# Lists and Embedded Lists

Lists can be defined directly in the List table and then referred to in other tables where a list is required. In the List table the user must define the list type and give the list a name. The name can then be used to identify the list.

Embedded lists are lists included as part of another data record (e.g. the constraint and load records). In this case the type of list can be inferred from the context and the name of the list is not required, so only the list definition is required.

A list can be defined for the following entities:

  • Node
  • Element
  • Member
  • Case
  • Polyline
  • undefined

# List Definition

The definition of a list uses a set of rules so that a list can be defined in a clear and unambiguous manner. The vocabulary used is case insensitive and consists of:

  • n – item number by default node/element/member/case depending on the list type
  • to – to specify a range
  • not – to specify exclusions
  • step – to specify the granularity of a range
  • all – to specify all
  • none – to specify none
  • and – to specify items that match both of two conditions
  • or – to specify items that match one of two conditions (implied if omitted)
  • () – to clarify the order in which expressions are evaluated
  • **#**n – to include list number “n” in a list

Alternatively a list can refer to another list by name. In this case the list name is enclosed in quotes:

  • "name" – to include the list named “name” in a list

An element list can refer to a grid surface by name (enclosed by quotes). This specifies all elements included in the grid surface.

The following letters are used as prefixes in:

Node lists

  • N – node (optional)
  • PS – spring property
  • PM – mass property
  • PD – damper property

Element lists

  • E – element (optional)
  • P – property
  • identifies elements that reference the specified property, ignoring stage properties (typical)
  • PB – beam property
  • PS – spring property
  • PA – 2D property (area)
  • PV – 3D property (volume)
  • PL – link property
  • PR – rigid property
  • PG – spacer property (geodesic)
  • PC – cable property (chain)
  • PD – damper property
  • DCS – RC slab design property
  • G – group
  • M – analysis material
  • MS – steel grade
  • MC – concrete grade
  • MP – FRP grade
  • DMR – reinforcement grade

Member lists

  • E – member (optional)
  • P – property
  • PB – beam property
  • G – group
  • M – analysis material
  • MS – steel grade
  • MC – concrete grade
  • MP – FRP grade
  • DMR – reinforcement grade
  • L – member pool

Case lists

  • L – load case
  • M – mode
  • A – analysis case
  • C – combination case
  • Cnpp – permutation p of combination case n
  • ranges of permutations can be specified, such as C4p1 to p5 or C4p1 to p* to specify all permutations in a combination.
  • T – analysis task
  • n (with no prefix) is only valid when there is an unambiguous relationship between load or mode case and analysis case.

Geometry based lists

  • X – nodes, elements or members on global X line passing through the node following
  • Y – ditto for Y
  • Z – ditto for Z
  • XY – nodes, elements or members on global XY plane passing through the node following
  • YZ – ditto for YZ
  • ZX – ditto for ZX

Notes: The items in a list should be separated by one or more space characters, except where there is a parenthesis to separate items. Lists should not be self-referential. Self reference either directly or indirectly would result in an error in interpreting the list. A set or list that is undefined or of the wrong type is interpreted as an empty set of list.

Examples

Examples of lists are:

1 to 100 not (51 to 54) PB1 PA5

or

E1 to E100 not (51 to 54) or PB1 or PA5

A list of nodes on the XY plane passing through node 50 but excluding 43 to 49 would be

XY50 not (43 to 49)

The following associations apply:

  • a and b
  • not a
  • a or b

# Notes

a and or b – not valid

not not a – valid (but not particularly useful)

not a and not b – equivalent to (not a) and (not b)

not (a or b) – equivalent to not a and not b

a b – equivalent to “a or b

The expression “a and b or c or not d” is evaluated as follows:

(a and b) or c or not d

((a and b) or c) or not d

((a and b) or c) or (not d)

(((a and b) or c) or (not d))