Using matplotlib (for python 2.6) with Abaqus 6.12

Question

I'm wondering if any of you use matplotlib for your python codes that are coupled with ABAQUS. I really want to load matplotlib onto the abaqus-python interface. I'm using ABAQUS 6.12, which has python 2.6. Also, I'm using Windows 64 bit.

However, when I download the matplotlib for python 2.6, it fails to install and says that

"Python 2.6 required, which is not found in the Registry."

Could anyone help me out? Does anyone know of a step-by-step way to install matplotlib such that it works for Abaqus 6.12?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

Note: For those unfamiliar with FEA Software, the Abaqus Scripting Interface is an extension of the Python object-oriented programming language, and comes with ABAQUS/CAE.

Answer 1

I use Matplotlib 1.3.0 with Abaqus 6.11. Everything 64 bit. I believe with Abaqus 6.12 will work as well. The procedure is (using the same configuration as mine, but I believe newer versions of NumPy and Matplotlib will work as well):

• install Python 2.7 64 bit
• install NumPy 1.7.1 64 bit
• install Matplotlib 1.3.0 64 bit

Configure your environment variable PYTHONPATH pointing to were matplotlib is installed before importing it from Abaqus.

You may get a RuntimeWarning like:

C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages\PIL\Image.py:71:
RuntimeWarning: The _imaging extension was built for another version of Python; most PIL functions will be disabled

But you can use most of matplotlib's features from Abaqus.