Basic Operation

An EnSight archive consists of three files:

  1. The Archive Information File. This file provides pointers to the client and server archive files as well as additional information required to load the archive. An example is given in the Advanced Usage section below.

  2. The Client Archive file. This is the client's binary dump file.

  3. The Server Archive file. This is the server's binary dump file.

Note:  There will be an SOS archive file and then a server archive file per server for Server-of Servers.

Although each file has a default location, you can override the default during the archiving process.

 

Saving an Archive

  1. Close all open EnSight windows except the main window.

  2. Select File → Save → Full Backup... to open the Save Full Backup Archive dialog.

  3. If desired, enter a new name for the Archive Information file. You can set the directory for the Archive Information File by clicking the Archive Information File... button to open a standard File Selection dialog.

  4. If desired, select a directory for the client’s binary dump file by either entering the directory in the Client Directory field or clicking the Client Directory... button to open a standard File Selection dialog.

  5. If desired, select a directory for the server’s binary dump file by either entering the directory in the Server Directory field or clicking the Server Directory... button to open a standard File Selection dialog.

  6. Click OK.

You also have the option of saving an archive as you exit EnSight.

  1. Select File > Quit... to open the Quit Confirmation dialog.

  2. Click the Save full backup archive to: toggle, and either enter a new name for the Archive information file or browse to the desired location/ file by clicking the Browse: button.

  3. If you browsed to the file, click Save once you have selected or entered the desired filename. This will place the filename in the Quit confirmation dialog.

  4. Click Quit to save the archive and exit.

 

Restoring an Archive

You can restore an archive either as part of EnSight startup or during an active session. To load an archive on startup:

Use the -ar archive_info_file option when you start EnSight. For example,

	% ensight -ar load.ar

where load.ar is an Archive Information file saved in a previous session.

To restore an archive during an active session:

  1. Select File → Restore → Full Backup... to open the File Selection dialog.

  2. Select the desired Archive Information file and click OK.

  3. If the original connection (when the archive was saved) was manual, you will need to manually restart the server.