Abaqus ODB Version Handling

The application supports Abaqus .odb files up to and including version 2025. By default, if a file is from an earlier version, it is automatically upgraded to the latest supported version (2025) during translation.

Specifying the Abaqus Version

You can override the default upgrade behavior by explicitly specifying the Abaqus version using:

  • The --odb_version=VERSION command-line argument, or

  • The environment variable VCE_ABAQUS_VERSION=VERSION

This ensures that the appropriate ODB libraries for the specified version are used directly, without automatic upgrading.

Example Usage

--odb_version=2019

or

set VCE_ABAQUS_VERSION=2019

Note

If both are provided, the command-line argument --odb_version takes precedence.

If neither is provided, the application defaults to version 2025.

This flexible version handling ensures compatibility with a wide range of Abaqus ODB files while allowing fine-grained control over the translation process.

Launching VMoveCAE with a Specific ODB Version

To launch the VMoveCAE GUI for a specific ODB version, run the following command from the command prompt: The batch files are available in the installation directory.

VMoveCAE.bat --odb_version=2017

This opens the VMoveCAE GUI with support for Abaqus ODB files of version 2017 or earlier. Any older ODB files will be automatically upgraded to version 2017 before loading.

Alternatively, you can set the environment variable before running the batch file:

set VCE_ABAQUS_VERSION=2017
VMoveCAE.bat

Or, modify the batch script directly to set a default version:

if not defined VCE_ABAQUS_VERSION (
    set "VCE_ABAQUS_VERSION=2017"
)

Using Specific ODB Version in Other Applications

For other tools such as VMoveCAEBatch.bat, VMoveCAESubmit.bat`, include the version using the command-line option:

VMoveCAEBatch.exe --odb_version=2019 abaqus_odb.odb output.CAX

This command translates abaqus_odb.odb to output.CAX using the 2019 ODB libraries.

  • If the file is in version 2019 - it is used directly.

  • If older than 2019 - it is upgraded to 2019.

  • If newer than 2019 - an error is raised.

Note

If --odb_version is not specified and VCE_ABAQUS_VERSION is not set, the application defaults to using the latest supported version (2025).