Conversion of PLAXIS 2D files

Due to adding more features and improving the program’s data structure for stability and performance, the data structure of the PLAXIS data files has evolved over time.

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2 can read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2, PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 1, PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20, PLAXIS 2D 2019, PLAXIS 2D 2018, PLAXIS 2D 2017, PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

With this release, we reintroduced the ability to convert older files from PLAXIS with our CONNECT Edition. This means that older PLAXIS files with the *.P2D can directly be converted to PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2 right from the Input program!
This includes files last saved in PLAXIS 2D 2010, 2D 2011, 2D 2012 and PLAXIS 2D Classic, all with the file extension *.P2D.
See also Video: PLAXIS 2D Classic Converter for CONNECT Edition

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 1

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 1 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 1, PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20, PLAXIS 2D 2019, PLAXIS 2D 2018, PLAXIS 2D 2017, PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20, PLAXIS 2D 2019, PLAXIS 2D 2018, PLAXIS 2D 2017, PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

Tip: The procedure of keeping both versions of 2D AE and 2D CONNECT Edition V20 installed on the same computer for the conversion of older files is described in the related article on how to Install latest 2D version and 2D AE for converting old files.

PLAXIS 2D 2019

PLAXIS 2D 2019 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D 2019, PLAXIS 2D 2018, PLAXIS 2D 2017, PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

Tip: The procedure of keeping both versions of 2D AE and 2D 2019 installed on the same computer for the conversion of older files is described in the related article on how to Install latest 2D version and 2D AE for converting old files.

PLAXIS 2D 2018

PLAXIS 2D 2018 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D 2018, PLAXIS 2D 2017, PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

Tip: The procedure of keeping both versions of 2D AE and 2D 2018 installed on the same computer for the conversion of older files is described in the related article on how to Install latest 2D version and 2D AE for converting old files.

PLAXIS 2D 2017

PLAXIS 2D 2017 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D 2017, PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

Tip: The procedure of keeping both versions of 2D AE and 2D 2017 installed on the same computer for the conversion of older files is described in the related article on how to Install latest 2D version and 2D AE for converting old files.

PLAXIS 2D 2016

PLAXIS 2D 2016 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D 2016, PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

Tip: The procedure of keeping both versions of 2D AE and 2D 2016 installed on the same computer for the conversion of older files is described in the related article on how to Install latest 2D version and 2D AE for converting old files.

PLAXIS 2D 2015

PLAXIS 2D 2015 can only read PLAXIS *.p2dx files created with PLAXIS 2D 2015 or PLAXIS 2D AE.

PLAXIS 2D 2015 cannot use the 2D Classic to 2D AE converter to convert older Plaxis *.P2D files into the data format needed for PLAXIS 2D 2015. In order to use *.P2D files (2D Classic and earlier) in PLAXIS 2D 2015, these files first need to be converted to the PLAXIS 2D AE format using a PLAXIS 2D AE installation in combination with the 2D Classic to 2D AE converter installation, see below.
After this, you can open these 2D AE files in PLAXIS 2D 2015.

Tip: The procedure of keeping both versions of 2D AE and 2D 2015 installed on the same computer is described in the related article of how to Install latest 2D version and 2D AE for converting old files.

PLAXIS 2D AE

With PLAXIS 2D AE, the file extension was changed from *.P2D to *.p2dx. PLAXIS 2D AE can only read files made with PLAXIS 2D AE (*.p2dx). Plaxis project files created with the PLAXIS 2D 2012 version or earlier (with extension .P2D) cannot be opened directly in PLAXIS 2D AE: they first need to be converted using the 2D Classic to 2D AE converter.
PLAXIS 2D AE version license can only be provided using a Codemeter dongle (CmStick).

The 2D Classic to 2D AE converter is an add-on program for PLAXIS 2D AE. In PLAXIS 2D AE when opening a 2D classic file (*.P2D) this converter program will be called, and it will transform the old PLAXIS 2D project via 2D AE's command line into the new format. Note that this Converter is intended to only work directly from PLAXIS 2D AE, and it is not intended to start the Converter manually. Please follow these steps to convert the older PLAXIS data to the new version:

• Start PLAXIS 2D AE Input
• Select Open an existing file
• Go to the location of the old file
• Select the file type PLAXIS 2D files (*.p2d) from the drop down item in the lower right corner:
• And then select your PLAXIS 2D Classic file and click Open
• Make sure to read the conversion notes about changed options in the program
• Then click OK, and the PLAXIS 2D AE model will be built up using the Commands Runner (Note that this requires a Bentley Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement [GSE] (former PLAXIS-VIP) licence/subscription)

Please note that in order to perform all the above-mentioned procedures, you need to have the PLAXIS 2D Classic to 2D AE converter installed. This tool comes with the full setup of PLAXIS 2D AE as an option during the installation procedure of the PLAXIS software. Next to this, it is also available as a separate program via PLAXIS Connect.

For older PLAXIS files (PLAXIS 2D V8 and V9): these files first need to be converted to PLAXIS 2D Classic before it can be converted into the 2D AE data format, see below or the related page:
Conversion from 2D Version 8/9

PLAXIS 2D 2010 - 2011 - 2012 - Classic

With PLAXIS 2D 2010, the file extension was changed from *.PLX to *.P2D. PLAXIS 2D 2010 to PLAXIS 2D Classic was capable of reading in files created with earlier versions starting from Version 8.2 (with extension *.plx).
To convert PLAXIS 2D V8/V9 files, it is recommended to use PLAXIS 2D Classic.

PLAXIS 2D Version 9

PLAXIS 2D Version 9 can read *.PLX files made with PLAXIS 2D Version 8 and PLAXIS 2D Version 9.

PLAXIS 2D Version 8

PLAXIS 2D Version 8 was the only program available that could convert PLAXIS 2D Version 7 files into the newer file structure for the *.PLX file.