[Paraview] Time series with Xdmf

Dominik Szczerba dominik at itis.ethz.ch
Wed Nov 18 18:16:17 EST 2009


I experience similar problems, it takes too long to load.
What I do is to generate an xmf file with only Nth timestep to be able 
to work reasonably fast.
One thing is that XML is ASCII - but lots of redundant information in 
the xmf file makes it even worse. For (my) example: I have hundreds of 
timesteps from flow simulations but on a rigid mesh. Each time a new 
timestep is requested the whole mesh is re-loaded in vein. With large 
meshes tets it starts being unfeasible.

Dominik

Paisa Seeluangsawat wrote:
> Hi Jerry,
> 
> Thanks for the response.  Earlier I used Paraview 3.6.1.  Today, I
> tried the CVS version.  The "apply" button now works instantly.
> Loading the Xdmf file still takes 40 seconds (compare to 50 secs in
> 3.6.1).
> 
> The time it takes to load an Xdmf file seems to grow quadraticly
> with number of timesteps.
> 
>     # of timesteps :   500    1000    2000
> 
>     Loadtime (sec) :    10      40     160
> 
> Back to the issue of having to repeat the same data descriptions
> 1000 times.  Is it a fundamental limitation of XDMF file format?
> Is there a better way to get Paraview to read a time series of HDF5
> files?
> 
> Paisa
> 
> 
> 
> Jerry Clarke <clarke at arl.army.mil> wrote:
> 
>> Paisa,
>>
>> Are you using the CVS version ? The vtkXdmfReader has been
>> significantly improved and the XML parsing is much faster.
>>
>> The only other thing I can think of is to write out each timestep to a
>> separate XML file and use XIncude to build the collection; that way
>> you could load a single timestep individually if needed.
>>
>> Jerry Clarke
>>
>> Paisa Seeluangsawat wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I have about 10 scalar fields and 10 vector fields on 17*17*17
>>> datapoints at 1000 time steps.  Each time step occupies one h5
>>> file.  I wrote an Xdmf file, which works fine in Paraview.
>>>
>>> My problem is, my Xdmf file is about 4 MB.  It takes 50
>>> seconds to load.  The "apply" properties button, takes another
>>> 15 seconds.  This happens on a moderately new consumer
>>> computer (AMD Phenom 9600 quad core, 4 GB memory).  Am I doing
>>> it wrong?  How can I speed this up?
>>>
>>> My Xdmf file (truncated) follows below.  Time step 0 is
>>> special.  Time steps 1..1000 have the same data format.  I
>>> repeat the same data description 1000 times.  It seems
>>> redundant, but I don't know how else to do it. Thank you,
>>>
>>> Paisa
>>>
>>> <?xml version="1.0" ?>
>>> <!DOCTYPE Xdmf SYSTEM "Xdmf.dtd" []>
>>> <Xdmf xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2003/XInclude" Version="2.2">
>>>   <Information Name="SampleLocation" Value="4"/>
>>>   <Domain>
>>>     <Grid Name="My Collection" GridType="Collection" CollectionType="Temporal">
>>>       <Grid Name="My Uniform Grid" GridType="Uniform">
>>> 	<Topology Name="Main Topology" TopologyType="3DCORECTMesh" Dimensions="17 17 17"/>
>>> 	<Geometry Name="Main Geometry" GeometryType="ORIGIN_DXDYDZ">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="3" NumberType="Float" Precision="4" Format="XML">
>>> 	    0 0 0 	  </DataItem>
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="3" NumberType="Float" Precision="4" Format="XML">
>>> 	    1 1 1
>>> 	  </DataItem>
>>> 	</Geometry>
>>> 	<Time Value="0000" />
>>> 	<Attribute Name="40 s" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0000.h5:/40 s</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 p" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0000.h5:/50 p</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 v" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0000.h5:/50 v</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="60 phi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0000.h5:/60 phi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="70 c" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0000.h5:/70 c</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>>       </Grid>
>>>       <Grid Name="Structured Grid" GridType="Uniform">
>>> 	<Topology Reference="//Topology[@Name='Main Topology']" />
>>> 	<Geometry Reference="//Geometry[@Name='Main Geometry']" />
>>> 	<Time Value="0001" />
>>> 	<Attribute Name="08 eta" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/08 eta</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 Ra/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/09 Ra</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 Rb/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/09 Rb</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 Rc/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/09 Rc</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 R/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/09 R</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="10 F" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/10 F</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="10 -G" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/10 -G</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="20 u" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/20 u</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="20 -grad_psi" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/20 -grad_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 div_u" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/30 div_u</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 -div_grad_psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/30 -div_grad_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 -lap_psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/30 -lap_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 div_u + lap_psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/30 div_u + lap_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="40 psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/40 psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="40 s" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/40 s</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 p" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/50 p</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 v" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/50 v</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 div_v" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/50 div_v</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="55 phi_" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/55 phi_</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="60 phi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/60 phi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="70 c" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0001.h5:/70 c</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>>       </Grid>
>>>       <Grid Name="Structured Grid" GridType="Uniform">
>>> 	<Topology Reference="//Topology[@Name='Main Topology']" />
>>> 	<Geometry Reference="//Geometry[@Name='Main Geometry']" />
>>> 	<Time Value="0002" />
>>> 	<Attribute Name="08 eta" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/08 eta</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 Ra/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/09 Ra</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 Rb/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/09 Rb</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 Rc/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/09 Rc</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="09 R/eta_a" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/09 R</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="10 F" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/10 F</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="10 -G" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/10 -G</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="20 u" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/20 u</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="20 -grad_psi" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/20 -grad_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 div_u" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/30 div_u</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 -div_grad_psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/30 -div_grad_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 -lap_psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/30 -lap_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="30 div_u + lap_psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/30 div_u + lap_psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="40 psi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/40 psi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="40 s" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/40 s</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 p" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/50 p</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 v" AttributeType="Vector" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17 3" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/50 v</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="50 div_v" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/50 div_v</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="55 phi_" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/55 phi_</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="60 phi" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/60 phi</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>> 	<Attribute Name="70 c" AttributeType="Scalar" Center="Node">
>>> 	  <DataItem Dimensions="17 17 17" NumberType="Float" Precision="8" Format="HDF">0002.h5:/70 c</DataItem>
>>> 	</Attribute>
>>>       </Grid>
>>> .... This repeats until time step 1000 ....
>>>     </Grid>
>>>   </Domain>
>>> </Xdmf>
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