Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation WORKSHOP 20 CREATING PCL FUNCTIONS WS20-2 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation WS20-3 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Problem Description This exercise involves creating two PCL functions that can be used to easily change the view of a model. The PCL functions are created by recording session files using corresponding previously created named views. Using the session files PCL function files are easily created. The PCL functions are compiled in MSC.Patran. The views can be obtained by using the compiled PCL functions. WS20-4 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Suggested Exercise Steps 1. Create a new database. 2. Import the parasolid.xmt file. 3. Create two views of the model. 4. Record two session files, each one created while selecting a unique view of the model. 5. Copy the session files, and edit the copies to create PCL function files with suffix .pcl 6. Compile the PCL functions into MSC.Patran, then use the functions to go to the selected view. 7. Compile the PCL functions into the MSC.Patran library so that they can be used for different databases. WS20-5 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 1. Create a database Create a new database and set the New Model Tolerances. a. Click on the File New icon. b. Enter shield.db for the File Name and click OK. c. In the New Model Preferences form, select Based on Model under Tolerance. d. Set the Analysis Code and Analysis Type to MSC.Nastran and Structural, respectively. e. Click on OK. b c d e WS20-6 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 2. Import a Parasoid.xmt file Import the model via parasolid.xmt file. a. File : Import b. Change the Object and Source, to Model and Parasolid.xmt, respectively. c. Find and select the file shield_v11.xmt_txt. d. Click on Apply. a b c d WS20-7 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 2. Import a Parasoid.xmt file (Cont.) Shown here is the imported model WS20-8 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 3. Create Named Views This next step involves creating two views for the model. Any two views can be used, but for simplicity, a general view will be used. a. Go to the Iso 3 view. b. Viewing : Named View Options c. Click on Create View d. Under Create New View enter v1. e. Click Apply. The first view, v1, has been created. Patran will automatically return this view whenever it is selected under Select Named View in the Named View Options form. Test out the view by changing it to any other view and then returning to the form and selecting v1. b WS20-9 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 3. Create Named Views (Cont.) Create the second view, v2, by zooming in on the model. a. Zoom in on the model as shown. b. Viewing : Named View Options c. Click on Create View d. Under Create New View enter v2. e. Click Apply. Both views have been created. Test out the views simply by changing the current view(rotating, changing views, zooming in, etc.) and clicking on either v1 or v2. a b c d e WS20-10 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 4. Record Session Files Record the first of two session files. a. File : Session / Record b. Enter key1 for the File Name. c. Click on Apply. d. Viewing : Named View Options... e. Under Select Named View select v1. f. File : Session / Record g. Click on Stop. h. Click on Cancel. a b c e f g h WS20-11 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 4. Record Session Files (Cont.) Create the second session file using the same approach. a. File : Session / Record b. Enter key2 for File Name. c. Click on Apply. d. Viewing : Named View Options e. Select v2 under Select Named View. f. File : Session / Record g. Click on Stop. h. Click on Cancel. b c e f h a g WS20-12 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 5. Edit the session files To edit the session files close the database. a. File : Quit. b. Find the directory with the database and session files (e.g. use Explorer). c. Copy the session files key1.ses and key2.ses. d. Rename each copy file to key1.pcl and key2.pcl, respectively. a b d c WS20-13 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 5. Edit the session files (Cont.) Open the .pcl files and edit each one as follows. a. Open key1.pcl with a text editor program such as Notepad or Wordpad. b. Delete the lines that begin with: $# (In this case, there are only 2 such lines). c. BEFORE the line ga_viewport_view_set( default_viewport, v1 ) enter FUNCTION v1(). d. AFTER the last line enter END FUNCTION. e. File / Save. f. Open the second file, key2.pcl, and repeat steps a-e for key2.pcl, entering FUNCTION v2() instead of FUNCTION v1(). b c d WS20-14 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 6. Compile the PCL Functions into Patran Open the previously created database, shield.db, and compile the PCL functions. a. Open Patran. b. Click on the File Open icon. c. Select shield.db. d. Click on OK. e. In the Patran command window enter !!input key1.pcl then click Enter f. Then enter !!input key2.pcl then click Enter. c d e f WS20-15 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 6. Compile the PCL Functions into Patran (Cont.) Test the compiled functions . a. Rotate the model to any arbitrary view (manual or by using the view icons, as long as it is a different view from either v1 or v2). b. Enter v1() into command window (the model should return to the original v1 view). c. Change the model view again. d. Enter v2() into the command window. a b c d The model will automatically change to the two previously created views. As long as this database is used the two compiled PCL functions, key1.plb and key2.plb, will be available. WS20-16 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 7. Compile the PCL Functions into the Patran Library If it is desired to use the two PCL functions in a different database compile them into a library, then access the library via the p3epilog.pcl file. a. In the command window enter the following : !!compile key1.pcl key and press Enter. Then, !!compile key2.pcl key and pres Enter. b. Quit Patran. c. Using a text editor create the file p3epilog.pcl that contains the following line !!library key.plb and save it into the same directory that contains the database and the corresponding session files. a c WS20-17 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation Step 7. Compile the PCL Functions into the Patran Library (Cont.) Create a new database shield2.db, then create the two views, v1 and v2. a. Select File New. b. Specify shield2.db. c. Click OK. d. Create viewv1 and v2 under Viewing e. Enter either v1() or v2() into the command window, and the views should change accordingly. f. Close the file and quit MSC.Patran. a b c Instead of typing v1() or v2() in the command line it is possible to envoke the PCL commands using either key maps or toolbar icons. WS20-18 PAT302, Workshop 20, December 2004 Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation