Chapter 7: Modes¶

Chapter Overview¶

A mode is a mechanism for gathering user input, processing the input, and then issuing commands to the kernel. This section describes the modes available in the Abaqus GUI Toolkit.

Chapter Contents¶

• About modes
• Mode processing
• Form modes
• Procedure modes
• Picking in procedure modes

About modes¶

A mode is activated through widgets in the GUI, typically a menu button. Once a mode is activated, it is responsible for:

1. Gathering user input
2. Processing the input
3. Issuing commands
4. Performing any error handling associated with the mode or its issued commands

The Abaqus GUI Toolkit provides two modes:

Form modes¶

Form modes provide a dialog box interface. Form modes use one or more dialog boxes to gather user input.

Procedure modes¶

Procedure modes provide an interface that guides users through a sequence of steps by prompting for input in the prompt area of the application.

Mode processing¶

A mode performs command processing and sends commands to the kernel.

When the user interacts with the GUI, the mode:

1. Gathers user input from dialog boxes
2. Builds the input into a kernel command string
3. Sends the command to the kernel process via the IPC protocol
4. Receives and processes the kernel's response

Form modes¶

Form modes provide a dialog box interface.

Form modes use the AFXForm class to manage dialog boxes and data input.

Form mode example¶

Form modes are typically used with AFXDataDialog to create data input dialog boxes.

Procedure modes¶

Procedure modes provide an interface that guides users through a sequence of steps by prompting for input in the prompt area of the application.

Procedure modes use the AFXProcedure class as a base class.

Procedure mode example¶

class MyProcedure(AFXProcedure):
    def __init__(self, command):
        AFXProcedure.__init__(self, command)

    def getFirstStep(self):
        # Return the first step
        pass

    def getNextStep(self, currentStep):
        # Return the next step
        pass

Picking in procedure modes¶

Procedure modes often require users to input by picking objects in the graphic area.

Picking types¶

• Point picking: The user clicks to select a point.
• Object picking: The user selects objects.
• Coordinate picking: The user enters coordinate values.

Picking modes¶

Abaqus/CAE uses AFXPickMode to manage picking operations.