### 3.2.19. CFX Multi-Configuration Output File

Multi-configuration simulations involve the sequential and sometimes repeated execution of defined configurations. The CFX-Solver generates a multi-configuration output file to summarize the global problem definition and execution of configurations.

The CFX-Solver will generate a multi-configuration output file with a name based on the CFX-Solver Input file. For example, running the CFX-Solver using the input file named `file.mdef` in a clean working directory will generate the output file named `file_001.out`.

#### 3.2.19.1. Header

The header is written at the start of every multi-configuration output file and contains information regarding the command that started the simulation. This information is useful to check which files were used to start the run.

#### 3.2.19.2. CFX Command Language for the Run

The CFX Command Language section describes the global (that is, simulation level) problem, which includes library definitions (such as materials, expressions, and so on) and simulation control specifications (such as configuration definitions).

The section for the command file looks similar to the following:

     +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
     |                                                                    |
     |                    CFX Command Language for Run                    |
     |                                                                    |
     +--------------------------------------------------------------------+

     LIBRARY:
       MATERIAL: Air at 25 C
         Material Description = Air at 25 C and 1 atm (dry)
         Material Group = Air Data, Constant Property Gases
         Option = Pure Substance
         Thermodynamic State = Gas
         PROPERTIES:
           Option = General Material
           EQUATION OF STATE:
             Density = 1.185 [kg m^-3]
             Molar Mass = 28.96 [kg kmol^-1]
             Option = Value
           END
           SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY:
             Option = Value
             Specific Heat Capacity = 1.0044E+03 [J kg^-1 K^-1]
             Specific Heat Type = Constant Pressure
           END
           REFERENCE STATE:
             Option = Specified Point
             Reference Pressure = 1 [atm]
             Reference Specific Enthalpy = 0. [J/kg]
             Reference Specific Entropy = 0. [J/kg/K]
             Reference Temperature = 25 [C]
           END
           DYNAMIC VISCOSITY:
             Dynamic Viscosity = 1.831E-05 [kg m^-1 s^-1]
             Option = Value
           END
           THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY:
             Option = Value
             Thermal Conductivity = 2.61E-02 [W m^-1 K^-1]
           END
           ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT:
             Absorption Coefficient = 0.01 [m^-1]
             Option = Value
           END
           SCATTERING COEFFICIENT:
             Option = Value
             Scattering Coefficient = 0.0 [m^-1]
           END
           REFRACTIVE INDEX:
             Option = Value
             Refractive Index = 1.0 [m m^-1]
           END
           THERMAL EXPANSIVITY:
             Option = Value
             Thermal Expansivity = 0.003356 [K^-1]
           END
         END
       END
     END
     SIMULATION CONTROL:
       CONFIGURATION CONTROL:
         CONFIGURATION: Both Boxes Transient
           Flow Name = Copy of Both Domains
           ACTIVATION CONTROL:
             CONTROL CONDITION: After Top Box Steady State
               Configuration Name List = Top Box Steady Only
               Option = End of Configuration
             END
           END
           CONFIGURATION EXECUTION CONTROL:
             INITIAL VALUES SPECIFICATION:
               INITIAL VALUES CONTROL:
                 Use Mesh From = Solver Input File
               END
               INITIAL VALUES: Initial Values 1
                 Configuration Name = Top Box Steady Only
                 Option = Configuration Results
               END
             END
             PARTITIONER STEP CONTROL:
               Multidomain Option = Independent Partitioning
               Runtime Priority = Standard
               EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
                 Double Precision = No
               END
               PARTITIONING TYPE:
                 MeTiS Type = k-way
                 Option = MeTiS
                 Partition Size Rule = Automatic
               END
             END
             SOLVER STEP CONTROL:
               Runtime Priority = Standard
               EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
                 Double Precision = On
               END
               PARALLEL ENVIRONMENT:
                 Start Method = IBM MPI Local Parallel
               END
             END
           END
         END
         CONFIGURATION: Top Box Steady Only
           Flow Name = Top Domain Steady State
           ACTIVATION CONTROL:
             CONTROL CONDITION: Cyclical Activation
               Configuration Name List = Both Boxes Transient
               Option = End of Configuration
             END
             CONTROL CONDITION: Start of Sim
               Option = Start of Simulation
             END
           END
           CONFIGURATION EXECUTION CONTROL:
             INITIAL VALUES SPECIFICATION:
               INITIAL VALUES CONTROL:
                 Continue History From = Initial Values 1
                 Use Mesh From = Solver Input File
               END
               INITIAL VALUES: Initial Values 1
                 Configuration Name = Both Boxes Transient
                 Option = Configuration Results
               END
             END
             PARTITIONER STEP CONTROL:
               Multidomain Option = Independent Partitioning
               Runtime Priority = Standard
               EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
                 Double Precision = No
               END
               PARTITIONING TYPE:
                 MeTiS Type = k-way
                 Option = MeTiS
                 Partition Size Rule = Automatic
               END
             END
             SOLVER STEP CONTROL:
               Runtime Priority = Standard
               EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
                 Double Precision = On
               END
               MEMORY CONTROL:
                 Memory Allocation Factor = 2
               END
               PARALLEL ENVIRONMENT:
                 Start Method = IBM MPI Local Parallel
               END
             END
           END
         END
       END
       TERMINATION CONTROL:
         CONTROL CONDITION: Control Condition 1
           Configuration Name = Top Box Steady Only
           Maximum Number of Configuration Steps = 2
           Option = Maximum Number of Configuration Steps
         END
       END
       EXECUTION CONTROL:
         RUN DEFINITION:
           Solver Input File = mcfg1.mdef
         END
       END
     END

#### 3.2.19.3. Simulation Execution Summary

The body of the multi-configuration output file summarizes the configuration execution sequence. The output is divided into simulation and configuration steps.

At each simulation step, the simulation step counter is incremented and the activation conditions for all configurations are evaluated. All active configurations are executed, but in no particular order. Once all active configurations have finished their execution for the current simulation step, a new step begins. Subsequent simulation steps are executed until any of the following occurs:

- There are no active configurations in a simulation step

- Any simulation termination control conditions are satisfied

- You stop the simulation while in progress by using Stop Current Run in the multi-configuration simulation workspace, or by executing the `cfx5stop` command for the simulation run directory.

Additional details regarding configuration activation conditions and simulation termination controls are provided in Configurations in the CFX-Pre User's Guide and Termination Control in the CFX-Pre User's Guide, respectively.

A new configuration setup occurs, and the configuration step counter is incremented, each time a given configuration is executed. Configuration step output includes the following information:

- The configuration step counter value

- The name of the configuration

- A listing of all configuration activation conditions that were satisfied

- The status at the end of the run (for example, whether it succeeded or failed, or whether you stopped the run while it was in progress)

- Notes regarding any CFX Command Language (CCL) changes made using Edit Run In Progress during the run.

A sample simulation execution summary is provided below. This summary presents the execution of three simulation steps.

1. Only the Top Box Steady Only configuration was active and ran. This configuration was activated by the Start of Sim condition defined in Simulation Control > Configuration > General Settings > Activation Condition(s) and ran successfully.

2. Only the Both Boxes Transient configuration was active and ran. This configuration was activated by the After Top Box Steady State condition, and ran successfully. During this run, changes to both `LIBRARY` and `FLOW CCL` were made using Edit Run in Progress, and the included notes indicate how these changes will be propagated to subsequent configuration runs.

3. On the Top Box Steady Only configuration was active and ran. Notice that the configuration step counter for this run indicates that this is the second time this configuration has been run, and that the configuration was activated by the Cyclical Activation condition. This run also completed successfully.

     +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
     |                                                                    |
     |                        Simulation Execution                        |
     |                                                                    |
     +--------------------------------------------------------------------+

     ======================================================================
     SIMULATION STEP =        1
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     |  Config.  | Configuration Name                                     |
     |   Step    | * Execution Details                                    |
     +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+
     |        1  | Top Box Steady Only                                    |
     |           | * Act. by : Start of Sim                               |
     |           | * Status  : Succeeded                                  |
     +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+

     ======================================================================
     SIMULATION STEP =        2
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     |  Config.  | Configuration Name                                     |
     |   Step    | * Execution Details                                    |
     +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+
     |        1  | Both Boxes Transient                                   |
     |           | * Act. by : After Top Box Steady State                 |
     |           | * Status  : Succeeded                                  |
     |           | * NOTE    : The LIBRARY definition changed during this |
     |           |             run.  These changes will be applied to all |
     |           |             remaining configuration runs.              |
     |           | * NOTE    : The FLOW definition changed during this    |
     |           |             run.  These changes will be applied to all |
     |           |             remaining runs of this configuration.      |
     +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+

     ======================================================================
     SIMULATION STEP =        3
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     |  Config.  | Configuration Name                                     |
     |   Step    | * Execution Details                                    |
     +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+
     |        2  | Top Box Steady Only                                    |
     |           | * Act. by : Cyclical Activation                        |
     |           | * Status  : Succeeded                                  |
     +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+

#### 3.2.19.4. Simulation Termination Condition Summary

This section of the multi-configuration output file identifies the reason(s) for terminating the simulation. In the example provided below, the user defined condition named Control Condition 1 was satisfied. For information regarding how this condition was defined, refer to the discussion in Termination Control in the CFX-Pre User's Guide.

     ======================================================================
     TERMINATION CONDITION SUMMARY
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

       * User: Control Condition 1

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