1. Index
P O L Y D A T A
(Main menu)
Ver: 3
 

DESCRIPTION

This menu is presented upon entering Polydata. The menu performs high level operations on the data structures of Polydata.   OPTIONS
 
0 Save and exit
Writes the current database on a file, and exits the program.
Save and exit is not available until all entries in the database are coherent. If an error message is reported by Polydata, the user must correct the mistake by an appropriate action depending upon the error message.
The user however is allowed to write an incoherent database through the SAVE command. This allows the user to restart Polydata, but not to run Polyflow with the saved file.
1 Read a mesh file
Reads a mesh file in the Polyflow-version-3 format.
A mesh must be read before any problem can be defined.
Once the mesh has been read, the option is no longer available.
2 Mesh decomposition and optimisation
Allows for reading a Polyflow format mesh file, decomposing the mesh into calculation sub-parts, optimising the element numbering of the mesh and writing a new mesh file. This new mesh file must be read with option 1 afterwards.
3 Combine mesh files
Launches a utility that allows the user to combine several mesh files into a single one and/or apply geometrical transformations.
4 Convert a mesh file
Allows the user to convert a Patran Neutral file or I-Deas Universal file into a Polyflow version-3 format mesh file.
5 Convert old results file
Allows to convert a Polyflow format result file into any format available in the Outputs menu : Polyplot, 3DCross, Patran, Ideas, Fluent, Fidap, ...
6 Filename syntax 
Allows the user to select default names for the several i/o files, and to specify their format
7 Outputs
Selects the output format for graphic files.
Output formats are : Polyplot (2-D) and 3Dcross (3-D), Patran, Ideas,
DataVisualizer, CFView-PF, IGES, Fluent, Fidap
See "outputs" for more information.
8 Read an old data file
Reads an old data file (available once a mesh has been read). Initialises the Polydata database from the old data file.
9 Create a new task
Creates a new task; at least one task must exist to define a problem. 
Note that for a problem involving n materials , one must define one task and n sub-tasks.
10 Redefine global parameters of a task
Redefines the global parameters of a task. Once a task is selected, the user will be able to modify the task attributes.
Task attributes are :
- steady-state, time-dependent or evolution
- 2-D, 2-D axi, 2-1/2-D axi or 3-D
- F.E.M. task or Mixing task
10+i  Task i
Modifies the content of the i-th task; there is one entry for each task currently defined.
Note that task attributes are modified by selecting option 7.
EXAMPLES
To create a new problem :
1.     Check the filename syntax (optional).
2.     Convert a Gambit Neutral file, or a Patran Neutral file or a I-Deas Universal file, ...
3.     Read the mesh file.
4.     Create a new task (it will be named Task 1). Check the default attributes of Task 1.
        Modify them if necessary.
5.     Create a sub-task for each material in the simulation.
        Define the type of model in use as a sub-task attribute.
6.     Enter the material data, boundary conditions, ... for each sub-task.
7.     Return to the main menu. Save and exit.
8.     Run Polyflow with the data file created by Polydata. To modify a previously created data file :
  1.     Check the filename syntax (optional).
2.     Read the mesh file.
3.     Read the old data file.
4.     Assuming that a single task (named Task1) exists, select entry 11.
5.     Select a sub-task.
6.     Modify the parameters or boundary conditions.
7.     Return to the main menu. Save and exit.
8.     Run Polyflow with the new data file. To switch from a steady-state problem to an evolution problem :   1.     Check the filename syntax (optional).
2.    Read the mesh file.
3.     Read the old data file.
4.     Select entry 10 (redefine global parameters of a task).
        Select the task that one wishes to modify. Change from steady-state to evolution
5.     Select a sub-task.
6.     Modify the parameters or boundary conditions.
        Include an S-dependence for at least one parameter or boundary condition.
7.     Return to the main menu. Save and exit.
8.     Run Polyflow with the new data file.   NOTES When the "save and exit" option is selected, Polydata executes a non-interactive program section known as the "back-end".
The back-end transforms a "user" data structure (a tree describing all data entered interactively by the user) into a "Polyflow"
data structure (a tree describing the internal data structures of Polyflow).

In the data file, the Polydata part is contained in a block named PA3MN; the Polyflow section is contained in a block named OPEN.
Failure during the back-end still allows one to restart Polydata, but does not allow to run Polyflow.

  SEE ALSO