PyAEDT

Introduction

PyAEDT is part of the larger PyAnsys effort to facilitate the use of Ansys technologies directly from Python.

PyAEDT is intended to consolidate and extend all existing functionalities around scripting for Ansys Electronics Desktop (AEDT) to allow reuse of existing code, sharing of best practices, and increased collaboration. PyAEDT is licensed under the MIT License.

PyAEDT includes functionality for interacting with the following AEDT tools and Ansys products:

HFSS and HFSS 3D Layout
Icepak
Maxwell 2D/3D and RMxprt
Q3D/2DExtractor
Mechanical
Nexxim
EDB Database
Twin Builder

What is PyAEDT?

PyAEDT is a Python library that interacts directly with the AEDT API to make scripting simpler for the end user. Its architecture can be reused for all AEDT 3D products (HFSS, Icepak, Maxwell 3D, and Q3D), 2D tools, and Ansys Mechanical. It also provides support for circuit tools like Nexxim and system simulation tools like Twin Builder. Finally it provides scripting capabilities in Ansys layout tools like HFSS 3D Layout and EDB. Its class and method structures simplify operation for the end user while reusing information as much as possible across the API.

Documentation and Issues

In addition to installation, usage, and contribution information, the PyAEDT documentation provides API documentation, examples, and code guidelines.

On the PyAEDT Issues page, you can create issues to submit questions, report bugs, and request new features. To reach the project support team, email pyansys.support@ansys.com.

Dependencies

To run PyAEDT, you must have a local licenced copy of AEDT. PyAEDT supports AEDT versions 2021 R1 or newer.

Student Version

PyAEDT supports AEDT Student version 2021 R2. For more information, see Student Version page.

Why PyAEDT?

A quick and easy approach for automating a simple operation in the AEDT UI is to record and reuse a script. However, disadvantages of this approach are:

Recorded code is dirty and difficult to read and understand.
Recorded scripts are difficult to reuse and adapt.
Complex coding is required by many global users of AEDT.

The main advantages of PyAEDT are:

Automatic initialization of all AEDT objects, such as desktop objects like the editor, boundaries, and so on
Error management
Log management
Variable management
Compatibility with IronPython and CPython
Simplification of complex API syntax using data objects while maintaining PEP8 compliance.
Code reusability across different solvers
Clear documentation on functions and API
Unit tests of code to increase quality across different AEDT versions

Example Workflow

Initialize the Desktop class with the version of AEDT to use.
Initialize the application to use within AEDT.

Connect to Desktop from Python IDE

PyAEDT works both inside AEDT and as a standalone application. It automatically detects whether it is running in an IronPython or CPython environment and initializes AEDT accordingly. PyAEDT also provides advanced error management. Usage examples follow.

Explicit Desktop Declaration and Error Management

Launch AEDT 2021 R1 in non-graphical mode

from pyaedt import Desktop, Circuit
with Desktop(specified_version="2022.1",
             non_graphical=False, new_desktop_session=True,
             close_on_exit=True, student_version=False):
    circuit = Circuit()
    ...
    # Any error here will be caught by Desktop.
    ...

# Desktop is automatically released here.

Implicit Desktop Declaration and Error Management

# Launch the latest installed version of AEDT in graphical mode

from pyaedt import Circuit
with Circuit(specified_version="2022.1",
             non_graphical=False) as circuit:
    ...
    # Any error here will be caught by Desktop.
    ...

# Desktop is automatically released here.

Remote Application Call

You can make a remote application call on a CPython server or any Windows client machine.

On a CPython Server:

Launch PyAEDT remote server on CPython

from pyaedt.common_rpc import launch_server
launch_server()

On any Windows client machine:

from pyaedt.common_rpc import client
cl1 = client("server_name")
hfss = cl1.root.hfss()
# your code here

Variables

from pyaedt.HFSS import HFSS
with HFSS as hfss:
     hfss["dim"] = "1mm"   # design variable
     hfss["$dim"] = "1mm"  # project variable

Modeler

# Create a box, assign variables, and assign materials.

from pyaedt.hfss import Hfss
with Hfss as hfss:
     hfss.modeler.create_box([0, 0, 0], [10, "dim", 10],
                             "mybox", "aluminum")

License

PyAEDT is licensed under the MIT license.

This module makes no commercial claim over Ansys whatsoever. PyAEDT extends the functionality of AEDT by adding an additional Python interface to AEDT without changing the core behavior or license of the original software. The use of the interactive control of PyAEDT requires a legally licensed local copy of AEDT. For more information about AEDT, visit the AEDT page on the Ansys website.

Marc-Vieweger/pyaedt