,

Were you able to find a fix to this post simulation? So I auto exported only the solution data but have no found a way to add a grid file to tecplot and then append the already ran simulation data onto this on tecplot itself. Do I have to rerun and save mesh data too?

Kind regards,

Eleanor

January 18, 2017, 20:43	starccm+ solution files (.plt) into tecplot	#1
akshaybagi New Member Akshay Bagi Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 13	Hi, I am trying to read starccm+ solution files in .plt format into tecplot. It is a 3D transient simulation. I have saved .plt files at different time steps. When I load these files into tecplot I get this error - "A grid file must be specified before any solution files that depend on it are specified." What is a grid file and what format must that be in? How do I get it from starccm+. Also the .plt files start from time 2s and not from 0s. I had forgotten to save in the beginning. Is this causing any problem? Please help. Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[General] Time series and animations for tecplot files	Ivan	ParaView	1	August 21, 2013 13:15
critical error during installation of openfoam	Fabio88	OpenFOAM Installation	21	June 2, 2010 04:01
fluent case n data files not exporting to tecplot	krishna	FLUENT	2	February 18, 2007 00:24
Transient solution multiple CGNS files in Tecplot	Ramses Galaz	Tecplot	3	October 17, 2006 11:43
Results saving in CFD	hawk	Main CFD Forum	16	July 21, 2005 21:51

February 1, 2017, 20:22		#2
wsfowler Senior Member Scott Fowler Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 123 Rep Power: 17	I've heard from other customers that the Tecplot PLT output from Star-CCM+ is not great. Tecplot 360 has a good EnSight reader and most people I've interacted with use the EnSight file format export from Star-CCM+ when viewing their results in Tecplot 360. Let me know if that works for you. Regards, Scott Fowler Tecplot Product Manager

February 1, 2017, 20:27		#3
akshaybagi New Member Akshay Bagi Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 13	Hi, Thanks for getting back. Actually, it is working now. I had to save the mesh data along with the solution data in each .plt file. It works fine. Actually, I am facing a new issue. I am using Tecplot on OpenSuse. I have installed Tecplot on a different RAID drive (other than home drive). While working it is using space on the Home drive and using up all the available space. So when I probe a time series data at a point and create a time series plot, there is no space left on the home drive. When I click on Fourier Transform, Tecplot shuts down since there is no space left. Do you know how to avoid this? Thanks

February 1, 2017, 20:45		#4
wsfowler Senior Member Scott Fowler Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 123 Rep Power: 17	Tecplot will cache data in a temporary directory. You can configure the temporary directory in the tecplot.cfg file. Information on this is available in the User's Manual - search for "Default Temporary Directory" I'd try this first. If you're still having problems I'd suggest contacting tech support as this may be difficult to diagnose via the forum. Scott

February 1, 2017, 21:21		#5
akshaybagi New Member Akshay Bagi Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 13	Thanks, it worked.

November 23, 2018, 16:36		#6
elebelly New Member Eleanor Rajaratnam Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 13	Hi akshaybagi, Were you able to find a fix to this post simulation? So I auto exported only the solution data but have no found a way to add a grid file to tecplot and then append the already ran simulation data onto this on tecplot itself. Do I have to rerun and save mesh data too? Kind regards, Eleanor