This function displays the Open File dialog and allows the user to read result file or model file into eta/Post. The Open File dialog is shown in Figure 3.1.1.

Figure 3.1.1  Open File Dialog

To open result file or model data, select File Type that will be read in. Locate the desired file using the browser such as    and click OPEN. The model will be displayed in the Graphic Display Window and will be ready for post processing.

Eta/Post supports d3plot, d3eigv, d3drif, d3plotint, d3mode, and dynain files generated from LS-DYNA, as well as result files such as punch and output2 generated from NASTRAN. The program will display the Select File window again for the user to select a corresponding Nastran model file after the Nastran result file is loaded. It is necessary to select a matching model file in order for post-processing the result correctly.

For eta/DYNAFORM users, the result files to process are mainly d3plot files. When displaying the result as shown in the above figure, the program will automatically read in the following file to display all the data during the forming process if the user opens the first d3plot file. If the user opens any other file, the program will only read in the relevant data this file recorded.

It is necessary to note that there is another file type of *.idx for eta/Post. If the file is a multi-stage file in sheet forming, the program will read a complete set of multi-stage postprocessing result into postprocessor via reading the corresponding *.idx file.