# Implementation references
These are specification and comparison references, not endorsement or evidence
that caexfer passes a vendor qualification suite. No source code from these
projects is vendored into caexfer.
- Altair, Bulk Data Guidelines: physical field layouts, free/large formats,
continuations, comments, and implicit real exponents.
https://help.altair.com/hwsolvers/os/topics/solvers/os/guidelines_bulk_data_r.htm
- Altair, GRID reference: ID, CP, coordinate, CD, PS, and SEID meanings.
https://help.altair.com/hwsolvers/os/topics/solvers/os/grid_bulk_r.htm
- pyNastran developer guide: BDF structure and small/large-field interpretation.
https://pynastran-git.readthedocs.io/en/latest/manual/bdf_developer.html
- VTK XML File Formats: UnstructuredGrid, connectivity, offsets, cell types,
and typed PointData/CellData arrays.
https://docs.vtk.org/en/latest/vtk_file_formats/vtkxml_file_format.html
- VTK Simple Legacy Formats: ASCII unstructured grids, cell types, and
point/cell attributes.
https://docs.vtk.org/en/v9.6.1/vtk_file_formats/vtk_legacy_file_format.html
- meshio's Nastran implementation, `_convert_to_vtk_ordering`, inspected as a
comparison for linear vs. higher-order connectivity conventions. File blob
SHA at inspection: 0e1313c9d71c05eb002b618cf02c412bd5ef64ae.
https://github.com/nschloe/meshio/blob/main/src/meshio/nastran/_nastran.py
- Gmsh MSH 4.1 and 2.2 specification: node/element records and
NodeData/ElementData.
https://gmsh.info/doc/texinfo/gmsh.html#MSH-file-format
- CalculiX GraphiX manual, chapter 11: ASCII FRD node, element and result records.
https://www.dhondt.de/cgx_2.19.pdf
- Abaqus/Explicit element index: linear INP element type names.
https://docs.software.vt.edu/abaqusv2025/English/SIMACAEELMRefMap/simaelm-c-expelementindex.htm
- pyNastran OP2 NumPy demo: displacement table, node IDs and six result components.
https://pynastran-git.readthedocs.io/en/latest/quick_start/op2_demo_numpy1.html
- pyNastran result-object documentation: static/transient real table creation and
OP2 writing interfaces used for independent test fixtures.
https://pynastran-git.readthedocs.io/en/latest/reference/op2/result_objects/pyNastran.op2.result_objects.html
- MSC Nastran 2021.4 Reference Guide: real GRID displacement PCH example used
for the transcribed minimal reader fixture.
https://documentation-be.hexagon.com/bundle/MSC_Nastran_2021.4_Reference_Guide/raw/resource/enus/MSC_Nastran_2021.4_Reference_Guide.pdf
- Altair Punch File documentation: PCH result block and table context.
https://2025.help.altair.com/2025.1/hwsolvers/os/topics/solvers/os/punch_files_r.htm
Vendor dialects differ. These references establish the intended subset; they do
not justify claiming complete MSC/NX/OptiStruct interoperability. Revisit the
relevant primary specification before extending any card or result-table schema.