Exporting data
The function of OVITO exports the results of the current data pipeline to a file. Depending on the selected output format (see list of supported formats), different fragments of the dataset are exported, e.g. the particles and their properties, the bonds, other computed quantities, etc. Furthermore, you can choose which animation frame(s) should be exported (just the current frame or a range) and whether the datasets are saved to a single output file or to a sequence of files, one per frame.
If the pipeline output contains several data objects that can be written in the selected format, use the Data object selector in the Data to export section of the export settings dialog to pick one. For example, a dataset may contain more than one particle system if the pipeline includes a Cluster analysis modifier, which outputs the list of identified clusters as a secondary particle system named Clusters. The particle file formats export the main particle system by default. Select a different particle system to export its elements and properties instead.
OVITO will ask you for a destination filename. Note that, if you append a .gz or .zst suffix, the output file(s) will automatically be
compressed for text-based file formats.
Global attributes
Global attributes are numeric values or other pieces of information associated with the dataset as a whole, not individual particles or bonds.
OVITO’s analysis functions may produce new global attributes as an output, e.g., the number of atoms of a particular type or the computed total surface area of a structure. You can open the Attributes page of the data inspector to see the list of global attributes associated with the current dataset at the current simulation timestep.
Global attributes often have time-dependent values, i.e., they are dynamically recomputed by the pipeline system for every animation frame. Plotting the value(s) of one or more global attributes as functions of time can be done using the Time series modifier of OVITO Pro.
You can export global attribute values to a text file using OVITO’s file export function described above. Make sure to select the “Table of Global Attributes” export format. This output format yields a tabular data file with one row per animation frame and one column per global attribute.