Getting Started > FlexPDE Working Files

FlexPDE works with an assortment of files differing in the file extension. All have the structure <problem name><extension>, where <problem name> is the unique identifier for the model being run. The meaning of the most commonly used extensions are described below. Other file extensions can be created and used in other circumstances as described later in the documentation.

Input

.PDE

FlexPDE reads a model description from a script file with the extension ".pde". This file is created by the user and contains the full description of the model to be run. The name of this file establishes the <problem name> used by the other files. This is a UTF-8 text file and can be opened with any text editor. This file should not be modified by formatting editors like Word as they may insert illegal characters. If using an alternate editor that supports unicode etc., be sure to save it in UTF-8 format not one of the many other page codings.

Output

.PG8

FlexPDE writes primary graphical output into a file with the extension ".pg8". This file can be viewed later and used to print or export graphical data to various other formats. The format of this file is unique to FlexPDE and cannot be read by other programs.

_LOG.TXT

FlexPDE writes a summary of the progress of each run into a text file with the extension "_log.txt". This file contains information about time steps, error estimates, memory use and other data. This is an ordinary text file and can be opened with any text editor. In previous versions this file had the extension ".log".

_DEBUG.TXT

FlexPDE writes a more elaborate summary of each run into a file with the extension "_debug.txt". This file is sometimes useful in determining errors or locating trouble spots in the domain. This is an ordinary text file and can be opened with any text editor. In previous versions this file had the extension ".dbg".

_EIG.TXT

In eigenvalue problems, FlexPDE writes a summary of final system eigenvalues into a file with the extension "_eig.txt". This is an ordinary text file and can be opened with any text editor. In previous versions this file had the extension ".eig".

_INITIALMESH.XFR

If requested in the Preferences General Settings tab, FlexPDE will automatically export a transfer file of the initial mesh into a file with the extension "_initialmesh.xfr" and reload this file when possible to save time creating the initial grid.

_RESTART.XFR

If requested in the Preferences General Settings tab, when FlexPDE completes a problem it will automatically export a RESTART transfer file with all variables into a file with the extension "_restart.xfr". This file can be used for post-processing of the solution data when needed.

Note: By default Windows hides the file name extensions, relying on distinctive icons to indicate file type. Windows can be configured to show file extensions and we encourage users to do this. FlexPDE has unique icons for ".pde" and ".pg8" files, but not for the other files.