Take advantage of the power of the Python scripting language, and gain direct access to your data with PyTecplot. PyTecplot integrates fully with other Python-compatible tools, making Tecplot 360 part of your engineering ecosystem.

  • Automate workflows that use multiple engineering tools, with a single scripting language.
  • Perform detailed calculations on all your CFD data sets.
  • Access CFD data directly for custom analysis.
  • Read any data type.
  • Extract values, figures & animations directly from CFD datasets.
  • Connect Tecplot 360 to other tools and processes.
  • Read our Datasheet (PDF).
*PyTecplot is available to customers with TecPLUS maintenance service.
A parallel processing toolbox for PyTecplot has reduced the postprocessing time by a factor of 12…
Read the case study »

Documentation

Installation instructions, a quick start guide, examples of loading layouts, exception handling, slice extraction, Numpy integration, executing equations & line plots, and a complete reference section are included in the PyTecplot documentation.

PyTecplot Docs

Installation

PyTecplot is hosted on PyPI so you simply need to run ‘pip install pytecplot’ from a command prompt. Easy as Py!
PyTecplot is included in the Tecplot 360 installation so you can install from there if you have an overzealous firewall.

Install from PyPI

Handy Python Scripts

PyTecplot makes the slow things fast and the hard things possible.

We have developed a few scripts that will help you automate your workflows and perform advanced analysis.

PyTecplot Scripts on GitHub


PyTecplot Recording

PyTecplot scripts may be recorded from the GUI so that you can draft advanced scripts easily. These scripts can then be played back in the GUI by allowing PyTecplot Connections and running the scripts from the command line.

PyTecplot Connections

As a part of increasing the functionality of our PyTecplot API, we are introducing the capability to control an interactive instance Tecplot 360 EX directly from Python. This ability coupled with the ability to record PyTecplot scripts allows you to utilize the power of Python in more of your workflows and perform complex analyses, faster.


PyTecplot FAQs

What versions of Python do you support?

We officially support the most current version of Python 3 and the two previous dot releases (e.g. 3.11, 3.10, 3.9). That said PyTecplot should work on earlier versions as well. Note that PyTecplot requires the Intel version of Python, so if you’re using a macOS Apple Silicon machine with universal2 Python, make sure that you invoke Python from a command line with the python3-intel64 command instead of just python3. Click here for PyTecplot information.

For more information, please see our Tecplot 360 Release Notes.

Can I run PyTecplot in parallel?

Yes. Multiprocessing libraries are now available. Watch our latest Webinar and find out how to take advantage of multi-processor parallelism to get results much faster. Watch the Webinar “Analyze Your Time-Dependent Data 6x Faster”.

Do I need a separate license?

No, PyTecplot is included with your Tecplot 360 purchase and will continue to run as long as you have an active TecPLUS subscription.

Can I use my favorite Python development environment (IDE)?

Yes. We’ve tested PyTecplot with Wing, PyCharm, Eclipse, and others.

How does PyTecplot work?

PyTecplot can run either in batch mode or connected to a running instance of Tecplot 360. Batch mode is ideal for automated image and video creation or complex data analysis and data extraction. Running connected to Tecplot 360 is ideal when you want to automate a portion of your workflow and continue work within Tecplot 360. In connected mode you can even control Tecplot 360 with UIs built with Python GUI toolkits!

Are you getting rid of the Macro language?

No. PyTecplot can use macro commands, which allows macro experts to easily merge the advantages of Python (like arrays, logic, string processing) with their knowledge of the Tecplot macro language.

How much of the API is currently available?

We will continue to develop the API until we reach nearly all of what is available via the macro language. For APIs that have not been developed yet you can use tecplot.macro.execute_command() to use Tecplot macro commands.

Which platforms do you support?

Windows, Linux, and Mac. See the Tecplot 360 requirements.

You had a Python API in Tecplot 360 2013, what’s different about this one?

We initially introduced a Python API in 2008. That Python API was a lightweight cover over our C API and did not feel like Python. That API also required Python to be installed along with Tecplot 360 which caused installation conflicts. Finally, scripts written using that API had to be run within Tecplot 360, making it very difficult to debug your script.

PyTecplot is a completely redesigned API that embraces several features of the Python language making it a more natural interface to use within a Python script. It is now a pure-python module that loads Tecplot 360’s libraries on import.

How do I install PyTecplot?

First off, PyTecplot requires an installation of Tecplot 360 2017 R1 or later. PyTecplot is also hosted on pypi.python.org so you simply need to run ‘pip install pytecplot’ from a command prompt. Easy as Py!

PyTecplot is also included in the Tecplot 360 installation so you can install from there if you have an overzealous firewall or want to ensure the PyTecplot version you’re installing is guaranteed to be compatible with your version of Tecplot 360.

Can I record a Python script?

Yes! PyTecplot recording and connections was introduced in Tecplot 360 2017 Release 3. Learn more and watch the video on the PyTecplot page.

Can I use PyTecplot with Jupyter Notebooks (IPython)?

Yes! Don’t know what a Jupyter Notebook is? Check them out here: https://jupyter.org/.

I’m using PyQt in Windows and import tecplot gives an error. How do I fix this?

Be sure that you import tecplot before importing PyQt.

When should I use PyTecplot instead of the Macro language?

When you need to perform batch processing. In this case, PyTecplot gives you:

  • Direct access to your data – Use PyTecplot to load any data file format supported by Tecplot 360 and access the data directly to perform post-processing otherwise not possible within Tecplot 360 or with macros.
  • A real programming language – PyTecplot allows you to use all of the utilities afforded by Python such as arrays, string processing, and integration with other Python packages. You can also debug and develop using the same tools you’re already using for your existing Python scripts.
  • Integration with other processes – Python allows to you more easily integrate Tecplot 360’s capabilities into existing workflows.

Do you have example code?

We have some simple examples included in the PyTecplot documentation.

Exactly how does the API work? Do I create and manipulate objects like frames, datasets and plots?

Pytecplot is object based however the objects are, for the most part, references to objects that exist within the Tecplot plotting engine. For example, when data is loaded into a frame and you elect to make a Cartesian 2D plot you can gain access to various aspects of the style (e.g. slice attributes) that pre-exist in the plot. From that point on you can manipulate the style in the plot. You cannot create an object containing slice attributes outside of the plotting framework.