Saving and restoring custom color mappings

Color mappings are session-specific settings that are not saved to the model database or output database by default. Abaqus/CAE provides two methods you can use to save your custom color coding definitions.

  • You can save your color mapping definitions as session options. Session options can be saved to the model database, to an output database, or to an XML file. When you save color mappings using this process, Abaqus/CAE records only the color mappings for the item currently selected in the Color Code dialog box. For example, when color mappings for part instances are displayed, those color mapping definitions are the only ones written to the selected file.

  • You can create a color macro or write the selected color mapping to an ASCII file. A color macro records all of the color mappings and your initial color selection, and an ASCII file records the current color mapping only. You can run a color macro as you would any other macro; see Managing macros. Color macros record all of the color mappings you select, rather than just the ones currently displayed in the Color Code dialog box.

This section describes the macro-based method for saving color mapping definitions. For more information about saving color mappings as a session option, see Managing session objects and session options.

This task shows you how to:

Related Topics
Managing macros

Save a color macro

  1. Click the tool in the Color Code toolbar.

    Abaqus/CAE displays the Color Code dialog box.

  2. Click Advanced, and select Save Color Macro from the list that appears.

    Abaqus/CAE displays the Create Macro dialog box, which indicates the location where the macro will be saved.

  3. Enter a Name for this macro, and click OK.

    Abaqus/CAE saves the macro, making it available for you to run from the Macro Manager dialog box.

Read or write an ASCII file for a color mapping

  1. Click the tool in the Color Code toolbar.

    Abaqus/CAE displays the Color Code dialog box.

  2. Click mouse button 3 with the cursor positioned over the Color Mappings table, then select one of the following choices from the list that appears:

    • Select Write to File to select a file name and to save the current color mapping.

    • Select Read from File to select a file name and to read the contents of a saved color mapping.