1.4 Running the ANSYS Program
The ANSYS program can be run in interactive mode or in batch mode. In interactive mode, the analyst exchanges information with the program continuously. A command can be executed by selecting its menu path in the GUI or by typing it in directly. The ANSYS program processes the command in real time. Interactive mode permits to use the GUI, online help, and various tools to create the model in the graphics window and modify it. In batch mode, a file of commands is submitted to the ANSYS. A batch job can be run in the background while doing other work on the system. Batch mode is useful when there is no need to interact with the program, such as during the solution phase. The ANSYS Launcher can be used to set options for an ANSYS run.
1.4.1 Mechanical APDL Product Launcher
1.4.1.1 Starting an ANSYS Session from the Start Menu/Launcher
Use the Mechanical APDL Product Launcher (Fig. 1.5) to run an ANSYS program, one of the auxiliary programs, or to access a modifiable ANSYS file. In order to access ANSYS functionality, including the launcher, choose Start > All Programs > ACP 2020 R1 and select the appropriate option. This causes the launcher to appear automatically.
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Fig. 1.5 Mechanical APDL Product Launcher
Start Menu Options on Windows Choose Start > All Programs > ANSYS 2020 R1 New > Mechanical APDL Product Launcher 2020 R1 to activate the launcher on Windows. The File Management Tab This tab contains the information necessary to manage the files, such as location of the working directory and job name. The available options will differ depending on the simulation environment selected. In the ANSYS simulation environment, the analyst can specify: Working directory Sets the directory in which the ANSYS run will be executed. The program writes files it generates to this directory. Type the new directory name in the Working Directory text box to change the working directory or press the Browse button to display a file selection dialog box. The working directory can be specified by defining the ANSYS201_WORKING_DIRECTORY environment variable. If ANSYS201_WORKING_DIRECTORY is set, the launcher will use that setting as the default. However, any working directory that is specified via the launcher (such as a profile) overrides the ANSYS201_WORKING_DIRECTORY environment variable setting.
Jobname Defines the base filename used for all files generated by the ANSYS run. The initial jobname defaults to file. It can be changed to any alphanumeric string up to 32 characters long. The Customization/Preferences Tab The settings under this tab permit to specify detailed settings about the working environment, such as memory settings, parallel/distributed processing settings, custom executables, and additional parameters. The available options will differ depending on the simulation environment selected on the first tab. On selecting the ANSYS or ANSYS Batch simulation environment, the analyst can specify: Custom Memory Settings Specifies the use of custom memory settings rather than using the default memory model. Select custom memory settings in order to set the - m or -db options. Total Workspace (MB) Specifies the initial allocation of memory requested for the ANSYS run. It defaults to 2 GB (2048 MB). This value is adequate for most modest-sized models. Database (MB) Specifies the portion of total memory that the database will use for the initial allocation. It defaults to 1GB (1024 MB). This value is adequate for most modest-sized models. Graphics Device Name Sets the graphics device (Fig. 1.6). The GUI requires a terminal that supports graphics. The graphics device can be WIN32 (default), WIN32c, or 3D. The 3D graphics driver facilitates to rotate a shaded view of the model. Most newer graphics cards can handle this well.
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Fig. 1.6
Read start.ans at start-up Indicates whether the start201.ans file is read at start-up. Include commands to be executed when the program starts up in the start201.ans file. Uncheck the box to not read the start201.ans at start-up.
1.4.1.2 Launcher Menu Options
Launcher-specific controls can be found under different launcher menu options. The menu options are: File: Use the File menu to exit. Profiles: Use the Profiles menu to save a specific launcher configuration. The profile the analyst is currently running is displayed in the launcher title bar. An asterisk (*) follows the profile name if any settings are changed from what is saved. If the analyst chooses to use the detailed working directory browse dialog box, it shows what files are contained in each directory, allows creating a new directory, and allows filtering on file type. The standard browse dialog displays only the directories from which to choose. By default, the launcher saves existing output files from batch runs. When a new file is created, the old one is renamed to jobname.out. when the batch job is started. The timestamp is in the format YYYY-MM-DD@hh_mm_ss and reflects the date that the file was renamed, not the date the original file was created. Uncheck the Save Existing Output Files From Batch Runs item under the Options menu on the launcher to overwrite the output file rather than renaming it. Use the Reset ANSYS GUI Configuration option to return the ANSYS GUI to its default configuration if the menus or toolbars have been rearranged. This option is especially useful if an ANSYS GUI component has been moved out of the screen's viewable area. The Delete All Settings/Profiles option deletes all profiles saved for this release and sets all Options menu settings back to the defaults. The launcher will also close automatically.
1.4.2 Interactive Mode
In interactive mode, the analyst works with menus and dialog boxes to drive the ANSYS program. ANSYS graphics capabilities, online help, and other tools, such as wizards can be accessed easily. The standard ANSYS GUI is the default. The Utility Menu, Standard Toolbar, Input Window, ANSYS Toolbar, Main Menu, Graphics Window, Status Area, and Output Window are shown in this layout. The toolbars can be resized. The overall size of the GUI, the font, and the color can be modified. Double-click on the following types of files from the Windows Explorer to execute the ANSYS or DISPLAY programs: Start Menu Options on Windows Choose Start > All Programs > ANSYS 2020 R1 New > Mechanical APDL Product Launcher 2020 R1 to activate the launcher on Windows.
The File Management Tab This tab contains the information necessary to manage the files, such as location of the working directory and job name. The available options will differ depending on the simulation environment selected. In the ANSYS simulation environment, the analyst can specify: Working directory Sets the directory in which the ANSYS run will be executed. The program writes files it generates to this directory. Type the new directory name in the Working Directory text box to change the working directory or press the Browse button to display a file selection dialog box. The working directory can be specified by defining the ANSYS201_WORKING_DIRECTORY environment variable. If ANSYS201_WORKING_DIRECTORY is set, the launcher will use that setting as the default. However, any working directory that is specified via the launcher (such as a profile) overrides the ANSYS201_WORKING_DIRECTORY environment variable setting.
Jobname Defines the base filename used for all files generated by the ANSYS run. The initial jobname defaults to file. It can be changed to any alphanumeric string up to 32 characters long.
The Customization/Preferences Tab The settings under this tab permit to specify detailed settings about the working environment, such as memory settings, parallel/distributed processing settings, custom executables, and additional parameters. The available options will differ depending on the simulation environment selected on the first tab.
On selecting the ANSYS or ANSYS Batch simulation environment, the analyst can specify: Custom Memory Settings Specifies the use of custom memory settings rather than using the default memory model. Select custom memory settings in order to set the - m or -db options.
Total Workspace (MB) Specifies the initial allocation of memory requested for the ANSYS run. It defaults to 2 GB (2048 MB). This value is adequate for most modest-sized models.
Database (MB) Specifies the portion of total memory that the database will use for the initial allocation. It defaults to 1GB (1024 MB). This value is adequate for most modest-sized models.
Graphics Device Name Sets the graphics device (Fig. 1.6). The GUI requires a terminal that supports graphics. The graphics device can be WIN32 (default), WIN32c, or 3D. The 3D graphics driver facilitates to rotate a shaded view of the model. Most newer graphics cards can handle this well.
Read start.ans at start-up Indicates whether the start201.ans file is read at start-up. Include commands to be executed when the program starts up in the start201.ans file. Uncheck the box to not read the start201.ans at start-up.
1.4.1.2 Launcher Menu Options
Launcher-specific controls can be found under different launcher menu options. The menu options are: File: Use the File menu to exit.
Profiles: Use the Profiles menu to save a specific launcher configuration. The profile the analyst is currently running is displayed in the launcher title bar. An asterisk (*) follows the profile name if any settings are changed from what is saved.
If the analyst chooses to use the detailed working directory browse dialog box, it shows what files are contained in each directory, allows creating a new directory, and allows filtering on file type. The standard browse dialog displays only the directories from which to choose.
By default, the launcher saves existing output files from batch runs. When a new file is created, the old one is renamed to jobname.out. when the batch job is started. The timestamp is in the format YYYY-MM-DD@hh_mm_ss and reflects the date that the file was renamed, not the date the original file was created. Uncheck the Save Existing Output Files From Batch Runs item under the Options menu on the launcher to overwrite the output file rather than renaming it.
Use the Reset ANSYS GUI Configuration option to return the ANSYS GUI to its default configuration if the menus or toolbars have been rearranged. This option is especially useful if an ANSYS GUI component has been moved out of the screen's viewable area.
The Delete All Settings/Profiles option deletes all profiles saved for this release and sets all Options menu settings back to the defaults. The launcher will also close automatically.
1.4.2 Interactive Mode
In interactive mode, the analyst works with menus and dialog boxes to drive the ANSYS program. ANSYS graphics capabilities, online help, and other tools, such as wizards can be accessed easily.
The standard ANSYS GUI is the default. The Utility Menu, Standard Toolbar, Input Window, ANSYS Toolbar, Main Menu, Graphics Window, Status Area, and Output Window are shown in this layout. The toolbars can be resized. The overall size of the GUI, the font, and the color can be modified.
Double-click on the following types of files from the Windows Explorer to execute the ANSYS or DISPLAY programs: