File and Data Format/Reading Data From Files

The The data may be entered directly into the input file, such as in the following example:

COORDINATE {
coordinates =  {1, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50;
                2, 1.10, 1.30, 1.55;
                3, 1.15, 1.35, 1.60;
                4, 1.25, 1.40, 1.65;
               }
}

An external file can be referenced in the input file through the Read command. The path of the file can be absolute or relative to the location of the problem directory. For example, if the file is in the same directory as the input file:

COORDINATE {
    coordinates = Read( "channel.crd" )
}

If the file is stored inside MESH.DIR directory:

COORDINATE {
    coordinates = Read( "MESH.DIR/channel.crd" )
}

The data read from files can be any list or array and can have the following data types:

• Integers
• Real
• String

The format of the files on disk are classified into two categories:

• ASCII (text) Files
• Binary Files