# 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:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@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")

</div>

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.

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