User Guide

Graphical User Interface

The GUI is the easiest way to use TexGen, although a lot of TexGen features are not accessible via the graphical user interface. It is a good starting point to explore the capabilities of TexGen, but for the serious user the Python interface is recommended (Scripting Guide).

Layout

The GUI layout is similar to that of ABAQUS CAE for those familiar with it.

The left side of the screen contains the controls to interact with TexGen. These controls are identical to the ones shown in the drop down menu at the top. Use which ever is most convenient.

The right of the screen contains the 3d rendering of the model(s). Several models can be opened at once, all operations apply to the current model in view.

Finally, the bottom of the screen contains an interactive Python Console along with two log windows. The interactive console allows the user to input Python commands directly. This can be useful for small operations and learning how to use the python scripting interface. For inputting a large number of Python commands it is more convenient to save it in a Python script and execute it all at once.

The Python Output log window displays all the Python code executed by the GUI. Essentially every button pressed in the user interface will create a Python command. This is done by design, making it possible to record Python scripts while interacting with the GUI. If you know how to do something with the GUI, you then automatically know how to do it with a Python script because the code is displayed.

The TexGen Output log window displays log and error messages from TexGen. These generally include information on what TexGen is doing, if something goes wrong it is useful to read the log to find out what happened. Error messages will be displayed in red so that they can be easily located.

If new messages are posted one of the log windows while it is inactive, the icon above the window will change. In the case of receiving an error message the icon will change to an error icon.