Three versions of the Patran database are delivered in the <installation_directory> directory, “base.db” , “template.db” and “mscdytran_template.db”. The template.db database contains the analysis code specific definitions for all of the MSC supported interfaces. The mscdytran_template.db database contains analysis code specific definitions for the mscdytran and mscnastran interfaces. “base.db” is basically devoid of analysis code specific definitions but does contain some basic definitions. In order to create a template database which contains only Dytran specific definitions, the user should follow these steps:

An existing database which has been derived from base.db may not contain the specific definitions needed to run the Dytran Preference. But, these definitions can be added at any time by simply typing load_mscdytran() into the Patran command line.

Due to the excessive size of “template.db” it is highly recommended that the user either select “mscdytran_template.db” or create his own unique template database which contains only the analysis code specific definitions pertaining to the analysis codes of immediate interest to him. This will produce considerably smaller and simpler databases than would the use of “template.db”. For more details about adding analysis code specific definitions to a database and/or creating unique template databases, refer to Modifying the Database Using PCL (Ch. 7) in the PCL and Customization or to the Patran Installation and Operations Guide.