Data Interface with External Softwares

 

Data Interface with External Software

In most cases, VisualFEA's main data files are handled through its own user interface. Thus, their internal contents are hidden to the end users. In some cases, however, the contents and structures of VisualFEA file are desired to be known for interface between VisualFEA and other software.

As already described in Chapter 6, you may use VisualFEA together with other solvers provided by a third party, or developed by yourself. The data within the VisualFEA file should be delivered directly, or by way of intermediate data interface programs, to external solvers. In other words, it is necessary for the p rograms to read the data within the VisualFEA file. If it is the case, the file contents and structures of VisualFEA as well as of the interfacing software should be known, as detailed in the following sections. If the analysis data generated by other software are to be postprocessed by VisualFEA, they should be written in the form readable by VisualFEA. In this case, the software should supply a data file with full ingredient and structure of a VisualFEA data file. The software may customize VisualFEA's postprocessing items by recording appropriate information on the data file.

In postprocessing stage, the displayed data items are selected using popup menus within contouring or vector dialog box. There are default popup menus set by VisualFEA. However, the items of the popup menus can be customized by the external software, if necessary. The popup menu related data including menu strings are defined by the external solver and recorded in the VisualFEA file. VisualFEA files are written using Macintosh or Window s API functions related with file opening, reading and writing. Their contents are not accessible in text form. Computer program codes reading or writing VisualFEA files should be written using Macintosh or Windows API's file utility functions and strictly following the file structure and format described in this chapter.