input_filter

Run a pre-processing script before the analysis drivers

Specification

• Alias: None

• Arguments: STRING

• Default: no input filter

Description

The optional input_filter and output_filter specifications provide the names of separate pre- and post-processing programs or scripts which assist in mapping Dakota parameters files into analysis input files and mapping analysis output files into Dakota results files, respectively.

If there is only a single analysis driver, then it is usually most convenient to combine pre- and post-processing requirements into a single analysis driver script and omit the separate input and output filters. However, in the case of multiple analysis drivers, the input and output filters provide a convenient location for non-repeated pre- and post-processing requirements. That is, input and output filters are only executed once per function evaluation, regardless of the number of analysis drivers, which makes them convenient locations for data processing operations that are shared among the analysis drivers.

The verbatim keyword applies to input and output filters as well as analysis drivers, and Dakota also will substitute the names of the parameters and results files for the tokens {PARAMETERS} and {RESULTS} in input and output filer strings, as explained in the documentation for analysis_drivers.