gmsh(1)

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NAME

Gmsh - 3D finite element mesh generator with built-in CAD engine and post-processor

SYNOPSIS

gmsh [file(s)] [option(s)]

DESCRIPTION

Gmsh is a 3D finite element mesh generator with a build-in CAD engine and post-processor. Its design goal is to provide a fast, light and user-friendly meshing tool with parametric input and flexible visualization capabilities.

Gmsh is built around four modules (geometry, mesh, solver and post-processing), which can be controlled with the graphical user interface, from the command line, using text files written in Gmsh's own scripting language (.geo files), or through the C++, C, Python, Julia and Fortran application programming interface.

GEOMETRY OPTIONS

-0
Output model, then exit.
-tol float
set geometrical tolerance.

MESH OPTIONS

-1, -2, -3
perform 1D, 2D or 3D mesh generation, then exit.
-o file
specify output file name.
-format string
set output mesh format (auto, msh, msh1, msh2, msh4, unv, vrml, stl, mesh, bdf, med, ...).
-bin
use binary format when available.
-saveall
save all elements (discard physical group definitions)
-algo string
select mesh algorithm (meshadapt, del2d, front2d, del3d, front3d, hxt, ...).
-parametric
save nodes with their parametric coordinates.
-part int
partition the mesh after batch mesh generation.
-smooth int
set number of mesh smoothing steps.
-order int
set mesh order.
-clscale float
set global mesh element size scaling factor.
-clmin float
set minimum mesh element size.
-clmax float
set maximum mesh element size.
-rand float
set random perturbation factor.
-bgm file
load the post-processing view in file as the current background mesh.
-check
perform various consistency checks on mesh.

POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS

-combine
combine input views into multi-time-step ones.

DISPLAY OPTIONS

-n
hide all meshes and post-processing views on startup.
-fontsize int
specify the font size for the GUI.
-display string
specify display.

OTHER OPTIONS

-
parse input files, then exit.
-new
create new model before merge next file.
-merge
merge next files.
-open
ppen next files.
-a, -g, -m, -s, -p
start in automatic, geometry, mesh, solver or post-processing mode.
-pid
print pid on stdout.
-listen string
always listen to incoming connection requests on the given socket (a default socket is used if not specified).
-v int
set verbosity level.
-nopopup
don't popup dialog windows in scripts.
-setnumber name value
set constant number name=value
-setstring name value
set constant string name=value
-string string
parse option string at startup.
-option file
parse option file at startup.
-convert files
Convert files into latest binary formats, then exit.
-version
show version number.
-info
show detailed version information.
-help
show help message.

AUTHORS

Christophe Geuzaine (cgeuzaine@uliege.be) and Jean-Francois Remacle (jean-francois.remacle@uclouvain.be).

SEE ALSO

getdp(1),
Gmsh examples (/usr/share/doc/gmsh),
Gmsh homepage (https://gmsh.info).

The full documentation for Gmsh is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and gmsh programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info gmsh

should give you access to the complete manual.

3 July 2025 4th Berkeley Distribution