Get InfoThe File menu is one of the standard menus available in all modules. The commands in the file menu are described here. In early versions of SMS, the model specific files were only accessible through that model's menu. Model specific files are still described along with the interface to the models.
The File menu includes the following commands:
The Open command is used to read any file used by SMS. This includes a large selection of file formats, both generic and model specific. This command opens a file browser from which one or more files can be selected. SMS attempts to recognize the file type based on the file extension. The available file formats (extenstions) varies based on the module and model being used. For example, there are several types of ".dat" file that are used by different models. If a selected file does not match the anticipated type, a message is given to the user and the user may specify another format type to use to read the file. Data from the file is added to the current data base and SMS updates the display.
The Save Project command is used to save an SMS Project File. The first time this command is invoked, the user is prompted for a file name (unless the user has already opened a project file into SMS). Every other time, SMS saves the project file using either the file name used to save the project or the filename of a project opened in SMS. To save a project with a new name, the Save as... command is used.
The name of this command changes according to the active module and active model (i.e. Save RMA2 for the Mesh Module, RMA2 model). This command is similar to the Save Project command. The first time this command is invoked, the user is prompted for a file name (unless the user has already opened a model file into SMS). Every other time, SMS saves the model file using either the file name used to save the model or the filename of a model opened in SMS. To save a model with a new name, the Save as... command is used.
The Save as... command allows the user to save data currently in the SMS database in a format not associated with the current model nor SMS or to save a model or project file with a new name. The user specifies the Save as type in the Save dialog to specify the file format. The Save as type available at any time depend on the data currently in SMS and on the current module and model (i.e. to save a map file, the user must be in the map module).
The Delete All command deletes all the data associated with all modules. It resets the status of the program so that all display option and default values match the values in the "settings" file. This command should be selected when a new modeling problem is started.
Since the process of numerical modeling often utilizes many input files and generates many output files, it is not uncommon to review an ASCII data file. When the View Data File command is selected, SMS asks the user to select a file and then asks which editor is to be used. A separate process is created for editing/viewing the selected file using the selected editor. It should be remembered that this is now a separate process and the data in the file is not part of the SMS database. The data may be saved and incorporated into SMS using file read and import capabilities.
Get InfoThe Get Info command reports basic information concerning the data type associated with the active module. For example, for meshes, the Get Info dialog reports the number of nodes, the number of elements, the number of linear elements, etc.
When entities are selected, various information about the entities can be displayed or saved. For example, when two nodes are selected, the distance between them can be shown. The values are displayed by default in the Status Window. However, since space along the bottom of the window is limited, as due to the fact that the information being displayed be useful, the user has the option of displaying the information to a separate window and echoing the information into a file.
The Info Options dialog allows you to turn on and off various data that can be displayed on the selected entities. The echo of the information to a file can be turned on and off with on Echo to File toggle. When this toggle is turned on, the user is prompted for a file name. The Display Echo Window option opens a window where information is also displayed.
The Save Settings command is used to save the current settings of the program (display options, defaults, etc.) to a default settings file. SMS reads the "default settings" file each time it is launched or the new command is invoked.
Although the SMS developers and others perform extensive tests on the software, there may be times when an unexpected event can cause an illegal operation, commonly known as Dr. Watson errors. To have SMS periodically save a timed backup of the entire project while you are working on it, turn on the Auto Save option. The increment to save is specified in minutes. If an error shuts down the software, then the next time it is run, the backup project will open and a message will be displayed. If you follow the guidelines to "save often", then you should not need this extra precaution.
Page Setup is used to set printing options. The dialog contains three tabs:
The data displayed in the Graphics Window is then printed through the Print menu item.
PrintThe Print command opens the Windows Print dialog. Pages are printed with the data displayed in the Graphics Window using the settings set through the Page Setup menu command.
Since some users may not require all of the modules or model interfaces provided in SMS, modules and model interfaces can be licensed individually. The icons for the unlicensed modules or the menus for unlicensed model interfaces are dim and cannot be accessed. The Demo Mode command provides a way of evaluating additional modules you may wish to consider licensing in the future. This is particularly useful when using the tutorials provided with SMS.
When the Demo Mode command is selected, all modules of the program will be enabled. The only exceptions are that the Print and Save options will be disabled. It is important to note that when the mode is changed all current data will be deleted. When the program is in demo mode, a check mark appears next to the menu item. To return to normal operating mode, select the Demo Mode command again. If an evaluation copy of the software is being used, or if all modules are enabled, this menu item is unavailable.
SMS remembers the last five files opened during operation. These files are added to the File Menu. A file can be reopened by choosing it from the list.
The Exit command is used to exit the program. If your data has not been saved, SMS warns you before it exits.