Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Default Options

The Options dialog is used to control a number of global options in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. The choices you make are stored in a properties folder that is unique for each version of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ you run on your machine.

On Windows, user options are stored within the folder C:\Users\[login name]\AppData\Local\CD-adapco\STAR-CCM+ [version]. By default the AppData folder is hidden; to see the folder, activate the Hidden items option in File Explorer.

On Linux, the options are stored within a hidden folder, .star-[version], located in your home directory. You can view this folder using the command ls -a.

In either Windows or Linux, to find the complete path to the folder, select Help > About and look at the line containing User Settings Directory. You can specify an alternative location on startup using the command line option -nbuserdir <dir>.

To access the dialog for setting options, select Tools > Options in the menu bar.

注	Settings that you apply in this dialog are stored for the software version that you are using at the time.

The options are divided into categories:

Environment
Parallel
Visualization
Plotting
Import
3D-CAD
Licensing
SSH Tunnel

These nodes are listed below with their properties.

Environment

Use Environment properties to control features such as mesh diagnostics, the path of the material database, and where information in the Output window goes.

Properties

Max Recent Files

Sets a limit on the number of files listed in the File > Recent Files sub-menu.

Recent Hosts

Comma-separated list of host names for Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to query for running servers. When you connect to a new host using the File > Connect to Server action, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically adds the name of that host to this list. For more information, see Connect to Server Dialog Reference.

注	Simcenter STAR-CCM+ does not record names of hosts that have been accessed through firewalls, since a firewall can slow the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ query considerably.

Enable Node Auto Expansion

When this option is activated, the most commonly used nodes in the object tree are expanded automatically.

Run Mesh Diagnostics After Importing Mesh

When activated, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ runs mesh diagnostics when you import a mesh.

Open Scene After Importing Mesh

When activated, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically creates a geometry scene when you import a mesh.

Generic Remote Process Launch Command

Sets the system command that Simcenter STAR-CCM+ uses for launching remote servers from the client. Choose from the following options:

rsh
ssh (default)
PuTTY
Custom

To further configure each option, click (Custom Editor) to reveal an associated Environment dialog. In this secondary dialog, depending on the launch option, you can set the Remote Process Launch Command, the Command Path, any Username Specification Option, and other Command Options. If the Command Path is empty, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ assumes that the command is accessible within your environment.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ retains any changes that you make within the Environment dialog for a launch option. You can reset the Environment entries by clicking Reset Default Options.

Server Remote Process Launch Command

Sets the system command that Simcenter STAR-CCM+ uses to launch remote processes from the main server (such as when running in parallel or for co-simulation). The default option is to use ssh. You can use the same command as defined for the generic remote process, or choose an alternative (see Generic Remote Process Launch Command).

HTML Browser Command

Sets the path to the web browser that Simcenter STAR-CCM+ launches when you access the user guide, either by pressing F1 on an object, or from the Help menu.

Material Database Load Path

Specifies one or more paths from which to load material databases. To enter multiple paths, separate them with semicolons.

Default Macros

When activated, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ saves a default macro for every interactive session.

Auto-Disconnect Batch Simulations

When activated (default), automatically disconnects the client from completed batch simulations after a 60 s timeout.

Decimal Display Format

Allows you to choose from a number of standard formats, or create your own, for the decimal display. For details, see Changing the Appearance of Decimals.

Log Output Window to File

When this option is activated, saves the contents of the Output window to a file.

Default Job Manager Key

Allows you to set the default Job Manager key that authenticates you against Job Manager on a cluster.

Once the key is added, a connection to Job Manager is available in the Servers window for running Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulations.

In Design Manager, the key is added to the Job Manager Key drop-down menu for all design studies in your Design Manager projects.

注	Currently, HTTPS connections with Job Manager do not appear in the Servers window and are therefore not supported for running Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulations.

For details on the properties of a Job Manager key, see Job Manager Servers Reference.


Expert Properties
Display Client-Server Messages	When this option is activated, the Output window includes client-server messages.
Sync Names for User Field Function	Controls the initial setting (activated or deactivated) of the Synchronize Function Name property of a newly created user field function. When the Synchronize Function Name property is activated, the Function Name is taken directly from the node name.
User Macro Classpath	Specifies one or more paths from which to load .jar files for compiling and running macros. To enter multiple paths on Windows, separate them with semicolons. On other systems, use colons.
Server Locator Diagnostics	When this option is activated, the Servers window includes network diagnostics output.

Parallel

This category contains the options that control the settings for parallel computing in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.


Properties
Parallel Hosts	A list of host machines that are selected by default for parallel jobs.
Default Machine File	The name of a machine file that is selected by default for computing with a cluster.
Parallel Host Specification Method	The default method for specifying the host computers for parallel jobs.
	Local	The host process is on the local machine.
	Specify Hosts	Uses the list of hosts that you enter in the Parallel Hosts property.
	Machine File	Uses the machine file that you specify in the Default Machine File property.


Expert Properties
Parallel Log File	When this option is activated, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ generates log files for parallel events.
Parallel Output	When this option is activated, the Output window includes information from parallel worker processes. Output only appears if the client started the server. If the server was started independently of the client the output is displayed in the console window where the server was started.

Visualization

This category contains the options that control how the model is displayed in the Graphics window, and how you interact with it.

Properties

Interactor Style

Selects a style for interacting with the Graphics window.

STAR-Default

For more information on these interactor options, see View Mouse Controls.

Pro-E/NX

SolidWorks

Trackball

Joystick

First Person

For more information on this interactor option, see First Person Mode.

Refresh Rate

Specifies the rate (frames per second) of refreshing the display.

Show Framerate

When this option is activated, an annotation in the scene indicates the framerate.

Default Camera Projection Mode

Choose between Perspective and Parallel modes for rendering objects in the Graphics window.

Perspective

Displays the object with a vanishing point.

Parallel

Displays the object with edges parallel to each other.

Highlight Parts in Scene

When this option is activated, any part you select in the object tree is also highlighted in the graphics scene.

Include Captions With Highlights

When this option is activated, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ displays the names of highlighted parts in the graphics scene.

Maximum Highlight Captions

Sets the maximum number of labels that can appear in the graphics scene at any one time.

Highlight Caption Font

Selects the font to use for captions. To access a dialog that specifies font and style, click

(Custom Editor).

Annotate Scene Interaction

When this option is activated, annotations appear that describe your keyboard and mouse interaction in the scene.

Logo Path

The relative path to the default imported logo graphic. The formats that can be imported are PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PNM, and BMP.

注	If the imported graphic file is missing, the default Simcenter STAR-CCM+ logo is displayed.

Changes to these property settings supersede the corresponding values of the Tools > Annotations > Logo node in new simulations, and define the default logo annotation settings in new scenes in these new simulations.

However, the settings of logo annotations in pre-existing scenes, or new scenes in pre-existing simulations, remain unaffected.

Logo Opacity

Controls the opacity of the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ logo in the scene.

Logo Height

The default height of the logo as a fraction of the visualization display height, where 1.0 equals the full height.

Logo Width Stretch Factor

The default amount by which the logo is stretched in the horizontal direction.

Logo Position

The default position of the logo in the visualization display.

Enable 3Dconnexion Devices

Allows 3Dconnexion 3D mice to control the display view. This feature is available on Windows only.

3Dconnexion Sensitivity

Enter a value between 0.0 and 1.0. 0.0 is not very sensitive, while 1.0 is very sensitive.

GPU Utilization

Lets you control globally what loads you put on your GPU. The lowest setting tries to use as few features on the GPU as possible, whereas the highest setting tries to use all the GPU capacity that is available.

Compatibility (0)

For more information see Controlling Graphics Performance.

Default (1)

Unmanaged (2)

Opportunistic (3)

Custom

Default Color Map

Specifies which color map is used in new displayers. The color map selection in the drop-down list displays the rendered color map in addition to the name.

For details about the color maps that are available by default, see Pre-Defined Color Maps.

Number of Client Render Threads

Sets the number of threads for the client to use locally when working with features such as advanced rendering or volume rendering.


Expert Properties
Edge Picking Tolerance	Tolerance used for edge picking, specified as a fraction of the diagonal size of the display.
Software Picking Tolerance	Tolerance used for surface picking when not using hardware, specified as a fraction of the diagonal size of the display.
Interactive Anti-Aliasing	Uses hardware (multi-sampling) anti-aliasing for open scenes and plots in an interactive session, when Mesa is not in use. Deactivating this setting gives you faster rendering performance at the expense of visual quality. Hardcopies and movie file exports have their own anti-aliasing options that override this setting. This setting also has no effect for: Scenes in depth-peeling mode Line Integral Convolution displayers Scenes in advanced rendering mode Highlighting mode
Triangulate Part Surfaces	When this option is activated, triangulation eliminates visual artifacts that result from non-convex polygons in a part surface. For finite element meshes with mid-side vertices, activating this option can improve the rendering quality. For more information, see Solution Analysis Guidelines.
Use Hardware Picking	When this option is activated, graphics hardware is used for picking -- this is the recommended technique. Using this option usually results in faster picking, though it may not be fully supported on all systems.
Rotation Tool Step Size (degrees)	Sets the amount of degrees in one step by the scene rotation tool.
Enhanced Glyph and Tube Rendering	When activated, renders certain elements (such as points, vector glyphs, or streamline tubes) using a high-quality method that works well on newer graphics hardware. Deactivate this option if you notice problems on older graphics hardware or on machines with no dedicated graphics.
Disable Gradient Background	When this option is deactivated, each scene controls its own background. Otherwise, all scenes appear with no gradient background.
Remote Rendering Compression	Controls the compression level used by the remote renderer for a connected client while you are interacting with a scene or plot. After you are done with the interaction (for example, by releasing the mouse button), the scene or plot contents are always sent with lossless compression (that is, the original image is displayed). The primary factor that influences the choice of setting is the network connection between the client and rendering service. If both the client and rendering service are on the same LAN (for example a gigabit connection), or even on the same host machine, then the Lossless option can be chosen. If connection quality is less robust, higher compression settings should be used. For example, when you use low-bandwidth, high-latency connections through dialup, the High setting is recommended. You can change this setting in real time with an open scene and decide which setting suits best.
	Lossless	Images are compressed with a simple lossless method which means that the original image will be displayed. There will be no compression artifacts introduced by this. Bandwidth requirements for this mode are very high.
	Low	Uses JPEG compression with a low compression setting which means high image quality and relatively high bandwidth requirements.
	Medium	Medium JPEG compression setting hence lower bandwidth requirements and lower image quality.
	High	High JPEG compression requiring lowest amount of bandwidth but with low image quality.

Plotting

This category controls the default behavior of plots.


Properties
Antialiasing	When activated, smooths the edges of text, lines, and symbols for improved on-screen viewing. Otherwise leaves edges sharp, which is appropriate for printing.
Line Width	Defines the default line width for data series within the plot display.
Symbol Size	Defines the default symbol size for data series within the plot display.
Title Font	Selects the default font for the title of a plot.
Legend Font	Selects the default font for the legend of a plot.
Axis Titles Font	Selects the default font for the titles of the plot axes.
Axis Label Font	Selects the default font for the labels of the plot axes.
Y-Axis Title Rotation	Specifies the default rotation for the title of the y-axis.
Major Grid Width	Specifies the default line width for the major grid lines of the plot.
Major Grid Style	Specifies the default line style for the major grid lines of the plot.
Major Grid Color	Specifies the default line color for the major grid lines of the plot.
Tick Count	Specifies the number of minor grid ticks between the major grid lines of the plot.
Minor Grid Width	Specifies the default line width for the minor grid lines of the plot.
Minor Grid Style	Specifies the default line style for the minor grid lines of the plot.
Minor Grid Color	Specifies the default line color for the minor grid lines of the plot.
Bubble Style Color Map	Specifies the default color map used for bubble styles within the plot. The color map selection in the drop-down list displays the rendered color map in addition to the name. For more information about the bubble plot style, see 设置和查看气泡图.

Import

This category contains the options for importing 3D-CAD model into Simcenter STAR-CCM+.


Properties
CATIA V5	For each type of file, choose the default B-rep translator with which to import the file. Siemens Adapter is the default translator. For license information, see CAD Import Versions.
CATIA V4
CGR
3DXML
NX
Solid Edge
JT
SolidWorks
Inventor
Creo
STEP
IGES
ACIS
IFC
Other	Sets the default B-rep exchange translator for all other types of file import.
Import MetaData	When importing PLMXML, NX, or JT Open files automatically imports any metadata defined on the bodies or body groups. For NX files, you can import the metadata using the Siemens Adapter translator.

3D-CAD


Properties
Display Resolution	Controls the clarity of the geometry displayed in the 3D-CAD View scene. At higher resolutions such as Very Fine, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ produces a finer tessellation with more detail, but this can slow down display operations in 3D-CAD. The Distance-biased option contains a pre-configured set of tessellation parameters. For more information, see 网格化密度. The Light Weight Display option is recommended when working with large 3D-CAD models. This option reduces the resolution of the geometry considerably to help boost the frame-rate in the scene when manipulating the geometry.
Selection Behavior	Allows you to customize the way entities are selected when using a selection panel in 3D-CAD. If you are working with a complex model and need to select multiple topological entities, then use the CAD System option.
Set the scene selection toolbar mode	Allows you to adjust the position of the Features toolbar in the 3D-CAD View scene, and also to turn it off.
Set the scene toolbar icon size	Allows you to set the size of the icons that appear in the Features toolbar.
Feature toolbar recent category limit (1-21)	Allows you to set a limit for the number of menu options saved in the Recent Action category.
Feature Caching Frequency	Represents internal caching mechanism of Parasolid data. For example, if the frequency is increased, the memory usage is less but this has an impact on the performance when re-executing features.
Selection Color	Sets the color for selection.
Edge Color	Sets the color for edges between faces in 3D-CAD models.
Free Edge Color	Sets the color for edges that do not have faces on both sides.
Primary Filter Result Selection Color	When using the search filter, the primary filter result selection color is used to represent a set of results that are not in pairs. For results that are in pairs, both the primary and secondary filter result selections colors are used to represent the two sets of results.
Secondary Filter Result Selection Color
Failed Feature Body Color	Sets the color for failed feature entities. If a Unite Bodies, Subtract Bodies, or Extract External Volume feature fails, the entities (bodies, faces, edges, and vertices) that are responsible for the failure are highlighted in the specified color when you select the failed feature node in the 3D-CAD model tree.
Failed Feature Face Color
Failed Feature Edge Color
Failed Feature Vertex Color
Display Edges Independently	When activated, the entities are displayed independently. For example, if a 3D-CAD model has named faces and you activate Display Named Faces Independently, the named faces are shown in the 3D-CAD View scene even if you hide solid/sheet bodies.
Display Named Faces Independently
Display Named Edges Independently
Highlight Bodies in Treeview	When activated, bodies that are selected in the 3D-CAD View scene are highlighted in the 3D-CAD simulation tree.
Highlight Bodies in Scene	When activated, bodies that are selected in the 3D-CAD View tree are highlighted in the 3D-CAD View scene. When working with large 3D-CAD models, deactivate this option to improve the speed of response in the 3D-CAD View scene.
Enable Feature Preview	When activated, a preview of the expected result is displayed before you complete the action to create a feature.
Retain visualization data	In order to render CAD bodies in a graphics window, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ generates tessellation data for each body. Computing this tessellation data is time-consuming. To reduce the time required for displaying a CAD model that you previously worked with, you can choose to save the tessellation data in the simulation file by activating this option. Activating this option increases the simulation file size.

注	To update 3D-CAD to use the global options, right-click the 3D-CAD Model node and select Apply Global System Options.

Licensing

This category contains the add-on licensing options. From here, you can reserve the desired add-on licenses.


Properties
Reserve Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Batteries License	These options reserve the respective licenses when you create or open a simulation that requires any of them.
Reserve STAR-Cast License
Reserve IC Engine Module License
Reserve JTOpen Reader License
Reserve CAD Exchange License
Retry Licenses on Requiring Operations	Makes additional attempts to access the license when needed.
Release Licenses After Geometry Import	Allows other users to access the license once you have finished importing geometry into the simulation.

SSH Tunnel

With this category, you can pre-configure the SSH options so that they are automatically applied each time that you want to use SSH tunneling with Simcenter STAR-CCM+.


Properties
SSH Tunnel Host	The host used for tunneling client-server connections. This machine is typically the head node of a cluster.
User Name on Tunnel Host	Your user name on the tunnel host.
SSH Tunnel Command	Selects a command for launching the ssh tunnel.
	ssh	For more specifications of each option, click (Custom Editor).
	PuTTY
	Custom


Expert Properties
SSH Tunnel Verbosity	Controls the verbosity level of output for the ssh tunnel. These settings can be used for debugging.