FEMAP CSV Input

[admiral007]

Hey all,

I see in the FEMAP Commands and User manual that it's possible to import results from a CSV file, but its explanation and example aren't helpful. I'm looking for an example CSV file that FEMAP can read results from. Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BlasMolero]

Dear Admiral,
To import results from a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file in Femap, you can follow these steps:

1. Ensure the Model is Loaded: Before importing results, make sure the model into which you want to import the results is open in Femap. The model must contain the necessary nodes and elements to which the results data will be applied.
2. Use the Import Command: Go to the menu and select File > Import > Analysis Results > Comma-Separated. This command allows you to read results from a CSV file.
3. Specify the CSV File: In the file dialog that appears, navigate to and select the CSV file containing the results you wish to import. The default file extension filter is set to .CSV, so ensure your file has this extension if you want it to be listed.
4. Configure Import Settings: After selecting the file, you may be presented with the Read Comma-Separated Table dialog box, depending on the format of your CSV file. In this dialog, you can specify:
   • Whether the first row contains titles (header information).
   • Whether the first column contains IDs.
   • The output type (nodal or elemental results).
   • Whether to create a new set for the imported results.
   • If the vectors are XYZ components.
5. Complete the Import: After configuring your import settings, click OK to complete the import process. The results from the CSV file will be applied to the corresponding nodes and elements in your Femap model.

Alternative Method: You can also display CSV files using File > Attach Results (and then select your CSV file). This method attaches the results directly without importing them into the model, which can be useful for quickly reviewing results without altering your model.

Important Note: The nodes and elements must be loaded into Femap before importing the results, and the CSV file should be formatted according to the Comma-Separated Table Format or the Extended Comma-Separated Table Format for proper import. For detailed information on these formats, refer to the Femap User Guide, sections 8.11.3 and 8.11.4.

Best regards,
Blas.

 

[admiral007]

Dear Admiral,
To import results from a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file in Femap, you can follow these steps:

1. Ensure the Model is Loaded: Before importing results, make sure the model into which you want to import the results is open in Femap. The model must contain the necessary nodes and elements to which the results data will be applied.
2. Use the Import Command: Go to the menu and select File > Import > Analysis Results > Comma-Separated. This command allows you to read results from a CSV file.
3. Specify the CSV File: In the file dialog that appears, navigate to and select the CSV file containing the results you wish to import. The default file extension filter is set to .CSV, so ensure your file has this extension if you want it to be listed.
4. Configure Import Settings: After selecting the file, you may be presented with the Read Comma-Separated Table dialog box, depending on the format of your CSV file. In this dialog, you can specify:
   • Whether the first row contains titles (header information).
   • Whether the first column contains IDs.
   • The output type (nodal or elemental results).
   • Whether to create a new set for the imported results.
   • If the vectors are XYZ components.
5. Complete the Import: After configuring your import settings, click OK to complete the import process. The results from the CSV file will be applied to the corresponding nodes and elements in your Femap model.

Alternative Method: You can also display CSV files using File > Attach Results (and then select your CSV file). This method attaches the results directly without importing them into the model, which can be useful for quickly reviewing results without altering your model.

Important Note: The nodes and elements must be loaded into Femap before importing the results, and the CSV file should be formatted according to the Comma-Separated Table Format or the Extended Comma-Separated Table Format for proper import. For detailed information on these formats, refer to the Femap User Guide, sections 8.11.3 and 8.11.4.

Best regards,
Blas.

I know how to import/attach CSV. The problem I have is I don't know what format the CSV is supposed to be in. I want to see an example CSV so I know how to format the results data I do have into a model that already exists.

 

[BlasMolero]

The Comma-Separated Table Format​

The comma-separated table format that is supported by Femap is very simple. The following sample shows the basic capability, including titles and ID numbers, for a file with three output vectors:

, "title 1", "title 2", "title 3"
1, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0
2, 2.2, 3.1, 4.0
5, 1.4E2, 2.3E2, 0.111
10, , , 0.5

This file contains output for four entities (1, 2, 5 and 10). They could be either nodes or elements. There is no way to tell from the file. Note that since IDs are contained in the first column, the first record which contains the titles starts with a comma to skip the title for the IDs. You could also specify a title for the IDs, but it will be ignored.

The titles in the first record are text and must be less than 25 characters long each. Typically you should enclose them in quotes, as shown, but this is not required as long as no commas are contained in the title. If you specify any titles in the file, you must specify a title for all vectors.

Output data is specified in the remaining records. Each record corresponds to a node or element, and contains one output field for each vector that will be created. You can skip intermediate fields just by entering a series of commas (like entity 10 above, where the 0.5 is for the third vector). All skipped data will have the value of 0.0. If you do not specify titles in the file, the first record must contain output for all vectors. Later records can omit data for trailing output vectors if you want the values to be 0.0. The numeric values can be in floating point or exponential format. You can enclose the output values in quotes, if you want, but they are not required.

If you do not include the ID column, data for all nodes/elements must be present, and must be in numerical order corresponding to the entities in your Femap model. If IDs are not present, the first title will correspond to the first output vector (the leading comma should not be present).

 

[admiral007]

That's copied verbatim from the User Manual.

Again, as I said, I know what's said in the FEMAP User Manual and Commands Manual. And again, as I said, this explanation and example aren't helpful. I still don't understand how to format the CSV with the data I have.

An example of the data I have is:

ID	Set ID	Set Value	Set Title	3000..Bar EndA Plane1 Moment	3001..Bar EndA Plane2 Moment	3002..Bar EndB Plane1 Moment	3003..Bar EndB Plane2 Moment	3004..Bar EndA Pl1 Shear Force	3005..Bar EndA Pl2 Shear Force	3008..Bar EndA Axial Force	3010..Bar EndA Torque
1234567​	1​	0​	NASTRAN Case 1001	-100.5​	-3.5​	1000.5​	-50.5​	-10.1​	0.6​	100.1​	-0.9​

How would I format this information into a CSV that FEMAP can read?