Getting More out of GTSTRUDL

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Getting More out of GTSTRUDL

• Tips and Techniques to Leverage the Power of
  GTSTRUDL

Rob Abernathy CASE Center GTSUG June, 2006
Atlanta, GA
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Topics Outline

• Commands
• RUN
• NOTES
• Utility programs
• DBX reformatters
• GTBatchRun
• Wait.exe
• Scope Editor
• Macros
• Windows/DOS tips

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The RUN Command

• This command allows you to execute external
  processes as part of the GTSTRUDL command
  processing.
• These processes may be DOS commands (del, copy,
  etc.) or,
• Excel, Notepad or another Windows program, or
• An in-house program you have developed.
• A RUN command consists of RUN options action
  ( optional_arguments)

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The RUN CommandVol 1, Section 2.1.12.17

• Syntax
• RUN ( (BATCH) (KEEP) ) ( WAIT ) ( HIDE ) -
  'program'
• program a ".cmd", ".bat" or ".exe" file or DOS
  command such as DEL, plus any arguments. program
  is limited to 256 characters.

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The Run Command

• BATCH is required for DOS instructions like del
  or copy or a .bat or .cmd file.
• KEEP is an option to leave the DOS window visible
  after the DOS instructions have finished.
• WAIT means dont read the next GTSTRUDL command
  until this is finished.
• HIDE (29 only) will keep the black DOS window
  from appearing.

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RUN Example - BATCH KEEP
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NOTES What are they?

• A NOTE is text (up to 8192 characters), that can
  be grouped by names and associated with
  components (joints, members, loads, etc.)
• NOTES can act as a way to add non-GTSTRUDL data
  to your job. The CIS/2 translator uses this
  feature of NOTES.
• NOTES stay in the database, so they can be
  printed from a .gts file.
• NOTES are written into input files created by
  GTMenu (28.1 has a bug fix for this), so NOTES
  are not lost like comments are.

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NOTES Input Syntax
list a standard GTSTRUDL list of
components category 8 character type, e.g.
PieceMrk note up to 8192 characters, with
newlines (\n) allowed.
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NOTES PRINT Syntax
Use this command to print NOTE data. category
allows a wild card to print whole classes of
data. The CIS/2 translator uses NOTES to store
the unique GUID (36 characters) for members since
GTSTRUDL is limited to 8 character member names.
When a CIS/2 file is exported, the NOTES are
checked for category CIS2, and if any such
NOTES exist, the data is recovered and added to
the CIS/2 file.
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DBX Reformatters

• DBX reformatters are small console (DOS) programs
  used to transform standard DBX files into Excel
  friendly files.
• Multiple-lines-per-entry DBX files are converted
  to single-line-per-entry output files.
• You can pick and choose the type of data
  (consistent with a single DBX file), the order it
  appears and field separators (spaces, tab, or
  special characters).
• The reformatters are designed to work as tools
  and can be called from within GTSTRUDL using the
  RUN command, from Excel or by a program you write.

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DBX Reformatters Where are they?
The reformatters are located in the Utilities\DBX
folder. You can copy them to C\Windows\system32
or add this folder to your path environment
variable (Control Panel System Advanced
Environment Variables). See Readme.txt (marked
with arrow above) for an list of supported DBX
file types. Documentation for each DBX file type
can be found in Volume 5 of the GTSTRUDL
Reference Manual.
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DBX Reformatters - Quick Help
If you double click jt_reslt.exe, the following
message will appear. It will tell you the
supported data types and remind you of the
required arguments.
------------------------------------------ ERROR
jt_reslt expects 4 or more arguments! ------------
------------------------------ jt_reslt usage
jt_reslt
items... where is the name of an
exiting DBX file. is the
name of the file you want to be created.
is what is to be inserted between
items, for example "," for a
comma, " " for 3 blanks, etc.
NOTE use "\t" for a separator.
items... are one or more of the following Joint
Results data types, case
insensitive. The order in which 'items' are
specified is the order used to
write the data to .
JID, LID, IDEF, TX, TY, TZ, RX, RY, RZ, FX, FY,
FZ, MX, MY, MZ See the DBX documentation
for an explanation of each data type.
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DBX Reformatters - Example
The Macro Write_Joint_Results_To_Excel contains
an example of using a reformatter
(jt_reslt.exe). If you select this Macro (as
above) and then click the Edit button, you can
see the GTSTRUDL commands included in this Macro.
The Macro is well commented and is worth
reviewing for an overview of running outside
processes with GTSTRUDL commands.
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DBX Reformatters Example (p. 2)
The Macro file contains the following GTSTRUDL
command (abridged for clarity) RUN WAIT
'jt_reslt.exe STDBX10 temp.txt "\t" JID LID TX TY
TZ RX RY RZ FX FY FZ MX MY MZ This command
uses the RUN feature of GTSTRUDL to execute the
reformatter jt_reslt.exe, telling it to read DBX
file STDBX10, create a new file temp.txt,
separate the data fields in temp.txt with a
tab, and then lists the desired data types in the
desired order. Since the WAIT option is
specified, GTSTRUDL command processing will halt
until the reformatter is finished. A more
practical command might be RUN WAIT
'jt_reslt.exe STDBX02 temp.txt "\t" JID LID TX
TYCOORD TZ That would put only the joints name,
the loadings name and the translational
displacements on each line of temp.txt.
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GTBatchRun
GTBatchRun is a utility program that can be used
to run GTSTRUDL jobs (input files) in sequential
order, at a later time or just run a standard set
of jobs for QA purposes. Because this process is
designed to run as a batch procedure, these input
files need to end with a FINISH command and not
include the command CINPUT without a filename.
CINPUT loadings.gti is OK CINPUT is
not. You can select the version of GTSTRUDL to
use if multiple versions are installed. Read
GTBatchRun.pdf for a more complete explanation of
your options.
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GTBatchRun - Dialog
Click the button to the right of Starting Time
(labeled NOW) to set a later run time.
Set an output file and extension if desired
Fill the list of input files by browsing,
drag-and-drop or from a pre-existing list.
Click OK to start the process. A GTBatchRun icon
will be on the Taskbar until all the jobs are
finished.
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Utilities Wait.exe
Wait.exe is a console (DOS) program that will
pause for a specified time. It is new for version
29, but you can get an advance version by asking.
Wait.exe 5 wait 5 seconds Wait.exe 3600 wait
3600 seconds (1 hour) Wait.exe /m 500 wait 500
milliseconds (0.5 seconds) Wait can be useful
when the results some other process are required
before continuing the current process. Wait
can be called from within GTSTRUDL with the RUN
command (RUN WAIT wait.exe 5)
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The Scope Editor

• Is used to print images from GTMenu, either from
  the Print button or from the Print Preview and
  Edit menu pick.
• Can be used by itself its in the GTStrudl
  Program group.
• Can be moved to any computer without GTSTRUDL for
  easy display of .SSC files.

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The Scope Editor Where is it?
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Scope Editor From GTMenu
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Scope Editor 28 Existing Features

• V, H lines
• Changing line ends
• Inserting multi-line text
• Copy-and-Paste using the Clipboard
• Date tool
• Rotating text

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Scope Editor 28 V, H lines

• V lines are vertical, no matter how much the
  cursor drifts side-to-side
• H lines are horizontal, no matter how much the
  cursor drifts up-and-down

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Scope Editor 28 Changing Line Ends

• Select the line to edit, and then right-click on
  the selected line

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Scope Editor 28 Changing Line Ends (2)

• Left click on the end of the line you want to
  change and drag the end to its new position.
• General allows you to move the end in any
  direction, even if it started as a V or H line.
• Vertical converts the line to Vertical and only
  lets you move the end up of down.
• Horizontal converts the line to Horizontal and
  only allows you to move the end left or right.

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Scope Editor 28 Multi-line text

• You can add multiple lines of text to a Scope
  Editor document by typing or pasting into the
  Paragraph tool.
• Note that the multiple lines will be converted to
  single lines of text in the document, so you
  cannot edit the whole multi-line text, but only
  one line at a time.

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Scope Editor 28 Multi-line text (2)

• Selecting the Paragraph tool brings up the
  multi-line text entry box. Type or Paste into
  the text area. Click OK when done.

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Scope Editor 28 Paste/Copy using the Clipboard

• Original Paste/Copy only works within a single
  document no copying from one document to
  another
• Paste/Copy using the Clipboard allows you to
  transfer data from one Scope Editor document to
  another.
• The Clipboard format is text and innovative users
  can generate their own Scope Editor data.

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Scope Editor 28 Paste/Copy using the Clipboard
(2)

• Select item(s) to be copied.
• Pick Edit Copy to Clipboard
• Paste from Clipboard in this document or another
• Can be pasted into Notepad

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Scope Editor 28 The Date tool

• Add the current date to document in one of 7
  formats. Pick the Date tool and then left click
  where you want the date placed. Font, color and
  text can be edited later.

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Scope Editor 28 Rotating text

• Select text to rotate
• Right click
• Select Rotate Text
• Enter desired rotation
• Click OK

Note If you change the font in version 28, the
rotation will be lost and need to re-specified.
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Scope Editor 29 New Features

• These new features are compatible with version
  28. You can get information about downloading
  the Beta version of the Scope Editor and use it
  with GTSTRUDL 28.
• Automatic Date, Time and Prompt fields in
  Templates
• Margins for importing from GTMenu

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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time and Prompt

• Text entries in Templates that are applied to
  files from GTMenu or new Scope Editor documents.
• Text entry is replaced with the desired data.
• The new text uses the same font and rotation as
  the original.

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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time and Prompt

Create a text entry with the characters followed with an optional integer 1-7, which
correspond the Date tool discussed earlier.

When the Template is applied to a GTMenu file or
new Scope Editor document, replaced with the current date and the font of
the date text will match the font of the entry.

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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time and Prompt

Create a text entry with the characters followed with an optional 12, AM or PM for
a 12-hour time, or 24 for a 24-hour time.

When the Template is applied to a GTMenu file or
new Scope Editor document, replaced with the current time and the font of
the time text will match the font of the entry.

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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time and Prompt

Create a text entry with the characters
the prompt.

When the Template is applied to a GTMenu file or
new Scope Editor document, replaced with what you type into the Prompt
window.

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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time and PromptExample
1
Note Date and are two separate
text entries, as are Time and . A
single text entry Date will not work.
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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time and PromptExample
1 (cont)

• The left, top view is the contents of the
  template file. Note Date, Time and
  Title are separate text entries and not part
  of the automatic replacement feature.
• The middle view is the Template prompt window
  where you enter text appropriate to the hint (see
  arrow). Click the X to prevent the insertion
  of a prompt.
• The lower, right view is how the Scope Editor
  document will appear. The date, time and comment
  are static, but editable text entries now.

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Scope Editor 29 Date, Time Example 2
From this
To this
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Scope Editor 29 Margins

• If you set the import margins in the Scope
  Editor, the image imported from GTMenu can be
  scaled and shifted (left/right and up/down) to
  fit inside your template.
• Import margins do not require the use of
  templates.
• Margins are specified in 1/100 or ¼ mm
• Margins may need adjustment for different
  printers!
• Margins are minimum spacings and do not guarantee
  that the image will fill the remaining area the
  X/Y ratio is maintained during scaling.

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Scope Editor 29 Margins
Top Margin 100 x 0.01 1 inch 100 x 0.25
25 mm
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Scope Editor - Templates

• Templates are Scope Editor files that can be
  created and edited.
• Templates can add a finished look to your GTMenu
  printing and can be customized in your companys
  style.
• You can have more than one template and change
  between them.
• Templates can be used automatically, or added
  later. Note work for automatic templates in version 29.

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Scope Editor Building Templates

• Start a new Scope Editor document and use the
  Box, Line (usually V or H) and Text tools to
  build a template.
• Lines can be adjusted by zooming in and following
  the Changing Line Ends technique described
  earlier.
• Boxes are most easily adjusted by using text data
  based on the Copy/Paste using Clipboard
• Adjust the weight (thickness) of Lines and Boxes
  by selecting and then changing the Pen.

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Scope Editor Building Templates Editing Boxes

• It is difficult to draw a box to act as an border
  for a template. Try this method instead

• Pick Tools Box
• Draw a small box
• Change to the Selection tool and select the Box
• Pick Edit Copy to Clipboard
• Delete the original small box
• Open Notepad and pick Edit Paste
• Type in new X, Y coordinates X,Y top-left X, Y
  bottom-right
• Pick Edit Select All
• Pick Edit Copy
• In Scope Editor, pick Edit Paste from
  Clipboard
• If desired, right click and change the Pen

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Scope Editor Building Templates Editing Boxes
(2)
When you Copy into Notepad, Box is followed
by 4 coordinate values 3 line attributes.
Change the coordinates.
The first two coordinate values are X and Y for
the top, left corner. Below, X is set to 60/100
inches right and 100/100 inches down(!).
The Second coordinate values are X and Y for the
bottom, right corner. Below, X is set to
810/100 inches right (850-810)/100 0.4 inches
from the right side of the document). Y is set to
950/100 inches down (1100- 950)/100 1.5 inches
up from the bottom.
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Scope Editor Building Templates

• Add Lines and/or Boxes for data fields.
• Add text (company name, field titles, etc.)
  remember you can change the font (type, size,
  color and rotation) for any text element.
• Add automatic components and see if it works for you.
• Use the View Options page to tell Scope Editor
  you want to use the template for data from
  GTMenu, or even new documents.

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Scope Editor Export to MS Word
Select the data to be copied to Word. You can
select the entire document with Filter Select
All.
Then pick File Export Enhanced Metafile.
Enter (and remember) a file name.
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Scope Editor Export to MS Word (2)
Pick Insert Picture From File. Select the
file you just created. This is why you need to
remember the file name!
The Scope editor data is now inserted into Word.
You can resize the bounding box (box with 8 grab
points). When you click away from the picture,
the bounding box with disappear. HINT A line on
an extreme edge may be lost. In the Scope Editor
add some small item beyond the lost line and
export again.
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Macros What are they?

• Macros are files containing GTSTRUDL commands
  optional elements.
• If a macro contains an optional element, it must
  be run through the Macro dialog and not with
  CINPUT macro.
• Optional elements include user input prompts and
  the List dialog.
• Macros are a quick way to iterate a series of
  commands.

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Macros Where are they?
The Macros tab on the Options pages will show you
in which folder the actual files are located.
On the Button bar click the little man icon. On
the menu bat, pick Tools Macros
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Macros List examples
The List prompt example in the Macros/Utilities
folder has examples of how to use the list prompt
in a macro. Note that this will allow you to
also use Graphical Selection, since the standard
Text Output list dialog will appear. The CINPUT
filename macro contains an example of using a
simple prompt for text.
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Windows/DOS Tips 3 GB version
In theory, 32 bit programs can access 4 GB of
memory (RAM virtual), but Microsoft (in its
infinite wisdom) restricts memory access to 2 GB
in the standard Windows configuration. XP
Professional and 2000 Advanced Server allow you
to increase the amount of memory GTSTRUDL can
address, up to 3 GB. This is useful when running
very large jobs that need to store huge amounts
of information. The CASE Center is continuing to
develop file-based techniques to finesse this
problem, but sometimes the only solution is to
use this larger address space. Contact technical
support at the CASE Center if you feel this
option would be useful. NOTE This requires a
change to Windows startup, so you should be
comfortable making low level system changes
before trying this. Always create a way to back
out of the change, e.g. create a Restore Point,
Ghost a good image, etc.