Command reference help topics > Import Simulation dialog box
Import Simulation dialog box–Simcenter Nastran, MSC Nastran, and Multiphysics options
| Solver | |
|---|---|
| Mode | Controls how the software imports the input file data.Select Performance to have the software import the data using a predefined set of import options that reduce the overall import time. For example, with the Performance option, the software imports all data in the bulk data and non-bulk data sections of your input file with minimal data checking. Use this option when you want to maximize the import performance for very large models.Select General if you want to individually select the different import options. For example, with the General option, you can select which sections of bulk and non-bulk data to import. You can also use the Data checking option to have Pre/Post validate the existence of each node on a given element in your input file. Use this option when you want to granularly control how the software imports the data, or when you are not concerned about the time required to import the data.For more information, see Importing Nastran data. |
| Input File Units | |
| Appears when File Type is set to ASCII or OP2 binary. | |
| Default Unit System****Units (Force)(Length)(Mass) | Lets you specify the units used in the file you are importing.Note: This option does not control the unit system that this software uses when you examine the input file using this software. |
| Specify temperature units | Lets you specify the units used for temperature in the file you are importing. |
| Use solver file units if available | Select this option to have the software use the units specified in the Nastran input file as the unit system for the model. The software searches for the PARAM,UNITSYS bulk data entry in the input file.If the PARAM,UNITSYS entry is present, the software imports the file in the unit system specified by PARAM,UNITSYS.If the PARAM,UNITSYS entry is not present, the software imports the file in the unit system specified in the Default Units (Force)(Length)(Mass) list. |
| Use BTU as thermal energy unit | Lets you use BTUs as the units for temperature in the file that you are importing. |
| Input File | |
| File Type | Lets you specify the type of file you are importing.Select ASCII to import a Nastran .dat file.Select OP2 binary to import a Nastran .op2 file.Select Thermal-Flow XML to import a thermal/flow solver .xml file.The Thermal-FLow XML option is available only in the Simcenter 3D Multiphysics solver environment. |
| File Name | Lets you specify the name of the file to import. |
| NASTRAN Version | Available when MSC Nastran is the specified solver.Lets you specify MSC Nastran version that was used to create the selected input file. Select auto-detect to have the software automatically determine the version during the import process. |
| Analysis Type | Lets you specify the type of analysis contained in the file to import. Select auto-detect to have the software automatically determine the analysis type. Pre/Post uses this analysis type to set the analysis type for the FEM and Simulation files that it creates during the import process. |
| Selective Import | |
| Appears when File Type is set to ASCII or OP2 binary. | |
| Non-Bulk Data Sections | Imports only selected sections such as the file management, executive control, and case control sections from the input file. |
| NASTRAN Statement Section File Management Section Executive Control Section Case Control | Lets you select the sections of the input file to import. |
| Sets | Imports sets. |
| Bulk Data Section | Imports the bulk data section of the input file. |
| Filter method | By card family: Select this option to import selected types of bulk data entries, such as Elements or Materials.By card name: Select this option to if you want to select the bulk data entries to import by name.Cards to import: Select the names of the bulk data entries that you want to import.Cards to exclude: Select the names of the bulk data entries that you do not want to import.Cards to process as user-defined text: Select the names of the bulk data entries that you want the software to process as either commented or commented User Defined Text. |
| General Options | |
| Appears when File Type is set to ASCII or OP2 binary. | |
| Create new solution for imported data | Controls whether the software automatically creates a new solution using the imported data. |
| Auxiliary Input File | When you import an ASCII input file, use this option to specify the name of a second ASCII format file to import. The software includes the auxiliary input file with the primary input file. For example, if you have a group of parameters that you typically use for all analyses, you could save those parameters in a separate file. You could then use this option to include that parameter file each time you import a .dat file. |
| Create groups from include files | Controls whether the software creates a group of the nodes and/or elements contained in any files included in the imported input file with the Nastran INCLUDE statement. |
| Create groups from appended file | Controls whether the software creates a group of the nodes and/or elements contained in an appended file. |
| Processing Options | |
| Appears when File Type is set to ASCII or OP2 binary. | |
| Data checking | Controls the level of checking that the software performs on the data that you are importing.Select Minimal to perform the lowest level of mesh validity checking. With this option, the software assumes that the input file is ready to solve, and it only performs minor checks during the import. The Minimal option offers the fastest import performance.Select Nominal to have the software check for basic issues with the input file. For example, the software checks to ensure that nodes and elements that are referenced by loads are included in the file. The Nominal option offers a balance between file validity checking and import performance.Select Extended to perform the highest level of mesh validity checking. The software checks for the existence of each node on every element that is included in the input file. In addition, the software checks each element for duplicate nodes. The Extended option can increase the processing time for importing an input file, particularly in larger models.Note: If you select any of the Selective Import options, the software performs Extended data checking.For more information, see Extended mesh validity checking during import (Nastran and ANSYS). |
| Output verbose messaging, up to | Controls whether the software uses verbose messaging during the import process. If you select this option, you can limit the number of messaging lines reported. The banner section of the import file indicates whether verbose messaging is turned on. |
| Data Compaction Options | |
| Appears when File Type is set to ASCII or OP2 binary. | |
| Import 3D MOVs as field data | Control whether the software imports material orientation vectors for solid elements as node ID tables (spatial fields).Select this check box to import any material orientation vector data for solid elements as a single spatial field. After import, in the Mesh Associated Data dialog box, the Material Orientation Method option is set to Spatial Field.Clear this check box to import material orientation vector data for solid elements as physical property table data. In this software, there is a one to one relationship between physical property tables and mesh collectors. If your model contains a large number of material orientation vector physical property definitions, the software creates a large number of corresponding mesh collectors in the Simulation Navigator. This can make your model difficult to manage.Note: If a coordinate system is only used in a solver input file to provide the orientation for the 3D material orientation vector, the software does not import the coordinate system. This ensures that the software does not import numerous coordinate systems that are not required for the analysis. |
| Import selective loads as field data | Controls whether the software imports certain types of loads as field data. If you select this option, the software imports certain loads, such as Nastran PLOAD2 pressure loads, as spatial fields.When you import complex models with many different types of boundary conditions, selecting this option can improve performance and usability. |
| Import MPCs/MPCYs as Elements | Controls how the software imports multi-point constraints (MPCs)If you select this option, the software imports all individual MPCs as a constraint elements in the FEM file.The software includes these elements in the Summary of Bulk Data table that displays in the Information window.If you clear this option, the software imports each MPC as a separate MPC type of Manual Coupling constraint.This option can improve the import performance for models that contain a large number (greater than 10,000) multi-point constraints. However, these faster import times come at the expense of a more detailed representation of your input file in Pre/Post.Tip: Use the Number of MPCs for Element Creation customer default to specify the threshold number of multi-point constraints that a solver input file must contain before the software imports them constraint elements instead of individual MPC couplings |
| Element Associated Data | |
| Physical Properties | Available when you are importing a Simcenter Nastran or MSC Nastran input file that contains elements that support defining physical property data as element-associated data.Controls whether the software imports existing physical property table data as element associated data for certain types of elements.Select All to import all physical properties as element-associated data. With this option, the software creates a separate mesh collector for each physical property table type. For example, if you import three different PSHELL entries, the software creates a single PSHELL mesh collector in the Simulation Navigator.Select None if you do not want to import physical property table data as element-associated data.Select Selective to import specific physical property types as element-associated data. Click to use the Element Associated Data Processing dialog box to control how the software places the data in mesh collectors.For more information, see Importing physical property data as element-associated data. |
| Coordinate System Data | Controls how the software imports coordinate system data for CBUSH, CBUSH1D, CTRIA3, CTRIA6, CTRIAR, CQUAD4, CQUAD8, and CQUADR elements.Select All to import all coordinate system data as element-associated data.Select None if you do not want to import coordinate system data as element-associated data. The software creates a coordinate systems in Pre/Post for each coordinate system bulk data entry in your input file.Select Selective to import coordinate system data as element-associated data for the element types that you select. |
| DOF Components | Controls how the software imports the degree-of-freedom components for RBE2, CELAS2, and CDAMP2 elements.Select All to import all degree-of-freedom components as element-associated data.Select None if you do not want to import degree-of-freedom components as element-associated data.Select Selective to import degree-of-freedom components as element-associated data for the element types that you select. |
| Mass/Stiffness/Damping | Controls how the software imports mass, stiffness, and damping data for CONM2, CELAS2, and CDAMP2 elements.Select All to import all mass, stiffness, and damping data as element-associated data.Select None if you do not want to import mass, stiffness, and damping data as element-associated data.Select Selective to import mass, stiffness, and damping data as element-associated data for the element types that you select. |
| Enable element associated data compaction | Controls whether the software compacts element-associated data during the import process. When the software compacts element-associated data, it evaluates the input file to find the most common element-associated data and stores those properties as mesh-associated data. |
| Round Trip Options | |
| Appears when File Type is set to ASCII or OP2 binary. | |
| Create Round Trip Parameters modeling object (Nastran) | Select this option if you want the software to preserve the order and format of bulk data entries in the original file for later export. For more information, see Preserving the order and format of bulk data through the round-trip process. |
| Import unsupported cards as | Controls whether the software imports unsupported solver syntax as a commented or uncommented User Defined Text modeling object.Importing selected bulk data entries as uncommented User Defined Text can be helpful if you need to import an entry that is only partially supported for import (not all fields are supported). If you import the entry as uncommented User Defined Text, the software imports all fields.For example, you can use this option if your input file contains an element, such as the RTRPLT element, that is not supported by this software. If you import that element as an uncommented User Defined Text modeling object and then solve using this software, Nastran should solve the file and produce correct results.Note: Do not make modifications to the unsupported commands or bulk data entries. If you make changes to unsupported syntax, Nastran may fail to solve the file (with a FATAL error message) or may report incorrect results. |
| Use comment cards for entity names | Controls whether the software uses comment ($) lines in your input file to determine the names of imported entities, such as materials, physical properties, or meshes. |
Teamcenter Integration mode
The following options appear when running in Teamcenter Integration mode using the Teamcenter for Simulation data model.
| Input File | |
|---|---|
| Source | Specifies if the input file is stored in Teamcenter or stored locally. |
| File Name | Lets you specify the file to import. |
Import Simulation dialog box–Simcenter Nastran, MSC Nastran, and Multiphysics options, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series
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Source: https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/289054037/PL20200601120302950.advanced/xid621322 · retrieved 2026-07-17