Input File Conversion to HDF5-format

The user input for SHEMAT-Suite is provided in an ASCII-file (see here). For reducing the reading time of larger input files, SHEMAT-Suite provides the option to read HDF5 input instead. Theresore, we provide a Python-script for converting the ASCII input file, which is created by the user, into an HDF5 input file.

The script convert_to_hdf5.py converts parts of the standard ASCII input file into and HDF5-file called <input>_conv.h5. Those parts which are not converted to hdf5-arrays are stored in a new ASCII-file called <input>_conv. Most of the input data, especially large arrays, is then read from the HDF5-file, which is considerably faster than reading from the ASCII-file.

How to use it:

0.) Prerequisite: Python

1.) Download the python scipt convert_to_hdf5.py from https://git.rwth-aachen.de/SHEMAT-Suite/shemat-suite_scripts-open

2.) Conversion of standard SHEMAT-Suite input file: ./convert_to_hdf5.py <inputfile>

3.) Write the name of the newly generated ASCII-file <inputfile>_conv into the file shemade.job .

4.) Execute SHEMAT-Suite.

Important note:

The input of multiple values for e.g. boundary conditions either has to be written in one line or the number of entries has to be defined by using the keyword records. Otherwise the converter will give an error!

Please test the HDF5 input option with your models and report any difficulties like the one noted above (e.g. as an issue), so that they can be adapted in the future.