Neil Hodge wrote: > All: > > I have recently started using gmsh, and it seems that it will suit my > needs nicely. > > That being said, it appears that there will still be a bit of a > learning curve. So, my first question is: which file type should I > use? Notes: > > * I will be using gmsh (at least initially) only for post-processing, > as I typically do everything else myself. So, I need to write a file > containing results to be able to use gmsh. > > * My field is mostly solid mechanics, with a few other things thrown > in. So, I need to be able to 1) plot scalar, vector, and tensor > quantities 2) at both nodes and elements 3) on unstructured meshes 4) > that are changing in time. > > * I would like to use ascii files, as my problems are typically quite > small, and ascii files will be easier to debug. > > I notice that most of the questions on this mailing list seem to refer > to the "pos" ascii file type, indicating that it is being used by more > people, but the manual intimates that "msh" 2.0 files are the > preferred format. > > So, given my requirements, which file type should I use?
Hello Neil - For small datasets it doesn't really matter: any format will do... * the old parsed .pos format is very easy to use: it does not require an underlying mesh (connectivity), so it's possible to write it on the fly, just like a plotting format. Cons: it does not scale well for large (especially "continuous") datasets. * the new .msh format is bit less flexible (it is tied to one or more meshes), but it scales much better for large datasets. Cons: not all the features available with the old format are implemented yet in the new one (labels, high-order visu, some plugins, etc.). Both formats will be maintained for a long time. Gmsh allows you to convert one format into the other either in the GUI or from the command line. Hope this helps, Christophe > > Thanks. > > Neil > > _______________________________________________ > gmsh mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.geuz.org/mailman/listinfo/gmsh > > -- Prof. Christophe Geuzaine University of Liege, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science http://www.montefiore.ulg.ac.be/~geuzaine _______________________________________________ gmsh mailing list [email protected] http://www.geuz.org/mailman/listinfo/gmsh
