Compatibility of input files with newer ASPECT versions#

We strive to maintain compatibility for options in input files as long as possible. However, occasionally we have to reorder, rename, or remove options from parameter files to improve ASPECT further. This is especially true for new major versions. In order to allow running old parameter files with newer ASPECT versions we provide scripts that can automatically update existing parameter files to the new syntax. Executing doc/update_prm_files.sh with one or more parameter files as arguments will create a backup of the old parameter file (named old_filename.bak), and replace the existing file with a version that should work with the current ASPECT version. Using this script would look like this:

bash contrib/utilities/update_prm_files.sh cookbooks/convection_box.prm

Note

Not all text replacements are unique, and the structure of input files allows for constructions the script can not properly parse. Also we can not guarantee to preserve the structure and position of comments, as it is not always clear to which part of the input file they refer. Thus, it is important that you check your updated input file for errors. That being said, all input files in the main ASPECT repository are updated successfully using this script.