SORTIE runs produce output, which you can then use the SORTIE interface to view graphically. You can view both kinds of output files, summary files and detailed output files. SORTIE analyzes the contents of files that it is given and lets you know what it is capable of doing with that data. For more on output, including a guide on what to save, see the topic Output in SORTIE. In this document:
For details on the chart types available, see Output Chart Types.
Loading an output file for data visualization
You can load a file by choosing the menu option "File->Open Run Output". Choose the file you want to view, either a summary output file with a ".out" extension, or a detailed output file with a ".gz.tar" extension. The file name will appear at the top of the main SORTIE window in the list that says "Open output files". You can have as many files open as you wish.
Choose a file in the list marked "Open output files" at the top of the main SORTIE window. SORTIE will analyze the contents of the file and show you what it can display in the list marked "Chart choices for this file". The chart choices are broken apart by type. There may not be a choice for every type of chart. Choose the chart you want to display and click the "Draw Chart" button. The chart will appear in the main SORTIE window. You can open as many charts as you wish. A legend also opens for each file that applies to all its chart windows.
The legends for detailed output files have an extra set of controls marked "Timestep" at the bottom. Use the arrows to step back and forth through the timesteps. As you step through and watch a chart, pay attention to axis ranges. The data visualizer is meant to analyze each dataset it charts and optimize the chart accordingly. It does not attempt to keep the view consistent.
You can save the raw data used to make any chart to a tab-delimited text file (suitable for viewing in spreadsheet programs). Use the File->Save menu option that appears on all charts, or press Ctrl-S. You can take this raw data to reproduce and adjust the chart in other graphing applications. If you have saved a summary outout file, be aware that this file already contains all its data in a tab-delimited text format; you can open this file directly if you wish.
You can view the output from a run as it progresses. SORTIE will keep a set of open charts updated with the results of the latest timestep. Here's how to use this feature:
Note: While displaying a current run's output is a useful feature, it is not the most efficient way to do a run. If you do not actually need to keep tabs on a run's progress, or if you are satisfied with the way a current run is going, allow it to run without open charts. The run will execute much faster. If you currently have charts open for a run, you can use the menu command "File->Close run output file" to close each of the run's output files. Once all output files are closed, the run will switch back to the more efficient mode.
The data visualizer can only show you what you have saved from the run. If you do not save any data for a particular species in a detailed output file, for instance, that species won't show up in any charts you open, even if there were many individuals of that species in the run. If your data does not look the way you expect it to, start by carefully examining your output settings to make sure you actually saved everything you meant to.
Have patience when working with detailed output files. When you move through timesteps, change charts, and open new charts, the data visualizer often must go back and sift through the detailed output file for the data it needs. With large files and long runs this can be very time consuming. If you have an idea of the charts you want to work with, it will be faster if you only save the data needed to create those charts.