3 EDITING INPUT FILES

3.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

Z88 works with the following files:

(1) Input Files:

Z88I1.TXT (general structure data, coordinates, coincidence, material informations)
Z88I2.TXT (boundary conditions, loads, constraints)
Z88I3.TXT parameters for stress processor Z88D)
Z88I4.TXT (parameters for the iteration solver Z88I1/Z88I2)
Z88NI.TXT (input file for the mesh generator)

Produce these input files with your CAD program and the CAD converter Z88X or with a 3D CAD system creating COSMOS files and converting them with Z88G or with an editor (e.g. Edit or Notepad of Windows, Vi, Emacs, Joe at UNIX) or word processing program (e.g. Wordpad or Word for Windows at Windows). You can also use editors integrated in other programs, e.g. the program editors of compilers. If using a word processor systems keep in mind to edit pure ASCII texts without any hidden control characters ... every word processing program has such an option. Why not using your own editor (if you do not want or cannot work with a CAD program) ?

So how you can work with the editor/word processor you are familiar with and used to.

Details to the input files see sections 3.2 pp.

(2) Output Files:

Z88O0.TXT (processed input data for documentation)
Z88O1.TXT (processed boundary conditions for documentation)
Z88O2.TXT (calculated displacements)
Z88O3.TXT (calculated stresses)
Z88O4.TXT (calculated nodal forces)

The file Z88O5.TXT is not a regular Z88 output file. It contains the coordinates of the stress points and the von Mises stresses and it is used for the plot program internally. It is a pure ASCII file, so that advanced users can use it for own routines, if necessary.

The plot program Z88P stores a HP-GL file, i.e. a plotter file which per default is called Z88O6.TXT. Other file names are possible.

(3) Binary Files:

These files are used internally and are not for editing. They serve the fast data interchange between Z88 modules.

Z88O1.BNY
Z88O2.BNY (is only produced in Z88F New Mode for use of Z88F Old Mode)
Z88O3.BNY
Z88O4.BNY (only for internal communication of the iteration solver)

Why work with files? Is that not old-fashioned and does "interactive" working not do a better job ? Z88 is designed as an open, transparent system according to the UNIX philosophy: Several, compact modules communicate via files together.

Downward compatibility:

Z88 files for Z88 V8.0, V8.0A, V8.0B, V9.0, V9.0B and V10.0 are okay for Z88 V11.0. It would be a good idea to add the plate flag to avoid confusion of the file checker Z88V.

Input file designed for Z88 versions earlier than 8.0 cannot be processed by Z88 V8.0 because of changes according to coincidence and material informations for Z88I1.TXT and Z88NI.TXT. The input files Z88I2.TXT and Z88I3.TXT do have the same format as older versions. The former beam parameters file Z88I4.TXT is obsolete as beam parameters are now defined in Z88I1.TXT.

Rules for entering values:

There is no need for special rules or field divisions, only the usual C rules apply:

Integer numbers

Correct 1 345 55555 0
Wrong 1. 345. 55555E+0 no entry

Floating point numbers (Z88 uses internally double precision floating point numbers [Double])

Correct 1. 345 5.5555E+10 0
Wrong 1, 345, O (letter O) no entry

Z88 input files may have comments in every line if all corresponding data has been filled out before. Separate the last data and the comment at least by one blank. Lines in Z88 input files can include 250 bytes (really needed are noticeably less than 80). Blank lines and pure comment lines are not permitted.

Always check input files with Z88V before a Z88 run.