# Can't open XDMF files with Paraview **URL:** \ **Category:** User Support\ **Created:** [June 27, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55 "2024-06-27T22:35:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jacob\_van\_de\_Lindt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@Jacob\_van\_de\_Lindt](https://festim.discourse.group/u/Jacob_van_de_Lindt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/1 "2024-06-27T22:35:37Z")
Hi everyone, I am following along with Task 8 in the examples, and I am trying to open the .xdmf files in ParaView. When I click to load the file, I am given three options to open it with: XDMF Reader, Xdmf3ReaderS, Xdmf3ReaderT. The second two crash ParaView and the first loads the file, but then no data displays, and I get the following error below. I suspect I am just missing something simple as I am new to both ParaView and FESTIM. Thanks! ERROR: In vtkXdmfReader.cxx, line 487 vtkXdmfReader (0000019EB9AEB080): Failed to read data. ERROR: In vtkExecutive.cxx, line 741 vtkPVCompositeDataPipeline (0000019EB9B0D570): Algorithm vtkFileSeriesReader (0000019EB98EE710) returned failure for request: vtkInformation (0000019EB957FA10) Debug: Off Modified Time: 418490 Reference Count: 1 Registered Events: (none) Request: REQUEST\_DATA FORWARD\_DIRECTION: 0 ALGORITHM\_AFTER\_FORWARD: 1 FROM\_OUTPUT\_PORT: 0 ---
**Author:** ![Jacob\_van\_de\_Lindt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@Jacob\_van\_de\_Lindt](https://festim.discourse.group/u/Jacob_van_de_Lindt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/2 "2024-06-27T22:55:47Z")
This is resolved. I needed to have the corresponding .h5 file in the same directory and it worked fine. ---
**Author:** ![yien-sudo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/yien-sudo/32/182_2.png) [@yien-sudo](https://festim.discourse.group/u/yien-sudo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 8:48am UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/3 "2025-06-30T08:48:33Z")
I’ve put the .h5 file in the same directory, why do I still get an error? ---
**Author:** ![VVKulagin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/vvkulagin/32/51_2.png) [@VVKulagin](https://festim.discourse.group/u/VVKulagin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:03am UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/4 "2025-06-30T09:03:03Z")
Hi @yien-sudo! Would you mind clarifying the issue? Is it the same error or another? How do you export your XDMF-files? Please see [this](https://festim.discourse.group/t/read-before-posting-how-do-i-get-my-question-answered/121) post for a few tips to help get your question answered. ---
**Author:** ![yien-sudo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/yien-sudo/32/182_2.png) [@yien-sudo](https://festim.discourse.group/u/yien-sudo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:45am UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/5 "2025-06-30T09:45:51Z")
![files](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/festim/original/1X/34efd6a108804377944fd5adf490f5671eaa5a1e.jpeg) ![paraview](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/festim/original/1X/eef29a200eb18efe3b4da0e31f0881628453511d.jpeg) Thank you for your reply. It’s the same error.When I open the T.xdmf file in the paraview and select XDMF Reader, I get an error, and using Xdmf3 ReaderS/T is a direct crash. ---
**Author:** ![remidm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/remidm/32/4_2.png) [@remidm](https://festim.discourse.group/u/remidm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/6 "2025-06-30T11:02:50Z")
Hi @yien-sudo Have you manually modified the name of the files by any chance? ---
**Author:** ![remidm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/remidm/32/4_2.png) [@remidm](https://festim.discourse.group/u/remidm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 11:07am UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/7 "2025-06-30T11:07:01Z")
Also I see that your XDMF files are in WSL. Is paraview installed in Windows or in WSL? ---
**Author:** ![yien-sudo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/yien-sudo/32/182_2.png) [@yien-sudo](https://festim.discourse.group/u/yien-sudo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 7:14am UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/8 "2025-07-01T07:14:47Z")
First of all, thank you very much. I did install the paraview to the D drive. According to your reminder, I moved the XDMF\_files to the E drive and opened it successfully. I found a CFD solver vanDANA in GitHub and installed and ran it under Ubuntu wsl, how do you see such an error? ---
**Author:** ![remidm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/festim.discourse.group/remidm/32/4_2.png) [@remidm](https://festim.discourse.group/u/remidm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://festim.discourse.group/t/cant-open-xdmf-files-with-paraview/55/9 "2025-07-01T13:06:21Z")
I’m not sure I’m following. You fixed the issue of opening the XDMF file in paraview correct? I don’t understand what your issue with vanDANA is.