2.2 Handling Input Data

The problem has 9 inputs that can be divided into:

• 5 constants (Young, Mc, Wc, F, S)
• 2 discrete variables (B, H)
• 2 "continuous" (a discretization of 1000 parts is used) variables (L, T).

Now we have just created the parameters of our model. But this model needs to be defined by an input file, which has to be solved by our application.
Select the Input File icon from the tool bar and click on the Work Flow desktop to place it. A new input file object should be now present in the project. To enter the input file properties window, double click on its icon or RMB click to pop-up a menu, then select Edit Node Properties. The input file name must be changed to beam_input.dat, as this is the name of the file required by the application, then all the input variables must be connected as possible input nodes to the file, by clicking on their respective check boxes. By clicking the OK button all changes to the logic are applied, the variables are connected and the system should look like Fig. T2.2.1.

Note: every component, in any moment, can be moved at will, within the Work Flow desktop, by simply dragging and dropping it in the desired position.

Fig. T2.2.1: Work Flow and Input file properties.

Now the template file must be created/imported.
This can be done writing a template input file from scratch, or loading an existing input file, using the Open button and looking for the suitable file.
For this tutorial a correct input file can be found in:

        .../modeFRONTIER30x/doc/html/tutorial/project/beam_input.dat
    

Fig. T2.2.2: open file dialog.

The selected file will be opened in an editor, and a table with all previously selected input variables lays down.
To include a variable into the file follow this procedure:

1. click on the proper table row to select the variable to be included
2. highlight with the mouse pointer the corresponding value on the file editor
3. RMB click to show a pop-up menu and select Insert Variable (Fig. T2.2.3)
4. specify the correct format (Fig. T2.2.4)

Fig. T2.2.3: a selected variable and its corresponding value.

Fig. T2.2.4: selecting a number format.

Repeat until all input variables are properly linked to the input file, the result will look like in Fig. T2.2.5.

Fig. T2.2.5: all input variables are inserted.

Note: pay attention to the check boxes close to the variable names. As the input variable insertion process progresses, the system marks checked every variable correctly inserted.
Note: the system will not allow the insertion of variables if special characters are included into the selected string. The end-of-line is also a special character, the number must be precisely selected!

Click on the Ok button to accept all changes.

In the next section we are going to follow similar procedure to define output variables in the output file.