DIFFERENCES and ADDITIONS BETWEEN V3.2 and PREVIOUS VERSIONS

Version 3.2 is not a major revision. It adds some optimizations for MPI execution, fixes some minor bugs which have been reported to us, and adds some additional features.

With this version of PARAMESH we have not continued to update the 'shmem' version of the code. We still distribute it and will answer questions regarding its use, but please be aware that none of the features described below will work with this version. Also, we no longer test the 'shmem' version. Therefore, WE STRONGLY URGE PEOPLE TO UPGRADE TO THE MPI VERSION OF PARAMESH AND USE IT HENCEFORTH !!!.

• Users now have the option of compiling PARAMESH as a library and linking to it when they compile their application. In this mode all the parameters which were previously set in the 'paramesh_preprocessor.fh' file can now be set at runtime by providing a file called 'amr_runtime_parameters' without recompiling PARAMESH. Note that this version is backwards compatible and if you prefer, you can still use PARAMESH in its old mode and set everything as you previously did in 'paramesh_preprocessor.fh'. For more information see HOW TO INSTALL & COMPILE PARAMESH AS A LIBRARY.
• In previous versions, by setting the arrays interp_mask_unk, interp_mask_work, inter_mask_fc, interp_mask_nc, or interp_mask_ec, a user could control the order of the interpolating polynomial which is used during the prolongation operation. Now, these arrays also control the restriction operation. As a result, guardcell filling will use a polynomial of the order selected in the interp_mask_* arrays since internally it uses both the prolongation and restriction operations. For more information see The Users' Guide section on interpolation.
• Users now have the option of selecting a directory or filesystem to which all paramesh output (including checkpoint files) will be redirected. This is set in paramesh_preprocessor.fh using the preprocessor variable OUTPUT_DIR. Alternatively, if the library feature described above is used, the directory is specified in the runtime parameter file 'amr_runtime_parameters'.

Return to Main Page.