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The new functions added in version 4.0 are listed here by category.

New Math Functions

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
Ceil(number)	number	Rounds number (real) up to the nearest whole number.

Example:

Ceil (45.1)- Returns 46.0

Ceil (45.9)- Returns 46.0

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
Floor(number)	number	Rounds number (real) down to the nearest whole number.

Example:

Floor (45.1)- Returns 45.0

Floor (45.9)- Returns 45.0

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
Rand()	no arguments	Returns a random real number between 0 and 1.

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New Contour Functions

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
EffectiveValue (parameter_name)	parameter_name	The name of the parameter or layer with which contours in the current layer will be intersected. Returns the sum of areas created by the intersection of a contour and the contours in the layer parameter_name belongs to, multiplied by the respective values of these contours.

Example: In the following illustration the hatched contour belongs to a layer in which one of the parameters is assigned the expression EffectiveValue(layer_name.parameter_name), where layer_name is the layer in which the other contours reside. The hatched contour is intersected with the contours in the referenced layer and returns the value: A*10+C*10+B*20+D*30, where A, B, C, and D are the areas of intersection between the hatched contour and the contours in the referenced layer, and 10, 20 and 30 are the values of the contours in the referenced layer.

If in the referenced layer, Allow Intersection is turned on, then the function will return: A*10+C*10+B*20+D*30+B*10+D*10, since the hatched contour is also fully encompassed by the most outer contour. This would also be the case if there were additional contours fully encompassing the hatched contour.

See also EffectiveValue() for mesh nodes and elements, and grid blocks.

The hatched contour is tested vis-a-vis all contours in the referenced layer. Polygons A, B, C and D are created by the intersection of the hatched contour and the contours in the referenced layer. The area of each intersected polygon is multiplied by the value of the contour which intersected the hatched polygon, The sum of these products is returned.

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New Grid Layer Functions

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
GridAngle()		Returns the angle of rotation of the grid.

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New Block Functions

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
BlockGradX (parameter_name)	parameter_name	Returns the X gradient calculated as central difference (real) between the value of parameter_name at the blocks to the left and right of the current block.

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
BlockGradY (parameter_name)	parameter_name	Returns the Y gradient calculated as central difference (real) between the value of parameter_name at the blocks to above and below the current block.

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NthColumnPos (col_num), NthRowPos(row_num)

The two functions, described in Chapter 3, have been enhanced to return the appropriate values for rotated grids. If the grid is rotated these are measured as the distance from the document's origin along the grid rotated axes.

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New Node Functions

Name & Syntax	Arguments	Description & Return Value
EffectiveValue (parameter_name)	parameter_name	Intersects the nodes effective area with all contours in parameter_name to create a set of polygons, and returns the sum of polygons areas multiplied by their respective values.

Example: In the following illustration the hatched polygon represents the node effective area. The hatched polygon is intersected with the contours in the referenced information layer and returns the value: A*20+B*10+C*30, where A, B and C are the areas of intersection of the node effective area (hatched) and the contours in the information layer, and 10, 20 and 30 are the values of the contours in the referenced information layer.

If in the referenced layer, Allow Intersection is turned on, then the function will return: A*20+B*10+C*30+A*10+C*10, this is because the hatched polygon is also fully encompassed by the most outer contour. This would also be the case if there were additional contours fully encompassing the node's effective area.

Node EffectiveValue in Triangular Elements

Node effective area of a node in a single element.	The node's effective area is intersected with all contours in the referenced layer and returns the sum of polygon areas multiplied by their respective values.
Node effective area of a node common to several elements.

 

Node EffectiveValue in Quadrilateral Elements

Node effective area of a node in a single element.	The node's effective area is intersected with all contours in the referenced layer and returns the sum of polygon areas multiplied by their respective values.
Node effective area of a node common to several elements.

Special cases: If part of the node's effective area lies outside all contours in the referenced layer, the function's return value varies with the referenced layer interpretation type. In the example below the area marked B is multiplied by:

• Nearest Contour method - The average of all adjacent contours. In this example B*(10+20)/2
• Exact Contour method - The default value of the referenced layer.
• Interpolation method - The interpolated value at the node's location.

The area marked B, which is not intersected by a contour, is multiplied by a different value according to the referenced layer interpretation method.

See also EffectiveValue() for contours, mesh elements and grid blocks.

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