Bentley

AutoPIPE
Batch Generator

User Reference
Rev 1.1
Table of contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

2 GUI Overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Main Dialog ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.1.1 File Menu ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.1.1.2 Add Directory .................................................................................................................................................6

2.1.1.3 Scan Subdirs ...................................................................................................................................................6

2.1.1.4 Add File(s) ......................................................................................................................................................6

2.1.1.5 Remove ..........................................................................................................................................................6

2.1.1.11 Settings ........................................................................................................................................................6

2.1.2 Batch Menu ................................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1.2.1 Generate Batch File .......................................................................................................................................7

2.1.2.2 Process Batch File ..........................................................................................................................................7

2.1.2.3 Preview ..........................................................................................................................................................7

2.1.2.4 View Isometric Log.........................................................................................................................................8

2.1.3 Help............................................................................................................................................................... 8

2.1.3.1 User Reference...............................................................................................................................................8

2.1.3.2 About .............................................................................................................................................................8

2.2 User Interface .................................................................................................................................................. 8

2.2.1 Directories + Files List .......................................................................................................................................8

2.2.2 Files checkbox ...................................................................................................................................................9

2.2.3 Options List .......................................................................................................................................................9

2.3 Batch Generator Settings ............................................................................................................................... 11

2.3.1 Use Relative Path for AutoPIPE.......................................................................................................................11

2.3.2 Use Relative Path for Model File.....................................................................................................................11

2.3.3 After saving open Batch File in Notepad ........................................................................................................11

2.3.4 AutoPIPE Version ............................................................................................................................................11

2.3.5 AutoPIPE Path .................................................................................................................................................11

2.3.6 Batch File ........................................................................................................................................................11

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2.4 Preview Selected Files and Options ................................................................................................................ 12

3 Batch File Generator Considerations ................................................................................................................. 13

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1 Introduction
AutoPIPE has the ability to perform analyses, and produce reports for a previously defined
system database (*.DAT) without user interaction. This gives the designer the opportunity to
concentrate on modeling system databases during office hours, and then to run the desired
analyses and create the result reports for each system overnight. Please refer to “Automated
System Processing” in AutoPIPE program online help for the list and details of all batch options
available.

Batch Generator is a utility provided free of cost with the program to help creating and
executing batch jobs. User can select the directories or specific files to setup the batch job. All
the available batch switches are also available to select from.

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2 GUI Overview

2.1 Main Dialog

Following is the main dialog of Batch Generator utility. All options on this dialog are described
after this screenshot.

2.1.1 File Menu

This file menu covers options related to add/remove files or directories that are used in the batch
processing.
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2.1.1.2 Add Directory

User can select any directory containing AutoPIPE models using this button. User can also
select multiple directories, and on selection the directory will appear in the 'Directories + Files'
list on the left. All the model files (*.dat) in the directory will be added to 'Files' list in the lower
left of the dialog.

2.1.1.3 Scan Subdirs

User can use this option to force the program to scans all subdirectories of selected
directories to including all models at any level with in that directory structure. This option is not
selected by default.

2.1.1.4 Add File(s)

User can use this option to add specific AutoPIPE model files. This option will open a
dialog and the user can select multiple files at a time. Selected models will appear in the
'Directories + Files' list on the left and also in the 'Files' list in lower left of the dialog.

2.1.1.5 Remove

This will remove the selected entry from 'Directories + Files' list. This will also remove the
associated files from the 'Files' list.

2.1.1.11 Settings

This will open the settings dialog, where user can configure the Batch Generator utility.
The details are available in section 2.3.

2.1.2 Batch Menu

The batch menu deals with the batch commands required for setting up and executing a batch process.

Following menu items are available under batch menu:

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2.1.2.1 Generate Batch File

This will create and save the batch file with all the specified models and batch switches.

2.1.2.2 Process Batch File

This will process/execute the batch job. This option will open a new dialog and will show
the progress of the analysis as well.

2.1.2.3 Preview

This will open a new dialog box showing all the files and options selected. A screenshot
and some more description is provided in the respective section in this document. Details are
available in section 2.4.

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2.1.2.4 View Isometric Log

The view isometric log command will provide a detailed report log file on all the generated
isometrics files being created in the directories selected by the program.

2.1.3 Help
The help menu contains the following commands:

2.1.3.1 User Reference

The user reference command provides detailed documentation on using the program.

2.1.3.2 About

The about command provides the program information.

2.2 User Interface

Following items are available in the main application interface

2.2.1 Directories + Files List

This list contains all the directories and files selected by the user to include in the batch job.

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2.2.2 Files checkbox
This list box with check boxes shows all the selected files and files scanned from selected
directories. User can check the check box to include the file in the batch job.

2.2.3 Options List

This list shows all the available batch switches/ options a user can select for the selected files.
For a complete list of all available options here, please refer to AutoPIPE online help
(“Automated System Processing”).

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2.3 Batch Generator Settings
Following is the Batch Generator settings dialog.

2.3.1 Use Relative Path for AutoPIPE

This option will use the relative path of AutoPIPE in batch file. If this option is unchecked then
the full path of AutoPIPE will be used in the batch file.

2.3.2 Use Relative Path for Model File

This option will use the relative path of the model in batch file. If this option is unchecked then
the full path of the model will be used in the batch files.

2.3.3 After saving open Batch File in Notepad

This option will enable opening the generated batch file in Notepad. User can review the batch
file immediately and would be able to edit and save.

2.3.4 AutoPIPE Version

This combo box shows all the installed AutoPIPE versions. User can select the desired version to
be used for the analysis. Selecting a version will retrieve the installation path from registry and
populate the AutoPIPE Path text box.

2.3.5 AutoPIPE Path

AutoPIPE path represents executable path that will be used to run the batch job.

2.3.6 Batch File

This option specifies what will be the name and path of the batch file.

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2.4 Preview Selected Files and Options
Following is the preview selected files and options dialog. The purpose of this dialog is to
preview all the files and applicable batch switches/options before creating and/or executing the
batch job. Any changes made on this dialog will be ignored.

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3 Batch File Generator Considerations
To run a smooth batch process, following points must be considered:

The models must not contain any errors. Errors halt the process flow to notify the user in form of
message box that requires user attention. Some examples are:

1. Appropriate license not selected for the desired model

2. The model is already in use by another instance of the program

3. Analysis error related to load sets without any load cases

4. Models with system not complete for analysis

Open opening a model, the connection client dialog is presented to the user to associate the model with
a certain project if the user is signed into Connection Client. To ensure a smooth process run, the
connection client must be signed out before running the batch process.

The selected models must have the loads defined for the respective analysis flags checked e.g. a model
with no time history load selected with a time history analysis flag will result in error and halt the batch
process.

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