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Multi-threading and Special Instructions

Multi-threaded Processing

Multi-threaded execution of batch jobs may be activated from the optional settings. This enables multi-threaded processing of your batch jobs. Enabling multi-threaded processing is useful for machines equipped with multi-cores processors. The batch jobs included in the list will be processed concurrently using several processor cores. For instance, if you use a dual-core processor, you could run the list of batch jobs with 2 concurrent process.

The number of simultaneous batch jobs may be defined from the associated data field. The number of simultaneous jobs is limited to 4 which typically corresponds to a quad-cores machine.

Note

Activating multi-threaded processing of batch jobs has no effect on the number of license claims. Running 4 process concurrently will still take up a single network license.

Batch jobs are running sequentially. Since processing of batch jobs may depend on the completion of other batch jobs, it is recommended to arrange the batch jobs in order of desired processing. Batch jobs to be completed first must be placed at the beginning of the list of batch jobs. For instance, the analyses associated with LOG file (Run Analysis command) must be completed before you can post-process and export the results into Excel spreadsheets.

Break instruction

Batch jobs may be separated with a Break instruction to make sure that there will be no conflict between the files while the batch jobs are being run.

For instance it is recommended to insert a Break between a group of batch jobs associated to the Run Solver command and the next group of batch jobs associated to the Post-process command. Post-processing of the analyses will then start only once the analyses included in the first group of batch jobs are actually completed.

Multi-threaded processing of batch jobs is temporarily inactivated when the process encounters the Break instruction. Concurrent processing of the batch jobs placed in the next group of batch jobs starts again automatically when all batch jobs located above the Break instruction are completed.

Break instructions can be added into the list of batch jobs by right-clicking on the batch jobs list and further selecting the Insert Break point item from the pop-up menu. Break points can then be deleted or moved up and down inside the list of batch jobs as any other batch job.

Setting the number of threads

The default number of concurrent batch jobs to be considered for multi- threaded processing is specified within the optional settings. This number of threads cannot be changed from the optional settings anymore when batch jobs are running.

The number of concurrent batch jobs to be considered may however be changed through special instructions to be included in the list of batch jobs.

Adding such special instructions may be done as follows:

• Right-click any cell over the main batch jobs table.

• Select the item named "Change process number" in pop-up menu

• Select the type of instruction among the following:

  • Set Process #1: This adds the "Set Process #1" instruction in the list of batch jobs, which sets the number of threads to 1. Batch jobs located below this instruction will be processed using a single thread.

  • Set Process #2: This adds the "Set Process #2" instruction in the list of batch jobs, which sets the number of threads to 2. Batch jobs located below this instruction will be processed using 2 threads.

  • Set Process #3: This adds the "Set Process #3" instruction in the list of batch jobs, which sets the number of threads to 3. Batch jobs located below this instruction will be processed using 3 threads.

  • Set Process #4: This adds the "Set Process #4" instruction in the list of batch jobs, which sets the number of threads to 4. Batch jobs located below this instruction will be processed using 4 threads.