Hello Zemax Community!

I have important news regarding your Zemax OpticStudio products. Ansys Zemax is dedicated to ensuring that we offer the best possible optical design workflow and user experience that allows you to bring your products to market faster. 

As such, 2025 R1 (January 2025) will be our last release where you will be able to save to the .ZOS file format in Ansys Zemax OpticStudio. 

We have made the choice as of 2024 R2 (July 2024) release to begin writing the same content type as found in the .ZMX file format to the .ZOS file format to begin the file type transition. The .ZMX file format will also replace the .ZOS file format as the default save option in Ansys Zemax OpticStudio.

This change aligns with requests from long-term customers who have come to rely and depend on the product over decades and have chosen to have the .ZMX file as their format of choice.  

For some customers we are aware this decision may not support your existing workflow, which is why we are offering as much notice as possible. From 2024 R2 customers will be encouraged to convert existing files from. ZOS to .ZMX file format. 

From the 2025 R1 (January) release, .ZOS file format will be read-only, and you will only be able to save files in .ZMX file format. Users will always be able to read a .ZOS file, but you will not be able to write to one after this time.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact your Account Manager.