Keyword Editing

Figure 1 - *SECTION Panel
Figure 2 - *MAT Panel
Figure 3 - RefBy Popup
Figure 4 - Link Popup

Every LS-DYNA keyword card can be created, viewed, modified, and deleted as part of model building process using this interface via the fuctions found on pages 3 and 4. Each keyword card data form is designed to appear as it is documented in the LS-DYNA Keyword Manual. A brief description of each parameter is available by clicking its data entry field. This description is the same as in the LS-DYNA Keyword Manual. Except for extended remarks, most information from the keyword manual is available in LS-PrePost for easy reference.

For each card type, a list of sub-types is presented in the middle right area. Each sub-type can be edited. Upon editing a sub-type, a keyword form is presented in a separate pop-up window consisting of a list of that particular of data type.

Selecting one of the keyword items on Page 3 or 4 will open the main branch navigation interfaces in the primary controls area. Examples of this are shown in Figures 1 and 2. To launch the keyword editing window for a specific keyword, select it from this list and click Edit.

General Keyword Controls:

Edit

Open keyword input window for selected keyword

Done

Close the current interface

All

Display all keywords

Model

Display all keywords in current model

RefBy

Launches RefBy popup interface (*EOS/*HOURGLASS/*MAT only)

Some input forms also have a RefBy button (*SECTION_SHELL for example) that opens a window showing parts that use the current keyword. From within the window, the parts can be saved in a buffer.

All

Select all

None

Deselect all

Rev

Reverse selection

Done

Close Referenced By interface

Save

Save selected part IDs in selected buffer

Buffn

Select buffer to save data

(See Figure 3 for example)

GroupBy: Use this menu to limit the materials shown in the list by type (*MAT only)
Sort: list by Name or Type number, Limit list alphanumerically (*MAT only)

Keyword Input Window:

Normal Headings (Blue) - Displays help comment when clicked
Dynamic Headings (Red) - Dynamic form switch field - entering certain values will unlock additional cards

Select value from list by clicking on the arrow

Opens Link Dialog (See Figure 4)

This dialog displays a list of keyword IDs suitable for the text field used (applicable when data type is a set, node, element, part, load curve, or table)

Done

Accept selection and close Link Keyword Dialog

Cancel

Cancel selection and close Link Keyword Dialog

Read

Open selected keyword (for viewing only)

Figure 5 - Keyword Input Window

NewID

Generate a new ID, and begin creating a new keyword card by taking the contents of existing card.

Draw

Minimize keyword input form and highlight entity in graphics viewport (see Figure 6)

If the Draw button is shown in the top left of a keyword input form, then the keyword entity can be displayed in the graphics viewport (and the keyword editing form will be temporarily minimized). Once an entity has been drawn, additional entities of this type can be selected using the Entity Operation Interface.

Shrink Form - Toggles minimizing behavior on/off

Restore Form

Restore keyword input form

Clear

Clear all text entries fileds (*CONTROL only)

Pick

Allows user to pick entities from graphics viewport (see Figure 7)

Accept selections and resize Keyword Input dialog

Cancel

Cancel selections and resize Keyword Input dialog

ResDlg

Resize Keyword Input dialog

Add

Begin creating a new card using default values

Commit changes to the keyword data in the database

Del/UnD

This button marks/unmarks the card for deletion from database

Default

Changes data entries to default values

Done

Close keyword editing popup window (and accept changes)

Setting

Allows setting and editing the active subsystem ID tag

cbc Use *PARAMETER - This is related to *PARAM keyword card. In LS-DYNA parameters can be defined, and their names can be referenced through the input file. This capability is typically used when LS-DYNA is in an optimization loop with LS-OPT. Activating this shows if any of the keyword fields have parameters assigned and allows parameter assignments to be made.