Output Bar

The output bar is a resizable window located below the display canvas (modeling area). The available information within the output bar depends upon the type of model and the analysis type.

Contents of the Output Bar

• Solid Meshing tab: Click this tab to see the solid meshing results, when applicable. Results are provided for automatically generated solid meshes only, whether based on a CAD model or a hand-built surface mesh. Solid meshing results are not available for hand-built (structured) internal meshes.

  The solid meshing results are also reachable using the Mesh Mesh View Mesh Results ribbon command. The difference is that the results for all solid parts of an assembly are presented in one list within the output bar. Conversely, when using the View Mesh Results command, you specify the part to review, and you see the results one part at a time. In addition, the ribbon command provides surface meshing results, whereas the output bar does not.

  Note: By default, solid meshing is not performed at the time of 3D surface meshing. It is postponed until you analyze the model or perform a Check Model operation.
• Details tab: Click this tab to see the following items. Choose which one to view by using the Analysis Information drop-down menu at the right end of the output bar.
  • View Check Log:View the log of the model verification process. This log is generated when you perform a Check Model operation, run a simulation, or export a model to the Nastran Editor. The Check Log can help you to troubleshoot a model when you encounter problems. This log lists various model statistics as well as errors and warnings encountered during the decoding process, such as when distorted elements are detected. You can view the check log file in any environment.
  • View Solve Log: View the solve log file within the output bar (without having to select the analysis log from the Report environment browser). You can view the solve log file in any environment.
  • Analysis Summary: View the analysis summary file within the output bar (without having to select the analysis summary from the Report environment browser). You can view the summary file in any environment.
  Note: Log files displayed within the Details tab are updated while solutions are being performed (real-time monitoring). You can adjust the update frequency of the displayed log file. See the Data Refresh Rate section on this page for more information.
• Convergence Plot tab: Graphically view the convergence behavior for nonlinear analyses. Click here for more information. In addition, view convergence history for Local Mesh Refinement in this tab.

Note: Log files are color coded, making errors and warnings easy to spot. Errors are displayed in red text, warnings in gold text, and the remainder in black text.

Tip: The Solid Meshing log, and all log files in the Details tab, are searchable. Click anywhere within a solid meshing results or log file displayed in the Output Bar and press Ctrl+F to access the Find dialog box. Alternatively, right-click and choose Find from the context menu. Activate the Case sensitive option to limit search hits to text with the same case as your search string. You can also select a block of text, right-click, and select Copy to copy the text to the Windows clipboard. From there, the text can be pasted into documents or images.

Output Bar Display Options

By default, the output bar always remains visible within the FEA Editor, Results, and Report environments. The initial height only displays several lines of text. Use the scroll bar near the right end of the output bar or the mouse wheel to scroll through the text.

To Resize the Output Bar: Click the top edge of the output bar window and drag to increase or decrease the height. The display canvas above it resizes at the same time. To resize the window height, the output bar must be pinned open.

To Unpin/Pin the Output Bar: Click on the push-pin icon near the top right corner of the output bar to toggle the pinned state. The icon changes to indicate which state is in effect:

• Pinned: The output bar always remains open, and the height can be resized.
• Unpinned: When the cursor is at the bottom of the screen, the output bar opens. When the cursor is moved away from the output bar, it closes (that is, it auto-hides). You cannot resize the window while it is unpinned. Temporarily repin the window to adjust the height.

  This feature is useful for maximizing the display canvas while also maintaining a taller than default output bar. A taller window improves the readability of the solid meshing results, analysis log, analysis summary, or convergence plot.

Data Refresh Rate

If an analysis is running, the Details tab is periodically updated and the selected log file display is automatically scrolled to the bottom. The following settings control the refreshing of the check, solver, and summary logs:

• (Seconds 2~200): In this input field, specify how frequently, in seconds, the log display is refreshed. The default refresh rate is 2 seconds, which works well for most situations. When solving a large model (especially for nonlinear or transient analyses), if the solution is progressing slowly, you may want to refresh less frequently . Simply enter a greater number of seconds in this field and press <Enter>.
• Pause: Click this button to suspend updating of the log file display. This command is useful if you want to scroll up and review an earlier part of the display. While paused, automatic scrolling to the bottom of the log is disabled.

  While paused, the label on this button changes to Restart. Click the button again to resume automatic data refreshing.

Note: You cannot alter the specified refresh rate while the Details display is paused (the Seconds input field is unavailable). Additionally, the Pause / Restart button only suspends the updating of the log file display within the Output Bar. It does not suspend the analysis nor prevent ongoing progress from being written to the log files. Any data written to the logs while paused becomes immediately visible once you restart automatic data refreshing.