Automatic Backups and Timed Saves for CAEPIPE

Tip of the Month March 1999

This is a new useful feature introduced in CAEPIPE V5.0A.

Using these features, you no longer have to worry about system crashes that could wipe out your data (at least CAEPIPE's!). A backup of your previously saved data and all of your edits to the model up to the minute can be saved. These files are available for future retrieval.

In the main window, select Preferences... from the File menu, to turn these on.

Make Backup Copy (of the model file):

With this checked, everytime you save your model (from the File menu or by using the Ctrl S hotkey), the previously saved model data (on disk) is written to another file (backup file) that is named model_name.bak. You can select the location where you want these files written (click on Folder below).

To retrieve the latest data: 1. Locate the file (model_name.bak) in the directory pointed to by Folder, 2. Rename the file to model_name.mod, then open it in CAEPIPE.

Automatic Save every X minutes:

With this checked, and a desired time interval value entered (default is 10 minutes), CAEPIPE will periodically save model data to a file named model_name.sav, in the directory pointed to by Folder. In the event of a computer system crash, the most up-to-the-minute data can be retrieved.

If you have begun a new model (without having named it), the model data is saved to untitled.sav.

To retrieve the latest data: 1. Locate the file (model_name.sav) in the directory pointed to by Folder, 2. Rename the file to model_name.mod, then open it in CAEPIPE.

Folder:

Select any folder to which you (as a user) have write permission. points to the folder in which the model file (.MOD) that you open is located.

Example: Create a new folder called KPIPE5-BAK and set it under Folder, so that all backups (.bak) and timed saves (.sav) will be written to this folder.

Related information:

When you convert model data from a previous version, you may be aware that CAEPIPE never overwrites the old model file with the new converted data. Instead, the older model data is saved as model_name.xxx, where xxx is the older format's version number, and the newer data is saved to model_name.mod.

Essentially, CAEPIPE ensures that your data is safe.

A Few Handy Features in CAEPIPE v5.x

Tip of the Month April 1999

Did you know the following features were available in CAEPIPE? Following are ten handy features.

These features will increase your productivity in CAEPIPE.

1. Make as many Comments in the model as you wish and readily see them

You may already know that when you press C on an empty row, that row converts to a comment row. The length of the row is presently limited to 71 characters per row. You may have as many rows as you want. These can be printed when you check Layout from File>Print.... You can delete a comment row like any other row (Ctrl+Del in versions below 5.02E, Ctrl+X in v5.02E and above). Watch out! There is no undelete command yet.

2. Open just the Results for a model without having to open the Model file (Toolbar icon available)

Under File menu, select the "Open Results..." command. You will be shown files with the .RES extension. Note that CAEPIPE keeps the .RES files with the corresponding .MOD (model) files. If the MOD(el) file is deleted, you cannot open the RES(ults) file.

3. Open Last model (Toolbar icon available)

On many an occasion, you probably work with the same model over a period of time. With this command, you can eliminate unnecessary mouse clicks required to open the same model every time. Saves you a minimum of 2 clicks (or 4 clicks depending on how you do it).

4. Select a BIGGER SIZE for the Toolbar icons

For users who prefer bigger sizes of icons (and fonts), select Toolbar (or Font...) under the Options menu. See the above graphics image that shows bigger icons (see below). As of v5.02e, the Toolbar can only be changed from the main opening window under File>Preferences (3/10/00, Webmaster)

5. Hotkeys to move between the open windows

As you now know, CAEPIPE can display up to 4 windows at the same time. For users who prefer to use the keyboard to switch between window, remember the following: For moving between any text window to text window, use F3. For moving between any text and graphics window, use F2. CAEPIPE remembers the text window where the focus previously was, and goes to it when you press F2.

6. Find out the serial number of your hardware key without doing a somersault!

Until now, you had to be a circus artist to find out the serial number of the hardware key (in case it was needed) that was connected to the back of the computer or was on a network server. Now, you can easily find that out using the Help>About command.

7. Set plot size and orientation

For DXF and HPGL Plot file generators: Set the drawing size of the plot (A-E, A4-A0) and its orientation (Landscape or Portrait) by using the command File>Drawing Size... in the graphics window.

8. How about a new title for the plot?

The title you had entered on row one showed on the graphics hardcopy (or plot) by default. Now, everytime you get a graphics hardcopy, you can set it to anything you like. Type the new title under File>Plot title... in the graphics window. This title is temporary and does not affect the main title.

9. Print any list item display

In the List window, any item that is displayed in an itemized fashion (anchors, limits tops, hangers, pumps, etc.) is printable to a text file or a printer. The filename defaults to model_name.prt (you can change it, of course).

10. Informative Title bar of a CAEPIPE Window

Each of the 4 windows in CAEPIPE displays a title. The title contains useful information such as:

a. Number of rows in the model (Input window) b. Name of item being displayed (eg. anchors, limit stop, hangers) followed by the total number of such item (List window) c. Model name, or if Results window open, name of item being displayed in Results (eg. SL, Deflected shape, etc.) (Graphics window) d. Title of the item being displayed (eg. Sorted stresses, loads on Anchors, Hanger report etc.) (Results window).

Each piece of information is followed by the complete path (location) of the model file (or results file) that is open.

From left to right on the Toolbar above: New, Open, Open last model, Open Results

How to Model Gapped Guides

Tip of the Month June 1999

Update: Starting CAEPIPE v5.1 (July 11, 2001), the data type Guide has a field for gap input. So, the tip below would apply only to versions 5.02J and earlier.

This old tip is deleted because the workaround proposed in this tip is no longer required.