SDNF File Header Information

All the internal maps are exported in the SDNF file as comments for information purposes only. Appendix B gives an example file.

Note:
All these tables represented in the form:

#

# STARTTABLE nnnn

# data

# data

# ENDTABLE

#

with STARTTABLE and ENDTABLE as the keywords.

However, a special PACKET table is to be included in the header which indicates how many objects of each Packet are contained in the SDNF file. Any system importing the file is able to give some progress feedback as it knows how many items are expected without having to read the whole file at the beginning.

For example:

#

# STARTTABLE PACKET

# 10 39

# 20 1

# 40 0

# ENDTABLE

#

The example indicates that there are 39 Linear Members in Packet 10, 1 Plate in Packet 20 and no Connection Details in Packet 40.

The interface uses the table to modify the behavior of the Import forms.

If the input SDNF file has the STARTTABLE header that lists the contents of the subsequent packets, the Import window Packet check boxes are (de)activated accordingly. If there is not this STARTTABLE block that defines the packets contained therein, all check boxes become active and you must select which packets to import.

You are not able to import Packet 22 without Packet 20, but you are able to import Packet 20 without holes, even if there some. Similarly, you are not able to import Packet 40 (Connections) without either Packet 10 or Packet 60.