CAxEdit

Hi @codev,

Caxedit is no longer supported but it appears like the creator's name was Deepak Sathyanarayan. He commented on one of my videos suggesting that he might revive it someday so that doesn't help you in the near term. This is a bit of a precarious spot to be in but I know that a lot of people ask about this, so I'll take the risk for y'all. 

Someone has pointed out that you can try to access the download page through web.archive.org and download a 30 day trial of the software? I have not tried this and cannot guarantee anything. So try at your own risk:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180815192314/http://caxedit.com/downloads

Why bother going through so many hoops? Someone had created a Notepad++ plugin for Abaqus input files, which I was able to improve upon with little effort. I think you can do the same for LS-DYNA formatted input decks.

Another option is to quit using Notepad++ altogether - a bit abrupt, I know. I use VIM; it comes with a baked in plug-in for Abaqus which works for LS-DYNA as well. VIM is a beast, works both in Linux and Windows, is non-intuitive and pain in the neck but who doesn't have a personality? 🙂

@codev if you want don't want to use vim, but still want CAxEdit-like code-folding and syntax highlighting for LS-DYNA input files, use the attached Notepad++ UDL. I used the same color scheme as CAxEdit, but if you follow the instructions in the xml file you can easily change the colors to whatever you like.

To install the UDL just open Notepad++, go to Top Menu -> Language -> User Defined Language -> Open User Defined Language..., and then copy the LSDYNA_UDL.xml file into the folder which opened and restart Notepad++. Now whenever you open a new .k, .key, or .dyn file in Notepad++ it should automatically have the same type of code-folding and syntax highlighting that you have in CAxEdit. To fold all lines use Alt+0 and to unfold all lines use Alt+Shift+0.

If @codev is playing with Vim, then here are the steps -

1. Open file in Vim (gVim for Windows)

2. Press Escape on your keyboard (to be sure you are in the right mode)

3. :setf abaqus (colon upfront is essential)

That's it. Code folding/highlighting is enabled for LS-DYNA keyword decks.

You have to do a bit more work to make that the default behavior but I won't go there just yet.

Again, I am not a huge fan of Vim. No sane person can remember the various combinations of keys you have to use to get more than a few basic things done. However, I like it because you can do some powerful stuff with it simply by pressing just a few keys - the trouble, of course, is knowing/remembering those combinations.