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User Interface
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a Graphical User Interface generally known as the client workspace. This interface appears when you launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+ interactively.
Working with Simulation Objects
Objects are the key components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. They represent various aspects of a simulation and have properties that you can set as required for your particular problem.
The Object Selection Dialog
Certain options in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allow selection of objects from an object selection dialog.
Filtering Displayed Objects
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides multiple ways of filtering the displayed objects in order to make selection easier.
Filtering Using Regular Expressions
These brief instructions presume prior familiarity with the syntax of regular expressions. For more details about using this technique with the object selection dialog, see the section Regular Expressions.

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User Interface
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a Graphical User Interface generally known as the client workspace. This interface appears when you launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+ interactively.
- Using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Workspace
  This chapter shows you how to use the various components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, with a focus on the user interface.
- What Are the Important Concepts?
  This section presents the key concepts you come across when using Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Working with Simulation Objects
  Objects are the key components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. They represent various aspects of a simulation and have properties that you can set as required for your particular problem.
  - Searching the Simulation Tree
    With a common search command, you can search the entire simulation object tree quickly.
  - Working with the Object Tree
    The objects in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ are presented as nodes on a tree view, and their properties are presented in a spreadsheet-like view tightly linked to the selected node in the tree.
  - The Object Selection Dialog
    Certain options in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allow selection of objects from an object selection dialog.
    - Activating the Object Selection Dialog
      For the specific method to open the object selection dialog, see the instructions of the particular Simcenter STAR-CCM+ feature that you are using.
    - Accessing Objects in the Dialog
      Use the Tree view or the List view. In either view, you can use the <Ctrl><Click> technique to highlight objects without selecting them. Additionally, you can read any comments that are added to objects.
    - Selecting Objects
      You can select objects in an object selector dialog using a variety of techniques, depending on the hierarchy of the object that you want to select.
    - Filtering Displayed Objects
      Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides multiple ways of filtering the displayed objects in order to make selection easier.
      - Filtering Views
        To view only the objects that are selected or unselected, use the buttons in the upper right part of the dialog.
      - Filtering by Path Using Plain Text
        To filter the objects of interest based on their node paths, enter text that is a part of the paths of the objects. Plain text filtering is not case-sensitive, but regular expressions are case-sensitive by default.
      - Filtering Using Regular Expressions
        These brief instructions presume prior familiarity with the syntax of regular expressions. For more details about using this technique with the object selection dialog, see the section Regular Expressions.
      - Filtering Using Filter Objects
        If you created filters in your simulation, the object selection dialog detects them and shows an additional button in the top left corner.
    - Regular Expressions
      In Regular Expressions mode, any text that is entered in the text box is interpreted as a regular expression.
    - Single-Selection Mode
      The object selection dialog appears in a special single-selection mode for Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features that are not designed to have multiple objects selected at one time.
    - Alternate Formats
      Other formats of the object selection dialog, commonly used in earlier versions of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, appear as follows:
  - Comparing Objects and Simulation Trees
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a comparison tool that allows you to identify differences visually between individual objects or between simulations (in the same Simcenter STAR-CCM+ session). You can observe differences in object properties such as model settings, boundary conditions, and meshing parameters.
  - Using Custom Simulation Trees
    If you have a large simulation with many objects in the tree, add custom trees for quick access to the objects that you use most. You can also set a custom tree to be the initial tree view that appears when you reopen the simulation file.
  - Simulation Object Reports
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can generate HTML or XML reports that list some or all of the objects present in a simulation.
  - Tagging Simulation Objects
    Tags are like graphical labels that you apply to objects in the simulation tree. You can then reference objects by tag when using filters.
  - Adding Comments to Simulation Objects
    With comments, you can add your own notes about an object right alongside that object.
  - Object Filters
    In the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulation tree, a filter is an object that uses queries to define groups of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ objects.
  - Using Query-Based Selection
    For properties that require a selection of objects, you can apply dynamic queries that use filter criteria to define which objects are included in the selection. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically evaluates the selection when objects are added, removed, or modified.
- Automation
  The Automation node provides easy access to a number of frequently used automated processes.
- Expressions
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can define property values using expressions, which you write using a function language that is a subset of the C programming language. Expressions can define mathematical expressions or perform other operations, such as interpolating tabular data from XY tables in the simulation.
- Global Parameters
  Global parameters include scalar and vector physical quantities (for example, 120.0 K or [0.0, 1.0, 0.0] m) that can be defined once and used in multiple objects. Another type of global parameter is a file, currently used for the Replace Parts operation in Geometry > Operations and in Design Manager.
- Field Functions
  Field functions allow you to access fields (scalar or vector data that are evaluated at cells, vertices, or boundary faces) in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. You can use field functions to visualize the computed fields, to specify boundary and region values, or to define initial conditions.
- Engineering Units
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ has flexible and customizable support for engineering units. The standard SI and USCS systems are built in, and you can add new units as desired. Physical quantities can be specified and displayed in any of these units. Individual quantities can be specified with new units on the fly by simply typing something like “80 mph”.
- Simulation Operations
  Simulation operations allow you to automate the solution processes in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ without using Java macros. Condition and loop operations provide the basic logic control common to many programming languages.
- Staged Physics
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, staged physics allows you to store multiple configurations of physics settings and apply them in sequence during a simulation. Simulation operations provide the framework in which physics stages are applied.
- Working with Volume Shapes
  A volume shape is a closed geometric figure that can be shaped as a block, cone, cylinder, or sphere.
- Simulation Guide
  The simulation guide is a single embedded document that you can edit within a simulation file. This document can contain formatted text, tables, images, and hyperlinks to nodes in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ object tree or external web resources.
- Template Simulation Files
  Template simulation files allow you to define pre-configured setups for use in new simulations. When used in conjunction with query-based selection, template files present a powerful technique for automating repeat analyses on similar geometries.
- Scripting the Application
  Scripting allows you to work more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks.
- Working with User Code
  User code allows Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to be customized with functions written in a compiled language such as C, C++ or Fortran.
- Working with the Plugins Manager
  The Plugins Manager makes it possible to install and manage NetBeans modules for Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Simulation Assistants
  A Simulation Assistant provides a visual workflow within the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ user interface (UI).
- Wizard Guide
  This part of the documentation illustrates how Simcenter STAR-CCM+ is used for special application tools and projects.

Filtering Using Regular Expressions

These brief instructions presume prior familiarity with the syntax of regular expressions. For more details about using this technique with the object selection dialog, see the section Regular Expressions.

To enter regular expressions, click the Use Regular Expressions button to the right of the Filter by Path text box.
To find objects with paths that include the same text strings, use the .* metacharacter. The example below shows items that have the word Clearance, followed by the .* portion (which means any number of characters, possibly no characters), followed by a 1.
To find objects using an OR relationship, use the | metacharacter. The example below contains the results for interface boundaries.
To switch back to searching using plain text, click the Use Regular Expressions button.