6 - Batch Compute

1.0 Introduction

The Batch Compute option helps users quickly generate results for several RocTopple model files at a time.

This tutorial will familiarize you with the Batch Compute feature by Batch Computing from select RocTopple files.

Topics Covered in this Tutorial:

Add Input RocTopple Model(s) to the Batch Compute File Queue
Output the RocTopple Batch Compute Results File

Finished Product:

The finished products of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 6 Batch Compute folder, located in the Examples > Tutorials folder in your RocTopple installation folder. Inside, you will find:

Tutorial 1 Quick Start.rtop RocTopple model file
Tutorial 2 Probabilistic Analysis.rtop RocTopple model file
Tutorial 1 Quick Start folder containing the computed result files
Tutorial 2 Probabilistic Analysis folder containing the computed result files

2.0 Batch Compute

If you have not already done so, run the RocTopple program by double-clicking the RocTopple icon in your installation folder or by selecting Programs > Rocscience > RocTopple > RocTopple in the Windows Start menu.

The Batch Compute dialog allows you to add RocTopple model files to the queue, select a an output format, and compute the results. To open the dialog:

Select: File > Batch Compute

Batch Compute File menu

2.1 ROCTOPPLE FILES

For the purpose of demonstration, we will run Batch Compute on the two RocTopple tutorial files that were already created for you, located in the Examples > Tutorials folder in your RocTopple installation folder:

Tutorial 1 Quick Start.rtop
Tutorial 2 Probabilistic Analysis.rtop

Let's create a folder called Tutorial 6 Batch Compute and copy the two RocTopple tutorial files to this folder.

2.2 ADD FILES TO FILE QUEUE

To add multiple files to the File Queue:

Select Batch Compute from the File menu to open the Batch Compute dialog.
Select the Add Folder button to open a standard dialog to choose a directory. Navigate to the Tutorial 6 Batch Compute folder containing the three RocTopple tutorial files and Select Folder .

You will see the two RocTopple files appear under the File Queue list box.

Batch Compute dialog

NOTE: Alternatively, you can choose individual files by selecting the Add Files button.

3.0 Output Result Files

Results files are automatically generated and saved into the same directory as the input model files after Batch Compute is complete. Before we run Compute, first ensure that the Output File Format is set to the desired format. Users can select from either Text File or Excel format.

3.1 TEXT FILE FORMAT

While still in the Batch Compute dialog:

Set the Output File Format dropdown to Text File.
Select the Compute button to start the batch computing process.

The Total Progress can be seen at the bottom of the dialog. When files have finished computing, they will appear in the Completed Files list box.

Batch Compute output text file

When all files have finished computing, select Close to exit the dialog.

For each input RocTopple model file, a text file (.txt) is generated with the same name as the input model file, followed by "Batch Compute Results".

Take a look at the Results.txt result files.

For a Deterministic Analysis (Tutorial 1 Quick Start.rtop), only 1 row of results data is outputted following the header row. Each data type is separated by a comma (,) for easy parsing.

Deterministic Analysis

For a Probabilistic Analysis (Tutorial 2 Probabilistic Analysis.rtop), all probabilistic samples are outputted following the header row. Each row of results data corresponds to a sample topple case. Each data type is separated by a comma (,) for easy parsing. In this model, all 5,000 sample results are contained within the output file.

Probabilistic Analysis

3.2 EXCEL FILE FORMAT

Now, we will do the same as before, but this time we will generate the results as an Excel output file format.

Select Batch Compute from the File menu to open the Batch Compute dialog.
Select the Add Folder button to open a standard dialog to choose a directory. Navigate to the Tutorial 6 Batch Compute folder containing the three RocTopple tutorial files and Select Folder .

You will see the three RocTopple files appear under the File Queue list box.

Batch Compute excel file format

Set the Output File Format dropdown to Excel.
Select the Compute button to start the batch computing process.
When all files have finished computing, select Close to exit the dialog.

For each input RocTopple model file, an Excel file (.xlsx) containing all results data is generated.

Take a look at the Results.xlsx result files.

For a Deterministic Analysis (Tutorial 1 Quick Start.rtop), only 1 row of results data is outputted following the header row. Each data type is separated by column.