.. _method-vector_parameter_study-step_vector:

"""""""""""
step_vector
"""""""""""


Size of step for each variable


.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 1



**Specification**

- *Alias:* None

- *Arguments:* REALLIST


**Description**


The ``step_vector`` keyword specifies how much each variable will be
incremented in a single step.

``step_vector`` works in conjunction with ``num_steps``, which determines
the number of steps taken during the ``vector_parameter_study``. If instead
of ``step_vector``, ``final_point`` is specified with ``num_steps``, Dakota will
infer the step sizes.

Entries in the ``step_vector`` are the actual amounts by which continuous and range
variables are incremented. For set variables, ``step_vector`` entries
are interpreted as indexes into the underlying set.

*Default Behavior*

The user is required to specify either ``final_point`` or ``step_vector``.
There is no default definition for the vector.



**Examples**



.. code-block::

    variables
      continuous_design 1
        initial_point 1.0
        descriptors 'x1'
      discrete_design_set
        string 1
         elements 'bar' 'baz' 'foo' 'fuzz'
         initial_point 'bar'
         descriptors 's1'
    
    method
      vector_parameter_study
        num_steps = 3
        # Add 2.0 to x1 and increment s1 by 1 element in each step
        step_vector =    2.0      1