3.1.2. Data Output

Fig. 1: Output Files and Output Variables

Double click on the Output File node to show its proprieties, and rename it, see (Fig.2).

Note: It is mandatory that the name of the Output File node is the same of the Output File written by our application (in this case NASTRAN).

Fig. 2: Output File Properties

Do the same with each Output Variable: rename them and link them to the correct Output File (link dx and dy to displacement.dat, mises to mises.dat and mass to mass.dat), as in Fig.3.

Fig. 3: Output Variable Properties

After we have finished, the Work Flow window should look like in Fig.4.

Fig. 4: Output Files and Output Variables renamed and linked

Go back to the Output File node Properties to choose the Output File Template, as we did with the Input File (see Fig.5). Click on the Open button in the Output File Properties window.
A new window will appear and we have to select a Template Output File that define the model (the file where the variable will be exctracted from). Browse through the file system and search the proper Output File (at least one time we must analyze and post-process the model to have an Output File to use it as template), see Fig.5 and Fig.6).

Fig. 5: Output File Properties

Fig. 6: Output File Selection

After we selected the proper file, the Template Output Editor will show we the template Output File.
The window is split into two parts: in the top part the Output File is edited, in the bottom part there is a list of the Output Variables connected to the Output File (see Fig.7).

Fig. 7: Work Flow - Template Output Editor

To mine an Output Variables from an Output File follow this procedure:

1. click on the proper table row to select the variable to be mined
2. highlight with the mouse pointer a corresponding figure inside the output File. This mark will be the point where the parser will exctract the output value for that Output Variable. Note: a variable position can be either absolute (e.g. its value is in an absolute position in the file structure) or relative (e.g. its value is relative to a certain keyword inside the file)
   
3. RBM to show a pop-up menu and select Absolute Position

Fig. 8: Output Variable extraction

When we have completed the extraction of the first Output Variables from the Output File we can read the mining rule beside the Output Variable name (see Fig.9).

Fig. 9: The mining rule

Do the same with the Output File and Output Variables related to the moment.
Look at the summary pannel to check the changes made on the Output Variables, if everythig is ok the Output Variable Summary table should look like(see Fig.10).

Fig. 10: Output Variable Summary table

Now we have completed the mining of Output Variables from Output Files.
The next step is to define the External Scripts running the Applcations. They read the model from written into the Input File analyze it and write Output Files.