Argument Descriptions

Notes

Causes execution of a macro file called Name, or, if not found, a macro block "Name" on the macro library file [*ULIB]. Argument values (numeric or character) are passed into the file or block and substituted for local parameters ARG1, ARG2, ..., AR18. The file Name may also be executed as an "unknown command" (i.e., without the *USE command name) as described below.

A macro is a sequence of ANSYS commands (as many as needed) recorded in a file or in a macro block in a library file (specified with the *ULIB command). The file or block is typically executed with the *USE command. In addition to command, numerical and alphanumeric data, the macro may include parameters which will be assigned numerical or alphanumerical character values when the macro is used. Use of the macro may be repeated (within a do-loop, for example) with the parameters incremented. A macro is defined within a run by "enclosing" a sequence of data input commands between a *CREATE and a *END command. The data input commands are passive (not executed) while being written to the macro file. The macro file (without *CREATE and *END ) can also be created external to ANSYS.

Up to 99 specially named scalar parameters called ARG1 to AR99 are locally available to each macro. Note that the prefix for the first 9 parameters is "ARG," while the prefix for the last 90 is "AR." A local parameter is one which is not affected by, nor does it affect, other parameters, even those of the same name, which are used outside of the macro. The only way a local parameter can affect, or be affected by, parameters outside the macro is if values are passed out of, or into, the macro by an argument list. Parameters ARG1 through AR18 can have their values (numeric or character) passed via the argument list on the *USE command (ARG1 through AR19 can be passed as arguments on the "unknown command" macro). Parameters AR19 through AR99 (AR20 through AR99 in the "unknown command" macro) are available solely for use within the macro; they cannot be passed via an argument list. Local parameters are available to do-loops and to /INPUT files processed within the macro. In addition to an ARG1--AR99 set for each macro, another ARG1--AR99 set is available external to all macros, local to "non-macro" space.

A macro is exited after its last line is executed. Macros may be nested (such as a *USE or an "unknown command" within a macro). Each nested macro has its own set of 99 local parameters. Only one set of local parameters can be active at a time and that is the set corresponding to the macro currently being executed or to the set external to all macros (if any). When a nested macro completes execution, the previous set of local parameters once again becomes available. Use *STATUS,ARGX to view current macro parameter values.

An alternate way of executing a macro file is via the "unknown command" route. If a command unknown to the ANSYS program is entered, a search for a file of that name (plus a .MAC suffix) is made. If the file exists, it is executed, if not, the "unknown command" message is output. Thus, users can write their own commands in terms of other ANSYS commands. The procedure is similar to issuing the *USE command with the unknown command in the Name field. For example, the command CMD,10,20,30 is internally similar to *USE,CMD,10,20,30. The macro file named CMD.MAC will be executed with the three parameters. The *USE macro description also applies to the "unknown command" macro, except that various directories are searched and a suffix (.MAC) is assumed. Also, a macro library file is not searched.

A three-level directory search for the "unknown command" macro file may be available (see the Operations Guide). The search order may be: 1) a high-level system directory, 2) the login directory, and 3) the local (working) directory. Use the /PSEARCH command to change the directory search path. For an "unknown command" CMD, the first file named CMD.MAC found to exist in the search order is executed. The command may be input in lower-, upper-, or mixed-case; however, it converts to uppercase automatically before the file-name search occurs. On systems that preserve the case as it was input, a file matching the upper-case name is used first, followed by a file with the matching the lower-case name, and finally a file matching the mixed-case name. All macro files placed in the apdl directory must be upper-case.

Note, since undocumented commands exist in the ANSYS program, the user should issue the command intended for the macro file name to be sure the "unknown command" message is output in the processor where it's to be used. If the macro is to be used in other processors, the other processors must also be checked.

This command is valid in any processor.

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