# Create File for ParaView to read
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [May 29, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450 "2020-05-29T16:50:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/1 "2020-05-29T16:50:03Z")
Hello,
I have used ParaView to visualize numerical results from Open Foam and I think it is a great source to post-process hydrodynamic numerical simulations. I am currently using SI3D, a finite difference hydrodynamic model from which I get a 3D output binary file with the solution to the velocity components, pressure, Temperature and turbulence properties for different time steps and organized in a xyz domain. This file is binary and I am looking to be able to create a file with a format that ParaView can read and interpret as a numerical simulation of water flow, and thus make use of this powerful tool to analyze the numerical simulation results. I am keen to use this numerical model as this model has been tested before in lakes and estuaries with great results.
I appreciate any help that one can provide.
Best,
Sergio
Sergio
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/2 "2020-06-01T01:55:56Z")
Hello and welcome.
ParaView can read multiples file formats, including OpenFOAM own format. What is your question here ?
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### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/3 "2020-06-01T21:30:21Z")
Hi Mathieu,
I understand that ParaView reads the numerical results from OpenFoam. My question is, what would it be the best format for me to create using matlab/python so Paraview identifies it as the results from a fluid dynamics numerical simulation? The source code I am using is SI3D (not supported by ParaView) and it provides the results in columns for all the variables (x,z,y,u,v,w,T,nut). My goal is to created a file with an extension that Paraview will identify as CFD numerical simulation results and plot the results for each time step.
is this a more clear explanation of my goal? I apologize for not being so clear on my first message.
Best,
Sergio
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/4 "2020-06-02T01:43:16Z")
The best format for generic cases and in the context of ParaView is our own XML based format.
[https://vtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/file-formats.pdf](https://vtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/file-formats.pdf)
That being said, ParaView can read many file format, including column-based text file format like you described, it is not the most efficient though, especially for time varying data.
[https://www.paraview.org/Wiki/ParaView/Users\_Guide/List\_of\_readers](https://www.paraview.org/Wiki/ParaView/Users_Guide/List_of_readers)
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### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2020, 4:03am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/5 "2020-06-03T04:03:43Z")
Thank you for all the help, I was indeed able to create a .vtk file that ParaView reads (for 1 time step). However, I am facing this issue with the visualization of the paraview interface once I load the velocity field. Do you know why this could be happening?
 I am using ParaView 5.8.0in Windowns.
The issue I am dealing with is that the GUI of ParaView does load properly once I change the visualization to show the velocity.
Once again, thank you.
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/6 "2020-06-03T04:17:41Z")
Well know Intel driver issue, see here :
[https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-faq/4399](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-faq/4399)
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### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/7 "2020-06-03T04:48:03Z")
Thank you for all, I was able to get it work properly by just installing ParaView 5.0. Perhaps this is a more compatible version with my intel. Thank you for all the help, I am truly grateful. Your responses allowed me to achieve my goal.
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/8 "2020-06-03T04:50:11Z")
Please use ParaView 5.7 instead of ParaView 5.0.
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### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/9 "2020-06-03T15:03:41Z")
Paraview 5.7 has the same issue as 5.8 when plotting the velocity vector.
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/10 "2020-06-04T02:38:44Z")
Interesting, does ParaView 5.6 shows the same issue ?
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### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/11 "2020-06-04T03:33:17Z")
Paraview 5.6.2 works.
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/12 "2020-06-04T03:35:34Z")
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@savalma](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/savalma)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/13 "2020-06-04T18:17:13Z")
Hi Mathieu,
After reading a thread of NaN values in a VTK legacy file I realized one can not use NaNs assigned from matlab to create the VTK file and open it in ParaView. Since this is not possible, I was wondering what should I replace the NaN value into so ParaView recognizes it as NaN value. Is it an option to replace the NaN into a blank space. I am afraid this configuration might loose the sequence of the data points with the data vector values.
Best, and thank you
Sergio
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/create-file-for-paraview-to-read/4450/14 "2020-06-05T02:00:24Z")
Here is an example of a dataset containing NaN in a .vtk binary format.
[nan.vtk](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/vjFPlHuzHPIPOoqgn457TfhN0u6.vtk) (4.0 KB)
NaN are sadly not supported by the vtk ASCII reader. I’ve opened an issue :
[https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/17919](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/17919)