# Specification of vtk DataFile Version 5.1

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/specification-of-vtk-datafile-version-5-1/5127
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Tags:** vtk
**Created:** [August 18, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/specification-of-vtk-datafile-version-5-1/5127 "2020-08-18T08:44:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![vlukes](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/8edcca/32.png) [@vlukes](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/vlukes)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/specification-of-vtk-datafile-version-5-1/5127/1 "2020-08-18T08:44:07Z")

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Paraview 5.8.1 uses `vtk DataFile Version 5.1`. In the new version, cells of an unstructured grid are stored in OFFSETS/CONNECTIVITY blocks. Where to find the specification for 5.1 format version? Only “File Formats for VTK Version 4.2” is available on the vtk website.

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### Author: ![liangbright](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@liangbright](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/liangbright)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/specification-of-vtk-datafile-version-5-1/5127/2 "2020-08-22T16:17:23Z")

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same questions…  
5.1 format is confusing

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### 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: [August 27, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/specification-of-vtk-datafile-version-5-1/5127/3 "2020-08-27T11:31:34Z")

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This is indeed an issue. I’ve opened the discussion here:  
[https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/17989](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/17989)

You can find a incomplete documentation here : [https://vtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/file-formats.pdf](https://vtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/file-formats.pdf)