Question about files in examples

[ManuelZ]

Hi, I just discovered your software, it's amazing.

I would like to know what's the purpose of the files under mbsim/examples/xml and under the rest of mbsim/examples.

I have been able to open some of the XML ones (e.g. .mbsx) and I think that they define geometry and parameters for a simulation, but I don't understand what are all the others for (e.g. examples\mechanics\basics\slider_crank\*).

Thanks, Manuel

[foerg]

Thank you for your positive feedback.

MBSim provides different user interfaces for modelling and simulation:

• the C++ interface is the most basic interface. The models (e.g. under examples/mechanics) are build by C++ code. To define the mass of a body (e.g. 10 kg), the code would be body->setMass(10); Before simulation the code defining the model must be compiled.
• the xmlflat interface allows for modelling with the markup language xml. No compilation is required to run the model. Flat means that the model can not have any parameters, just numerical values are allowed. The XML-code would look like <mass>10</mass>
• the xml interface is the most high level interface. It provides an preprocessor (octave or python) that allows you to parametrize your model, e.g. <mass>m</mass> where "m" is a parameter.
• the GUI is the most convenient interface. With it you can build up your model graphically and save it to an xml file. The mass of the body can then be defined by a property dialog. The GUI should be able to load and run all examples under "examples/xml" and "examples/xmlflat".

I hope this helps a little bit, Martin

[ManuelZ]

Thank you Martin, this clarifies a lot.