Application Menu

The Application menu contains Windows standard and Autodesk Simulation-specific commands. We assume you know standard Windows command functionality, so we present only features unique to Autodesk Simulation in this section. Some menu commands, such as Archive, are documented elsewhere in the Help.

Note: You cannot open or save files with a file name, including the file path, that exceeds 200 characters. Windows limits paths to 260 bytes, which is approximately 260 characters. Autodesk Simulation further limits the number of characters to allow for appended characters required for reports and other bookkeeping tasks. If you cannot open a file, move the applicable files and folders to a different location.

Create models

1. Select New.
2. In the dialog box, select the type of model to create in Start a wizard for creating a new Autodesk Simulation model. The available options depend on your software. As you select each item, a synopsis displays.
3. Use Choose analysis type to set the analysis type.
4. Click New.

Open models

1. Select Open.
2. Select the appropriate Files of Type.
3. Click Options to set appropriate file open settings.
   Tip: The default values for many of the options can be set in the ToolsOptions dialog box.
4. In the Open dialog box, select the file you want to open.
5. Click Open.

Merge files

You can combine two models in the FEA Editor environment.

1. Open one of the files using Open
2. Select Merge and select the second file. Autodesk Simulation scales the mesh of the file to keep equivalent dimensions in the new modeling units.

3. Models from the second file are numbered starting with the next part number available in the current model.

   You can repeat the merge process as needed to create assemblies from multiple models. The following table summarizes the merge capabilities:

Item	Merged?
CAD Geometry and Meshes	Yes
Hand-built Meshes	Yes
Element Types	Yes
Nodal loads and Boundary Conditions	No
Face/Element Loads	No
Element Definition	No
Material Properties	No
Analysis Parameters	No
Local Coordinate Systems	Yes
Rotating Frames of Reference	No
Construction Objects	No
Drawing Planes	No
Sketches	No
Results	No

Save models

1. Click Save.
2. For a new file, the Save as dialog appears. Select the destination folder, type a filename, and click Save.
   Note: Files save automatically when you execute certain commands, such as Analysis AnalysisCheck Model and Analysis Analysis Run Simulation
   .

You can also save your file under a new name.

1. Click Save as.
2. Select the destination folder, type a filename, and click Save.
   Note:

   • The original CAD model, archive file, and other files in the root folder with the same name as the model are not copied.
   • You cannot save your model under the .ds_data folder. Autodesk Simulation reserves the .ds_data folder for internal use.

Save an image of the active window

1. Click ExportImage.
2. In the bottom right corner of the dialog box, an image of the file displays.
   Note: If the FEA Editor environment is active, the entire display area saves to the image file. If the Results environment is active, you can define the image file using a rectangle in the display area.
3. Select the destination folder, file type, and enter a filename.
4. Define the image size using the Width and Height fields in the Image Attributes section. If you select Lock , the images resize using the current aspect ratio.
5. After you have set the appropriate image and file properties, click Save.

Export models to FEA formats

In the FEA Editor or Results environment, you can export your model to a different FEA format. Click ExportThird-Party FEA.

Note: You must execute AnalysisCheck Model or AnalysisPerform Analysis to create the database files for export. If you have not run either command, the Third-Party FEA command is unavailable.

Create visualization data files

In the FEA Editor or Results environment, you can create a VRML file (*.wrl) to view in most web browsers. Click Export Visualization Data.

You can also create a HOOPS Stream file (*.hsf) in the Results environment. However, the file type does not capture load and constraint icons, vector plots, and contours on line elements. To view the HOOPS Stream file in your web browser, download a free HSF viewer.

Export models to CAD formats

In the FEA Editor environment, you can export your model mesh and construction objects to a CAD format. The CAD file contains wireframe data, but no surface or solid information. Click Export CAD Wireframe.

The following table summarizes the CAD format export support:

You can also create a HOOPS Stream file (*.hsf) in the Results environment. However, the file type does not capture load and constraint icons, vector plots, and contours on line elements. To view the HOOPS Stream file in your web browser, download a free HSF viewer.

Format	Entities Exported
AutoCAD DXF (*.dxf)	Mesh lines only. Construction objects are not exported.
CadKey (*.cdl)	Mesh lines only. Construction objects are not exported.
IGES (*.igs)	Mesh lines and construction objects are exported to one of the following IGES entities:
	IGES Entity	IGES Type
	Circle and Arcs	100
	Line	110
	Point	116
	Rational B-Spline Curve	126