# .VTU files
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [May 5, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548 "2026-05-05T17:29:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/1 "2026-05-05T17:29:13Z")
Hi!
I’m a new user of Paraview and trying to visualize some files in .vtu format, but I don’t know how.
Best regards,
João
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### Author:  [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/2 "2026-05-05T18:11:08Z")
File/ Open. Find your file. OK. Apply.
Look at Help/ Getting Started with ParaView
Alan
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### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/3 "2026-05-05T18:15:53Z")
Thanks for the reply, Alan. I’m using a numerical modelling simulation on seismology, it’s called Specfem3d\_globe. As a result, I have a number of files that I’m trying to visualize. Is it possible to create a video (or gif)?
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### Author:  [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/4 "2026-05-06T17:29:05Z")
Did you go through the Getting Started? If your data isn’t reading as a time based dataset, just load every data file, save screenshot. Then post process them together with ffmpeg.
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### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/5 "2026-05-12T13:42:15Z")
Hello Alan, thank you for your help again. I’ve been following the steps, but I’m still having trouble. I converted the .d files to .vtk, but I think the sheer volume of files is causing the software to crash. Could you help me visualize them just to confirm I’m on the right track?
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### Author:  [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/6 "2026-05-12T16:27:50Z")
Lets see … about how big are the files, and how many cells do you have? Also, if they .vtk files, make sure you know the difference between spatially spread data (i.e., multiple files of data for one timestep) and temporally spead data (i.e., for example a .vtk file per time).
There are examples for .vtk type files that come with ParaView. You can get to them in examples/ vtk/xml/parallelUnstructured. What you want is a pvd file, which will call your .vtk files one timestep at a time. Try opening one of the examples and make a movie (File/ Save Animation).
If you give me the data I may be able to download it. @mwestphal very likely can also do so.
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### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/7 "2026-05-13T13:48:17Z")
Thank you once again, Alan! I tried to follow the steps you instructed, but unfortunately the software keeps crashing. How can I share the .vtk files with you and @mwestphal?
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### Author:  [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/8 "2026-05-13T15:51:39Z")
How many files do you have, and how large is each file?
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### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/9 "2026-05-13T16:08:28Z")
There are 627 files, around 33 MB each.
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### Author:  [@wascott](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/wascott)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/10 "2026-05-13T17:05:40Z")
627 files represent 627 different times, or they are each a part of the whole single time simulation output?
Try moving one file into a different directory, and open it there. Does that work? My strong guess is you have too much data for your computer.
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### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/11 "2026-05-13T17:22:28Z")
These files are parts of a single simulation output, split every 100 steps. I also believe my computer cannot handle such a large amount of data.
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### Author:  [@jvcsantos](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jvcsantos)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/vtu-files/17548/12 "2026-05-21T17:02:19Z")
Hi Alan, sorry to disturb you again. Would it be possible for you to look at these files for me? How could I send them to you? I just want to ensure that I am on the right track with my research.