Generating a report of postprocessing results

The Report Generator plug-in enables you to create an HTML report using the model data and results data in an Abaqus output database (.odb) file. You can adjust the settings in the plug-in to select the content that you want to include in the report and to customize the appearance of the report. You can also save your commonly used report settings into a report options file, which can be loaded for use in another session or for another output database.

You can launch the Report Generator by selecting Plug-insToolsReport Generator from the main menu bar in the Visualization module. Once you select the content that you want to include and click Generate, Abaqus/CAE generates the report and opens it automatically in your default browser.

By default, Abaqus/CAE generates report output in the current working directory, but you can specify a different location. When you generate a report, Abaqus/CAE overwrites any report content in the output directory that you select. If you want to retain a report, you should move all of the report files to a secure location where you are not likely to overwrite their contents. All of the files included in an HTML report are listed in the File Summary section of the report.

Many of the options in the Report Generator control the types of graphical data that you add to the report. You can include the following types of figures in a report:

  • 3D XML figures: Toggle on Include 3DXML to include a figure in 3D XML format, a file format that enables you to manipulate a three-dimensional rendition of your assembly directly in the report. If your report includes content in 3D XML format, you must use Internet Explorer and the 3D XML Player to display the report properly. You can download the 3D XML Player from the Dassault Systèmes website at http://www.3ds.com.

  • Two-dimensional custom views: Toggle on one or more of the View Options settings to generate figures that display the assembly from one or more of the predefined views or user-defined views in Abaqus/CAE.

  • Additional figures: Use the Save Current Viewport plug-in to create a custom, named figure of the current viewport, which you can then include in a report by selecting it from one of the Additional figures lists in the Report Generator plug-in. Each Additional figures list displays only the custom figures that were created in the corresponding module; for example, the Material Information section of the report can include additional figures only when they were created in Property module.

    You can launch the Save Current Viewport plug-in by selecting Plug-insToolsSave Current Viewport. This plug-in is available in the Property module, the Assembly module, the Load module, the Interaction module, and the Visualization module.

The options in the Report Generator are organized into tabbed pages that correspond, in general, to the sections in the HTML report. The following options are available:

General

You can select the directory in which the HTML report files will be generated, change the title that appears at the top of the report, and change the user name that appears in the report. You can also display all of the images in the report at full size or display thumbnail images in the report that link to full-sized versions.

Additional options allow you to include or exclude the top-level components of the report, while settings on other pages in this dialog box allow you to select the specific contents to include in each section. For example, toggling on Include results on the General page prompts Abaqus/CAE to include results data in the HTML report; the options on the Results page enable you to control the specific results data included in the report, such as results from individual output variables or selected X–Y plots.

Materials

You can include figures and a 3D XML–format file that display the assembly with its contents color coded to highlight the material data. Figures can be displayed in any of the default views or user-defined views in Abaqus/CAE. You can also include any additional viewport images saved in the Property module using the Save Current Viewport plug-in.

You can also append a table of materials to the material figures in the HTML report. By default, the table of materials describes the material properties for the materials defined in the assembly and provides a color key to indicate which materials correspond to each color in the figures. You can include full descriptions of each hyperelastic and plastic material in the model; these descriptions are part of the material definition.

Instances

You can include figures and a 3D XML–format file that display the assembly with its contents color coded to highlight the part instances. You select the part instances that you want to display from a list and display the part instances together in a single image or individually in separate images. Figures can be displayed in any of the default views or user-defined views in Abaqus/CAE. You can also include any additional viewport images saved in the Assembly module using the Save Current Viewport plug-in.

You can append a table of part instances to the part instance figures in the HTML report. The table of part instances describes the part definition for the instances included in the assembly and provides a color key to indicate which part instances correspond to each color in the figures.

Loads

If you saved any viewport figures in the Load module using the Save Current Viewport plug-in, you can include any of those figures in the Load Information section of the report.

Interactions

If you saved any viewport figures in the Interaction module using the Save Current Viewport plug-in, you can include any of those figures in the Interaction Information section of the report.

Results

You can include figures and a 3D XML–format file that display contour plots of the assembly for a single step and increment in the analysis for the field output variables that you select. Figures can be displayed in any of the default views or user-defined views in Abaqus/CAE. You can also include any additional viewport images saved in the Visualization module using the Save Current Viewport plug-in. To select the field output variables for which you want to create contour plots, click Populate, then select variables and figure options from the dialog box that appears.

You can also include X–Y plots from the current output database or the current session in the report.

Format

You can customize the appearance of the report by generating the report using a custom style sheet and by displaying an image such as a company logo in the report.