Tips to open SILO file

Can't open the SILO file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open SILO files as well as a list of programs that support SILO files.

SILO file extension

File Name VisIt Hydrodynamical Numerical Simulation Data
File Developer Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Simulation and Computing Initiative (ASCI)
File Category Misc Files

The SILO file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the SILO files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the SILO file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
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What is SILO file?

The file in the SILO format belongs to the Misc Files category. The author of this format is Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Simulation and Computing Initiative (ASCI). Misc Files consists of 6033 similar files. VisIt Hydrodynamical Numerical Simulation Data is most often found on 1 operating systems. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others.

How to open SILO file?

An often recurring problem with VisIt Hydrodynamical Numerical Simulation Data is that SILO is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file SILO to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the SILO file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install VisIt

The first step is to check if the computer has the VisIt program installed. This can be achieved by typing VisIt into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below is a list of programs that support the file SILO.

Programs to open SILO file

Remember to download programs supporting SILO files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of VisIt with SILO files

If, despite the installed application, the SILO file does not start in the VisIt application, you must create a file association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the SILO file with the VisIt program.

Step 3. Update VisIt to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the VisIt program, it is possible that VisIt Hydrodynamical Numerical Simulation Data requires a newer version of the program.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the SILO file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to SILO files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the SILO file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected SILO file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the SILO files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair SILO file corruption.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted SILO files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the SILO file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file SILO to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If nothing helps, please reset the device.