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Comparison of Adams File Formats

The advantages and disadvantages of the different Adams file formats in which you can save or export your modeling data are listed in the table below.

Format:	Advantages:	Disadvantages:	Upward Compatibility:
Adams Solver dataset	■Creates a model definition for Adams Solver analysis. ■Uses standard Adams data language (ADL) commands. ■ASCII format that is easy to read and portable to different computer platforms. ■Enables you to build and investigate the results of the analysis on a different platform from your analysis. ■Provides a standardized format and allows extensive comments.	■Saves ADL for a single model only. ■Doesn't contain Adams View environment information (modeling entity color, size, and visibility attributes).	■Upwardly compatible with Adams for two major releases. For example, files created in version 2014 are compatible with versions 2015 and 2016. ■Files created in a Beta version are never guaranteed to be compatible with the final version.
Adams View Modeling database (binary)	■Restores an Adams View session exactly as it was when you saved the file. ■Saves an entire database with multiple models, analysis cases, and simulation results. ■Provides unified, precise storage and fast read/write capability.	■The file size can be large. ■You have to load the binary file into the product to debug your model.	■Interface customization is lost between versions. Before upgrading, export the customization content as text files (macros, dialog boxes, menus, and so on) and then import the files into Adams. ■Files created in a beta version are never guaranteed to be compatible with the final version.
Adams View command	■Defines a single model. ■Allows reading and writing of file since it is in text format. ■Enables transferring of data to different computer systems. ■Saves all types of geometry, such as polylines, and links.	■Reads slower than binary. ■Contains only a single model definition, with no simulation data. ■Doesn't contain Adams View environment information (view layouts, menu definitions, and so on).	■Upwardly compatible with Adams for two major releases. For example, files created in version 2014 are compatible with versions 2015 and 2016. ■Files created in a beta version are never guaranteed to be compatible with the final version.