You can read X–Y data from history output in the output database. Available data consist of history output that were saved during the analysis. From this output, you can select the following:
a variable at a location—for example, U1 (displacement in the X-direction) at node 1;
the step or steps of interest;
a pattern of frames within those steps—for example, every 10th frame; and
the time basis.
For time-based analyses, X-values are taken as total time from the start of the analysis or, in the case of a restarted analysis, as total time from the start of the last continuation of the analysis. Alternatively, you can use the step time as the time basis. Y-values are taken as the value at that time of the variable at the location you specify.
History output from an Abaqus/Standard analysis is available after 10 increments are written to the output database; history output from an Abaqus/Explicit analysis is available after 100 increments are written to the output database or after an Abaqus/Explicit heartbeat is triggered based on CPU time, whichever occurs first.
To read X–Y data from output database history output:
Locate the History Output options.
Select Tools
XY DataCreate from the main menu bar, then choose ODB history output.
Tip:
You can also specify history output by selecting ResultHistory Output from the main menu bar.
The History Output dialog box appears.
Note: The History Output dialog box lists all history output saved during the analysis, giving the variable name and the location at which it was saved. If this list is empty, history output is not available.
Click the Variables tab, if it is not already selected. Select one or more variables that you want to read. Variables are listed alphabetically along with their locations. The default is to read the first entry in the list. For more information on selecting multiple items in dialog boxes, see “Selecting multiple items from lists and tables,” Section 3.2.11.
If your output database contains many history output variables, you can use the filter to reduce the number of output variable names displayed. Click 
next to the Name filter field to see examples of valid filtering syntax.
The specified variable and location are highlighted.
Click Steps/Frames to change the steps, frames, or time basis from which Abaqus/CAE reads X–Y data. For more information, see “Activating and deactivating steps and frames,” Section 42.4.1.
If the data include complex numbers, you can select the displayed form using the Result Options dialog box. For more information on complex number forms in Abaqus/CAE, see “Controlling the form of complex results,” Section 42.6.9.
To evaluate and display the data, click Plot.
An X–Y plot appears in the current viewport. The plot represents the data you have configured in the dialog box, which Abaqus considers temporary data whether or not you have clicked Save As to save it.
To save the data you have configured, click Save As. Any complex data are saved as the current complex form, not as complete complex numbers.
Note:
To plot saved X–Y data, select ToolsXY DataPlot from the main menu bar and choose the X–Y data from the pull-right menu.
In the Save XY Data As dialog box that appears, you can perform any of a number of mathematical, trigonometric, logarithmic, exponential, or other operations on the data before saving (see “Saving an X–Y data object,” Section 47.2.7, for more information).
When you have finished, click Dismiss to close the History Output dialog box.
