How can I model an elliptical beam in a sequential system?

Does OpticStudio have a preferred compiler that I need to use in order to create my own source?

When I open an archived (.ZAR) file, I get a pop-up referencing existing files. Which option should I choose? Do I always have to overwrite files with the same name, or can I merge them?

I’m building a system in Non-Sequential Mode but keep getting “Geometry error” on the screen when I include layout rays. How do I fix this?

I am working with a system that has a user-defined DLL surface and want to obtain the settings. The ZOS-API recognizes that I am using a user-defined DLL but is not returning the correct file as defined in my code.

Is there a way to model and analyze a system using physical optics calculations instead of a ray trace?

I'm trying to optimize a system with a partner but our results keep coming back different from one another even though we are using the same operands and variables. Why is this happening?