FAST: Getting Started

To start fast, type fast . Three windows will pop up: the "Active View Window", the "Viewer" and the "File IO" module.

The view window is used to pop up all the modules associated with FAST. The first module that you need, the "File IO" modules is run when FAST is started. Data is visualized in the view window.

The "File IO" module appears as follows.

To read in data, you must read in a grid file and then each function or solution file one at a time. Be sure to choose the correct file formats and attributes.

Here is the general procedure to read a grid file.

• Click on a file name in the "File List".
• Click on the appropriate "File Format". Binary means C binary files, Unformatted is used with unformatted writes from FORTRAN programs. Formatted files are text files.
• Click on the "File Attributes".
• If the data is a triangulation, click on unstructured.
• When all is set click the "Read File" button.

To read in a function file.

• Click on the file name in the "File List"
• Click on "Function" in "File Type"
• The other settings should be the same as for the grid file.
• When all is set click the "Read File" button.

To visualize the data, You must start the "Surfer" module. From the "Viewer", pull down the "modules"menu to "Surfer" as shown below.

After the "Surfer" starts up, your data will be displayed, as a mesh, in the "View Window".

If you cannot see the data, or if the data is in a bad position on the screen, click on the button "Find Objects" in the "Viewer". You may have to zoom in or out to get it right.

To zoom in click below the blue slider labeled "zoom" in the "Viewer". You may drag the slider, but I find I loose control when I do so. If you click above the slider, you will zoom out. You are now ready to display contours and vectors.

Quitting FAST