FileInterface

FileInterface — An interface to a data file

Description

The FileInterface resource is an interface to a data file that can be used to load mission data, like Spacecraft state information and physical properties. Once an interface is established to a file, the Set command can be used to load the data and apply it to a destination.

The following file formats are currently supported:

TVHF_ASCII: ASCII format of the TCOPS Vector Hold File (TVHF), defined by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Flight Dynamics Facility. This file contains spacecraft state and physical information that can be transferred to a Spacecraft resource.

Fields

Field Description

Filename

Full path of the file to read. Relative paths are interpreted as relative to the directory containing the GMAT executable. If the path is omitted, it is assumed to be “./”.

Data Type	String
Allowed Values	Valid file path
Access	set
Default Value	(None)
Units	N/A
Interfaces	GUI, script

Format

Format of the file to read. Currently, the only allowed format is “TVHF_ASCII”.

Data Type	Enumerated value
Allowed Values	TVHF_ASCII
Access	set
Default Value	TVHF_ASCII
Units	N/A
Interfaces	GUI, script

GUI

The FileInterface GUI has two fields: a list of accepted options for Format (currently only TVHF_ASCII), and an input box for Filename. Click Browse to the right of the Filename box to interactively select a file.

Remarks

Each file format supported by the FileInterface resource exposes a set of keywords that can be used to extract certain data elements. These keywords can be used in the Data option of the Set command, as follows:

Set destination source (Data = {keyword[, keyword]})

If the 'All' keyword is used, those fields with a checkmark in the “All” column are selected.

`TVHF_ASCII`

Keyword	Source field	Description	`'All'`
`CartesianState`	"`CARTESIAN COORDINATES`"	Cartesian state elements (X, Y, Z, VX, VY, VZ)	✓
`Cr`	"`CSUBR`"	Coefficient of reflectivity	✓
`Epoch`	"`EPOCH TIME FOR ELEMENTS`"	Epoch of state vector	✓

Limitations

The following limitations apply to the TVHF_ASCII format:

Only the J2000 coordinate system is supported.
Only the first record in a multiple-record file is loaded.

Examples

Read a TVHF file and use it to configure a spacecraft.

          Create Spacecraft aSat
Create FileInterface tvhf
tvhf.Filename = 'statevec.txt'
tvhf.Format = 'TVHF_ASCII'

BeginMissionSequence

Set aSat tvhf