# StructuredGrid and RectilinearGrid in VTKHDF format

**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275
**Category:** Development
**Tags:** file-formats
**Created:** [July 22, 2024, 10:45am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275 "2024-07-22T10:45:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![jpmorr](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/jpmorr/32/8944_2.png) [@jpmorr](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/jpmorr)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2024, 10:45am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275/1 "2024-07-22T10:45:25Z")

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Hi,

I’ve got a quick question about `StructuredGrid` and `RectilinearGrid` data in the newer `VTKHDF` format. While it’s quite easy to represent these using the `ImageData` or `UnstructuredGrid` file formats already defined (with a little postprocessing of the inputs to match the final format), I’m wondering if there will also be standalone definitions of these formats for `VTKHDF`?

I was surprised to see that they were not already defined which makes me assume that the intention is for `VTKHDF` to only support the current `.vti`/`.vtu`/`.vtp` formats. Is this the case?

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### Author: ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/cory.quammen/32/6751_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/cory.quammen)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275/2 "2024-07-22T11:01:07Z")

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Indeed, those dataset types are not yet supported, and not even on the [VTKHDF roadmap](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/vtkhdf-roadmap/13257). The reason is that no one has seen it as a high enough priority to add support for those dataset types by either 1). contributing the format and code changes to VTK or 2). hiring a company like [Kitware](https://www.kitware.com/industry/support/) to add support for them. I would expect support for `vtkStructuredGrid` and `vtkRectilinearGrid` to be added eventually.

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### Author: ![jpmorr](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/jpmorr/32/8944_2.png) [@jpmorr](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/jpmorr)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2024, 11:14am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275/3 "2024-07-22T11:14:33Z")

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Thanks for the clarification.

The fact that they were not even mentioned on the roadmap made me think that there was not going to be support at all, rather than it has not been allocated resources yet.

For the file format, I can very easily generate a hdf file along the lines of the existing specs to show how a `vtr`/`vts` file might look, but I’m afraid the implementation aspect would be well beyond my capabilities.

I’ll keep an eye on the roadmap for any further information on these formats.

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### Author: ![lgivord](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/lgivord/32/3543_2.png) [@lgivord](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/lgivord)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275/4 "2024-07-22T11:35:23Z")

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FYI your not the first person to talk about supporting such vtk data type: [https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/19379](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/19379)

As Cory said, its not plan for now but it’s definitively something that VTKHDF should support in the future

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### Author: ![jpmorr](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/jpmorr/32/8944_2.png) [@jpmorr](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/jpmorr)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/structuredgrid-and-rectilineargrid-in-vtkhdf-format/14275/5 "2024-07-22T15:21:44Z")

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Thanks for pointing me towards the related feature request.