Datagen

Version 10.2.0.1
 Trademark Notice
Bentley and the "B" Bentley logo are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service
marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. All other marks are the property of their respective
owners.

Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2015, Bentley Systems, Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.

SACS® Datagen Release 10.2.0.1

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................................... 5
1.2 PROGRAM OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 5
1.2.1 System Configuration ....................................................................................................... 5
1.2.2 File Naming Conventions .................................................................................................. 5
2 GETTING STARTED........................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 BEGINNING A DATA GENERATOR SESSION................................................................................ 6
2.2 CREATING A NEW SACS INPUT FILE........................................................................................... 6
2.3 EDITING AN INPUT FILE ............................................................................................................ 6
2.3.1 Moving Around the Edit Screen ........................................................................................ 7
2.3.2 Editing Data ...................................................................................................................... 8
2.4 HELP ........................................................................................................................................ 8
2.5 EXITING THE DATA GENERATOR SESSION ................................................................................. 8
3 FILE MENU FEATURES ..................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 NEW......................................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 OPEN ....................................................................................................................................... 9
3.3 CLOSE....................................................................................................................................... 9
3.4 SAVE ........................................................................................................................................ 9
3.5 SAVE AS ................................................................................................................................... 9
3.6 PRINT ..................................................................................................................................... 10
3.7 EXIT........................................................................................................................................ 10
4 EDIT MENU FEATURES................................................................................................................... 11
4.1 MODIFY.................................................................................................................................. 11
4.1.1 OK .................................................................................................................................. 12
4.1.2 Cancel ............................................................................................................................ 12
4.1.3 Help................................................................................................................................ 12
4.2 CUT ........................................................................................................................................ 12
4.3 PASTE..................................................................................................................................... 12
4.4 COPY ...................................................................................................................................... 12
4.5 INSERT LINE............................................................................................................................ 12
5 SEARCH MENU FEATURES ............................................................................................................. 13
5.1 FIND....................................................................................................................................... 13
5.2 FIND NEXT.............................................................................................................................. 13
5.3 Go To ..................................................................................................................................... 14
5.3.1 Top of File ...................................................................................................................... 14
5.3.2 End of File ...................................................................................................................... 14
5.3.3 Line Number................................................................................................................... 14
6 TOOLS MENU FEATURES ............................................................................................................... 15
6.1 BEGIN AUTOGENERATION ...................................................................................................... 15
6.1.1 OK .................................................................................................................................. 16
6.1.2 Cancel ............................................................................................................................ 17
6.1.3 Help................................................................................................................................ 17
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 6.1.4 +More ............................................................................................................................ 17
6.1.5 Automatic Input Guide ................................................................................................... 17
6.2 APPEND W/ AUTOGENERATION ............................................................................................. 17
6.3 DEFINE FILE TYPE.................................................................................................................... 18
6.4 MANUAL GENERATION........................................................................................................... 18
7 HELP FEATURE .............................................................................................................................. 19

SACS® Datagen Release 10.2.0.1

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
The Data Generator is an intelligent file editor, developed to provide the SACS user with an intuitive and
efficient tool for creating, updating, editing and reviewing an ASCII SACS input data file.

The Data Generator has the ability to recognize individual line images in a SACS input file using the line
label at the beginning of the line. Depending on the cursor location on the line/line, the message line
will display the description, location, and data type for that data field.

The Data Generator can also be used to create a new SACS input file using automatic or manual
generation. The automatic generation feature uses pop-up line images, questions, menus, and help
boxes to guide the user through the creation of an input file. Manual generation allows the experienced
SACS user more flexibility and speed.

1.2 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

1.2.1 System Configuration
Before executing the Data Generator for the first time, the SACS system configuration file should be
generated using the SACS Executive. the Data Generator accesses the configuration file name
"configg.sac" defined by environmental variable "SACGCFG". Data from the configuration file is used in
all subsequent executions and may be edited by using the SACS Executive. If the configuration file is not
found or if the file does not exist, the Data Generator will exit with a "configuration file not found" error
message.

Note: The environmental variable "SACGCFG" must contain the full pathname of the configuration file
including the filename.

The SACS Data Generator also requires that the data file SACWDGN.DAT as well as the help file
DATAGENW.HLP be installed under the directory defined by SACSDATA in the configuration file.

1.2.2 File Naming Conventions

While no file naming convention is required for the Data Generator, the file name filter is used in the
Open dialog box depending on the naming convention set in SACS Executive. The default filter is
???inp.* for the naming convention pgmtyp.ver and *.inp for verpgm.typ.

Note: A backup data file named ‘dgninp.bak’ is periodically saved during program operation to prevent
data loss due to power or system failure. Therefore, this particular file name should be avoided. This file
is automatically deleted through a normal exit from the program.

SACS® Datagen Release 10.2.0.1

2 GETTING STARTED
2.1 BEGINNING A DATA GENERATOR SESSION
To start the Data Generator (Datagen) program, double click on the Data File icon found within SACS
Executive. After double clicking on the Data File icon, the user may Open the last file edited, create a
new structure, or edit an existing model. Within the Data Generator an existing structure may be
modified (File/Open) or a new structure may be generated (File/New).

If an input file name is not selected, the program is initiated with a blank file and no file format. To set
the file format or begin the Autogeneration, choose from the selections in the Tools Menu as described
in Section 6.

2.2 CREATING A NEW SACS INPUT FILE

A new SACS input file can be created using the automatic generation feature of the Tools Menu. The
Autogeneration feature prompts the user with a series of questions and line image selections.
An input file may also be generated manually by the user. If the appropriate file format is selected using
the Manual Generation feature under the Tools Menu, the data field for each line image is displayed and
allows the user to manually enter line images.

See Tools Menu Features (Section 6) for additional information.

2.3 EDITING AN INPUT FILE

The Edit Screen displays the current ASCII SACS Data File and allows the user to edit the file.

SACS® Datagen Release 10.2.0.1

2.3.1 Moving Around the Edit Screen
The scroll bar, or the cursor keys, can be used to move up and down the file. The cursor, may also be
positioned by pointing to a location and clicking.

Whenever the cursor is moved to a data field on a line, the field description, field columns, and required
data type are displayed on the message line.
The following key functions are available:

PAGE UP - Moves up one page

PAGE DOWN - Moves down one page

HOME - Moves to beginning of line or file

END - Moves to end of line or file

TAB - Moves to next data field on line

SHIFT+TAB - Moves to previous data field on line

F5 - Moves to specific text (See Search Menu)

F3 - Moves to next text (See Search Menu)

F4 - Moves to specific line (See Search Menu)

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2.3.2 Editing Data
Changes can be made by either selecting an option from the Edit Menu or by typing in the changes
directly.

Useful keys for editing a file include:

INSERT - Toggles between typeover mode and insert mode

DELETE - Deletes character under cursor

BACKSPACE - Moves backward and deletes

Highlighting a block of text allows the user to cut, copy, and/or paste several lines at once. ALT+Down
Arrow (CTRL+Down Arrow in Unix) highlights a line of text.

2.4 HELP
Help on the horizontal menu shows the help dialog with a list of topics to direct the user to specific
sections of this document.

2.5 EXITING THE DATA GENERATOR SESSION

Select the File/Exit menu option to exit the Data Generator session. If the current file has been updated,
the user is queried whether the file is to be saved.

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3 FILE MENU FEATURES
3.1 NEW
New is used to open a new edit window so that the user can create a new file.

3.2 OPEN
Open is used to import an existing ASCII file into the Data Generator

3.3 CLOSE
Closes the file which is currently selected.

3.4 SAVE
Save is used to save the current file and all changes under the present filename displayed at the bottom
of the screen. If the current file has not been named, the user will be presented with the ‘Save As’ dialog
box as described below.

3.5 SAVE AS
Save As presents a dialog box similar to the ‘Open’ screen, which allows the filename to be chosen or
typed. The current file and all changes will then be saved under this name.

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3.6 PRINT
Prints the file which is currently selected.

3.7 EXIT
The Exit option is used to exit the Data Generator session.

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4 EDIT MENU FEATURES
The Edit Menu features allow the user to modify, cut, copy or paste a line or group of lines in the input
file. It also allows the user to create and insert new line images. The Edit Menu can be accessed from the
top menu bar or by clicking the right mouse button on the line you wish to edit.

4.1 MODIFY
The Modify feature brings up the line image dialog for the current line so that changes may be made.

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4.1.1 OK
Save changes to line and close line image.

4.1.2 Cancel
Discard changes to line and close line image.
4.1.3 Help

Prompts the user to select an item on the line image (mouse pointer changes to 1). Once selected, a
Help dialog box will appear with more detailed information on that item.

4.2 CUT
Cut removes the current line(s) and stores it in temporary memory so that it may be pasted later.

4.3 PASTE
Paste inserts a line or group of lines from temporary memory above the current line.

4.4 COPY
Copy copies the current line, or multiple lines that have been blocked, into temporary memory.

4.5 INSERT LINE

Insert Line brings up a list of available lines for the current file type, a line image is chosen from this list,
then filled out, and the newly created line will be inserted above the current line.

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5 SEARCH MENU FEATURES
The Search Menu features provide the user with quick and efficient ways to move around in a file.

5.1 FIND
Find is used to begin a search for a text string. The <F5> function key may also be used. Enter the text
string you wish to find, then choose the direction of the search.

5.2 FIND NEXT

Find Next finds the next occurrence of the text entered in the direction chosen. The <F3> function key
may also be used.
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5.3 Go To
5.3.1 Top of File

Moves to the first line of the file

5.3.2 End of File
Moves to the last line of the file

5.3.3 Line Number

Moves the cursor directly to the line number specified. The <F4> function key may also be used.

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6 TOOLS MENU FEATURES
The Tools Menu features allow the user to generate new SACS Input data files or add to existing files.

6.1 BEGIN AUTOGENERATION

The Begin Autogeneration feature starts a sequence of questions and line images which leads the user,
step by step, through the creation of an ASCII SACS input file. Upon selecting the Begin Autogeneration
feature, the dialog below, which contains a button for each program type in which the file may be
generated, is displayed.

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The Program Selection dialog is followed by the Input Unit selection dialog. The program then proceeds
to present the user with prompts, and/or line images to complete.

The following button features are available during the Autogeneration sequence.
6.1.1 OK
Write the line to the file when completed.

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6.1.2 Cancel
Proceed without writing the line to the file.
6.1.3 Help
Prompts the user to select an item on the line image( the mouse pointer changes to 1). Once selected a
Help dialog box will appear with more detailed information on that item.
6.1.4 +More

Write the current completed line to the file and create another line of the same type (where applicable).
6.1.5 Automatic Input Guide
Controls for the line image sequence.

BACK - Moves to previous line or question

STOP - Ends sequence and returns to edit screen.

NEXT - (Question box only) Proceeds to next screen if question has

already been answered.

6.2 APPEND W/ AUTOGENERATION

The Append tool reads the last line of a file and continues the Autogeneration sequence from that point.

Note: The last line cannot be a comment or an End Line.

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6.3 DEFINE FILE TYPE
The Define File Type feature allows the user to set the file format type from the selection and set the
Input Units on the initial screen in order to create a new ASCII SACS input file without the use of the
Autogeneration sequence. The user can then manually enter line images by typing them directly to the
edit screen or by using the Insert Line selection under the Edit Menu.

6.4 MANUAL GENERATION

The Manual Generation feature allows the user to set the file format type from the selection on the
initial screen and set the Input Units on the following screen in order to create a new ASCII SACS input
file without the use of the Autogeneration sequence. The user can then manually enter line images by
typing them directly to the edit screen or by using the Insert Line selection under the Edit Menu.

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7 HELP FEATURE
The Help feature on the menu bar presents the user with the help dialog box, containing topics to direct
the user to a specific section of this document.

The user can select a topic from the help dialog by clicking on the bullet adjacent to the desired topic.
After a topic is selected, the help text file opens at the location requested.

The entire help file may then be browsed using the help window scroll bar or the arrow keys. Close this
window by clicking ‘Quit’ at the bottom of the help window or by pressing the Escape key.

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