Component Specific Databank Search Order

PRO/II allows using multiple databanks of pure component data in a single simulation. These databanks most commonly are searched for component data using the default databank search order. For each component, data is extracted only from the first databank in the search order in which the component appears. This sometimes causes problems for individual components that have different versions of data in more than one databank.

This window allows specifying the databank search order for specific components. Starting with version 8.3, the Graphical User Interface of PRO/II allows each component to have its own search order. Databanks may be supplied by SimSci or prepared using LIBMGR, a program included in the Thermodynamic Data Manager (TDM) installed with PRO/II. The LIBMGR program is specifically intended to provide users a means of preparing component libraries for use by PRO/II. See Adding Databanks Using LibManager to add databanks to the library for inclusion in the list.

This window is very similar to the Component Default Databank Search Order window that allows users to customize the default search order. The main difference is that this window provides an additional check box to apply the new search order only to specific selected components.

Navigating to this Window

From the Component Selection Main Window,

Select one or more components by highlighting them in the Component Name/Alias list box. These are the components that will use the new search order.
Press the Databank ... button from the Edit List group at the right side of the window. This displays the Component Specific Databank Search Order window shown below.

Usage

First, activate the fields in this window by placing a check mark in the upper check box as shown in the figure above.

Note: The text next to this check box dynamically changes to display the components being affected. With only one component selected, the text displays the identifier for that component (NH3 is shown in the illustration). For 2 or more components selected, the text displays the identifiers of the first (top) and last (bottom) components selected in step A1.

The Available Databanks: box lists all the databanks already included in the simulation. If desired, add additional databanks to the Available Databanks: list box. To do this, click the Thermo Data Manager... button to view the Thermo Data Manager dialog box that allows access to the Lib Manager program.
The Current Search Order: list box displays the search order to apply to the components selected in step A1 above. When searching for data, PRO/II first searches the top databank in this list; then progresses down the list in order, as needed, until it finds data for all components. PRO/II searches the bottom databank in the list last.
If desired, use the functions described here to add available databanks to the Current Search Order.

Select (highlight) an available databank from the Available Databanks: list box and add it to the current search order using one of these action buttons. These buttons operate on a single databank at a time. Repeat the procedure for each desired databank.

Insert Before

Inserts the selected available databank just prior to the selected (highlighted) databank in the Current Search Order: box.

Insert After

Inserts the selected available databank just after the highlighted databank in the Current Search Order box.

Use the following functions to change the Current Search Order: list until it contains the desired databanks in the desired order. These buttons operate on a single databank at a time. Repeat the procedure for each desired databank in the Current Search Order list.

Select (highlight) a databank in the Current Search Order: list box.

Remove

Remove the highlighted databank in the Current Search Order box from the search order.

Move Up

Each click of this button moves the highlighted databank one position up the list.

Move Down

Each click of this button moves the highlighted databank one position down the list.

Restore Default

To restore the databank search order to the default order, press the Restore Default button.

When finished, click the OK button to save the search order and return to the PRO/II - Component Selection window. The Databank Search Order column of the Component Name/Alias list box (in the main window) now displays the specific search order for each component to which it applies.
Use Cascading Search for Component Properties: Selecting this option will enable Cascade search order for the “component properties” of selected component.

Note: From PRO/II v10.1 onwards, this option is checked ON by default for all new components created in GUI.

Additional Information

This window provides the capability of defining a separate search order for each library component in a simulation. This allows accessing data from different libraries when some components. Consider for example a problem that might contain components 1 and 2. Both components have data in libraries A and B. By constructing separate search orders for the two components, it is possible to use data from library B for component 1 while using data from library A for component 2. This would not be possible when using a single search order for all components.

Other situations are common. For example, it may be necessary to select a different pure component databank to match results from a model developed on the SimSci PROCESS Program or an earlier version of PRO/II. Similarly, the results calculated with a private databank easily may be compared to the results calculated using a SimSci databank, and so forth.

When using Electrolyte Models, the OLILIB databank should be first in the search order.

The Component Databank Search Order displays the user-created databank(s) and the databank(s) pertaining to selected system libraries.

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