Parsing FIL file with Python 1

[rybose]

Hello all,

I am looking to access the .FIL file instead of going through the .ODB. The Abaqus documentation says that each entry is 8 bytes long whether it's a string, float, or integer.

I am trying to used the struct module to convert the binary. I am unsure what format to use to read 8 byte integers.

For a first step I am simply trying to print the record length and record type key - the first 16 bytes of each entry.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
import struct

sFileName = 'shellMeshStatic.fil'
f = open(sFileName,'rb')

for x in f.readlines():
q = struct.unpack('<qq',x[0:16])
print q, len(x)

f.close()
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

I seem to be getting garbage. Has anyone done this before? Any help would be great.

-Ryan

 

[johnhors]

It's a lot easier if you use an ascii fil file instead. The binary fil can be converted to ascii by Abaqus.

http://www.Roshaz.com

 

[xerf]

any reason for preferring .fil? I think it is more of a legacy file and does not contain as much data as .odb.

 

[rybose]

The reason I want to get away from the ODB is that you have to have ABAQUS/CAE open to access it. I find this a little cumbersome.

I am writing some utilities to analyze post-buckling of stiffened panels. The models are generated as Nastran files from another code. I am trying to do the pre and post processing with a single IronPython application with a GUI interface designed using the (free) SharpDevelop IDE.

On johnhors suggestion, I am parsing the ascii file instead. It is pretty straightforward parse the ascii FIL since you can physically see how the data is patterned.

 

[kellnerp]

You might want to look at the fil file in a hex editor and make sure what you think you are reading is what you are actually reading.

TOP
CSWP, BSSE

http://www.engtran.com

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[johnhors]

Kellnerp, with the ascii version of the fil file output, any text editor will suffice to correctly see the file contents.

http://www.Roshaz.com

 

[kellnerp]

Johnhors,

I know that. But he was reading a binary file. Only a hex editor will let him see what is in it. I agree exporting as ascii makes a lot more sense.

TOP
CSWP, BSSE

http://www.engtran.com

http://www.niswug.org

"Node news is good news."