Attribute is the default item type used for color coding. For step-by-step instructions on using the Color Code dialog box, see “Coloring part instances, elements, nodes, materials, sections, and display groups,” Section 37.4.2. To color code by selected nodes or elements instead of attributes, see “Color coding by nodes or elements,” Section 37.4.4.
You can select items for color coding by attributes using any of the following methods:
Part instances
Element sets
Materials
Sections
Element types
Averaging regions
ABAQUS/CAE includes several unique options to help you color code by attributes; these options are not available when you color code by nodes or elements. The following options make color coding by attributes the preferred method to customize the display color of individual items:
Activating and deactivating table rows
Use the Activate and Deactivate buttons to toggle the status of the Active column for all rows in the Color Mapping table that include a highlighted cell. You can also click cells in the Active column to toggle the status of their rows. When you click Apply in the Color Code dialog box, ABAQUS/CAE changes the colors in the viewport only for those rows that are active.
Automatic color coding
The Color column in the Color Mapping table shows a default automatic color scheme that you can apply to your model. To edit the color scheme, click the Auto Color List button. In the Auto Color List dialog box that opens, you can click a color sample 
and use the buttons on the right side of the dialog box to add, remove, or rearrange colors (for more information, see “Customizing colors,” Section 3.2.9). You can also double-click a color sample to edit the color.
When you close the Auto Color List dialog box, the new colors are applied to all unmodified rows of the Color Mapping table. To automatically color edges or colors that you have already edited in the table, select the desired cells in the table and click Auto-Color.
Selecting the entire table
You can use the Select All button to select all cells in the Color Mapping table. This is useful when you want to activate, deactivate, or automatically color all elements and element edges.
Sorting by columns
Click the column headings in the Color Mapping table to sort the table by the contents of the selected column. Click the same heading a second time to reverse the sorting order.
Reading or writing the table to an ASCII file
You can save the contents of the Color Mapping table to an ASCII file or read table data from an ASCII file by clicking mouse button 3 with the cursor positioned over the table.
Select Write to File to select a file name and save the contents of the color mapping table for the current database and selection method. The current attribute list is saved along with the color information, so the saved color scheme is valid only for databases that contain identical attribute names.
Tip: Indicate the output database name and attribute selection method in the file name to help locate the correct file for later use.
Select Read from File to select a file name and read the contents of a saved color mapping table. ABAQUS/CAE displays an error message if the saved attributes do not match the attributes of the current database and selection method.
