Tcl/Tk in ANSYS - CAE Associates

13 Pages·2007·0.42 MB·English

ANSYS Graphical
UUser IIntterfface
Programming with
Tcl/Tk
Presented By
CAE Associates,, Inc.
© 2013 CAE Associates
Presentation Topics
Introduction
(cid:122)
What is Tcl/Tk?
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AAddvantages andd DDiisaddvantages off
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Tcl/Tk
Tcl/Tk in ANSYS
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Basic command structure
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Calling user Tcl/Tk code from ANSYS
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Access to the ANSYS API
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GGUUII ccoommppoonneenntt ccrreeaattiioonn
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Example Application
(cid:122)
Parametric Desiggn Entryy Dialogg Box
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Tcl/Tk Tools and Information
(cid:122)
Visual Development Tools
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SSources off IInfformattiion
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Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 22
Associates, Inc.
Introduction What is Tcl/Tk?
Tcl/Tk is pronounced “tickle-tee-kay”.
(cid:122)
Tcl is a universal scripptingg langguagge.
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Tk is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) toolkit and widgets based in Tcl.
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Developed by John Ousterhout at the University of California, Berkeley in
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11998899..
Custom Tcl/Tk interpreters have been compiled into the ANSYS analysis
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environment since Revision 5.5.
SSoommee eexxiissttiinngg AANNSSYYSS TTccll//TTkk ccoommppoonneennttss::
(cid:122)(cid:122)
Material Modeler
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Contact Wizard
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SSoolluuttiioonn CCoonnttrroollss
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Time History Variable Viewer
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Entire GUI (Revision 6.1)
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Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 33
Associates, Inc.
Introduction Advantages of Tcl/Tk
Price: It’s Free !!!
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LLeeaarrnniinngg CCuurrvvee::
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Easy learning curve compared with traditional software languages such as
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C++ and Fortran.
Interppreted ((not comppiled)) so effects of modifications are immediatelyy
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realizable.
Flexibility:
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Wide varietyy of tools to create entryy boxes,, canvases,, scrollable forms,, labels,,
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etc.
Create own tools and procedures.
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Comppatibilityy:
(cid:122)
Cross-platform compatible.
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Copyright© 2002
Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 44
Associates, Inc.
Introduction Disadvantages of Tcl/Tk
Sparse ANSYS Documentation:
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ANSYS documentation/trainingg is spparse comppared to UIDL and APDL.
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Limited technical support since GUI programming is considered a non-
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standard use of the software.
Small ANSYS User Base:
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ANSYS implementation is recent so user base is limited.
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Veryy few user defined scrippts and libraries exist in the ppublic domain.
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Performance:
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TToo mmaaiinnttaaiinn ppllaattffoorrmm iinnddeeppeennddeennccee, TTccll//TTkk iiss nnoott ccoommppiilleedd, rraatthheerr iitt iiss aann
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interpreted language and implementation is on the fly.
This tends to cause some degradation of speed particularly when trying to
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access ANSYS over a network connection.
Copyright© 2002
Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 55
Associates, Inc.
Tcl/Tk in ANSYS Command Structure
Tcl/Tk syntax is simple — similar to
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sh, C, and Lisp.
Tcl Expression Result
A command is formed by words
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set x 2 x=2
separated by white space.
(cid:122) Dollar sign ($) substitutes the value of
sseett yy $$xx yy=22
a variiabblle.
Square brackets executes a nested
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command. Result from cmd2 passed
set z [expr $x+$y] z=4
aass aarrgguummeenntt ttoo ccmmdd11..
Double quotes group words into a
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set t “z is $z” t=“z is 4”
single argument.
Curlyy braces ggroupp words into a
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single argument, however, elements
set t {z is $z} t=“z is $z”
within the braces are not interpreted.
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Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 66
Associates, Inc.
Tcl/Tk in ANSYS Calling User Code
There are various methods for calling your Tcl/Tk code from within ANSYS.
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Tcl shell used for running scripts without GUI features:
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~tcl,’source filename’
Tcl/Tk shell for using GUI features:
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~tk,,’source filename’
Enhanced UIDL for including object oriented and some ANSYS objects:
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~eui,’source filename’
From UIDL menus
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:N Fnc_MyTclFunc
:S 0, 0, 0
:T Command
:A My Tcl Function
Inp_P
Cmd_) ~eui,’tcl/tk command’
:E END
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Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 77
Associates, Inc.
ANSYS API Core Functionality
(cid:122) Access to the core ANSYS functionality is provided via ans_* series of commands.
Some frequently used commands:
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ans_sendcommand ansysCommand Passes a
command to
set n1 1
AANNSSYYSS ffoorr
set n2 2
processing
ans_sendcommand n,,$n1,$n2
ans_getvalue ansys*GetConstruct *GET an ANSYS
value
set ansRev [ans_getvalue ACTIVE,,REV]
ans_ggetvector ansyysAPDLarrayy Returns an
ANSYS array
! APDL Command ! Tcl Commands
*dim,apdlArr,,2 set tclArr [ans_getvector apdlArr]
apdlArr(1) = 1,2 puts $tclArr
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Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 88
Associates, Inc.
Tcl/Tk in ANSYS GUI Development
Tk provides numerous widgets for GUI creation.
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EExxaammppllee wwiiddggeettss::
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toplevel .dlgMyDialog
combobox .cmbFont
bbutttton .bbttnOOKK
checkbox .chbStyles
llaabbeelleeddffrraammee .ffrrmmPPrriinnttRRaannggee
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Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 99
Associates, Inc.
Tk in ANSYS GUI Development (cont.)
Some of the most common widgets used are the:
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Label: label
(cid:122) Use the –text
option
button
Entry Box: entry box
(cid:122) Use the –textvariable option to set
the variable name associated with the
entry
Button:
(cid:122) TThhee –tteexxtt ooppttiioonn ssppeecciiffiieess aa llaabbeell ffoorr
the button
(cid:122) The –command option specifies a series
of commands to perform once the button
iiss pprreesssseedd.
Copyright© 2002
Computer Aided Engineering CCoommppuutteerr AAiiddeedd EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg AAssssoocciiaatteess,, IInncc.. 1100
Associates, Inc.