# I want to visualize my OpenFOAM simulation results with ParaView but I'm confused, which version should I use ?
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/i-want-to-visualize-my-openfoam-simulation-results-with-paraview-but-im-confused-which-version-should-i-use/7232
**Category:** FAQ
**Created:** [May 14, 2021, 8:38am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/i-want-to-visualize-my-openfoam-simulation-results-with-paraview-but-im-confused-which-version-should-i-use/7232 "2021-05-14T08:38:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2021, 8:38am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/i-want-to-visualize-my-openfoam-simulation-results-with-paraview-but-im-confused-which-version-should-i-use/7232/1 "2021-05-14T08:38:46Z")
Short Answer:
- go to [paraview.org/download](http://paraview.org/download)
- download the last version of ParaView available
- Use it to visualize your results
Long Answer:
OpenFOAM ships with a _ **script** _ named `paraFoam`, which can be used
to call ParaView with custom OpenFOAM-specific reader modules, as well
as with the standard reader that comes with ParaView/VTK.
As stated in the OpenFOAM wiki, There is almost no reason to use these
particular reader modules instead of the official binary release.
> **[visualization · Wiki · Development / openfoam · GitLab](https://develop.openfoam.com/Development/openfoam/-/wikis/modules/visualization#do-i-really-need-the-paraview-plugins)**
>
> See openfoam code wiki for build and upgrade information, binaries ...
Also, this discourse cannot help with questions about the so-called
_paraFoam_ modules whatsoever, since these reader modules are developed
independently from ParaView.
Note that some versions of the _paraFoam_ script may contain a somewhat
confusing statement:
> The official reader module for OpenFOAM data does not exist on
> your system. This means that the version of ParaView you are using
> was not compiled with OpenFOAM, or distributed with a packaged version
> of OpenFOAM.
If you are in the habit of using `paraFoam` as a command (eg, since it
touches a file into existence), simply use `paraFoam -vtk` or `paraFoam -builtin` instead. Use a shell alias.
---
### Author:  [@olesenm](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/olesenm)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/i-want-to-visualize-my-openfoam-simulation-results-with-paraview-but-im-confused-which-version-should-i-use/7232/2 "2022-06-07T14:03:49Z")
In addition to @mwestphal comments, please note that for the long term OpenCFD (www.openfoam.com) would prefer to focus efforts into extending and improving the ParaView/VTK readers for OpenFOAM and eventually be able to fully deprecate the reader module behind _paraFoam_.
Here is the current _score sheet_ (Jul-2022) - taken from the OpenFOAM wiki:
## Do I _really_ need the ParaView plugins?
Before blindly launching into compiling ParaView with the idea that this is simply necessary for a _complete_ software stack, you should examine your actual requirements. Note that the term _paraFoam_ is often used loosely to mean the reader plugins, but it is merely a small wrapper script.
| Native reader | OpenFOAM Plugin | Functionality |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [+] | [-] | Does not require OpenFOAM installation |
| [+] | [-] | No duplicate of the OpenFOAM mesh in memory |
| [+] | [-] | Supports decomposed cases (without reconstructPar) |
| [+] | [-] | Supports parallel rendering |
| [-] | [+] | Handles collated file formats |
| [-] | [+] | Selection of faceSet, faceZones, etc. |
| [paraview-5.10] | [+] | Patch group selection - [merged](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/merge_requests/7531/commits) |
| [paraview-5.10] | [+] | Dimensioned (Internal) fields - [merged](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/merge_requests/7273/commits) |
| [in progress] | [+] | finiteArea mesh and results - [merged, but inactive](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/merge_requests/7602/commits) |
| [-] | [+] | Additional patch names (_low priority_) |
Workarounds:
- Use `foamToVTK` for faceSets, faceZones as required and load the generated VTK files in ParaView as usual.
| Native reader | blockMeshDict Plugin | Functionality |
| --- | --- | --- |
| n/a | [+] | Explore block structures |
Alternatives:
- Use `blockMesh -write-vtk` to generate the block topology as a VTK file that can be explored in ParaView as required.
The ParaView _Hover Points On_ function is particularly useful!