Those with legacy zemax cannot open .zprj file.
I have Ansys zemax and can only save to .zprj file, how can I save it to .zar file so others with legacy zemax could open it?
Its not really straightforward, but according to this post:
You can use the API to uncheck the System Explorer..Files..Is Project Directory checkbox. As far as I tested today, the checkbox remains disabled through the user interface and only responds to the API. You can use the following line of code with Python:
TheSystem.TurnOffProjectDirectory()
Take care,
David
Can you describe this a bit better? Project Directories could be zipped up and distributed such that one could redistribute the model.
Does this post imply that all the files necessary for your project are not extracted into individual files in folders like the Project Directory feature?
-B
Project directories were introduced with 21.3 according to this article:
I imagine that what
Take care,
David
I do use Project Directories. Isn’t a simple solution to just zip up the folders in the project directory?
Don’t send them the ZPROJ file, just send them a ZOS + Project folders?
-B
I think ZOS files were also introduced with 21.3 and are likely to be incompatible with older versions of OpticStudio. But at least, ZOS can be saved as ZMX.
I just had somebody:
- Zip up all the project directories
- Send a *.zos file
The entire project restored without an issue. Good luck!
Anyway, I run into this as well. I use the project files and ZPRJs frequently; however, when I need to share a ZAR with a colleague who uses an older version I simply change the file extension in the name in the dialog that opens with the “Create Archive” button under the “File” tab. The “Save as type” dialog will still show the ZPRJ but it will save it as a ZAR that can be opened by others.
Hi. I just like to mention that in the 2024R1.02 release we added the option to covert a file back from a Lens Project to a Lens File. This would allow the export of .ZAR files. Ansys Zemax OpticStudio 2024 R1.02 Release Notes | Zemax Community
![](https://uploads-us-west-2.insided.com/zemax-en/attachment/5825a5ff-02b2-42d6-8c98-800443be8773.png)
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