Open the model database or the output database containing your model data or analysis results.
If you are plotting data from a model database, switch to the Visualization module, expand the Model Database container of the Results Tree, and select the model you want to use.
Select the results step and frame to display (or just the step, if the current model database is selected).
For output databases, select the symbol field output variable to display. For model databases, select the primary field output variable as the variable to display.
The symbol plot state is activated.
Select the plot state–independent and symbol plot customization options you want.
If your chosen field output includes complex numbers, select the Complex Form tab in the Result Options dialog box to control the numeric form to display. This option applies only to plots for output databases.
For plots of output database data, select from the main menu bar to modify whether to plot the symbols on the deformed model shape, the undeformed shape, or both.
The current viewport changes to display a customized symbol plot of the specified field output variable at the specified step and frame of the current output database.
Abaqus automatically refreshes your symbol plot each time you click Apply in the step and frame selector dialog box, plot state–independent options, superimpose plot options (if applicable), or symbol plot options dialog boxes.
, undeformed 
, or superimposed 
symbol tools in the toolbox.