2.1.1 Starting ABAQUS/CAE (or ABAQUS/Viewer)

When you create a model and analyze it, ABAQUS/CAE generates a set of files containing the definition of your model, the analysis input, and the results of the analysis. In addition, ABAQUS/CAE and ABAQUS/Viewer generate replay files that reflect all your interactions with the application. Consequently, before you run either product, you should move to a directory where you have permission to create files.

You execute ABAQUS/CAE (or ABAQUS/Viewer) by running the abaqus execution procedure and specifying the cae (or viewer) parameter:

abaqus cae or viewer
[database=database-file]
 
[replay=replay-file]
[recover=journal-file]
[script=script-file]
[noGUI=noGUI-file]
[noenvstartup]
[noSavedOptions]
[noStartupDialog]
[custom=script-file]

You can include the following options on the command line:

database

This option specifies the name of the model database file or output database file to open. You can open either type of file in ABAQUS/CAE; you can open only output database files in ABAQUS/Viewer. To specify a model database file, include either the .cae file extension or no file extension in your file name. To specify an output database file when running ABAQUS/CAE, include the .odb file extension in your file name. If you are running ABAQUS/Viewer, you can omit the .odb file extension.

replay

This option specifies the name of the file from which ABAQUS/CAE commands are to be replayed. The commands in replay-file will execute immediately upon startup of ABAQUS/CAE. For more information, see Replaying an ABAQUS/CAE session, Section 9.5.1.

recover

This option specifies the name of the file from which a model database is to be rebuilt; it is not available if you are running ABAQUS/Viewer. The commands in journal-file (model_database_name.jnl) will execute immediately upon startup of ABAQUS/CAE. For more information, see Recreating a saved model database, Section 9.5.2, and Recreating an unsaved model database, Section 9.5.3.

script

This option specifies the name of the file containing Python configuration commands to be run at application startup. Commands in this file are run after any configuration commands that have been set in the environment file.

Arguments can be passed into the file by entering -- on the command line, followed by the arguments separated by one or more spaces. These arguments will be ignored by the ABAQUS/CAE execution procedure, but they will be accessible within the script.

noGUI

This option specifies the name of a file containing Python scripts (.py file extension) to be run without the graphical user interface (GUI). This option is useful for automating pre- or post-analysis processing tasks without the added expense of running a display. Since no interface is provided, the scripts cannot include any user interaction. ABAQUS/CAE runs the commands in the file and exits upon their completion.

Arguments can be passed into the file by entering -- on the command line, followed by the arguments separated by one or more spaces. These arguments will be ignored by the ABAQUS/CAE execution procedure, but they will be accessible within the Python script.

noenvstartup

This option specifies that all configuration commands in the environment files should not be run at application startup. This option can be used in conjunction with the startup command to suppress all configuration commands except for those in the startup file.

noSavedOptions

This option specifies that ABAQUS/CAE should not apply the display options settings stored in abaqus_v6.gpr (for example, the render style and the display of datum planes). For more information, see Saving your display options settings, Section 50.12.

noStartupDialog

This option specifies that the Start Session dialog box for ABAQUS/CAE or ABAQUS/Viewer should not be displayed.

custom

This option specifies the name of the file containing ABAQUS GUI Toolkit commands. This option executes an application that is a customized version of ABAQUS/CAE or ABAQUS/Viewer. For more information, see Chapter 1, Introduction,” of the ABAQUS GUI Toolkit User's Manual.

ABAQUS/CAE begins. If you do not include the database, replay, recover, or noStartupDialog options, the Start Session dialog box appears. Choose one of the following session startup options:

Create Model Database

Use this option (not available if you are running ABAQUS/Viewer) to begin a new analysis (equivalent to choosing FileNew from the main menu bar).

Open Database

Use this option to open a previously saved model database or output database file (equivalent to choosing FileOpen from the main menu bar).

Run Script

Use this option to run a file containing ABAQUS/CAE commands (equivalent to choosing FileRun Script from the main menu bar). For more information, see Creating and running your own scripts, Section 9.5.4.

Start Tutorial

Use this option to begin an introductory tutorial from the online documentation (equivalent to choosing HelpGetting Started from the main menu bar).