The following sections provide an explanation of Nax2cell’s UDFs, with one section dedicated to each of the four new categories that appear in Excel when using Nax2cell.

For better comprehension, all UDFs are presented in a table format with three columns and as many rows as the number of arguments per function.

The left column contains the argument name.

The middle column indicates the type of argument (string, integer, ID list*, etc.)**

The right column provides a brief description of the argument.

Nax2cell’s ID list format. See [User Defined Functions – ID list format].

Each UDF argument can reference an Excel cell or the result of another function or UDF, as long as the linked value matches the required type indicated in the table.

| Argument name | Type of argument | Description |

1. N2CNodes#

Retrieve node information from a model file.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID list

ID format

(Optional) IDlist of the nodes to show (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) (2)(3)(4) Superelement ID

Output:#

An N x M table:

  • 1º Dimension (number of nodes)

  • 2º Dimension (11 components)

    1. EXTERNAL GRID IDENTIFICATION

    2. SUPERELEMENT ID

    3. X BASIC COORDINATE LOCATION

    4. Y BASIC COORDINATE LOCATION

    5. Z BASIC COORDINATE LOCATION

Remarks:#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Use the ID/name of the Superelement, and the output table will content whole nodes for that Superelement.

If no ID/name is used or a value of “-1” is used, every Superelement or part are considered.

With “-1” in ID list and “-1” in Superelement whole nodes in the model will be appear in the table.

(3) Also, several ID separate by spacebar, example “4 5” can be used.

(4) Considered only for XDB, ODB and H5 (MSC.Nastran).

(5) The output matrix will only contain the Id of nodes that really exist, if the user enters an Id that does not exist, it does not appear in the output table.

2. N2CElements#

Retrieve element information from a model file.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID list

ID format

(Optional) IDlist of the elements to show (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) (2)(3)(4) Superelement ID

Output#

A table of size N x M

  • 1st Dimension (number of elements)

  • 2nd Dimension (M components)

    1. ELEMENT ID

    2. TYPE

    3. SUPERELEMENT ID

    4. PROPERTY

    5. MATERIAL

    6. MATERIAL ANGLE (for CQUAD4 and CTRIA3)

    7. Number of nodes

    8. Up to M ID of nodes

Remarks#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Use the ID/name of the Superelement, and the output table will content whole elements for that Superelement.

If no ID/name is used or a value of “-1” is used, every Superelement or part are considered.

With “-1” in ID list and “-1” in Superelement whole elements in the model will be appear in the table.

(3) You can specify multiple Superelement IDs separated by spaces (e.g., “4 5”).

(4) Only valid element IDs will appear in the output table. Invalid IDs will be ignored.

(5) Supported for XDB, ODB, and H5 (MSC.Nastran) file formats.

3. N2CCoordSystems#

Retrieve coordinate system information from a model file.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID list

ID format

(Optional) IDlist of the elements to show (1)

Output#

A table of size N x M

  • 1st Dimension (number of coordinate systems)

  • 2nd Dimension (14 components):

    1. COORDINATE SYSTEM ID

    2. SYSTEM TYPE (1: Rectangular 2: Cylindrical 3: Spherical)

    3. Origin X coordinate

    4. Origin Y coordinate

    5. Origin Z coordinate

    6. X component for AXIS 1

    7. Y component for AXIS 1

    8. Z component for AXIS 1

    9. X component for AXIS 2

    10. Y component for AXIS 2

    11. Z component for AXIS 2

    12. X component for AXIS 3

    13. Y component for AXIS 3

    14. Z component for AXIS 3

Includes ROTATION MATRIX TERM 33.

Remarks#

(1) If the input is “-1” or left blank, all coordinate system IDs in the model will be considered.

4. N2CParts#

Retrieve parts/superelements from a model input file.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

Output#

A table of size 1 x N

  • 2nd Dimension: Number of parts in the Results file.

    1. ID of the Part/Superelement.

    2. Name of the part.

Remarks#

5. N2CLoadCases#

Retrieve load case information from a results file.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

Option

integer

(Optional) 0 -> Ids of subcases (default) >0 -> Ids and subtitle of subcases

Orientation

string

(Optional) “V” -> Vertical (default); “H” -> Horizontal

Output#

A table of size N x M

  • 1st Dimension (number of load case in the file)

  • 2nd Dimension (1 if “option” equal to 0, and 2 if “Option” equal to 1)

    1. Load Case ID

    2. Subtitle (if applicable)

Remarks#

No additional remarks.

6. N2CIncrements#

Extracts increment/node/frequency information from a results file for a specific load case.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID of Load Case

integer

Id of the load cases (>0)

Output#

A table N x 2

  • 1st Dimension (number of increments for the load case in the file)

  • 2nd Dimension (2 columns):

    1. Increment ID

    2. Time/Frequency/Mode value.

Remarks#

No additional remarks.

7. N2CResultsInfo#

Retrieves the available results for a given load case.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID of Load Case

integer

Id of the load cases (>0)

Output#

A table N x 1

  • 1st Dimension: number of available results for the load case in the file:

    1. Result Name

Remarks#

No additional remarks.

8. N2CComponentsInfo#

Retrieves the list of components available for a given result in a load case.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID of Load Case

integer

Id of the load cases (>0)

Result name

string

Result name (example: “STRESSES”, “DISPLACEMENTS”)

Output#

A table N x 1

  • 1st Dimension: number of available components for the Result in the Load Case:

    1. Component Name

Remarks#

No additional remarks.

9. N2CSectionsInfo#

Retrieves the list of sections available for a given component in a result for a specific load case.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Results file path

ID of Load Case

integer

Id of the load cases (>0)

Result name

string

Result name (example: “STRESSES”, “DISPLACEMENTS”)

Component name

string

Component name (example: “XX”, “S11”,… )

Output#

A table N x 1

  • 1st Dimension: number of available sections for the Component in the Load Case:

    1. Section Name

Remarks#

No additional remarks.

10. N2CResults#

Extracts results from a model file for one or more load cases, for a fixed frame.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Results file path

string

Path to the results file

Result Type

string

Results Type e.g. “FORCES” (1)

Option

integer

1- Elements/LoadCases/Component 2- Elements/Components/LoadCase 3- LoadCases/Elements/Component 4- LoadCases/Components/Element 5- Components/Elements/LoadCase 6- Components/LoadCases/Element

IDs for Columns

ID list

IDs in Columns. Identification of elements, load cases or components given in columns (5)

IDs for Rows

ID list

IDs in Rows. Identification of elements, load cases or components given in rows (5)

Element/LC/Component

ID list

ID of the element, load case or component

Frame

integer

(Optional) Increment of load, time, eigenvalue or frequency ID (2). Last frame of the Load Case (By default)

Sections

Array Strings

(Optional) Array with the name of the section to take into account. All sections (By default), (3)

Superelement/Part

integer

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(4)

Average in Sections

string

(Optional) (“MAX” (By default), “MIN”, “AVG”, “EXTREME”, “AVG_VAR”, “DIFFE”)

In Grid Position

boolean

(Optional) Results in grids position, False (By default) (6)

Average in Locations

string

(Optional) (“MAX” (By default), “MIN”, “AVG”, “EXTREME”, “AVG_VAR”, “DIFFE”)

Complex Format

integer

(Optional) 0 - as is in the results file(default), 1- Real/Imaginary 2- Magnitude/Phase

Output Coordinate System

ID or 6 cells

(Optional) Represents the reference system for the results. By default, the analysis system. For a single ID, it selects the system from the solver. If a custom system is required, define the x and y components consecutively in an array of 6 and pass it as argument. Special IDs: - -1 for material axis of each element - 0 for global coordinate system

Output#

An N x M table with the results:

  • N is the number of IDs in “IDs for Rows”

  • M is the number of IDs in “IDs for Columns”

Remarks#

(1) Use the function N2CResultInfo to get the available Results in the file.

(2) Use -1 to request data for the last increment in the subcase.

(3) Use the function N2CSetionsInfo to get the available Sections in the file for a specific result type.

(4) Only one ID of Superelement/Part can be introduced.

(5) Setting 0 includes all IDs of that type in the model (not valid for components). For example, if “0” is passed for element IDs, all elements are considered.

(6) If In Grid Position is True, then the input IDs must correspond to grid IDs.

11. N2CFreeBodies#

Calculates the freebody loads, i.e., the load generated by a list of elements over a list of nodes. The results are summed at a specific point using a defined reference coordinate system.

Input#

Result File Path string Path to the results file

Node IDs ID list Node ID list

Element IDs ID list Element ID list

Load Case IDs ID list Load Case ID list

Frame integer Increment of load for the load cases (2)

Calculation Point 3 cells or blank (Optional) Point where the results are calculated

Types of input:

Select three different values (one per each coordinate)

Blank (By Default) to use the centroid of all the grids as summatory point.

Coordinate System 6 cells (Optional) Output Coordinate System: Select six different values. The three first value is the direction of the axes X, and the second three values defined the plane where the axes Y will be calculated. And Z will be normal to the plane XY.(4)

Superelement/Part string (Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(3)

Output#

A 1 x 19 table containing:

  1. LOAD CASE

  2. INCREMENT

  3. FX force

  4. FY Force

  5. FZ Force

  6. MX force

  7. MY Force

  8. MZ Force

  9. Coordinate X of the summation points

  10. Coordinate Y of the summation points

  11. Coordinate Z of the summation points

  12. To 20 the matrix transformation between global system and output coordinate system.

Remarks#

(1) Only used in .xdb, .odb, and .h5 files. In .op2 files, the Superelement is always “0”.

(2) Use -1 to extract the last increment of the load case.

(3) Only one Superelement/Part ID is allowed.

(4) If no vectors are provided, the global system is used: (1,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,0,1)

12. N2CEnvelope#

Performs an envelope operation over a point cloud table, treating each row as a point in N-dimensional space.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Point Cloud

Doubles Array

Table with point cloud on which to make the envelope (1)

Output#

A matrix N x M containing the subset of input points that form the convex envelope.

Remarks#

(1) Each row in the table represents a point; columns may contain real, integer, or string values. Only real and integer values are used in the envelope calculation.

(2) Envelopes can be computed in any number of dimensions.

(3) Cells containing #N/A are interpreted as 0.0.

(4) The envelope is computed using the Qhull library http://www.qhull.org/is

13. N2CPlotContour#

Opens a 3D viewer window to display a model and plot user-specified values over selected elements or nodes.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

IDs of elements to view

ID list

(Optional) IDs of the elements of the model to show. None to view entire model.

IDs of entities to plot

ID list

IDs of entities to plot contour

Values to Plot

Value list

Values to Plot

Type Of Entity to Plot

string

(Optional) 0 for NODAL (By default) or 1 for ELEMENT

Superelement/Part

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(1)

Output#

A 3D visualization window with the selected entities and plotted values.

(1) In the cell where this function is called, the output is a reference. If an error occurs, the value returned is less than 0.

(2) 3D Viewer Background Color Option: Registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\IDAERO\NAXTOCELL\View3DOptions

Background option:

  • 0: White

  • 1: Black

  • 2: System default

Remarks#

No additional remarks.

14. N2CPropertyInfo#

Returns a table containing the fields and values of a given property.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID of property

string

Single ID of the property to show

Output#

A table N x 2, where:

  • 1st column: Names of the property’s fields.

  • 2nd column: Values of the property’s fields.

15. N2CMaterialInfo#

Returns a table containing the fields and values of a given material.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID of material

string

Single ID of the material to show

Output#

A table N x 2

  • 1st column: Names of the material’s properties.

  • 2nd column: Values of the material’s properties.

16. N2CSelectElementsIds#

Returns a list of element IDs that meet the conditions specified as parameters (properties, materials, element type, and range of IDs).

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

IDs of properties

String, Integer

(Optional) Multiple IDs of the properties to include. It can be empty for all properties, a single cell or multiple cells (1).

IDs of materials

String, Integer

(Optional) Multiple IDs of the material to include. It can be empty for all materials, a single cell or multiple cells (1).

IDs of element types

String, Integer

(Optional) Multiple IDs of the element types to include. It can be empty for all types, a single cell or multiple cells (1) and (2).

Element ID range

String, Integer

(Optional) values or range of IDs of elements to include. It can be empty for all IDs, a single cell or multiple cells (1) and (2).

Output#

A list of multiple element IDs.

Remarks#

(1) Multiple values separated by spaces can be used directly (e.g., “1 2 20”).

(2) Range of values can be specified using “#” as a separator between the first and last values (e.g., “1#1000”).

17. N2CElementsByFace#

Returns a list of element IDs located on the same model face as the provided element IDs.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID list

ID format

(Optional) List of element IDs at which to apply the ByFace (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A list of multiple element IDs.

Remarks#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Only one ID of Superelement/Part can be entered.

18. N2CElementsConnectedToNode#

Returns a list of element IDs containing the nodes specified as input.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID list

ID format

List of nodes IDs for locating the elements where they are connected (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A list of multiple element IDs.

Remarks#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Only one ID of Superelement/Part can be introduced.

19. N2CElementsFreeEdges#

Returns a table containing information about the element IDs and the two node IDs associated with each edge that acts as a free boundary in the model. This includes all elements that have free edges.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID list

ID format

(Optional) List of visible elements IDs for calculating their free edges (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A table N x 3

  • 1st column: Element ID containing a free edge

  • 2nd column: First Node ID belonging to the free edge

  • 3rd column: Second Node ID belonging to the free edge

Remarks#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Only one ID of Superelement/Part can be entered.

20. N2CElementsAdjacent#

Returns a list of element IDs that are adjacent to the elements specified as input.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID list

ID format

List of elements IDs to obtain their adjacent elements

IDsVisible

ID format

(Optional) List of visible elements IDs representing the domain of the model. Default: all (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A list of multiple element IDs

Remarks#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Only one ID of Superelement/Part can be introduced.

21. N2CElementsAttached#

Returns a list of element IDs that are attached to the elements provided as parameters.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

ID list

ID format

List of elements IDs to obtain their adjacent elements

IDsVisible

ID format

(Optional) List of visible elements IDs representing the domain of the model. Default: all (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A list of multiple element IDs.

Remarks#

(1) If input is “-1” or blank, every ID of the model is considered.

(2) Only one Superelement/Part ID can be entered.

22. N2CPropertiesList#

Returns a list of all properties in the model.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A list of all the properties in the model

Remarks#

(1) Only one ID of Superelement/Part can be introduced.

23. N2CMaterialsList#

Returns a list of all materials in the model.

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A list of all materials in the model.

Remarks#

(1) Only one Superelement/Part ID can be entered.

24. N2CGetInfoCards#

Returns a list of cards from a bulk data model (Nastran and Optistruct).

Input#

Input variable

Type

Description

Model File Path

string

Model File Path with the mesh

Card type

string

(Optional) Card type to look up to (“CQUAD4”, “GRID”…)

ID List

string/value list

(Optional) IDs of the cards to be shown. (1)

Superelement

string

(Optional) Superelement ID (By default “0” in Nastran or “PART-1-1” in ABAQUS)(2)

Output#

A table Nx10, where N is the number of rows corresponding to the cards that meet the specified criteria.

Remarks#

(1) IDs can be entered in range format using “#” as a separator between the first and last values (e.g., “1#1000”).

(2) Only one Superelement/Part ID can be entered.