How to selectively output variables in AmrLevelAdv::writePlotFile?

[Afraid31]

Hi all,

I am working with an AMReX tutorial using AmrLevelAdv and noticed that the default writePlotFile writes all state variables:

void AmrLevelAdv::writePlotFile(const std::string& dir,
                                std::ostream& os,
                                VisMF::How how)
{
    AmrLevel::writePlotFile(dir, os, how);
}

My simulation has many variables, but I only want to output rho, ux, uy, and uz (for 3D) while keeping the full state data internally.

I am aware of manually creating vectors of component indices and calling WriteSingleLevelPlotfile, but it seems verbose and repetitive.

Is there a recommended simpler or more elegant way to selectively output only a subset of variables in AmrLevel/AmrLevelAdv plotfiles without changing the underlying state descriptor setup?

Thanks in advance!

[zingale]

you should be able to set

amr.plot_vars

to just the variables you want. If it set to ALL, then all variables are stored. But you can give a space separated list, e.g.,

amr.plot_vars  = density Temp

see:

amrex/Src/Amr/AMReX_AmrLevel.cpp

Line 1911 in a377c17

if (nm == "ALL") {

you may also want to dump everything into the plotfile with low frequency and then use the small plotfiles to dump just a few variables with greater frequency. That way if there is something you realize later you want to look at, you at least have it in the plotfiles for some times.

[Afraid31]

Very helpful answer, thank you!