Configuring the Interface

The interface can be configured to work in different ways; this is achieved by using environment variables (see section 1.4.1). It is only necessary to use these environment variables if the default interface settings are not suitable. Environment variable settings can either be incorporated into a script file which is used to execute FEMGV or defined locally prior to execution. Note that it is not possible to change environment variable settings from within FEMGEN. The following options are available:

**Table 1.1:** Pre-Interface *Environment Variables*
Variable	Purpose	Options	Default
FG_PRE_INT	Sets ANSYS as the default FE Environment	ANSYS	NEUTRAL
	(PROPERTY FE ANSYS becomes unnecessary)
FG_PRE_ERR	Extended Error Message Option	YES/NO	NO
	(Controls the writing of error and warning
	messages to the ANSYS input file and the
	FEMGEN log and history files.)
FG_PRE_MAT	Material Files Directory Definition	dir_name	None
	(See Below.)
FG_PRE_PHY	Physical Property Files Directory Definition	dir_name	None
	(See Below.)
FG_ANS_DPL	DPL Files Directory Definition	dir_name	None
	(DPL files contain pressure or temperature		(for current
	data used for loading.) (See Below.)		directory)

The first two of these environment variables are simple switches, the last three require a string which gives either the relative or full path name of a directory on the user's system. More detailed information on the last three variables is given in the materials, physical properties and loads chapters of this manual.

Note that DPL (Discrete Point Load) files can be created from within the post-processor FEMVIEW. See also paragraph 1.8 for the requirement on the DPL files names.

The definition of an environment variable varies between computer/operating systems. The following examples illustrate such definitions for the more popular types. The FEMGV Installation and Customisation Guide should be consulted for other system types.

Example Environment Variable Definitions

Example VAX/VMS environment variable Definition:

ASSIGN YES FG_PRE_ERR

Example Unix C-Shell environment variable Definition:

setenv FG_PRE_ERR YES

Example Unix (non C-Shell) environment variable Definition:

FG_PRE_ERR=YES
export FG_PRE_ERR

Example PC environment variable Definition:

set FG_PRE_ERR=YES

Next: Model Size Limitations Up: Introduction Previous: Running the Interface

Femsys Limited
8/18/1999