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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. iii
External Connection Guide
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Introduction to the External Connection Add-In
The following section describes the ANSYS Workbench External Connection Add-in and how you can
use it within an ANSYS Workbench workflow.
Overview
Integrating an External Application
Customizing the Workbench User Interface
Overview
The External Connection Add-in enables you to integrate custom, lightweight, external applications and
processes into the ANSYS Workbench Project Schematic workflow. Features exposed by the External
Connection also allow you to perform automation and customization activities.
• Define User Interface (UI) elements, such as buttons in the Workbench Toolbar or entries in custom
menus, and create the scripts that enable them.
• Create new systems to facilitate interaction with the Workbench Project Schematic.
The External Connection Add-in provides an External Connection system in the External Connection
Systems toolbox. The system contains a single External Connection component that acts as a proxy
for the external application.
After you drag an External Connection system into the Workbench Project Schematic window, the Ex-
ternal Connection component appears in an Edit Required state, indicated by a question mark, until
you update it with a Component Configuration file.
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Introduction to the External Connection Add-In
In the figure below, the External Connection reads the Configuration file SquaresConfig.xml, which
provides integration details for an external application that calculates square values that are then dis-
played in the System Parameters. See Custom, Lightweight, External Application Integration (p. 21) for
more details.
The following figure shows an External Connection that adds a functional button to the toolbar. See
User Interface Button Definition (p. 23) for more details.
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Overview
The figure below shows a Mesh Transfer system that consumes an upstream mesh and passes it to a
downstream Fluent system. See Mesh Transfer System (p. 24) for more details.
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Introduction to the External Connection Add-In
Figure 5: End-to-End Mesh Transfer Between Mesh, Mesher, and Fluent Setup
Every External Connection system exposes a Read Configuration GUI operation as a component context
menu. This GUI operation’s underlying command reads a Component Configuration XML file which
contains all the information that the external process wants to provide to Workbench (see "Configuration
XML File Details" (p. 11) for more information). At minimum, the configuration file contains the following
elements:
• The definition of input and output parameters, including the parsing rules for reading the values from a
file.
• An OS executable or a Python script to be executed during the component Update command. Python
scripts execute within the Workbench Python interpreter; as a result, scripts have full access to the
scriptable Workbench API (Journaling and Scripting).
External Connection reads and stores all the information defined within the Component Configuration
file. You may access the stored configuration information through the Edit Configuration GUI operation
on the external connection component context menu. Only infrastructure/integration changes within
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Customizing the Workbench User Interface
the external application should result in configuration file changes; otherwise, users should not modify
loaded configuration settings.
When you invoke an Update on the External Connection component, the add-in:
1. Writes the current input parameter values to the file specified in the Component Configuration file
1. Verifies successful execution (and sends an error message if it was not successful)
2. Reads the current output parameter values provided by the external application in the file location spe-
cified in the Component Configuration file.
After you read a Component Configuration file into an External Connection component, Workbench
disables the Read Configuration GUI Operation. The Reset GUI operation, also a context menu on an
External Connection component, discards the imported configuration information. Workbench re-enables
the Read Configuration GUI operation upon Reset as you must load a new Component Configuration
file to proceed.
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Introduction to the External Connection Add-In
files takes precedence over the custom installation files. If UI configuration files exist in both locations,
workbench first examines and loads the user-specific entries and then processes installation entries
(ignoring duplicates).
The custom User Interface configuration file format shares the same syntax as the Component Config-
uration files used with External Connection components. However, only the GUI operation section and
elements remain relevant. If you provide content from other sections, Workbench will ignore it (see
“Configuration XML File Details” for element descriptions and examples).
You must place custom installation files in the ExternalConnection directory under v150/Addins
(for example C:\Program Files\Ansys Inc\v150\Addins\ExternalConnection). The
user-specific custom file location depends upon the operating system:
• for Windows machines, you should create a directory named ExternalConnection under %APP-
DATA%\Ansys\v150.
• for Linux machines, you should create a directory named ExternalConnection under $HOME/.con-
fig/Ansys/v150.
You must create a directory named Customization under the above ExternalConnection folder to
utilize the custom UI functionality within the External Connection Addin. Finally, you must name your
custom UI configuration file (which contains the information about the custom UI entries) CustomTool-
BarConfiguration.xml and place it under the new Customization folder. You may additionally require
folders named Images and Scripts under the Customization directory if your custom UI entries use
images or scripts, as defined in your UI configuration file.
The custom entries defined within the UI configuration file invoke either in-line C# code snippets or
python script files. Typically, External Connection users define python script files as they have full access
to the Workbench Scripting APIs. You can use a combination of custom UI entries and scripts to support
process automation, wizard-like dialogs, and custom lightweight vertical applications.
Note
Toolbar buttons may not appear in Workbench by default. If your External Connection-defined
UI entry does not appear, select the corresponding Toolbar group menu entry from the
View>Toolbars menu.
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Creating Custom External Connection Systems and Components
You can define custom External Connection-based systems and components. This functionality helps
deliver features previously available only through the ANSYS Workbench SDK in a more user-friendly,
less technical fashion.
This section discusses how you can create the various files required to expose custom External Connection
systems and components. The following topics are covered:
General Workflow
System File Layout and Installation
Creating System Definition Files
Creating Component Configuration Files
General Workflow
The general workflow for creating a custom External Connection System includes:
2. Create any necessary Component Configuration XML files. The files optionally can contain:
• Python scripts
• Images
4. Manipulate External Connection system cells within Workbench to add them to your workflow.
• Python Scripts
• Executables
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Creating Custom External Connection Systems and Components
\MySystem\update.py
\MySystem\Images\system.png
\MySystem\Images\component.png
This XML file describes the System and declares all components contained by the system.
• The component name and Input Type for a component. The Input Type can be empty.
• Display text
• Abbreviation
• Image name
• Toolbox group
• Display text
• Image name
Components within Workbench stay in an Edit Required state (displaying the question mark icon) until
the user selects a Component Configuration file using the Read Configuration Component Context
menu.
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Creating Component Configuration Files
Certain Workbench types require the use of the dataType attribute. For example, the Mesh component
uses dataType to determine which mesh file format to output (for example, Fluent).
In the following example, the FluentMesh data type value instructs an upstream mesh component
to output the Fluent mesh file format (.msh).
This example defines the inputs and outputs for a component within a Fluent meshing workflow:
<Component name="Mesher" displayText="Mesher" imageName="GenericMesh_cell">
<Inputs>
<Input/>
<Input dataType="FluentMesh">MeshingMesh</Input>
</Inputs>
<Outputs>
<Output dataType="FluentMesh">SimulationGeneratedMesh</Output>
</Outputs>
<component/>
For a list of supported transfer types and their corresponding transfer properties, seeTable 1: Data
Transfer Types and Properties (p. 33).
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Creating Custom External Connection Systems and Components
Convenience Queries
Convenience queries are Python queries that provide simple access to component-stored input and
output data. The three types of convenience queries are:
• GetInputData
Returns a Dictionary containing input-type keys and data-containing property-based values. For
example:
Dictionary<string, Dictionary<string, object>>> upstreamData = GetInputData(container);
Dictionary<string, object> meshData = upstreamData[“MeshingMesh”];
DataReference meshFile = (DataReference)meshData[“TransferFile”];
• GetInputDataByType
• GetOutputData
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Configuration XML File Details
The Configuration XML file contains an <Instructions> XML node where you define the information
needed for parameter initialization and component update. In addition to the instructions, you can
define the following elements in the configuration file:
• GUI operations that execute from a component’s context menu or from a custom toolbar or menu entry.
Each GUI operation can either define inline C# code or specify a Python script.
• One or more set of data entities with properties. You can access these properties from the Python scripts
invoked for update or custom GUI operations.
Configuration XML files are used for both the External Connection component and UI configuration
files. Detailed documentation of the configuration file is provided in the following sections.
Configuration Node
The <Configuration> node contains the <Instructions> , <GUIOperations>, and <Proper-
ties> nodes.
<Configuration>
</Configuration>
The <Configuration> node allows you to specify the following optional attributes:
• ShowEditConfiguration - Specifies whether the user can view and modify the entries provided
in the configuration file.
Instructions Node
The global <Instructions> XML node contains all the information related to initialization (including
parameters definition) and update. A Working Directory is defined inside the<Instructions> node
as described below:
<Instructions WorkingDirectory="[Directory Name]">
</Instructions>
The <Instructions> node allows you to specify the following optional attribute:
• [WorkingDirectory] — The path of the Working Directory, with or without the trailing slash.
This attribute is optional. If the Working Directory is not specified, the default Working Directory de-
termined by Workbench will be used (typically, project_files/dpx/Ex/Ext, where dpx is the
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Configuration XML File Details
active design point). The Working Directory is also used to search for files defined in other sections
of the configuration file if a full path to the file is not provided.
Note
To ensure project portability, the External Connection Add-in no longer uses the working
directory after you save the Workbench project. When the project is saved, External Connection
copies the Configuration file and all external files (scripts, parameter files, etc.) referred to
by the Configuration file into a unique directory inside the project directory. The unique
directory corresponds to the system from where you invoked the Read Configuration action
(for example, project_files/dpx/Ex/Ext, where dpx is the active design point). This
directory becomes the working directory for the saved project. Since the project directory
now contains all the Configuration-related files, you can archive the project and then re-open
it even when the external files are not accessible.
Format
The <Instructions> node has the following format:
<Instruction Type="[Instruction Type]">
<Name>[Plug-In Name]</Name>
<ExePath>[Executable Path]</ExePath>
<ErrorFile>[Error File]</ErrorFile>
<CheckOnError>[Error String]</CheckOnError>
<Args>[Args]</Args>
<Script>[Script]</Script>
<InterruptScript>[Interrupt Script]</InterruptScript>
<StopScript>[Stop Script]</StopScript>
<ParameterParsingRules>
<[Node Name] Name="[Parameter Name]" Type="[Type]">
<[Rule Name]Type="[Rule Type]">[Value]</[Rule Name]>
</[Node Name]>
</ParameterParsingRules>
</Instruction>
Attributes
The <Instructions> node has the following attributes:
Attributes
• [Instruction Type] - The type that determines where the instruction will be executed.
• [Plug-In Name]- The user-defined name of the generic plug-in. This name must be unique throughout
the instruction file. It defines a way for the Workbench environment to identify this instance of the generic
plug-in, because it is possible to have several instances (several third party applications or codes) of the
third party plug-in in the process sequence.
• [Executable Path] - The location of the executable file with which the third-party plug-in will interact.
This can be either the full path or the relative path of the executable with respect to the Working Directory
for the instruction file.
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Instructions Node
• [Error File] - A file used to communicate that the execution of the external application was not
successful. The error file needs to be removed by the external application upon completion. If still present,
Workbench will send an error message and stop the update. The content of the error message can be
specified through the attribute CheckOnError (see below). A generic message is displayed if CheckOn-
Error is not specified.
• [Error String] - If an error file is specified, its content will be scanned for lines that contain the
specified error string. All lines that contain the string will be displayed as error messages (with the error
string stripped from the message). An error string named file will cause the whole content of the file to
be displayed.
• [Args] - The command line arguments passed to the executable when run.
• [Script] - The Python script to be interpreted within the Workbench framework on execution of this
instruction if the ExePath is not defined. The Python script has access to the following variables:
– container - A string that can be passed to any command or query that requires a data container
reference parameter.
– configurationObject - The configuration object can be used to access some of the information
specified in the configuration file (for example, Working Directory or error file). The query GetEnti-
tyProperties(Entity=configurationObject) returns a dictionary which contains all the
available configuration information.
• [Interrupt Script] - An optional Python script that is invoked when the computation is interrupted.
In Workbench terminology, the Interrupt operation closes the external application cleanly, allowing access
to data. The Interrupt operation is visible only if the Interrupt script is provided.
• [Stop Script] - An optional Python script that is invoked when the computation is stopped. In
Workbench terminology, the Stop operation abruptly closes the external application, possibly resulting
in the loss of data. The Stop operation is visible only if the Stop script is provided. The same script can
be used for Stop and Interrupt . Both scripts have access to the same information (strings container
and configurationObject) that is passed to the update script.
• [Node Name] - A name given to the XML node that defines the parsing information for a single para-
meter. This name does not have to be unique but must adhere to the naming rules for XML nodes (for
example, no spaces or special characters).
• [Parameter Name] - A unique name that represents a single parameter in the Workbench environment.
This is the name that will be used to identify the parameter throughout the UI.
• [Type] - The general type of the parameter. It must be one of two possible values:
– Input - The parameter will be treated as an input parameter, exactly as input parameters are handled
in the Workbench environment.
– Output - The parameter will be treated as an output or response parameter in the Workbench envir-
onment. When chaining generic plug-ins together, each instance of the generic plug-in can contain
input and output parameters.
• [Rule Name] - A name given to the XML node that represents a single parsing rule for the parameter
defined by the rule's parent node. This name does not have to be unique, but must adhere to the naming
rules for XML nodes (for example, no spaces or special characters). Multiple rules can (and in most cases
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Configuration XML File Details
must) be defined for each parameter. The only restriction is that only one rule of each type (detailed below)
can exist for each parameter.
• [Rule Type] - The type of the defined rule. This can be one of the following values:
– File - The file rule defines the text file that contains the parameter value. This file can be the full path
to the file, or the relative path to the file with respect to the Working Directory. Files containing Input
type parameters must exist when reading the configuration file.
– StartLine - The line number in the text file that the code will begin parsing. For example, if the first
500 lines of a file contain only comments, begin parsing the file at line 501 to avoid wasting system
resources. The start line is 1 based; therefore, a value of 0 or 1 will be treated in the same way.
– PreString - The text that immediately precedes the actual parameter value in the file. For example,
if the file defines a parameter as "Cf = 12.555" the PreString for the parameter would be "Cf
=". This text does not need to include any white space immediately preceding the parameter value.
– DataType - The type of data that represents the parameter. The DataType must be one of the fol-
lowing values.
1. float — The value of the parameter is a floating point (decimal) number. This is used for continuous
variables.
3. quantity — The value of the parameter is a quantity containing a numeric value with units in
the form value [unit] (for example, “20 [m s^-1]”).
• [Value]- The value of the rule. No quotes are needed to delimit this value, as per the XML parsing rules.
For example, a SkipOccurrences node would look like
<Rule Type="SkipOccurrences">3
</Rule>
where "3" is the [Value] for the rule, signifying that 3 lines should be skipped in the file before
searching for the parameter.
GuiOperations Node
You can add custom GUI operations to the context menu of an External Connection component. You
can also add custom toolbar buttons or entries in a custom menu. These custom operations support
script or C# code definition to execute upon operation invocation.
<GuiOperations>
</GuiOperations>
Format
The <GuiOperations> node has the following format:
<GuiOperation Name="[Operation Name]" Priority="[Priority]" SourceType="[SourceType]"
Type="[Type]" Entry="[Entry]" ScriptFile="[Script]" Image="[Image]" Tooltip="[Tooltip]">
<Code>[Code]</Code>
</GuiOperation>
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GuiOperations Node
Attributes
The <GuiOperations> node has the following attributes:
• [Priority] - The weighted value determining the location within the context menu, the toolbar or the
menu where the GUI operation is defined.
• [SourceType] - The type of code being used to define the response behavior for operation execution.
• [Type] - The type specifies where the GUI operation should be placed in the user interface. The allowed
types are:
– ContextMenuEntry - This is the default type and should be specified in order to define GUI operations
that are shown upon Right Mouse Button selection of a component in an External Connection system.
ContextMenu should NOT be specified for operations defined in configuration files located in the in-
stallation area or in the user specific area since it is not possible to associate them with a specific cell.
– ToolbarButton - The type ToolbarButton should be used for creating custom entries in the
toolbar. You can define a toolbar group using the attribute Entry defined below. This type should
NOT be specified for GUI operations defined on the component configuration file. It is reserved for UI-
specific configuration files that are processed at add-in load from the installation or user specific areas.
– MenuEntry - The type MenuEntry should be used for creating custom entries in Menu. The newly
created Menu Entry is specified via the attribute Entry defined below. This type should NOT be specified
for GUI operations defined on the component configuration file. It is reserved for UI-specific configuration
files that are processed at add-in load from the installation or user specific areas.
• [Entry] - The Entry attribute is relevant only in conjunction with a specified Type=MenuEntry or
Type=ToolbarButton. It defines the name of a new menu entry or Toolbar group where the GUI op-
eration is shown. For menu entries, it is also possible to define sub-menus of a given menu as comma
separated values. For example, specifying Entry as "NewMenu, SubMenu1" will result in the GUI operation
appearing from a sub-menu "SubMenu1" of a Menu Entry "NewMenu"
• [Code] - The code defined inside the configuration file, rather than a separate file:
<GuiOperations>
<! - Code can either be loaded from a file with the "ScriptFile" attribute,
or be included in a "Code" tag - >
<GuiOperation Name="Enter Something" Priority="2" SourceType="CSharp">
<Code>
<![CDATA[
Ansys.UI.Toolkit.MessageBox.Show("This is a test");
]]>
</Code>
• [Script]- The path to a Python script to be run on execution of the operation. Specification of the
script cannot be combined with execution of custom code. Therefore a script should not be included if
code is defined inside the tags of the GuiOperation node. Scripts invoked from a GUI operation defined
on the ContextMenu of the cell have access to the following variables:
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Configuration XML File Details
– container - A string that can be passed to any command or query that requires as a parameter the
reference to the data container associated with the component.
– configurationObject - The configuration object can be used in order to access some of the in-
formation specified in the configuration file (for example, a working directory or error file). The query
GetEntityProperties(Entity=configurationObject)returns a dictionary which contains
all the available configuration information.
When the GUI operation invokes a script, the invocation of the script is wrapped in a command. It is
possible to specify scripts to be executed in order to interrupt or cancel the execution of the command.
It is also possible to specify an error file to provide messages when the command execution fails, with
the same control on the error display that is provided for the update. A detailed description of the at-
tributes is given below:
2. StopScript=[string]— An optional Python script that is invoked when the computation is stopped.
In Workbench terminology, the Stop operation abruptly closes the external application, possibly resulting
in the loss of data. The Stop operation is visible only if the Stop script is provided. The same script can
be used for Stop and Interrupt . The script has access to the same information (strings container and
configurationObject) that is passed to the executing script.
3. ErrorFile=[string] — A file used to communicate that the execution of the GUI operation was
not successful. The error file needs to be removed by the GUI operation upon completion. If it is still
present, Workbench will send an error message. The content of the error message can be specified
through the attribute CheckOnError (see below). A generic message is displayed if CheckOnError is not
specified.
4. CheckOnError=[string] — If an error file is specified, its content will be scanned for lines that
contain the specified error string. All lines that contain the string will be displayed as error messages
(with the error string stripped from the message). An error string named file will cause the whole content
of the file to be displayed.
• [Image] - The name (without extension) of a file containing an image to be used for the GUI operation.
Files with common extension for images are searched under the Images directory under External Con-
nection add-in. If a Customization directory is provided under the installation or user specific area,
the corresponding Images directories are also searched for the specified file.
• [Tooltip] – A string to be displayed as the Tooltip for ToolbarButton type operations. The string
has no effect for other operation types.
Properties Node
You can define custom properties in the <Properties> XML node.
Properties are used to create dynamic data objects in Workbench; therefore, their definitions reflect the
internal organization of the Workbench data model. Properties should be assigned a DataEntity and
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Properties Node
an ObjectName. The DataEntity is a string that defines high level grouping for the properties. One
or more objects can be created for a given DataEntity.
A DataObject “ObjectName” (as defined by its DataEntity and properties) is added to the con-
tainer associated with the cell from which the configuration is read. If different External Data systems
are present, each has a separate container.
Format
The <Properties> node has the following format:
<Properties>
<DataEntity Name= “[ Data Entity Name ]” Label = “[ Data Entity Label ]” >
<Object Name= “[ Data Object Name ]” >
<Property Name= “[ Property Name ]” Label= “[ Property Label ]” DataType= “[ Data Type ]”
Value= “[Value]”
Group = “[ Group ]” IsReadOnly = “[ IsReadOnly ]”
IsExtrinsic = “[ IsExtrinsic ]” IsVisible = “[ IsVisible ]”
Min = “[ Min ]” Max = “[ Max ]”
OptionLabels = “[ Option Labels ]”/>
</Object>
</DataEntity>
</Properties>
Attributes
DataEntity
• [Data Entity Name] - The internal (immutable) name assigned to the Data Entity. If this attribute is
not specified, a default name is assigned internally. However, specification of a name allows for the retrieval
of the properties associated with objects of the Data Entity (see below). A special name “CellProperties”
is reserved for the DataEntity whose properties should be displayed in the user interface from the
context menu of the associated cell.
• [Data Entity Label] - The display name (user changeable) assigned to the Data Entity in the user
interface.
Object
[Data Object Name] - The internal (immutable) name assigned to the Data Object. If this attribute
is not specified, a default name is assigned internally. However, specification of a name allows for the
retrieval of the properties associated with the given object (see below).
Properties
Mandatory attributes for the definition of a property are:
• [Property Name] - The name to be assigned to the property, unique for that DataEntity
• [DataType] - The type of data which the properties define. Currently supported types include:
– int
– double
– string
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Configuration XML File Details
– quantity
– bool
– option
– DataReference
• [Value] - A string representing the value to be assigned to the property, which is parsed by the
code according to the type.
– A quantity type should be specified by providing a string of type “double [ unit ]” (for
example, “23 [ms^-1]” ).
– The options type is used for mutually exclusive choices, that should be specified by comma
separated strings without white space (for example, “[Option1,Option2]”).
• [Property Label] - The user-visible string that can be assigned to the property (default is the
property name).
• [IsExtrinsic] (“True”/”False”) - Specifies that the property is not relevant for the com-
putation of the state of the cell. Default is "False."
• [IsVisible] (“True”/”False”) - Specifies whether the property should be shown in the UI.
Default is "True."
• [OptionLabels] (for option type only) - The visible names for the options, to be used in the user
interface, specified by comma separated strings without white space (for example “[Back-
ground,Foreground]”).
You can access the value for each property from any Python script used with Workbench via the
Workbench query GetEntityProperty, as described below:
dataReference = “/” + container + “/” + DataEntityName + “:” + ObjectName
propertyVal = GetEntityProperty(Entity=dataReference, Name=PropertyName)
where
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Properties Node
• container is the name of the container associated with the cell. This information is typically available
in the function from where the Python script is called (for example, the update script for a cell or the
script invoked from a GUI operation selected on a given cell).
It is also possible to change the value of the properties that are not marked as read-only using the
Workbench SetEntityProperty command:
SetEntityProperty(Entity=dataReference,Name=PropertyName, Value=value)
where value is the appropriate type for the property being modified. For example, a property of type
quantity named “InletVelocity” defined for an object named AnsSettingsObject of the data
entity type SettingsDataEntity can be queried and set as follows:
dataReference = “/” + container + “/” + “SettingsDataEntity” + “:” + “AnsSettingsObject”
value = GetEntityProperty(Entity=dataReference,
Name = “InletVelocity”)
SetEntityProperty(Entity = dataReference,
Name = “InletVelocity”, Value=”10 [m s^-1]”)
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 19
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20 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
External Connection Examples
The following section provides examples of how you can use the External Connection in ANSYS Work-
bench. The examples are as follows:
Custom, Lightweight, External Application Integration
User Interface Button Definition
Mesh Transfer System
Material Transfer
Custom Transfer System
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 21
External Connection Examples
File Structure
The file structure for this External Connection system within the user-specified working directory (which
for the purpose of this example is D:/ExternalConnection) is:
D:/ExternalConnection/Squares/SquaresCongfig.xml
D:/ExternalConnection/Squares/Squares.exe
D:/ExternalConnection/Squares/input.txt
D:/ExternalConnection/Squares/ouput.txt
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22 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
User Interface Button Definition
File Structure
The file structure for this External Connection solution within the directory C:/Program
Files/Ansys Inc/v150/Addins/ExternalConnection is:
Customization\CustomToolBarConfiguration.xml
Customization\Images\custom.png
Customization\Scripts\pipe1.py
Note
This example uses the installation Customization location. You could instead choose a user-
specific location to limit custom UI additions to a specific user.
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 23
External Connection Examples
Type="ToolbarButton" SourceType="Python"/>
</GuiOperations>
</Configuration>
Instruction File
The Instruction file (pipe1.py) contains the Python code that displays a message box.
import clr
clr.AddReference("Ans.UI.Toolkit")
clr.AddReference("Ans.UI.toolkit.Base")
Ansys.UI.Toolkit.MessageBox.Show("Example!")
Figure 10: End-to-End Mesh Transfer Between Mesh, Mesher, and Fluent Setup
File Structure
The file structure for this External Connection system within the directory C:/Program Files/Ansys
Inc/v150/Addins/ExternalConnection/SystemDefinitions is:
/GenericMeshTransfer/GenericMeshTransferSystem.xml
/GenericMeshTransfer/Mesher.xml
/GenericMeshTransfer/test.py
/GenericMeshTransfer/GenericMesh_cell.png
/GenericMeshTransfer/GenericMesh.png
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24 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Mesh Transfer System
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 25
External Connection Examples
Update Instruction
The Update Instruction file (test.py) contains the Python code that provides instructions for passing
the mesh data to the downstream Fluent system.
#obtain input data
container = ExternalConnectionSystemContainer
upstreamData = container.GetInputDataByType(InputType="MeshingMesh")
meshFileRef = None
upstreamDataCount = upstreamData.Count
if upstreamDataCount > 0:
meshFileRef = upstreamData[0]
#set our output so that we are just a pass through.
outputRefs = container.GetOutputData()
meshOutputSet = outputRefs["SimulationGeneratedMesh"]
meshOutput = meshOutputSet[0]
#meshOutput.MeshFile = meshFileRef
meshOutput.TransferFile = meshFileRef
#if no new data...nothing to process from upstream sources.
Material Transfer
This example implements a material transfer system that passes MatML-formatted material data to a
downstream Engineering Data system.
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26 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Material Transfer
File Structure
The file structure for this External Connection system within the directory C:/Program Files/Ansys
Inc/v150/Addins/ExternalConnection/SystemDefinitions is:
/GenericMaterialTransfer/GenericMaterialTransferSystem.xml
/GenericMaterialTransfer/Material.xml
/GenericMaterialTransfer/test.py
/GenericMaterialTransfer/Sample_Materials.xml
/GenericMaterialTransfer/GenericMaterial_cell.png
/GenericMaterialTransfer/GenericMaterial.png
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 27
External Connection Examples
</Components>
</System>
Update Instruction
The Update Instruction file (test.py) contains the Python code that provides instructions for passing
the MatML-formatted material data to a downstream Engineering Data system
container = ExternalConnectionSystemContainer
matFilePath = r"C:\Program Files\Ansys Inc\v150\Addins\ExternalConnection\SystemDefinitions\
GenericMaterialTransfer\Sample_Materials.xml"
matFileRef = None
isRegistered = IsFileRegistered(FilePath=matFilePath)
if isRegistered == True:
matFileRef = GetRegisteredFile(matFilePath)
else:
matFileRef = RegisterFile(FilePath=matFilePath)
AssociateFileWithContainer(matFileRef, container)
outputRefs = container.GetOutputData()
matOutputSet = outputRefs["MatML31"]
matOutput = matOutputSet[0]
matOutput.TransferFile = matFileRef
Material File
This file (Sample_Materials.xml) contains the MatML-formatted material data:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<EngineeringData version="15.0">
<Notes />
<Materials>
<MatML_Doc>
<Material>
<BulkDetails>
<Name>Sample Material</Name>
<Description>Sample material from Driver</Description>
<PropertyData property="pr0">
<Data format="string">-</Data>
<ParameterValue parameter="pa0" format="float">
<Data>494.1474492,912.7972764,1172.453938,1941.495468,2803.754154,3869.063522,5245.395513,10378.82012,
18192.58268,28438.67868,57755.1982,94951.87682,135751.6191,178064.7612,216504.4272,261538.9311,304701.
5076,333300.2826,364061.2544,397079.5705,432533.1159,457543.8578,483751.5301</Data>
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28 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Custom Transfer System
File Structure
The file structure for this External Connection system within the directory C:/Program Files/Ansys
Inc/v150/Addins/ExternalConnection/SystemDefinitions is:
/CustomTransfer/CustomTransferProducerSystem.xml
/CustomTransfer/CustomTransferConsumerSystem.xml
/CustomTransfer/Producer.xml
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 29
External Connection Examples
/CustomTransfer/Consumer.xml
/CustomTransfer/Producer.py
/CustomTransfer/Consumer.py
/CustomTransfer/Sample_Materials.xml
/CustomTransfer/Generic_cell.png
/CustomTransfer/Generic.png
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Custom Transfer System
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 31
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32 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Appendix A. Data Transfer Types
This appendix discusses the following:
Data Transfer Types
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 33
Data Transfer Types
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34 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Data Transfer Types
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 35
Data Transfer Types
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36 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Data Transfer Types
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 37
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38 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Appendix B. ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
This appendix discusses the following:
Component Input and Outputs Table
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 39
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
SimulationGener- CFXSetup
atedMesh
CFXMesh
MechanicalSetup
Solution
CFXSetup CFXSolution
CFXSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Design Assessment
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
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40 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
MechanicalSolution
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Direct Optimization
Optimization
DesignPointsDataTrans- OptimizationModel
fer
Electric
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 41
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Engineering Data
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Explicit Dynamics
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
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42 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
EnhancedModelData
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Explicit Dynamics
(LS-DYNA Export)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 43
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
External Data
Setup
None ExternalDataSetup
External Model
Setup
None ExternalModelOut-
putProvider
External Connection
External Connection
None ExternalConnec-
tionProperties
Finite Element
Modeler
Model
MechanicalSetup FEMMesh
SimulationGener- FEMSetup
atedMesh
MAPDLCdb Geometry
FEMSetup
SolidSectionData
CompositeEngineering-
Data
SimulationEngineering-
Data
FLTG
Mesh
FluentMesh FluentTGridMesh
Setup
FluentImportable FluentSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb- SystemCoupling-
ject SetupData
FluentMesh
FluentCase
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
ICEData
ICESetupData
FluentTGridMesh
Solution
FluentSetup FluentSolution
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44 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
FluentSolution
Fluent
Setup
FluentImportable FluentSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb- SystemCoupling-
ject SetupData
FluentMesh
FluentCase
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
ICEData
ICESetupData
FluentTGridMesh
Solution
FluentSetup FluentSolution
FluentSolution
Fluid Flow – Blow
Molding (Polyflow)
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 45
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Fluid Flow – Extru-
sion (Polyflow)
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
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46 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
ICEData
Fluid Flow (CFX)
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Setup
SimulationGener- CFXSetup
atedMesh
CFXMesh
MechanicalSetup
Solution
CFXSetup CFXSolution
CFXSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Fluid Flow (Fluent)
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 47
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Setup
FluentImportable FluentSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb- SystemCoupling-
ject SetupData
FluentMesh
FluentCase
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
ICEData
ICESetupData
FluentTGridMesh
Solution
FluentSetup FluentSolution
FluentSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Fluid Flow (Poly-
flow)
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
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48 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Geometry
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Harmonic Response
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
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ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
EnhancedModelData
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
ExternalDataSetup
MechanicalSolution
AnsoftForceAndMoment-
DataObject
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
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50 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Geometry
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Harmonic Response
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
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ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
EnhancedModelData
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
ExternalDataSetup
MechanicalSolution
AnsoftForceAndMoment-
DataObject
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
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52 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Geometry
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Harmonic Response
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
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ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
EnhancedModelData
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
ExternalDataSetup
MechanicalSolution
AnsoftForceAndMoment-
DataObject
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Hydrodynamic Dif-
fraction
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
Geometry AqwaModel
Setup
AqwaModel AqwaSetup
Solution
AqwaSetup AqwaSolution
Results
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54 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
AqwaSolution AqwaResults
Hydrodynamic Time
Response
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
Geometry AqwaModel
Setup
AqwaModel AqwaSetup
AqwaSolution
Solution
AqwaSetup AqwaSolution
Results
AqwaSolution AqwaResults
ICE
ICE
None ICEData
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
ICE Solver Setup
None ICESetupData
Setup
FluentImportable FluentSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb- SystemCoupling-
ject SetupData
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 55
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
FluentMesh
FluentCase
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
ICEData
ICESetupData
FluentTGridMesh
Solution
FluentSetup FluentSolution
FluentSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
ICEM CFD
Model
Geometry SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingMesh
MechanicalMesh
Icepak
Setup
Geometry IcePakSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb-
ject
Solution
IcePakSetup IcePakResults
Linear Buckling
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
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56 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
EnhancedModelData
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Linear Buckling
(Samcef )
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
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ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Magnetostatic
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
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58 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Mechanical APDL
Analysis
MechanicalSetup None
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
FEMSetup
Geometry
SolidSectionData
MechanicalSolution
MAPDLSolution
MAPDLDatabase
MAPDLResults
MAPDLCdb
Mechanical Model
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 59
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Mesh
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Mesh
Geometry MechanicalModel
MeshingGener- MeshingMesh
atedMeshOutputPro-
vider
SimulationGener-
atedMesh
MeshingGener-
atedMeshOutput-
Provider
Microsoft Office Ex-
cel
Analysis
None MSExcelSetup
Modal (ABAQUS)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
60 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Modal
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 61
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
EnhancedModelData
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Modal (NASTRAN)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
62 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Modal (Samcef )
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 63
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Parameters Correla-
tion
Parameters Correlation
ResponseSurfaceData- CorrelationModel
Transfer
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Polyflow – Blow
Molding
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Polyflow - Extrusion
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
64 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Polyflow
Setup
SimulationGener- PolyflowSetup
atedMesh
PolyflowTransferMesh
Solution
PolyflowSetup PolyflowSolution-
Type
PolyflowSolution PolyflowSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Random Vibration
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 65
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
EnhancedModelData
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Response Spectrum
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
66 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
EnhancedModelData
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Response Surface
Design of Experiments
None ParametricContext
DOEModel
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Response Surface
ParametricContext ResponseSur-
faceModel
DOEModel ResponseSurfa-
ceDataTransfer
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Response Surface
Optimization
Design of Experiments
None ParametricContext
DOEModel
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Response Surface
ParametricContext ResponseSur-
faceModel
DOEModel ResponseSurfa-
ceDataTransfer
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 67
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Optimization
ParametricContext OptimizationModel
ResponseSurfaceModel
Results
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Rigid Dynamics
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Solution
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
68 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Shape Optimization
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
Solution
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 69
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Six Sigma Analysis
Design of Experiments
(SSA)
ParametricContext
DOEModel
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Response Surface
(SSA)
ParametricContext ResponseSur-
faceModel
DOEModel ResponseSurfa-
ceDataTransfer
DesignPointsData-
Transfer
Six Sigma Analysis
ParametricContext SixSigmaModel
ResponseSurfaceModel
Static Structural
(ABAQUS)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
70 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Static Structural
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 71
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
EnhancedModelData SystemCoupling-
SetupData
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
AnsoftForceDataObject
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Static Structural
(Samcef )
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
72 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Steady-State
Thermal (ABAQUS)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 73
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Steady-State
Thermal
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
74 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation- SystemCoupling-
SolutionDataInternal SetupData
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb-
ject
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 75
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Steady-State
Thermal (Samcef )
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
76 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
System Coupling
Setup
SystemCouplingSetup- CouplingSetupPro-
Data vider
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
CouplingSetupProvider None
Thermal-Electric
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
ExternalDataSetup
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 77
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Throughflow
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Setup
VistaGeometry VistaTFSetup
VistaTFPhysics
Geometry
Solution
VistaTFSetup VistaTFSolution
VistaTFSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Throughflow
(BladeGen)
Blade Design
None TurboGeometry
VistaGeometry
Setup
VistaGeometry VistaTFSetup
VistaTFPhysics
Geometry
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
78 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Solution
VistaTFSetup VistaTFSolution
VistaTFSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Transient Structural
(ABAQUS)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 79
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Transient Structural
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
EnhancedModelData SystemCoupling-
SetupData
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
80 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
AnsoftForceDataObject
EnhancedMechanicalM-
odel
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Transient Structural
(Samcef )
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 81
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Transient Thermal
(ABAQUS)
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
82 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Transient Thermal
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 83
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation- SystemCoupling-
SolutionDataInternal SetupData
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
AnsoftHeatLossDataOb-
ject
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Transient Thermal
(Samcef )
Engineering Data
FEMSetup EngineeringData
MatML31 Material
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Model
SimulationEngineering- MechanicalModel
Data
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
84 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
SimulationModelGener- MechanicalMesh
atedMesh
CompositeEngineering- SimulationGener-
Data atedMesh
SolidSectionData SimulationEngin-
eeringData
ExternalModelOutputPro- SimulationModel-
vider GeneratedMesh
ExternalDataSetup
EngineeringData
Geometry
Setup
MechanicalModel SimulationSetup
MechanicalMesh MechanicalSetup
Simulation-
SolutionDataInternal
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
IcePakResults
MechanicalSolution
ExternalDataSetup
Solution
SimulationSetup MechanicalSolu-
tion
Simulation-
SolutionDataIntern-
al
SimulationSolution
Results
SimulationSolution MechanicalResults
SimulationResults
Turbomachinery
Fluid Flow
(BladeEditor)
Geometry
FEMSetup Geometry
TurboGeometry
AnsoftCADObject
ICEData
Turbo Mesh
TurboGeometry TurboMesh
Geometry CFXMesh
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 85
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
FluentImportable
Setup
SimulationGener- CFXSetup
atedMesh
CFXMesh
MechanicalSetup
Solution
CFXSetup CFXSolution
CFXSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Turbomachinery
Fluid Flow (Blade-
Gen)
BladeGen
None TurboGeometry
Turbo Mesh
TurboGeometry TurboMesh
Geometry CFXMesh
FluentImportable
Setup
SimulationGener- CFXSetup
atedMesh
CFXMesh
MechanicalSetup
Solution
CFXSetup CFXSolution
CFXSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
86 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Component Input and Outputs Table
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
TurboGrid
Turbo Mesh
TurboGeometry TurboMesh
Geometry CFXMesh
FluentImportable
Vista TF
Setup
VistaGeometry VistaTFSetup
VistaTFPhysics
Geometry
Solution
VistaTFSetup VistaTFSolution
VistaTFSolution
Results
CFXSolution
FluentSolution
VistaTFSolution
IcePakResults
PolyflowSolutionType
MechanicalSolution
ICEData
Vista AFD
Meanline
None VistaAFDMean-
lineProvider
Design
VistaAFDMeanlinePro- VistaAFDDesignPro-
vider vider
Analysis
VistaAFDDesignProvider None
Vista CCD
Blade Design
None VistaCCD-
BladeDesignPro-
vider
Vista CCD (with
CCM)
Blade Design
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 87
ANSYS Workbench Component Inputs and Outputs
None VistaCCD-
BladeDesignPro-
vider
Performance Map
VistaCCDBladeDesignPro- None
vider
Vista CPD
Blade Design
None None
Vista RTD
Blade Design
None None
Vista RTD (Beta)
Blade Design
None VistaGeometry
VistaTFPhysics
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
88 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
I
Index input, 10
inputs and outputs
C defining, 9
component configuration files instructions node, 11
creating, 8
configuration file O
configuration node, 11 output, 10
GuiOperations node, 14
instructions node, 11 P
properties node, 16 producing data
configuration node, 11 update instructions, 9
consuming data python queries, 10
update instructions, 9 GetInputData, 10
convenience queries GetInputDataByType, 10
creating, 10 GetOutputData, 10
creating systems
file layout and installation, 7 S
general workflow, 7 system definition Files, 8
customizing Creating , 8
Workbench user interface, 5
T
D transfer types
data generation, 10 table, 33
E U
external application update instructions, 9
external process responsibilities, 5 upstream data consumption, 10
external applications using the External Connection Add-in, 1
integrating, 4
external connection add-in W
creating systems and components, 7
Workbench user interface
overview, 1
custom installation files, 5
uses, 1
custom toolbar, 5
using within ANSYS Workbench, 1
customizing, 5
External Connection configuration file
menu entries, 5
overview, 11
External Connection examples, 21
custom transfer, 29
custom, lightweight, external application integration,
21
material transfer, 26
mesh transfer system, 24
user interface button definition, 23
external process
responsibilities, 5
G
GuiOperations node, 14
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 89
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
90 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.