4.1.7 Automatic Numbering of Files

There are several special characters that you can include in a file name. Using one of these character strings in your file name provides a shortcut for numbering the files based on various parameters (i.e., iteration number, time step, or total number of files saved so far), because you need not enter a new file name each time you save a file. (See also Section  4.3.4 for information about saving and numbering case and data files automatically.)

• For transient calculations, you can save files with names that reflect the time step at which they are saved by including the character string %t in the file name. For example, you can specify contours-%t.ps for the file name, and the solver saves a file with the appropriate name (e.g., contours-0001.ps if the solution is at the first time step).

  This automatic saving of files with the time step should not be used for steady-state cases, since the time step will always remain zero.

• For transient calculations, you can save files with names that reflect the flow-time at which they are saved by including the character string %f in the file name. The usage is similar to %t. For example, when you specify filename-%f.ps for the file name, the solver will save a file with the appropriate name (e.g., filename-005.000000.ps for a solution at a flow-time of 5 seconds). By default, the flow-time that is included in the file name will have a field width of 10 and 6 decimal places. To modify this format, use the character string % x . y f, where x and y are the preferred field width and number of decimal places, respectively. ANSYS FLUENT will automatically add zeros to the beginning of the flow-time to achieve the prescribed field width. To eliminate these zeros and left align the flow-time, use the character string %- x . y f instead.

  This automatic saving of files with flow-time should not be used for steady-state cases, since the flow-time will always remain zero.

• To save a file with a name that reflects the iteration at which it is saved, use the character string %i in the file name. For example, you can specify contours-%i.ps for the file name, and the solver saves a file with the appropriate name (e.g., contours-0010.ps if the solution is at the 10th iteration).

• To save a picture file with a name that reflects the total number of picture files saved so far in the current solver session, use the character string %n in the file name.

  This option can be used only for picture files.

The default field width for %i, %t, and %n formats is 4. You can change the field width by using % x i, % x t, and % x n in the file name, where x is the preferred field width.