Binary files: compressed or uncompressed?

agustinvo · April 13, 2018, 11:29

Hello,

today I wanted to run a simulation in OF5.0, and when I change the writeFormat and compression in the controlDict, I got this warning:

Code:

Selecting compressed binary is inefficient and ineffective, resetting to uncompressed binary

I know, for example, that using compressed ASCII is much less space consuming that the uncompressed one. Does it make a difference in binary?

Thank you for your attention,
Agustin

akidess · April 13, 2018, 12:06

Did you try it?

binary files don't compress as well as ASCII files.

agustinvo · April 13, 2018, 12:08

Well, you could do it in OF2.3 and there was no warning at all. I know binary should be better for OpenFOAM to read the files.

So, what do you suggest? Try only binary, or compressed ascii?

akidess · April 13, 2018, 12:43

Never ASCII, unless you are testing. For production runs always binary uncompressed, unless you are more pressed for space than performance.

April 13, 2018, 11:29	Binary files: compressed or uncompressed?	#1
agustinvo Senior Member Agustín Villa Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Alcorcón Posts: 313 Rep Power: 15	Hello, today I wanted to run a simulation in OF5.0, and when I change the writeFormat and compression in the controlDict, I got this warning: Code: Selecting compressed binary is inefficient and ineffective, resetting to uncompressed binary I know, for example, that using compressed ASCII is much less space consuming that the uncompressed one. Does it make a difference in binary? Thank you for your attention, Agustin

April 13, 2018, 12:06		#2
akidess Senior Member Anton Kidess Join Date: May 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 1,377 Rep Power: 29	Did you try it? binary files don't compress as well as ASCII files. __________________ On twitter @akidTwit Spend as much time formulating your questions as you expect people to spend on their answer.

April 13, 2018, 12:43		#4
akidess Senior Member Anton Kidess Join Date: May 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 1,377 Rep Power: 29	Never ASCII, unless you are testing. For production runs always binary uncompressed, unless you are more pressed for space than performance. __________________ On twitter @akidTwit Spend as much time formulating your questions as you expect people to spend on their answer.

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April 13, 2018, 12:08		#3
agustinvo Senior Member Agustín Villa Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Alcorcón Posts: 313 Rep Power: 15	Well, you could do it in OF2.3 and there was no warning at all. I know binary should be better for OpenFOAM to read the files. So, what do you suggest? Try only binary, or compressed ascii?