# Why can't I create a Tetrahedral Gmsh in Prepomax? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118 "2025-12-03T06:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freitas2306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Freitas2306](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Freitas2306)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/1 "2025-12-03T06:50:27Z")
Why can’t I create a Tetrahedral Gmsh in Prepomax? Even though a regular mesh is possible, even using a simple block? On my work computer I can do it, but on my home computer, repeating the same steps gives the error mentioned. Error message: Errors ocurred during meshing. Please check the output window work sequence: Meshing Setup / Tetrahedral Gmsh / 2D meshing algorithm / Quasi-structured quad thanks! ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 6:53am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/2 "2025-12-03T06:53:43Z")
Usually, this error means you have to assign Meshing Parameters (and reduce the max element size if it still doesn’t work), but that normally happens with Netgen. Does it work with other 2D algorithms than quasi-structured quad ? It’s meant primarily for quad and hexa meshes. ---
**Author:** ![Gunnar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@Gunnar](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Gunnar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 10:00am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/3 "2025-12-03T10:00:52Z")
> [@Freitas2306](#): > > On my work computer I can do it, but on my home computer, repeating the same steps gives the error mentioned. Please check your default settings in gmsh and ensure that the “Use incomplete elements” option is set to “true”. Then save the settings as defaults. Does it work after that? ![-](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/f/f9f845da06a9611a55a850f5407d3682c632fe56.png) ---
**Author:** ![Freitas2306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Freitas2306](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Freitas2306)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/4 "2025-12-03T22:48:30Z")
Thank you very much for your help, fortunately it was easier to solve than I imagined, because the desktop environment and some special characters were causing problems. I placed the Prepomax folder inside the directory, in a private folder, and that solved the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Freitas2306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Freitas2306](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Freitas2306)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/5 "2025-12-03T22:50:46Z")
It worked, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 3:17am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/6 "2025-12-04T03:17:33Z")
> [@Freitas2306](#): > > I placed the Prepomax folder inside the directory, in a private folder, and that solved the problem. Thanks for letting us know about the solution. Improper directories are the most common cause of such inabilities to import geometries, generate meshes and so on. Usually, due to restrictions imposed by Windows on the directories requiring admin rights. Special characters should also be avoided not only for PrePoMax. ---
**Author:** ![Gunnar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@Gunnar](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Gunnar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 7:44am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/why-cant-i-create-a-tetrahedral-gmsh-in-prepomax/3118/7 "2025-12-04T07:44:50Z")
> [@Freitas2306](#): > > Meshing Setup / Tetrahedral Gmsh / 2D meshing algorithm / **Quasi-structured quad** Okay i was more focused at the spectific Quasi-structured quad algorithm. Because then the mentioned option in combination with “element order 2” stored as defaults in gmsh standalone also leads to this error in prepomax, because the Quasi-structured quad algorithm generates pyramids even if the recombine algo. in prepomax is deactivated.