def start(self,
visualization=False,
robots=10,
comment="",
model="C:\\SAP 2000\\template.sdb"):
'''
This starts up the SAP 2000 Program and hides it.
visualization = should we display the simulation as it occurs?
robots = number of robots in simulation
comment = a comment attached to the name of the folder
model = location of a file which contains a starting model
'''
outputfolder = ''
if self.started:
print("Simulation has already been started")
else:
outputfolder = self.makeOutputFolder(comment)
outputfilename = "tower.sdb"
self.SapProgram, self.SapModel = commandline.run(
model, outputfolder + outputfilename)
self.SapProgram.hide()
self.started = True
# Make python structure and start up the colony
self.Structure = Structure(visualization)
self.Swarm = SmartSwarm(robots, self.Structure, self.SapProgram)
# If we started with a previous model, we have to add all of the beams
# to our own model in python
if model != "":
ret = self.Structure.load_model(self.SapProgram)
assert ret == 0
self.folder = outputfolder
