Learning Forum

[David Weed]

 

We require that the user have the MS VS and IFORT versions documented in the installation guide due to the fact that the MAPDL code itself is also compiled/linked with those versions. I have seen mixed results in terms of users being able to successfully compile/link with different versions than those listed in the documentation, so we generally don’t suggest doing that. The Intel site has changed a bit and I know that it can be difficult finding specific older versions, so you may want to consider reaching out to Intel support to see if they can help locate them.

Regarding the procedural steps that you listed, you will need to install MS VS first so that the Intel Fortran software suite can detect and integrate with it correctly. Doing it the other way around will prevent this integration and any subsequent compiling/linking procecedure will fail.

When you install ANSYS software, make sure to check the box to install the customization features. If this is installed correctly, then you should have a path like the following:

C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v190\ansys\custom\user\winx64

There is also a ‘customize’ folder, but you want to make sure that the ‘custom’ folder is there as well because this is where the batch files for invoking the compiler and MS VS for compiling/linking are stored.

If you are using the /UPF method (this is used by the ACT app), then you’ll only want to define ANS_USE_UPF = TRUE. You can delete ANS_USER_PATH for now. Also, make sure that all WB sessions are closed when defining that variable so that when WB is re-opened, the variable will be properly recognized by WB.

You technically don’t need the ACT app to use a UPF inside of WB Mechanical, though the GUI does provide some convience. Instead, you can just use the /UPF command in a command object under the Analysis/Static Structural branch within Mechanical. The user routine should also reside in the Solver Files Directory (you can access this by right-clicking on Solution and choosing “Open Solver Files Directory”). Also, make sure the issue OUTRES,ALL,ALL and OUTRES,SVAR,ALL, so that you can plot state variables.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.