1. How to create a post processor task from scratch

This example will show how to create a simple post processor. The SIMO Heavy lifting operation example case will be used to create analysis results (data), and the post processor specification will be created from scratch.

1.1. 1) Import the SIMO task to get analysis results from

From the Help menu choose Examples > SIMO > Heavy lifting operation.
This creates a SIMO task in SIMA.

1.2. 2) Run the default initial condition in the HeavyLifting task

In the navigator, expand the model tree under the HeavyLifting task.
Then expand the Conditions folder and right click the Initial condition and select Run dynamic analysis from the popup menu.
This will create initial, static and dynamic results in the Results folder under the Initial condition.

1.3. 3) Create a post processor task

Right click on an empty area in the navigator and select New > Post Processor Task.
Click the Finish button in the wizard.
This will add a post processor task named PostProcessorTask in the navigator.

image

1.4. 4) Open the post processor specification editor

Expand the post processor task and double click the specification named spec (You may have several specifications in one post processor task).
SIMA will now look similar to this:

image

1.5. 5) Connect the post processor to the results created in the HeavyLifting task

In the right hand palette of the specification editor there are several categories of post processing tools and functions.
Select the Input shape under the Input/Output category and then left click somewhere in the specification editor.
You may move the shape where ever you like in this editor by holding the left button on the mouse over the shape whilst moving it around.
Double click the Input shape and select the Initial condition from the HeavyLifting task. This will add the data to the post processor.

1.6. 6) Add a plot shape

Select the Plot shape under the Input/Output category in the palette and place it adjacent to the Input shape.

1.7. 7) Connect the shapes

Select the Connection tool under the Tools category in the palette (this sets the cursor in connection mode).
Click in the out slot on the (now named) HeavyLifting.Initial shape and then click in the in slot of the Plot shape.
To end the connection mode either hit the Esc key on your keyboard or click on the arrow in the top right corner of the editor to activate the selection mode.

1.8. 8) Inspect the results

Double click the Plot shape to open a plot editor where you may inspect all static and dynamic results from the Initial condition in the HeavyLifting task.
The tree viewer to the right on the plot view reflects the Results folder you can find under Conditions > Initial > Results in the HeavyLifting task in the navigator.

1.9. 9) Narrow down the series of interest from results available

Usually there are some specific results you are interested in inspecting - not all (as we have now).
Double click the connection line between the HeavyLifting.Initial shape and the Plot shape to open the connection editor.
SIMA should now looks something like this:

image

The tree viewer on the left hand side contains all results coming in to the connection and the tree viewer on the right hand side contains all results going out of the connection.

Expand the tree on the left hand side to Initial > Dynamic > PLATFORM > Wave elevation > Totalwaveelevation
Right click the Totalwaveelevation item and choose Add path to requirements
Right click the HeavyLifting item in the tree viewer on the right hand side and choose Expand.
As you now will see the only result going out of the connection is the Totalwaveeleveation result for the PLATFORM body in the task.

1.10. 10) Inspect the results

Double click the Plot shape to open the plot viewer. Right click the HeavyLifting item in the tree viewer in the plot editor and choose Expand.
Select the Totalwaveelevation signal and observe the plot.

1.11. 11) Inspect the connection arrow to find the requirements applied to the signals

Hover the mouse over the connection line to get a tooltip which displays the requirements applied to the connection.

1.12. 12) Add a Window

Select the Window under the Filtering category in the palette and add it to the editor.
Double click the Window and set the end value to 17.

1.13. 13) Add Peaks

Select Peaks under the Statistics category in the palette and add it to the editor.

1.14. 14) Connect all the new shapes between the HeavyLifting.Initial shape and the Plot shape

Either use the connection tool as already shown or:

  • Whilst holding the Ctrl key on your keyboard select the following in this sequence

    • The out slot on the HeavyLifting.Initial shape

    • The in slot on the Window

    • The out slot on the Window

    • The in slot on Peaks

    • The out slot on Peaks

    • The in slot on the Plot shape.

  • Then hit Ctrl+Shift+C on your keyboard to connect all at once

1.15. 15) Apply the same requirements on the connection from the HeavyLifting.Initial shape to the Window as already applied earlier

Double click the connection between the HeavyLifting.Initial shape and the Plot shape.
In the _Signal requirements section select the _Value” cell in the table and copy the text (Ctrl+C).

Double click the connection to the Window and click the plus icon under the table in the Signal requirements section.
In the Attribute cell write path.
In the Value cell paste the copied value (Ctrl+V) and hit enter on your keyboard.

1.16. 16) Observe the processed results

Double click the Plot shape and observe there are two trees in the tree viewer.
Expand both of them by right clicking and choose Expand.
Now either select one signal after the other to observe the signals
or select the Select all link under the tree viewer to plot the two signals together.

1.17. 17) Change the Window chosen

Double click the Window and set End to 30.
Observe that the plot viewer immediately updates with the new processed signals.

Double click Peaks and change the options at will whilst observing the plot viewer.

SIMA now should look something like this:

image