15.6Freeze function

The simulation can be ‘freezed’ to the *.sfr file using  button from Run tab of QW-Simulator Ribbon or File->Freeze command from QW-Simulator main menu.

The simulation can be started from the *.sfr file using  button from each tab of QW-Simulator Ribbon,  button under Project section from each tab of QW-Simulator Ribbon or File->Open… command from QW-Simulator main menu and staring simulation (i.e. using  button from Run tab of QW-Simulator Ribbon).

Freeze is used to save the current state of QW-Simulator, with all variables, to *.sfr file. At a convenient time, the simulation can be resumed at the frozen point via File-Open and Run commands on the *.sfr file. One example of application can be a display of steady-state moving images in large and possibly high-Q structures. While a long time to reach the steady state may be required, sometimes we need to display the steady-state fields upon request. Note that a *.sfr file contains a complete description of the analysed example, including all the shape and parameter data which would otherwise be read by QW-Simulator from *.sh3 and *.pa3 files. Therefore if the current simulation has been started on a *.pa3 or *.ta3 file, the freeze operation will look for all the relevant *.sh3 and *.pa3 files, and will not be accomplished if some of these files have been deleted from the current directory. Only if the current simulation has been started on a *.sfr file, no *.pa3 or *.sh3 files will be needed by freeze; instead, successive freeze commands will copy relevant shape / parameter contents of the original *.sfr file into new successive *.sfr files. The *.sfr file does not include information from the original *.ta3 file. In other words, if the original *.ta3 file contains a more complicated sequence of tasks than a simple Run, it the user's responsibility to preserve this file separately. To continue the original sequence of tasks, the original *.ta3 file must be modified by deleting the tasks already completed, and preceding the remaining tasks within RunFreezeIter or RunFreeze on the frozen *.sfr file. Note that *.sfr files may require significant disk space - for example, approximately 1.8 MB will be needed for such a small project as the Standard\Various\wgtocx1.pro. The freeze files contain information about fields and postprocessing (e.g. accumulated Fourier transforms); they do not contain information about windows (display contents and layouts), buffers (e.g. for constructing field envelopes or heating patterns), and breakpoints.

Using freeze menu command and freeze tasker command user can save state of the QW- Simulator in the purpose to restore this state, view results for this state or continue calculations in the future. All QW- Simulator functions work in the same normal manner after defreeze operation. This is very convenient feature in many situations. Below there are typical scenarios:

- user wants to replace calculations from one computer to another

- user wants to save time consuming calculations

- user wants to present stable state of calculations for particular large project very quickly

- etc.

Note that for large projects user has to take into account amount of also large hard disk space used during freeze operation, which is approximately equal of the project RAM memory requirements.

If the simulation is started from *.sfr freeze file placed on DVD or read only directory, the following message will be displayed:

After pressing Yes the user can select a new directory where simulation files will be unpacked from freeze file.