Use the Time History Function Definition - From File form to add or modify a time history function definition from a text file.
Time History Function Name edit box. Use the default or specify another name for the time history function by typing directly in the edit box.
Function File area and File Name display box. Click the Browse button to access the Pick Function Data File form and specify the location and filename of the time history data text file. Click the View File button to open the text file in the default text editor to make any necessary adjustment to the text file to accommodate how the program reads the text file:
First the program skips the specified number of Header Lines to Skip (see below).
Next it checks to see if a line has a $ symbol as the first character. If it does, the program skips to the next line. If the $ symbol is not the first character on the line, the program reads the information on the line. If the line is blank or if the end of the file is reached, the program stops reading and closes the file.
Next it skips the specified number of Prefix Characters Per Line to Skip (see below).
Next the program reads the Number of Points Per Line (see below).
Header Lines to Skip edit box. Specify the number of lines at the top of the file to skip when the program reads the function text file
Prefix Chars. Per Line to Skip edit box. Specify the number of characters to skip in every line of the text file when the program reads the function text file.
Number of Points per Line edit box. Specify the number of points per line to be plotted for each line of the text file when the program reads the function text file.
Convert to User-Defined button. Typically the program does not import the file into its database. It simply maintains a link to the file location. Thus if the function file is moved, or if the .edb file is moved to another location, the program may suddenly be unable to locate the file. When the Convert to User-Defined button is clicked, the program imports the time history function into its database file and the data is then always available to the model. Do not click the Convert to User-Defined button until all other input to the form have been reviewed and updated appropriately.
Values Are options. Choose one:
Time and Function Values option. Select this option if the text file contains values for both time and function.
Values at Equal Intervals of {Specify Number} option. Select this option if the text file contains function values spaced at equal time intervals, and enter the value of the time interval in the edit box.
Format Type options. Choose one:
Free Format option. Use this option if the items in the lines of the text file are separated by spaces or tabs.
Fixed Format option. Use this option if the items in the lines of the text file are not separated by spaces or tabs. Then use the default for the Characters per Item or specify the number in the edit box. Each item on a line is assigned the number of character specified in this edit box. The program begins counting the spaces after it skips the Number of Prefix Characters specified.
Function Graph area. This area displays a graph of the function. It updates automatically as changes are made to the form. In some cases it may be necessary to click the Display Graph button after making changes to display or update the graphical display.
Run the mouse pointer over the function graph and a dot appears along the line representing the time history function. The coordinates of the dot are reported in the box just below the graph.
Access the Time History Function Definition - From File form to define a time history function from a text file as follows:
Click the Define menu > Functions > Time History command to access the Define Time History Functions form. Then do one of the following:
Select From File from the Choose Function Type to Add drop-down list; click the Add New Function button.
Highlight an existing Form File function definition in the Functions display area and click the Modify/Show Spectrum button.